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If you are able, doing one volume for each grade level would be even better.

However, most likely you are reading this section because your situation is different and you have questions about how to group the youth and which volume of Claim the Life will be best for your youth. Here are some guidelines and suggestions.

If you would like more personal help, please call our resident Christian educators on Curric-U-Phone (1-800-251-8591). Their service is free and friendly.

One key to choosing the appropriate volume is the age composition of the group. If the majority of members are older, you may want to begin with Promise; if younger, you may want to begin with Journey.

Gender can also make a difference. Younger girls tend to be more mature than younger boys, so that needs to be a factor in deciding.

Spiritual maturity may be another factor. Are these predominantly a group who have grown up in the church, or are there some who really need some of the very basics? Journey would be a better starting place for those who are not as familiar with the church, regardless of their age range.

In general, the fact that every lesson has two options gives the leader even more options regardless of the starting point. Option A is more engaging of the whole body, with the group doing an major task or activity together. Option B is more of a traditional discussion starter. Option A will likely be a better choice for groups that are preponderantly younger, with less church background, and mostly boys.

Look also at the Learning Plan on the website. Some of the words may be of more interest in one or the other volumes.

As another alternative, do one semester of one age level and the second semester of another. This approach will work well for Journey and Promise.

Word and especially Story need to be done consecutively since both begin in the Old Testament and then in the second semester move to the New Testament. So choose based on your goals: 

• Word focuses on memorable passages—ones most people would like to see become part of what’s written on our hearts. 

• Story gives the big picture, the overall message of the Scripture. 

Both are valid approaches. The content is appropriate for both age levels. 

Faith will work especially well for both levels; it covers key concepts of the Christian faith—knowledge both younger and older youth need to know.

Call is truly focused on older youth issues, discerning God’s call as young people look to the future and the choices they will make around what they will do, whom they will choose to be with, how they will be in their widening world.

 Year 1

Journey, Semester 1 

Promise, Semester 1 

Journey, Semester 2 

Year 2 

Story, Semester 1

Story, Semester 2

Word Semester 1 

Year 3

Faith, Semester 1 

Word, Semester 2

Call, Semester 1

Year 4

Faith, Semester 2

Promise, Semester 2

Call, Semester 2

The only two that really need to be done in semester order are Story, Semesters 1 & 2, since they are an overview of the whole Bible—the big picture story. 

Another option is to do Promise Semester 2 in Year 2 rather than Word, Semester 1.

You have lots of flexibility built in to Claim the Life. You know your youth and your goals for them. Feel free to group the youth and use the resources in ways that serve your youth!