I started playing basketball in elementary school, and I still enjoy playing today, although it is at a much slower pace.  However, for me to play basketball, my body has to work together to accomplish this goal.  First, my mind says that today is a good day to go to the gym and play,  Once I arrive, my legs take me onto the court.  Then, I use my hands to catch the ball, and I use my eyes to look at the basket.  Finally, all working together, my brain tells my eyes to focus on the goal, my legs to jump, and my arms and hands to release the ball.  Swoosh!  Nothing but net.

But what if I didn’t look at the goal?  Or what if my legs wanted to sit down instead of jump?  Or what if my arms and hands decided to push the ball toward the stands instead of the goal?

“Air Ball!  Air Ball!  Air Ball!” from the crowd.  (I have even heard this chant when my body was trying to work together, but that is not the point.)

My body needs to be on the same page in order to play basketball well.  My body needs to be united around a common goal.  The same is true for our Bible study group curriculum.  In the past we have had some groups studying a book of the Bible such as Romans, but others were studying a topic such as the Holy Spirit, and still others were studying a book such as “Crazy Love”.  None of these are wrong, but as a body we weren’t all working together and all moving in the same direction.

Since March the student and adult Bible study groups have been studying the same Scripture each week (James, Psalms).  Beginning in September, we will move to a new curriculum, the Gospel Project, which will also allow our preschoolers and children to join the students and adults in studying the same passage of Scripture each week.

We are excited about the Gospel Project and how this unified curriculum will help us “press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).  Upcoming posts will outline more of the specifics as to what the Gospel Project is, how we’ll use it, and why a unified curriculum is important.