In the 1970’s Loren Cunningham and other leaders in Youth With A Mission felt that God was encouraging them to see a biblical curriculum developed for all ages as a key to impacting nations. In 1977 an international group of educators met in Kona, Hawaii to seek God for his direction. Out of this and other curriculum meetings the concept that God is the curriculum was understood as the foundation for producing Biblical Christian Curriculum. When we study science we study God’s creation which leads us to discover the creator (creation declares the glory of God). When we study history we are learning about the interaction or lack of interaction of man with God and the consequences. The study of God, became the foundation of curriculum development. Multiple seminars were run and model schools developed in many countries. From this season an Early Childhood curriculum was collated and published in English in 1996 since then translations have been completed in German, Mandarin, Korean. A primary curriculum was not published at this time.

In 2007 a small group came together in Kona Hawaii to seek God on how to publish a primary curriculum that would form the core of a complete curriculum that sees God as the focus of all subjects and all life. This curriculum is not to be seen as the basis for only academic knowledge of God but rather the foundation for students to encounter God in all aspects of their day and experience his presence in all aspects of life. 

In 2012 a team again spent time listening to God and the current version of verbs, nouns and adjectives that describe God were developed. There are 63 units based around 21 verbs, 21 nouns and 21 adjectives that the Bible uses to describe God. Materials were put on a website entitled “Entering God’s Presence” because of God’s reminder that he wants children to know him, not just know about him, and to learn in his presence.

The Curriculum Today 

This Foundational Bible Curriculum is a work in progress, still undergoing development. It is a repeating, spiraling, three dimensional, three-year cycle of God-centered themes, with lesson materials being created at four different levels. A student may encounter "God as Father" or "God the One Who Speaks" in their first, fourth, seventh and tenth years at school, but each time there will be different lesson ideas appropriate for their level. Each year there are 21 two-week units.

Content 

Materials are being developed in the following areas, along with a suggested way of ordering themes in a three year cycle:- (see charts)

 Names of God - 21 (Nouns)         Nature & Character - 21 (Adjectives)          Works & Ways - 21 (Verbs)

Materials cover 42 weeks each year if two weeks are spent on each of the 21 units. Teachers may prefer to spend more or less time on some units in order to fit them into their school year.

Units are intended to be a foundation for other areas of schooling flowing through science, art, writing lessons etc. Integration ideas are listed in each Unit Plan.

Preparation & Planning:

Any teaching should flow out of personal revelation. Those using this curriculum should take time to meditate, and listen to God on each theme before the week begins. As materials have been prepared God has spoken strongly about His desire for us to bring students into His presence, not just teach about him. Right from the beginning God’s intention has been face to face relationship with him. This is modeled by the Trinity, seen in the garden before sin entered, in the tent of meeting placed in the center of the Israelites’ camp, in Jesus–Immanuel, God with us, in the Holy Spirit, His presence on earth, and finally in being with him in eternity. It is in his presence that we find worth and identity. 

Bible Memory/Meditation:

There are suggested memory/meditation verses, Bible passages and Bible stories for each unit, along with ways of reading right through the Bible in a year. The NLT Bible is used with permission

Memory/Meditation verses are attached as printable pdf files to each unit. (Large for wall, small for students) Verses should always be read in context. Some weeks students could meditate on a section of the Bible without any memorization, or memorize longer passages over 2-3 weeks.

In 2014 a team will be working on putting together materials and methods for cycles of reading right through the Bible at different age levels. 

Lesson Materials:

There are lesson ideas for each unit at four different class levels. For each unit there are enough lesson materials for 2 weeks and teachers/parents/students can add more! (To share lesson ideas or help write lessons for other languages and/or cultures please email icscurriculum@me.com.)

Suggestions for Recording: 

• Students can each have a book/journal to work in throughout the year. They may want to decorate the cover of the book appropriately with their name & "Bible" somewhere on it.

• Students set up a page or part of a page with a decorative title at the beginning of each unit.

Possible Weekly Schedule for Bible Class:- (3 or 4 class times of 15-45 minutes, themes should also be woven through every subject area)

Day 1: Find memory/meditation verses in Bibles - read aloud and write nicely and/or glue printed copies into journal. Talk, set in context. (Look at Lesson Ideas for ways to introduce)

Days 2 & 3: Meditate on the verse, listening to God. Illustrate and note things God says. Practical helps to meditate - Read it Write it Sing it Say it Pray it Draw it Use Lesson Ideas

Day 4: Test memory verse by having students write verse on paper & hand in or speak out loud individually etc. (particularly if writing is a challenge)