For Pastors · Children's Ministers · Small-Group Leaders

The kids in your church are hungry for a real story. Hand them one.

Six cinematic books written by NYT bestselling pastor Mark Batterson with relational theologian Jason Clark and filmmaker Joel N. Clark, built around the Stranger thread that runs from Eden to Patmos. Sermon-rich. Small-group ready.

Purchase the Curriculum → Download Curriculum Flier

Created by a Pastor

Mark Batterson

[TBD: paste Mark's endorsement here.]

About Mark

Pastor of National Community Church · Washington, DC

[TBD: short bio paragraph about Mark and NCC. Placeholder until Joel pastes the real text.] Mark Batterson is a NYT bestselling author of The Circle Maker, Chase the Lion, and many more. He pastors National Community Church across seven DC campuses, where the curriculum is currently being piloted with their tweens before nationwide release.

“[TBD: paste Mark's pull-quote about the curriculum or the books here.]”

— Pastor Mark Batterson

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Curriculum Videos · From Pastor Mark

The curriculum includes weekly videos from Mark.

Every week of the curriculum carries two short videos from Pastor Mark, one for the leader and one for the kids. Same teaching voice your tweens hear in the books, looking them in the eye.

See One →

About the Curriculum for Churches

30 weeks. 5 weeks per book.

Learning is Bible-based, and also pulls on themes of the story to explore essential truths about God and ourselves.

Curriculum DNA

Key Through Lines

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Identity-First

Know God. Know what God thinks of you. Belonging before performance, every week.

See a Sample Lesson →

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Relationship-Rich

Jesus appears as the Stranger across every Old-Testament story, so kids meet a real person, not a doctrine.

Meet the Stranger →

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Inspire Wonder

Cinematic and experiential. Engagement first, deep learning right behind it.

Watch Video Trailers →

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Bible-Based

Every lesson is rooted in scripture, includes memory verses, and ends with a Closer Look section.

See a Closer Look →

The Six Books · The Six Themes

What your kids will learn

David Hearing the Voice of God

Miriam Trusting God When I Don't Understand

Adam Experiencing the Wonder of God

Rahab Discovering Who God Says I Am

Benaiah [TBD]

Zachariah [TBD]

Open the Timeline Map →

Six books today. 80 more on the way.

Sample Scenes + Lesson Elements

What a single page in the curriculum actually does.

Two scenes. Two lesson seeds. The shape every week takes: a cinematic moment from the book, paired with the truth your tweens are being formed by.

Miriam coating the basket with pitch by firelight

Book Two · Miriam

Coating the basket by firelight.

From Miriam · Chapter 3 · Exodus 2

It's the dead of night. Miriam, twelve years old, watches her mother seal a papyrus basket watertight with pitch and tar. Tomorrow before sunrise her baby brother will be inside it, drifting down the Nile. The river is full of crocodiles. The current is strong. There is no other plan.

Miriam isn't crying. She is paying attention. She is going to be the eyes that did not look away.

Lesson Element · Week 6

"Trusting God when I don't understand." Memory verse: Exodus 2:4. Discussion arc: faithful watchfulness when you can't fix the problem. Closer Look: the role of women in God's deliverance, Genesis to Revelation.

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Young Adam meeting the Trinity, Father, Son, and Spirit, in the wild garden of Eden

Book One · Adam

The first kid met all three.

From Adam · Chapter 1 · Genesis 1, John 1

Adam opens his eyes for the first time. Standing in front of him are three. The Father, His arm around him. The Son, smiling like He has been waiting for this moment forever. The Spirit, glowing through the wildflowers. "Let us make him," they had said. And here he stands.

He is the most loved kid in creation. He can feel it before he understands it.

Lesson Element · Week 1

"Experiencing the wonder of God." Memory verse: Genesis 1:26. Discussion arc: the Trinity is not a doctrine to memorize but a family to be loved by. Closer Look: tracing the "Let us" verses in Genesis through the New Testament unveiling of Father, Son, and Spirit.

Pastor Q&A

Things pastors ask us

How does the curriculum fit into a church program?

The 30-week curriculum aligns with a school year and works inside Sunday school, midweek small groups, or wraparound family ministry. Six books, five weeks per book, with weekly video teachings from Mark Batterson and a leader guide for every session.

Is this for elementary, tween, or both?

Designed for tweens (ages 9 to 13) as the primary audience. Younger kids can read along with a parent; older kids find depth in the discussion arcs and Closer Look sections. The art and storytelling read for everyone in the room.

Can we use the books without the curriculum?

Absolutely. The six novels stand on their own. The curriculum is a structured rhythm for churches that want to teach with them weekly, not a prerequisite.

What translation are scripture references from?

The Message (MSG) for the in-book paraphrases, with parallel ESV/NIV references in the curriculum guides for teaching.

Are sample lessons available?

Yes. Download the sample pack below for a book excerpt, a clip of the Batterson teaching film, a partial lesson, and the scope & sequence.

Sample Pack

Download a sample pack

Includes a book excerpt, a clip of the Batterson teaching film, a partial lesson, and the curriculum scope & sequence. PDF.

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