FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Curriculum
Do students study the same thing that kids in 252 and First Look study?
No, we believe that by the time students are in student ministry, they have heard most of the core material presented in 252 and First Look. If we continue to give students the same information packaged in the same way, they will tune out and stop listening. What students are really looking for is application and experience. They want to know why it matters to them and how to apply it to their lives. Therefore, the content for XP3 is designed to take the next step in application. It will push at tough questions and challenge students to process and apply what many of them may already know to be true.
Does this work with 252 Basis for the strategic development of students? How?
Yes, while XP3 is not the same information, it is the next step in a strategic process. Many of the strategies of 252 continue in XP3. For example, 252 introduces students to the practice of small groups. In XP3, the small group is the most essential part of the strategy. Small group is where a student learns to dialogue and ask tough questions. Because they are already familiar with the structure of a small group, they will feel at ease in this environment. Another example is in the concept of “partnering with parents.” In 252 this partnership is developed through the use of FamilyTimes kits and GodTime cards. In XP3 the relationship with parents is still essential. XP3 continues to partner with parents by communicating the basic principles of each series, inspiring parents to step out and try new ways to relate to their students, and encouraging them to stay involved and connected even when it feels like the relationship is all one-sided.
How does XP3 fit in with the Orange strategy?
The color ORANGE suggests that “2 combined influences will make a greater impact than just 2 influences alone.” Red and yellow together can create a third, more vibrant option. It’s the reason we want to put children’s leaders and student leaders in the same room. It’s the reason we want to help churches combine their influence with the family. It’s the reason we want ministries to be both relevant and strategic, to teach truth and offer students personal experiences. We believe that a student who walks into a youth group is not just the result of your ministry, but the result of other ministries and leaders who have sown into his/her life.
XP3, along with the other resources available from The reThink Group, is designed to align the home and the church to raise a generation of students. We created XP3 with the vision of the type of student we want to walk out of student ministry and into young adulthood. We want that student to be able to articulate his/her faith, navigate the Bible, dialog with God, personalize Scripture, have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, serve others and worship God.
Do I need to use the other curriculums from The reThink Group to use XP3?
At reThink, we believe in creating resources with the end in mind. Part of having an end in mind is having the same strategy from birth to graduation. XP3 is an important step in that strategic process. XP3, however, is not contingent on the other curriculums for success. You can use XP3 without using First Look and 252 Basics.
Does XP3 offer a video component?
Video Components are supplemental (not included in curriculum price) and are available for purchase at
TheReThinkStore.org. Video for every XP3 series is available for purchase as a video download in either a MPEG or Quicktime format. The videos are not required for use with XP3, but will enhance each series. (link directly to xp3 videos page in the store)
There are three types of videos: bumper videos, session videos and video communicators. The bumper videos are used each week in order to set up the communicator. The session videos range in length and look. They are intended to be played once in the series and help move a student beyond the white noise of concepts they’ve heard time and time again. The video communicator piece allows you to utilize a different voice to speak to your students. These videos are intended to be used in place of a live communicator. The videos available for each series varies—some series will have a video communicator and session video, some will have just have one and not the other. The videos available for each series are sold together as one complete package. The price for downloadable video package price for a series ranges from $5 to $35 depending on how many videos are packaged for that particular series.
Is there an overall master plan for the topical series offered?
While each downloadable series approaches a different topic, our team looks at the big picture to make sure each series promotes a sense of wonder, discovery and/or passion. Some series will incorporate all three of these experiences, other series will just spotlight one. But we are strategic in making sure that each year’s worth of topics contains a healthy balance of these three experiences.
How do you define wonder, discovery and passion in your topics?
At its core, wonder, discovery and passion are really just another way of phrasing what Jesus said was the greatest commandment, the summary of all the other commandments: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’” (Matthew 22:37-39 NIV). The three experiences of wonder, discovery and passion can be defined by certain core truths that we believe are “the end in mind,” the end goal of what we want a student to believe when he or she moves into adulthood.
WONDER
I am created to pursue an authentic relationship with my Creator.
DISCOVERY
I belong to Jesus Christ and define who I am by what He says.
PASSION
I exist every day to demonstrate God’s love to a broken world.
Is there a sequence to the XP3 series?
The XP3 user has complete flexibility in what he or she downloads and when. You know your group better than we do, and you know the content you want to teach to reach them where they are. That’s why we feel you should be the one deciding what series your group will discuss. Also, there may be weeks when you choose to do something else. XP3 offers you that flexibility.
How often are series updated?
The XP3 team is always in the process of creating new series. 10 - 12 new series are added each year.
How many sessions are in a series?
Most of our series are three weeks in length. Some series will be longer or shorter than three weeks. In our writing, we take a very focused approach on the topic, so some series lend themselves well to three weeks, some to four weeks, and some just to two. We never want a series to wear out its welcome by adding an extra week just to fit the criteria of a three-week series. But be assured, we will always work with a calendar as we plan out the year to ensure that there are enough series to last you the entire year.
For churches who do both Sunday morning and an evening program, would this work better for Sunday morning or the evening service? Can you split it up and do the corporate piece one day and small groups on another?
This is a tricky answer. Sunday morning and an evening program often cater to very different groups of students. This material was designed to work in a single setting where students can come enjoy a group environment and then move into small groups. If possible, this is the format that we recommend. If you are going to divide the material into two separate programs, then it is important to consider the best way for you to get ALL of your students into small groups.
Is XP3 for middle school or high school students?
Both—XP3 is written for high school students with an adaptation for middle school students. We feel that both middle schoolers and high schoolers need wonder, discovery and passion, but we realize that middle schoolers need to arrive at those principles in a different way. To that end, we have included the “middle school adaptation” that includes additional illustrations and activities to engage middle schoolers into the series’ sessions. We have also created an outline that gives leaders an overview of the content, and allows them to adapt the teaching script to meet the shorter attention span of middle schoolers. We have also provided a middle school adaptation of the small group dialog questions for many of our current series.
How does the small group dialog work?
For both middle school and high school, the questions for the small group dialog are designed for flexibility. No matter what age group uses these small group guides, we believe that leaders must make their own changes in order to facilitate meaningful dialogue. We believe meaningful dialogue does not happen simply by moving through a list of questions, but when a leader listens to students and responds with relevant and stimulating thoughts.
What’s the difference between the middle school and high school small group dialog questions?
We have designed the middle school small group questions with three basic principles in mind. First, middle school students are energetic, so we want to make sure there is a certain level of fun built into every discussion. Second, middle school students are at a high-risk social stage. That is awkward to say, but we mean just this, that pressures are weighing in on middle school students as they exit elementary school and find themselves searching for belonging amidst new territory. They want to protect their delicate social image, so we want to make sure the questions are low risk and easy to understand. Third, middle school students have less life experience, so we want to give them questions that take into account the things they have experienced. We want to give them questions that meet them where they are developmentally, just as much as spiritually.
Ordering & Pricing
How do I get the curriculum?
XP3 is a downloadable curriculum. This means that you can have immediate access to all the elements of the XP3 strategy. The curriculum can be purchased using a credit card or e-check through the XP3 web site. When you sign up for XP3, you will be guided through the registration process, will create a username and password, and finally choose a series package that best suits the needs of your ministry. Once your subscription has been processed, you will be given access to log in and begin to download the curriculum. You can also give other people access to your XP3 account as secondary users. The primary user has full capability to manage the account while secondary users have limited access.
What are my payment options?
Payment must be made in full at the time of ordering and can be made by either credit card or e-check. XP3 downloads can be purchased in three different packages—5, 10, and 15 series. Each package is valid for one year, and allows you 12 months to download your specified number of series. For example, with a five series package you have one year in which you can select the five series you want to download. During the one year membership, XP3 users can pick and choose the series they want. Once the subscriptions expire, your ability to access and download ends as well, even if you have not downloaded all your series.
| XP3 Series Package Pricing |
| # students | 5 series | 10 series | 15 series |
| 0-25 | $215 | $395 | $540 |
| 26-50 | $315 | $575 | $780 |
| 51-75 | $400 | $750 | $1,020 |
| 76-100 | $480 | $880 | $1,200 |
| 101-200 | $600 | $1,100 | $1,500 |
| 201-400 | $650 | $1,190 | $1,620 |
| Over 401 | $795 | $1,450 | $1,980 |
For example, if you sign up for the 15 series package, and you have 50 students, the total cost is $780. During that one year period, you can download any 15 series you choose. This gives you the flexibility to pick and choose which series you want to teach, when you want to teach it, thus being customizable for your group. Once the 12-month period is up, your ability to download content also ends, unless you decide to renew your account.
What if I decide that XP3 isn’t for me?
If you wish to cancel your account, you have a 60 day window for cancellation and will be refunded the money for the package you have purchased, minus a charge of $125 for every series you have downloaded. A download is defined as any component of a series that has been downloaded by any user on the account. A cancellation fee of $50 will also be charged.
Training
Does XP3 have training resources available?
We are passionate about equipping student pastors and volunteers with the tools they need to succeed. Whether that’s through our curriculum or additional training, we want to help you do what you do effectively. The reThink Group provides events, conferences and resources to help you think “
orange” about student ministry. For more information, visit
www.orangeleaders.com.
The XP3 team is also available to do onsite training. If you are interested, please contact us at
xp3@rethinkgroup.org for more information.
