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BIBLE CURRICULUM

Philosophy

            Since the Christian school bases its existence upon the Word of God, it is the responsibility of the Christian school, insofar as Bible instruction is concerned, to develop a thorough knowledge of the Bible as God’s revelation of Himself.  To the Christian school teacher, the Bible is not an account of man’s efforts to reach God; to the contrary, it is God’s way of revealing Himself, of making Himself known to man.

            In the Bible the Christian teacher finds presented the record of God’s historical action redeeming man from sin, while revealing Himself as the God of righteousness and grace.  It is this record of God’s historical action which forms the subject matter in the course of Bible study in the Christian school.  Through the teaching of Bible the student must come to an understanding of God, His works, His plan, and His law.  He must come to a recognition of himself as a child of God, a fallen creature in need of redemption.  In Christ the student must find his Savior and, as a redeemed child of God he must learn to walk according t the law of the Lord, seeking in all things to do what is pleasing unto the Lord.

            The task of the Christian school in Bible study is primarily that of developing an intimate acquaintance with God through knowledge of the Scriptures.  To accomplish this primary objective it requires that the teaching of Bible be part of the curriculum as an academic subject.  It is the primary function of the Christian school in the area of Bible study to develop a knowledge of the Scriptural narrative, an acquaintance with the whole of God’s Word, as well as a knowledge of the more general aspects of the Bible (including its origin, authorship, history, composition, and contents of the various books).  We cannot study or teach the Bible without drawing a wealth of conclusions concerning God and mankind’s proper relationship to God.

            In many respects the teaching of Bible is similar to the teaching of all other academic subjects.  Both Bible and other academic subjects have as their purpose to teach the basic facts and show students how to apply those facts to their decision making and to their lives.  The teaching of Bible is unique, however, for three reasons.  First, as Christians we are directed by God through His Word to study the Bible.  We are responsible to learn from the message of Scripture and to gain spiritual knowledge from reading and studying the Bible.  Secondly, Bible study leads to changed lives.  The Bible is mighty in its influence and the teaching Bible is done with the expectation that lives will be changed because of it.  We want our students to love the Word, to meditate on it, to submit to its authority, and to use it as a guide for right actions and right living.  Learning and observing the lessons and commandments of the Bible leads to sanctified, redeemed lives.  And, finally, Bible is unique in that it is the foundation upon which everything else is taught.  Every subject, every lesson, every discussion is based on the perspective of God’s Word.  Biblical truth is brought into all we do in the Christian school.  The truths of the Bible, unlike all other knowledge, are eternal.

School Goals

1.  Develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
2. Develop the ability to share God’s Word and the way of Salvation with others.
3. Develop the desire to recognize the Lordship of Christ in every area of life
(family, work, citizenship, church, etc.)
4. Understand that knowledge of the Bible and its teachings shapes all of life.
5. Understand the “purpose” and “place” of each book of the Bible within the context of the
whole Bible and the plan of Salvation.
6. Be encouraged to apply God’s Word to every thought, word and action for God’s glory, the
benefit of others and their own well-being.
7. Be able to apply knowledge learned in Bible class to all other areas of the  curriculum.
8. Memorize specific Bible passages.

SPECIFIC GRADE LEVEL Topics and Units

Kindergarten
1. Little Children Come to Jesus
2. A New World and a New Start
3. The Patriarchs
4. From Egypt to Canaan
5. Israel in Canaan Before the Kings
6. Israel: Kings and Prophets
7. Exile and Return
8. Jesus on Earth
9. Parables of Jesus
10. Thanksgiving
11. Christmas
12. Christ’s Death and Resurrection
13. Ascension and Pentecost

Grade One
1. The Bible – God’s Story
2. The World God Made
3. The Patriarchs
4. From Slavery to the Promised Land
5. The Judges
6. The Story of Ruth
7. The Early Monarchy
8. The Peaceful Reign of Solomon
9. Kings, Prophets, Captivity, Return
10. Jesus the Savior
11. The Early Church
12. Thanksgiving
13. Christmas

Grade Two
1. Creation Through Kings
2. The Prophets Speak to Israel and Judah
3. God Preserves His People in Exile and Brings them Back
4. A Savior Is Born
5. Jesus’ Early Ministry
6. Who Is Jesus?
7. Parables
8. Jesus’ Death and Resurrection
9. The Early Church
10. The Christian Life
11. The Lord’s Prayer
12. Revelation

Grade Three
1. In the Beginning
2. Abraham and Isaac
3. Jacob and Joseph
4. The Exodus
5. God’s Law
6. Forty Years in the Wilderness
7. The Promised Land
8. The Judges

Grade Four
1. The Bible as a Book
2. Samuel and King Saul’s Reign
3. King David and King Solomon
4. The Divided Kingdom – Israel
5. The Kings and Prophets of Judah
6. The Decline and Fall of Judah
7. Daniel and Esther
8. The Return
9. Remaining Books of the Bible

Grade Five
1. Writings in the Pentateuch and Books of History
2. Writings in the Books of Poetry
3. The Prophetic Writings
4. Gospel Writings – The Birth and Early Ministry of Jesus
5. Gospel Writings – Jesus’ Ministry
6. Gospel Writings – Jesus’ Death and Resurrection
7. Luke Writes about the Early Church
8. New Testament Letters and the Book of Prophecy

Grade Six
1. The Bible, God’s Story
2. The Setting of God’s Story
3. Stories of the Ancient World
4. The Patriarchs
5. From Slavery to a Covenant
6. The Journey to Canaan
7. The Conquest of Canaan
8. Judges and Ruth
9. Samuel and Saul
10. Under David and Solomon
11. Archaeology

Grade Seven
1. Review from Creation to Solomon
2. The Kingdom Divided
3. Israel’s Slide to Destruction
4. The Kings and Prophets in Judah
5. Judah is Judged
6. Days of Exile
7. Return from Captivity
8. Between the Testaments
9. The Setting of Christ’s Ministry
10. The Birth and Early Ministry of Jesus

Grade Eight
1. Review of Biblical Story – Creation to Jesus’ Early Ministry
2. Who Is This Jesus?
3. John’s Witness to Jesus
4. The Suffering and the Sacrifice
5. Resurrection and Ascension
6. The Birth of the Church
7. Expansion of the Church
8. Strengthening the Church
9. Encouraging the Church
10. The Developing Church