God’s resounding word for a multicultural world

With our 4-step lessons, teachers can invite kids, youth, and adults to discover God’s Word, while celebrating African American heritage and faith.

“We have been using Echoes Sunday School materials for many years. The lessons are relatable at all ages, and we find the Scriptures and present-day illustrations relevant in connecting Bible application to daily living. Our teachers and students find the materials inspiring, provocative, and soul-searching. We are motivated to study more and more.”​

Sister Linda L. Bostick, Sunday School Superintendent
Israel Baptist Church, Washington DC

For all ages—toddler to adult

Select by age level or provide one solution for all. Unified themes for Preschool through High School. Adult follows the Uniform Lesson Series—ISSL’s multi-year cycle covering all major Bible themes.

Bible-based and theologically sound

Filled with Bible stories and pictures, Bible-based themes, activities, memory verses, and more—all from a balanced theological perspective.

Spiritual growth for every stage

Developmentally appropriate lessons for each level foster spiritual growth. Lessons are designed for multiple learning styles with built-in flexibility and customizable options.

Easy to prepare and teach

Teachers love the easy-to-teach, 4-step lesson shape. Designed for teaching high-quality, engaging lessons with minimal preparation time and materials.

Focus on real-life application

No matter where students are in their walk with Jesus, Echoes communicates the gospel with life-changing clarity and motivates them toward life application.

Real Life Downloaded

Free weekly downloads through RealLifeDownloaded.com tie into current news stories and topics to take your upper elementary through adult classes deeper.

Do you struggle to find curriculum that works for your church?

  • Do your volunteers need simple, ready-to-go lesson plans?
  • Are you frustrated by resources that don’t fit or flex with your needs?
  • Are you concerned that today’s generations don’t know God’s Word?
  • Do you worry about spending your budget on programs that aren’t effective?

Since 1989, Echoes has been the chosen curriculum that has taught God’s Word to life, presenting the relevant gospel of Jesus Christ to the African American church. This curriculum is Christ-centered, theologically sound and has biblically based lessons for every age, Toddler through Adult.

Echoes provides teacher-friendly options for churches of all sizes.

With our flexible materials, you can build a ministry program that works for your volunteers, your budget, and your church.

Echoes features the popular NIV® translation for all ages, plus KJV option for adult lessons.

Reach Every Student, Every Age and Every Day

Kids

Each step-by-step lesson plan is designed to include:

  • Spiritual development to form a faith foundation
  • A variety of age-appropriate activities to support Bible learning
  • Built-in flexibility for multiple learning styles and class sizes
  • A 2-year scope and sequence

Introduce toddlers to Bible stories that create a Sunday school experience they’ll enjoy.

Recommended Class Materials

  • Teacher Guide, one per class
  • Creative Teaching Aids, one per class
  • Starting Steps Craft/Take-Home, one per child

Guide preschoolers to know God’s love and discover the truth of His Word.

Recommended Class Materials

  • Teacher Guide, one per class
  • Creative Teaching Aids, one per class
  • Make-It Take-It Craft Book, one per student
  • My Sunday Pictures Take-Home, one per student
  • Lesson Videos available 

Help kids see God’s truth all around them and discover how it connects to their lives.

Recommended Class Materials

  • Teacher Guide, one per class
  • Creative Teaching Aids, one per class
  • Bible Beginnings Student Book, one per student
  • Make-It Take-It Craft Book, one per student
  • Storytime Take-Home, one per student
  • Lesson Videos available
  • Scripture Memory Videos available

Help kids see God’s truth all around them and discover how it connects to their lives.

Recommended Class Materials

  • Teacher Guide, one per class
  • Creative Teaching Aids, one per class
  • Bible Discoveries Student Book, one per student
  • Discovery Pack Craft Book, one per student
  • Friends Take-Home, one per student
  • Lesson Videos available
  • Scripture Memory Videos available

Challenge preteens to live out their faith in everyday life.

Recommended Class Materials

Teens

  • Spiritual development to foster ownership of their faith
  • Deeper discovery of the Bible in class and throughout the week
  • Group discussions that connect God’s truth to current events and news topics
  • A variety of creative peer stories, activities, and articles

Transform hearts and minds with the never-changing truth of God’s Word.

Recommended Class Materials

  • Teacher Guide
  • Creative Teaching Aids
  • The Rock Student Book
  • Real Life Downloaded weekly talking points on current events and news topics

Transform hearts and minds with the never-changing truth of God’s Word.

Recommended Class Materials

  • Teacher Guide
  • Blueprint Quarterly Magazine
  • Real Life Downloaded weekly talking points on current events and news topics

Adults

 

  • Heart-transforming study and application of the Bible
  • Group discussions that connect God’s truth to current events and news topics
  • Relationships that challenge them to keep growing spiritually

Bible-in-Life Adult is a fully resourced curriculum:

Recommended Class Materials

  • Teacher’s Guide features a reduction of the Student Book
  • Student Book available in regular and large print
  • Creative Teaching Aids with handouts and posters
  • The Quiet Hour daily devotional
  • Power for Living weekly “magazine” style take home
  • Real Life Downloaded features stories, music, and links to free commentaries that expand the lesson
  • Lessons are new each week, with practical life applications for Sunday school or community groups
  • NIV® and KJV texts are printed side-by-side, helping people with different translations study together

“I thoroughly enjoy the Echoes Sunday School Series and it has enhanced my spiritual walk so much.”

Betty Borden

Sample Echoes

Get instant access for a closer look at Echoes sample lessons and browse samples for all David C Cook curriculum programs. If you have questions, one of our friendly ministry consultants will be happy to help.

More ways to strengthen faith and connection

Building on the solid foundation of Bible-in-Life lessons, these extras let you further customize the class experience, relationship connections, and take-home opportunity at every age level.
Play Video

Lesson Videos

Preschool—Upper Elementary

When replayed weekly, each monthly video reinforces a big-picture God theme and shows kids living out their faith in everyday life. The video icon in your Teacher Guide suggests when to use the video, and a Video Connection Guide offers tips to help teachers connect the dots for kids.

Family Devotion Guides

All Ages
No matter when a family sits down to share God’s Word, it is a beautiful and sacred experience. Encourage families to use this guide on their own or with the Lesson Video alongside as they learn and grow together.
Devotional sheets for specific age groups
Real life Downloaded Lesson Page Screenshot

Real Life Downloaded

Upper Elementary—Adult

Free weekly downloads tie into current news stories and topics to take your upper elementary through adult classes deeper.

A stack of Children's ministry guides.
Ministry Spark is a go-to place for ideas and inspiration for children’s ministry leaders and volunteers. These ideas come in all shapes and sizes—from articles posted weekly to free downloadable resources made for you! We encourage you to check it out and subscribe to their newsletter for the latest articles, webinars, and free resources.

Lessons for today. Faith for a lifetime.

Focusing on the Word, Echoes lets you build a Sunday school and/or ministry program that fits your church budget and grows your church in their knowledge. The lessons help students in developing their relationship with the Lord.

Day to Day

With real-world applications, Echoes helps kids, youth, and adults see God’s truth all around them.

  • Stories and pictures inspired by real life
  • Bible-based themes, activities, memory verses, and more
  • Age-appropriate ideas, questions, and issues to connect with student’s daily experiences
  • Weekly Downloadable resources  on RealLIfeDownloaded.com

Step by Step

Echoes is easy to teach, make it perfect for churches of all sizes.

  • Easy to prepare and teach
  • Lessons are user friendly for classroom teacher and for volunteers
  • Teacher Commentaries provides step-by-step instructions
  • Designed to reach everyone you teach with multiple learning styles

Year after Year

Echoes is the cornerstone for a long-term, comprehensive and expandable curriculum.

  • Developmentally appropriate for each age group
  • Encourages student to study the Word and to apply it to their lives
  • Lessons are customizable, allowing for flexibility
  • Children and Youth will go through the Bible four times at age appropriate levels
  • Unified, theme-based lessons

“My class loves Echoes. It is relevant to today. Easy to read and give self reflection about our lives.”

Yvonne

Get help finding the right curriculum for your ministry.

Have questions? Need some fresh ideas? Our Ministry Consultants can save you time and give you confidence in choosing what works best for you and your volunteers.