Biblical Foundations

NAD Standards // Bible

Essential Question

Why is the Bible important today?

Big Idea

The Bible is God’s word, preserved through the ages to help us learn about God, His plan for our lives, and His love for the

world.

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Trace the history of the English Bible, including reference to the Dead Sea Scrolls and the printing press. (1)

Explain the difference between translations and paraphrases; compare and
contrast passages of Scripture from different versions; paraphrase selected
passages. (1)

Explain the role of inspiration in the development of the Bible, recognizing that the books of the Bible were written by a variety of authors and reflect their varying personalities and the times in which they lived. (1)

Trace how God preserved the Bible writings throughout history. (1)

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Locate with confidence specific Bible passages by book, chapter, and verse, understanding the relationship between Old and New Testaments. (1)

Compare and contrast various genres of writing in the Bible (e.g., poetry, narrative, prophecy, history, letters). (1)

Investigate redemption, the central theme of the Bible, in the context of the Great Controversy (creation, fall, redemption, re-creation). (1, 4, 9, 10)

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Make personal connections between Bible study and daily living, recognizing that Bible study reveals God’s plan for our world and our personal lives. (1, 8, 11)

Cite textual evidence, including a comparison of scripture with scripture, that supports an analysis of what a Bible story/passage says both explicitly and implicitly. (1, 8)

Reflect on the role of prayer and the work of the Holy Spirit in helping us to understand God’s Word. (1, 2, 5, 11)

Analyze the development of a main idea throughout a Bible passage, including its relationship to supporting ideas; connect the passage to one’s personal worldview and discuss with others. (1, 8)

Memorize passages of Scripture. (1)

Investigate what Bible passages reveal about God; identify and share their practical applications for daily life. (1, 8, 11)

Make connections between a Bible passage, personal experience, other reading/viewing selections, and the world around us. (1, 8, 11)

Choose a personal Bible and read it to determine answers to life’s questions and challenges, being careful not to take passages out of context. (1, 8, 11)

Interpret the geographical, historical, and cultural contexts of Bible passages. (1)

Use a variety of Biblical reference and research materials, both print and digital, to aid in interpreting Bible passages. (1)

Develop and practice skills for leading and participating in a peer group Bible study. (1)

Essential Question

How does a Biblical worldview help me answer life’s big questions—where did I come from, why am I here, and

where am I going?

Big Idea

The Bible reveals a loving God who created the world, continues to sustain it even though it departed from His ideal plan,

and provides for the redemption and ultimate restoration of humanity.

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Identify the Godhead as the eternal and self-existent Creator, distinguishing the unique roles of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. (2-6)

Determine God’s purpose for an orderly, perfect universe that operates on His law of love. (6)

Explain the importance of a literal 7-day Creation week. (6, 20, 23)

Investigate what the Creation narrative teaches about Sabbath, marriage, family, and equality. (6, 20, 23)

Articulate that we are created just a little lower than the angels and in the image of God, fashioned by God’s own hand. (6, 7, 23)

Cite evidence that supports God’s purpose in creating us. (6)

Use Biblical references to support how Creation demonstrates God’s love for us and establishes His plan for how we should love Him, serve one another, and care for the Earth. (6, 21)

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Trace the beginning of the Great Controversy as a real conflict between Christ and Satan. (8)

Recognize that evil is the result of sin which is rebellion against God’s law of love, and that evil is a universal problem, affecting every human being and all of Creation. (8)

Using references, construct an argument that God had a plan for redemption before sin began and continues to love us in spite of our sin. (8, 9)

Draw conclusions as to why God permitted Satan to live and challenge His authority, and how allowing evil to continue for a time demonstrates God’s love. (8)

Explain the part that humanity plays in the Great Controversy and why God allows us the freedom of choice to love or reject Him. (8, 26)

Cite evidence that demonstrates how temptation can lead to sin. (8, 9, 26)

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Cite textual evidence from several sources that Jesus died for all of us, because of our infinite value to Him, to fulfill the plan of redemption developed before Creation. (8,9)

Explain Righteousness by Faith, recognizing that salvation may not be achieved by human works but is a result of divine action through God’s gift of grace. (10)

Discern how the symbolic system of sacrifice foreshadowed God’s plan of salvation and how Jesus is our Substitute. (10, 11, 24)

Trace the plan of redemption through the Old and New Testaments (e.g., the Exodus, laws, sanctuary, feasts, covenant, Last Supper, Jesus’ death on the cross, resurrection). (1, 9, 16, 19, 20)

Use the tests of a prophet to clarify the role of prophets (including Ellen White) in reminding people of God’s plan for their redemption. (17, 18)

Examine how Old Testament prophecies pointed to Jesus, recognizing that in His life and sacrifice, God met the demands of the Law and justified sinners. (9, 10, 11)

Apply Jesus’ teachings about God and the Kingdom of Heaven to daily living. (4, 11)

Analyze the meanings of the symbols of redemption (e.g., baptism, communion, foot washing, the cross, etc.). (15, 16)

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Support the claim that God’s plan is for us to recognize our fallen state and allow Him to restore us to the Creation ideal. (6, 7, 8)

Discern that the Biblical metaphors (e.g., light, salt) represent the role individuals are called to fulfill in a sinful world. (4, 5, 11, 22)

Analyze and demonstrate the Fruit of the Spirit, recognizing that they are the result of God’s ongoing work in our lives. (5, 10, 17, 18, 22)

Examine end-time prophecies and define the role of the sanctuary as it relates to last day events (e.g., investigative judgment, sanctification). (8, 13, 18, 19, 20, 24, 25)

Analyze the Three Angels’ messages as an integral part of the Gospel Commission. (11, 12, 13)

Investigate the prophecies related to Jesus’ Second Coming and His promise to save us and cleanse the Earth. (24, 25, 26)

Compare the Biblical view to other world views concerning death. (25, 26)

Investigate the millennium as the thousand-year reign with Christ, recognizing that His final return will culminate in the total eradication of evil and the conclusion of the Great Controversy. (8, 25, 26, 27)

Essential Question

What does it mean to have a relationship with God and why is such a relationship important?

Big Idea

We build a relationship with God by including Him in our daily lives so we are happy and productive on Earth and prepared

to spend eternity with Him in Heaven.

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Explore the nature of the Godhead (e.g., names, attributes, roles). (2, 3, 4, 5)

Analyze examples from the Bible that portray God’s omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence. (2, 3, 4, 5)

Cite textual evidence that identifies the role of angels in the Great Controversy. (8, 25, 26)

Explain how the Bible shows that God is seeking a personal relationship with us. (1)

Investigate promises and passages in the Bible that reveal the character of God, and apply these promises to daily living. (1, 3, 4)

Construct an argument based on Scripture to show that God’s law is designed to protect our relationship with Him and others. (19)

Investigate how nature, despite being affected by sin, still speaks to us of God’s love. (6, 21)

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Explain how repentance, confession, and forgiveness are related, recognizing that God offers forgiveness to those who acknowledge their need, and who ask, believe, and accept it. (9, 10)

Consider an invitation to accept Jesus as Savior and trust Him as Lord, recognizing that this is a personal decision. (10, 15)

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Recognize the guiding and re-creative role of the Holy Spirit, understanding that God’s process of sanctification will continue until Jesus’ Second Coming. (2, 5, 11, 17, 22)

Accept that the Bible reveals the standard by which we are to live. (1, 11, 19)

Construct an argument supported by evidence that a loving response to God’s offer of salvation is obedience to His commandments. (10, 11, 15, 19, 22)

Support the claim that the better we understand the holiness of God, the more we will recognize our own sinfulness and our need for His grace. (7, 10, 11)

Explore different prayers in the Bible that show how communication with God helps develop Christian character. (1, 11)

Reflect on ways in which God’s leading is evident in our personal life and character development. (22)

Recognize that worshiping together strengthens our characters and equips us to help others. (11, 12, 14, 20)

Acknowledge that God answers our prayers in a variety of ways, but His primary purpose is to have a relationship with us through prayer. (1, 11)

Participate in prayer and worship of God. (11, 12, 14, 20)

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Experience daily devotional time alone with God, including prayer, Bible study, and reflection. (11)

Discern the Sabbath as a sign of God’s eternal covenant between Him and His people, and a time to rejoice, fellowship, and celebrate Creation and Redemption. (6, 20)

Explore a variety of ways to communicate with God (e.g., prayer, song, journaling, nature). (11)

Recognize various symbols of our commitment to God (e.g., baptism, foot washing, communion) and consider an invitation to be baptized. (15, 16)

Commit to wellness in physical and mental health, understanding that these affect spiritual health. (11, 22)

Investigate and apply the Biblical principles of stewardship. (21)

Explore what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. (11, 15)

Essential Question

How does God want us to care for ourselves and relate to others?

Big Idea

God wants us to treat others as He treated us, taking care of ourselves so that we can reach out to care for and share our

faith with others.

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Compare and contrast true and false concepts of self-worth. (7)

Assess how choices and habits influence spiritual, mental, physical, and social development. (11, 22)

Make life choices that give evidence that our bodies are the temple of God. (22)

Identify and demonstrate important personal values (e.g., honesty, kindness, respect, humility). (22)

Investigate how emotions, motivations, and principles influenced Bible characters’ behavior and choices, with applications to our lives today. (7, 22)

Analyze why repentance results in a radical change in attitude toward God and sin, empowering us to forgive others. (9, 10, 11)

Assess and manage the influence of peer relationships in our choices and interests. (22)

Examine how developing a relationship with God and maintaining a balanced life prepares us for the most effective service to others. (22)

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Define and cultivate healthy human relationships. (12, 14, 22, 23)

Exhibit appropriate verbal and non-verbal skills that demonstrate caring Christian behavior, recognizing that positive and negative thoughts influence our behavior and treatment of others. (7, 11, 22)

Demonstrate acceptance and respect for all people, recognizing that diversity makes God’s family stronger and strengthens our service to others. (7, 11, 22)

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Participate in service and reflect on its role in building a deeper, more vibrant relationship with Jesus. (11, 13)

Develop a strong work ethic that manifests itself in service. (11, 13)

Participate in local, national, or global initiatives that serve those in need. (11, 13)

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Explain the Gospel Commission and that every disciple is called to have a personal part in telling the world about Jesus. (11, 13)

Recognize that we are stewards of the unique talents and spiritual gifts that God has given us. (17, 21)

Identify and develop my spiritual gifts and use one or more in sharing my faith. (13, 17)

Compare and contrast the methods and results of different ways of witnessing in the Bible with our current methods and results. (1)

Participate in a variety of witnessing activities. (11, 13)

Essential Question

Why is it important to study the history and development of the Seventh-day Adventist Church?

Big Idea

By understanding how God led His church in the past, we can be confident that He will continue to lead us in the future.

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Outline the roots of the Seventh-day Adventist Church including: (a) the development of the early Christian church, (b) the spread of Christianity from the early Christian church through the Reformation, and (c) the beginning of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and the roles of various key individuals. (12)

Explain how the Great Disappointment of 1844 triggered intensive Bible studies that led to a better understanding of prophetic events. (24)

Trace the role of key individuals in the development of the Seventh-day Adventist Church from 1915 to the present. (12)

Discern that the fundamental beliefs of the Church summarize key teachings that Seventh-day Adventists understand from the Scriptures, and identify key Bible passages that support these beliefs. (1-28)

Outline God’s leading throughout the development of the health, publishing, education, humanitarian, and missionary work of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. (13, 17)

Summarize the major events that led to the growth of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the 19th and 20th centuries. (10, 12, 18, 24, 25)

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Trace the major events in Ellen White’s life. (18)

Compare and contrast Ellen White’s role with the role of prophets in the Bible, and analyze her contribution to the development of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. (18)

Research the various writings of Ellen White to better understand Scripture and deepen our relationship with God. (18)

Investigate how the White Estate was established to care for and promote Ellen White’s writings. (18)

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Outline and explain the governance structure of the Seventh-day Adventist Church (e.g., churches, conferences, unions, divisions, world church headquarters). (12, 14)

Demonstrate involvement in a local church. (12, 14)

Describe the financial structure of the church and articulate a rationale to support the concept of returning tithes and giving offerings. (12, 14, 21)

Explore the programs available for youth in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and research educational opportunities (e.g., AY, mission trips, academy, college/university). (12)

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Study an age-appropriate editorial, blog post, story, or speech by a Seventh-day Adventist published author or editor, and analyze the points being made and their connection to the Seventh-day Adventist worldview. (17)