CHRISTIAN LIFE AND FAITH SCOPE AND SEQUENCE, LEVEL 1

Ver.1; May 2010
Authored by Tomoko Matsuoka, Katiuscia Giusti, and Christi S. Lynch.
Copyright © 2010 by The Family International

Table of contents:
	Biblical and Christian Foundation
	A Personal Connection with Jesus
	Witnessing and Missionary Training
	Bible Knowledge
	Spiritual Insight and Awareness

* * *

BIBLICAL AND CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION

God 
[The child should:]
a.	Learn Who God is, based on Biblical accounts and verses that describe His nature (e.g., the great I AM, the Alpha and Omega, etc.); learn attributes of God (e.g., His power to protect, His power to create, His power to supply, His love for mankind, His wisdom, His wise judgment, etc.).
b.	Learn how the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom; study and memorize Bible verses upon which this principle is based. (See “Wisdom,” Level 2a, CLF.)
c.	Understand that it was God’s love for mankind that caused Him to send Jesus to earth. 

Jesus, God’s Son 
[The child should:]
a.	Learn about Jesus, God’s Son, and why He came to earth. (See “Salvation,” Level 1a, CLF)
b.	Learn of Jesus’ birth (as celebrated at Christmas), early life, and years before His ministry began.
c.	Learn of the main milestones in Jesus’ ministry on earth.
d.	Learn of Jesus’ death and resurrection. 
e.	Study select parables that Jesus taught and their meaning.
f.	Study the miracles Jesus performed while on Earth.
g.	(See also “Jesus, Your Best Friend,” Levels 1 & 2, CLF.)

Salvation 
[The child should:]
a.	Learn of God’s unconditional love for each person; learn that Jesus, God’s Son, gave His life and then God raised Him back to life from the dead, so that one can be saved from one’s sins and receive the gift of eternal life in Heaven through accepting the gift of salvation. 
b.	Study and be able to describe the Scriptural basis showing salvation as a gift that cannot be earned through good works. 
c.	Learn how once someone has received the gift of salvation it won’t be taken away from him/her due to sin in their life. 

Holy Spirit, The 
[The child should:]
a.	Be able to articulate why the Holy Spirit was sent to believers after Jesus departed.
b.	Be able to define the baptism (or overflowing) of the Holy Spirit, and understand the purposes of Holy Spirit baptism, to give one comfort and peace, power to give more love to others, to be a greater witness of God’s love through Jesus, transformative power, a closer relationship with Jesus, wisdom to understand God’s Word, and help in hearing God’s voice; read and memorize Bible verses which highlight the purposes of the Holy Spirit.

God’s Word 
[The child should:]
a.	Learn that the Bible is God's Word written by divine inspiration; study the Bible verses that refer to this principle. 
b.	Respect and treasure God's Word, and understand the importance of keeping and obeying God's Word; study and memorize Bible verses upon which these principles are based. 
c.	Be able to identify the benefits of reading God's Word daily and becoming a student of the Word.
d.	Be able to list benefits of Scripture memorization. 
e.	Learn of methods and tips to become a student of the Word, such as memorization, Bible skills and knowledge, and practical study tips.
f.	(See also “General Bible Knowledge,” Levels 1 & 2, CLF.)

Faith 
[The child should:]
a.	Learn what faith is, i.e.: faith is a belief in the unseen, and a substantial and real commodity in the spirit, etc.; read and memorize Bible verses that build on the concept of faith.
b.	Be able to identify where to strengthen one’s faith: in Jesus and in His Word, and through faith-building accounts, and by actions that increase faith. 
c.	Learn that faith is one of the gifts of the Spirit, and that one can pray to receive a gift of increased faith. 
d.	Be able to describe the rewards and blessings of faith.

God’s Law of Love 
[The child should:]
a.	Be able to describe Jesus’ commandments of love as articulated in Matthew 22:35–39; identify love as the most important virtue; study and memorize Bible verses that highlight this principle.
b.	Be able to describe the Golden Rule as explained in the Bible (Luke 10:25–37) to treat others as one would wish to be treated.
c.	Learn that love is a fruit of God’s Spirit, and is manifested when one is abiding close to Jesus.
d.	Learn that one’s own love is insufficient, and so one must ask God to give one His love to love others with. 
e.	Learn of the benefits that loving others brings both to oneself and to others.
f.	Learn the qualities of genuine love: that it should be extended to everyone, that it is not pushy, it is considerate of others’ weaknesses, does not hurt or do wrong, does not give up, is kind and courteous, etc.
g.	Learn what putting love into action means, and that real love results in good deeds. 
h.	Understand the importance and benefits of giving and receiving affection, and how to show it to others.
i.	Learn of men and women in history who showed genuine and/or sacrificial love to others and the testament it was of God’s love.

Great Commission, The 
[The child should:]
	(This section of the scope and sequence focuses on the fundamentals of the great commission. For more on the practical ways to witness, see “Preach the Gospel,” Level 2, CLF.)
a.	Be able to describe and define “the great commission” that Jesus gave to His first disciples as articulated in the Bible. 
b.	Be able to indentify the great commission as the duty of all followers of Jesus to spread His message of love and truth. 
c.	Learn of the importance of the message of salvation, and why Christians are called to witness. 
d.	Learn of the rewards that come with being a witness for Jesus. 
e.	(See also “Preach the Gospel,” Level 2, CLF.)

Discipleship 
[The child should:]
a.	Be able to define the term “disciple” to mean a "follower of the teaching"; identify a disciple as someone who follows Jesus’ teachings, and serves Him and others out of love; study and memorize Bible verses and passages that this principle is based upon.
b.	Be able to list Jesus’ twelve disciples who followed Him while He was on earth, and the role that they played in helping Jesus in His mission.
c.	Learn that a disciple’s job is to manifest the love of God to others, and help others come to know God in a personal way; understand that a Christian’s life should stand as a testimony to the love God has for the world, and to the truth and power of His Word. 

Fellowship of Believers, The 
[The child should:]
a.	Learn of the importance of the fellowship of believers as outlined in the Bible. 
b.	Understand that believers are one in Christ, and that together believers are the body of Christ. 
c.	Understand the strength that is to be found in fellowship, and that it is for the strength, edification, and inspiration of one’s spirit. 

A PERSONAL CONNECTION WITH JESUS

Jesus, Your Best Friend 
[The child should:]
a.	Learn of Jesus’ love for us, and how important Jesus considers each person. 
b.	Learn to experience Jesus as part of one’s everyday lives, and learn to interact with Him, talk to Him, experience and take note of His love in the variety of ways He shows it, and to hear the guidance He offers.
c.	Learn that no problem one experiences is too big, bad, or ugly to take to Jesus; learn of the comfort and strength Jesus gives.
d.	Learn how Jesus wants to hear about all one goes through in life, the good and the difficult; that He will lovingly listen, give advice, encourage, and help one as a best friend would.
e.	(See also “Salvation,” Levels 1 & 2, CLF.)
f.	(See also “Jesus, God’s Son,” Levels 1 & 2, CLF.)

Prayer 
[The child should:]
a.	Learn of the many benefits and blessings that an active prayer life brings; study and memorize Bible verses on prayer.
b.	Learn how prayer is a combination of talking to and listening to Jesus. 
c.	Commit “The Lord’s Prayer” to memory and be able to describe its meaning.
d.	Learn to have reverence in prayer, approaching God in a spirit of praise, while also learning how to communicate with Jesus as the One who wishes to be one’s close friend and answer one’s prayers. 
e.	Learn that though God always answers prayers, He answers in the best way, which isn’t always the way a person expects or wants Him to answer; learn about the answers God gives to prayer—yes, no, and wait.
f.	Learn how to employ the power of prayer by evoking the spiritual promises that God has given through His Word; study Bible verses on God’s promises to hear and answer prayer. 
g.	Learn of the need to pray for others, as well as prayer for oneself; learn that to pray is the greatest action one can take to bring about good results.
h.	Learn of miracles God performed for those who prayed fervently. 

Praise and Thanksgiving 
[The child should:]
a.	Learn that believers are admonished in the Bible to give thanks; that one’s praises accomplish many purposes, one of which is making Jesus happy, another is that it benefits one’s spirit.
b.	Learn to recognize the many blessings that one has been given, and learn to express praise and thankfulness to Jesus for them. 
c.	Learn that one’s praises make Jesus happy, and the many ways in which to praise Jesus.
d.	Learn the negative effects of murmuring, or an unthankful attitude; learn how God views unthankfulness; learn what steps to take in order to guard against unthankful thoughts and behavior.
e.	Learn how to praise God during difficult times; learn how praise to God not only gives one strength to make it through difficult times, but that God uses one’s praises to bring good out of otherwise poor/bad circumstances.
f.	(See also “Gratitude,” Levels 1 & 2, CB.)

Joyfulness 
[The child should:]
a.	Learn that joy is a fruit of the Spirit; understand that joyfulness springs from the knowledge that one is loved by God, and one is promised eternal life through Jesus; become familiar with Scripture upon which these principles are based.
b.	Learn to look to Jesus for continual joy, and to not be dependent on external circumstances for happiness. 
c.	Learn that when times are slow, or when one needs to do something he or she doesn't want to do, by practicing joyfulness, one can be happy.
d.	Learn the balance between having fun and being joyful, versus being foolish.

Hearing from Jesus 
[The child should:]
a.	Learn that hearing from God is one of the gifts of the Spirit (prophecy), and is given to those who ask for this gift.
b.	Learn of the many ways in which God’s voice speaks: through the voice of His Word; through impressions or leadings; through His still, small voice; through dreams and visions, etc.; learn of instances in the Bible where God spoke to His prophets and His people.
c.	Learn Bible verses on hearing from Jesus, as well as verses that strengthen one’s faith that Jesus desires to talk with us. 
d.	Learn that prayer includes listening to God, and learn steps to take that will help one hear from Jesus. 
e.	(See also “Hearing from Jesus,” Level 2, CLF.)

WITNESSING AND MISSIONARY TRAINING

Missionary life 
[The child should:]
a.	Learn what it means to be a missionary, both in the past, as well as in present-day society. 
b.	Learn ways of preparing to possibly one day be a missionary by learning the Word and to witness today.
c.	Learn of the importance of praying for missionaries.

Great Men and Women of God
[The child should:]
a.	Learn of some of the lives of the great men and women of the Bible. 
b.	Learn of some of the well-known great men and women of God throughout history.

BIBLE KNOWLEDGE

General Bible Knowledge 
[The child should:]
a.	Learn that the Bible was written by divine inspiration. That there were many writers, yet only one author—God. (See “God’s Word,” Level 1a, CLF.)
b.	Learn why it is important to study the Bible: for spiritual strength, for one’s witness, to understand history, to know the future, etc. 
c.	Learn the books of the Bible.
d.	(See also “General Bible Knowledge,” Level 2, CLF.)

Creation 
[The child should:]
a.	Learn the story of creation.
b.	Learn of the wonders of God’s creation, and show appreciation for it.

Bible Prophecy 
[The child should:]
a.	Learn of how God uses prophecy to reveal the future; learn of the purpose for the future being foretold.
b.	Be able to identify Messianic prophecies in the Bible and connect them with their historical fulfillment.

SPIRITUAL INSIGHT AND AWARENESS

Healing 
[The child should:]
a.	Study God’s many promises in the Bible to heal when one is sick; read Biblical accounts of miracles of healing.
b.	Learn that God is one’s Creator, and it’s within His power to heal. 
c.	Learn how God uses doctors and other health professionals to help treat illness or gain a better understanding of one’s bodies and its needs.

Miracles 
[The child should:]
a.	Learn of miracles that took place in the Bible. 
b.	Learn of God’s conditions for miracles, and in what circumstances God likes to perform miracles. 
c.	Learn to recognize and give thanks for the miracles that God does in answer to prayer.
d.	Learn to take one’s specific needs and the needs of others to the Lord in prayer, claiming God’s promises and expecting God to act. (See “Prayer,” Level 2f, CLF.)
e.	Learn to go beyond what one feels is a comfortable request, and to put God on the spot for needs outside of the realm of easy expectation. (See “Prayer,” Level 2g, CLF.)
f.	(See “Prayer,” Levels 1 & 2, CLF.)
g.	(See “Faith,” Levels 1 & 2, CLF.)

Heaven 
[The child should:]
a.	Learn of Heaven as described in the Bible. 
b.	Understand that Jesus has prepared a place in Heaven for all those who believe in Him.
c.	Understand that Heaven is the place one’s soul goes to when one’s life on Earth is over.
d.	Learn that loved ones who are saved before they die, go to Heaven, and that one day one will be reunited with them.

Heaven and the Spirit World 
[The child should:]
a.	Learn of how the Bible describes the “spirit world,” and people’s experiences as related to one from the Bible. 
b.	Learn of the “veil” that separates the spiritual world from the physical world, and the purpose for this veil.
c.	Read of people’s experiences of going to Heaven.

Angels and Departed Saints / Satan and His Demons 
[The child should:]
a.	Learn of the “great cloud of witnesses” as described in the Bible. 
b.	Learn that angels are powerful immortal beings; read accounts of angelic appearances in the Bible, as well as modern day appearances.
c.	Learn of God’s plan and purpose for angels, and how they help us.
d.	Learn of the fall of Lucifer, and how he convinced one-third of the angels to follow him.
e.	Learn that Satan, the Devil, is the opposing force of all that is good, and that he fights God’s truth, and those who stand for God.
f.	Learn of the role of guardian angels, and how they are always with us.
 
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