• Can you give me a brief summary of the features in the Uniform Teaching Guide?

• Does the Uniform Series follow the International Sunday School Lessons plan?

• How is the Uniform Series Commentary used in connection with the lessons?

• The Resource Kit gives me a lot of additional material. How can I take advantage of everything it provides?

• What are the upcoming units for the Uniform Series?

Frequently Asked Questions: Adult Curriculum

• I’m trying to decide between the Uniform Series and Formations for my Sunday school class. How would you compare the two curriculum lines?

• I noticed that the Uniform Series uses the NIV translation while Formations uses the NRSV. Why not use the same translation for both curriculum lines?

• Is there any content difference between the Large Print Study Guides and the regular print versions?

• Does Smyth & Helwys offer adult curriculum for specific age groups, such as college students, young adults, or seniors?

• Does the Smyth & Helwys adult curriculum follow the Revised Common Lectionary?

• How are the writers chosen for Formations and the Uniform Series

• What is Smyth & Helwys Premium and why does my church need it?

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Can you give me a brief summary of the features in the Uniform Series Teaching Guide?
Click here to see an overview of how the Uniform Teaching Guide works.

Does the Uniform Series follow the International Sunday School Lessons plan?
Yes. The International Sunday School Lessons plan of the Uniform Series provides a listing of Bible text outlines for study across a six-year period. These outlines propose only the biblical text. Interpretation and commentary are left in the hands of those who use the outlines to produce Bible study curriculum for use in the local church. The outlines are chosen to cover as much of the Bible as is productive for group study across a six-year plan, and to include in each year’s study a consideration of some aspect of the redemptive work or teaching of Jesus and some encouraging challenge to the Christian way of life. Churches throughout the world have used the International Sunday School Lessons for more than one hundred years.

How is the Uniform Series Commentary used in connection with the lessons?
Written by Dr. Brian Harbour, the Uniform Series Commentary is a great resource for lesson preparation or classroom discussion. Teachers and learners can benefit from Dr. Harbour’s unique perspective, pastoral experience, and love for the church and Scripture.

The Resource Kit gives me a lot of additional material. How can I take advantage of everything it provides?
The Uniform Series Resource Kit contains large and colorful posters announcing unit and lesson titles, dates, and Scriptures to be studied. There are also reproducible black and white pages that complement the Bible study with activities, reflection pieces, or additional information. As you prepare, locate the Before the Lesson symbol on the first page of each session. This section will give suggestions for class preparation. Instructions will often be given to make copies of a particular page in the Resource Kit. Read through the lesson plan to see how the Resource Kit item will be used in the session*.

* Each Resource Kit permits reproduction for one class only.

What are the upcoming units for the Uniform Series?
Click here to see future units.

I’m trying to decide between the Uniform Series and Formations for my Sunday school class. How would you compare them?
There are several differences. One of the main differences is each line’s approach to teaching and learning. The Uniform Series uses a more traditional teaching approach in which the instructor leads the class through a verse-by-verse exposition of the text. Formations makes use of a group discussion format in which the class leader serves as a facilitator for the dialogue. For a full comparison, see Compare Uniform Series and Formations.

I noticed that the Uniform Series uses the NIV translation while Formations uses the NRSV. Why not use the same translation for both curriculum lines?
The evangelical perspective of the popular New International Version (NIV) makes it a great fit for the Uniform Series, which emphasizes spiritual growth and challenges learners to share the gospel.

Formations uses the highly acclaimed New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) in part to take better advantage of our partnership with The Access Bible ™, which uses the NRSV. This relationship allows us to offer links to the annotations and extended study materials available in The Access Bible ™. Since Formations is a comprehensive study, this connection strengthens the line by supplying additional scholarship for those interested.

Teachers and learners of the Uniform Series and Formations, however, should feel free to use whatever Bible translation they prefer in their personal study and in the classroom.

Is there any content difference between the Large Print Study Guides and the regular print versions?
The content is identical. The size of the text is the only difference.

Does Smyth & Helwys offer adult curriculum for specific age groups, such as college students, young adults, or seniors?
Formations or Uniform Series can be used with any age group. The two lines differ in their approach to Scripture and teaching, rather than in orientation to a particular age group. Different age groups experience great success with both lines, so choosing one depends on how your class wants to study Scripture.

Does the Smyth & Helwys adult curriculum follow the Revised Common Lectionary?
The Lectionary is specifically designed for worship planning. Curriculum planners, however, usually organize units of study. When applying the Lectionary readings to this approach, we find that units tend to be forced and don’t hold together well. As a worship-planning tool, the Lectionary brings discipline and balance to worship, while still reflecting the seasons of the Christian year. We believe that it's just as important for the learning setting to have the right tool for providing balance, discipline, and breadth over time.

Our Formations line is highly popular with classes seeking a curriculum that possesses many of the Lectionary’s benefits but is specifically designed for an educational setting rather than a worship context.

How are writers chosen for Formations and the Uniform Series?
The editors of both curriculum lines draw from a network of available writers. Many writers have written previous lessons or have been recommended to us by reliable sources. Others come to our attention by submitting unsolicited manuscripts for review. Potential candidates for upcoming assignments are assessed based on the nature of the project, and the writer’s interest. All Formations and Uniform Series writers have a history of church service, and most have seminary degrees or some other advanced biblical training. Writers who exceed expectations are occasionally invited to write for us again.