By Brent Lacy

How to Find Curriculum That Actually Works When You Have 4 Kids and One Teacher

Choosing Sunday school curriculum for a small church is different from choosing curriculum for a church with 200 children and a dedicated education staff. You do not need the most comprehensive curriculum on the market. You need one that works with your reality: limited teachers, mixed ages, and almost no budget.

The wrong curriculum will sit in a closet, unused, because it requires more preparation time and volunteer support than you have. The right curriculum will actually get taught.

What Small Churches Actually Need

Teacher-friendly design. Your teachers are volunteers. They are not seminary graduates. They need curriculum that tells them exactly what to say and do, with minimal preparation time. If the teacher’s guide is 20 pages long, it will not get read.

Flexible age groupings. You probably do not have enough children to separate every grade. Look for curriculum designed for multi-grade settings or that can be easily adapted.

Low cost. Small church budgets are tight. Curriculum that requires expensive student books, craft supplies, or technology you do not have is not realistic.

Biblical faithfulness. This is non-negotiable. The curriculum must be theologically sound and faithful to the text. Cheap is good. Theologically shallow is not.

Where to Find Affordable Curriculum

Free options. Ministry-to-Children.com offers free, theologically sound curriculum that is well-suited for small churches. Their lessons are simple, biblical, and require minimal supplies.

Publisher discounts. Many curriculum publishers (Lifeway, Group Publishing, Standard Publishing) offer small church discounts or free samples. Call and ask. The worst they can say is no.

Digital curriculum. Digital options eliminate printing costs and often come at a lower price point. If you have a projector or TV in the classroom, digital curriculum can work well.

Swap with other churches. Churches that have changed curriculum often have unused copies sitting in a closet. Ask around. You might be surprised what is available for free.

What to Avoid

Overly complex curriculum. If it requires a training seminar to teach, it is too complex for your context.

Curriculum that requires expensive supplies. If each lesson requires $20 in craft supplies, the cost will add up fast.

Curriculum designed for large churches. Large church curriculum assumes small class sizes, trained teachers, and a budget for resources. It will not translate to your context.

Creating your own from scratch. Unless you have a gifted curriculum writer on your staff, creating your own is a recipe for burnout and inconsistency. Use published curriculum and adapt it as needed.

Making It Work

The best curriculum is the one that actually gets taught. Here are three principles for making Sunday school work in a small church:

Consistency over quality. A simple lesson taught every week is better than an elaborate lesson taught sporadically.

Relationship over content. Children will remember the teacher who loved them long after they forget the lesson. Invest in the relationship.

Simplicity over ambition. A 20-minute lesson with one clear point is better than a 60-minute lesson with five points and a craft and a game and a snack.

The Bottom Line

Do not let the perfect be the enemy of the good. Find curriculum that is biblical, affordable, and teachable by your volunteers. Use it consistently. Adapt it as needed. And remember that the most important thing happening in your Sunday school is not the curriculum , it is the fact that someone is showing up every week to teach children about Jesus.

That is enough.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should you look for in a small church Sunday school curriculum?

Look for curriculum that is easy to teach, requires minimal preparation, and is flexible enough to work with mixed age groups and varying class sizes.

Where can small churches find affordable curriculum?

Many publishers offer free or low-cost curriculum for small churches. Check out resources from Lifeway, Group Publishing, and free online options like Ministry-to-Children.com.

Should we use published curriculum or create our own?

For most small churches, published curriculum is better. Creating your own requires significant time and expertise. Published curriculum gives you a solid foundation you can adapt.

How do we handle Sunday school with very few children?

Combine age groups, use a multi-grade curriculum, and focus on relationship-building over programmatic perfection. A small, consistent class is better than an ambitious, inconsistent one.

What if our teachers are not trained educators?

That is okay. Most Sunday school teachers are volunteers. Choose curriculum that is teacher-friendly with clear instructions and minimal preparation requirements.

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Sources

1. Ministry Spark, “Children’s Church Curriculum for Small Churches”
2. Wonder Ink, “A Guide to Children’s Church Curriculum for Small Churches”
3. Group Publishing, “Small Church Sunday School Curriculum”

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