The emphasis of this curriculum is God’s kingdom of grace, being a recruited agent (steward, citizen) of that kingdom, and the battle between it and the kingdom of evil. Being in God’s kingdom requires action—being doers and not just listeners (James 1:22) of how to live as God’s agents on this earth.
The first lesson of each quarter of the two-year cycle is a different portion of the Sermon on the Mount which is “at once Christ’s inaugural address as King of the kingdom of grace and also the constitution of the kingdom” (Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 5, p. 322).
After the first lesson of each quarter each of the other twelve lessons (or sets of lessons) is about a different challenge, right, or privilege in the “real-time” of being an agent of God’s kingdom. A Christian never knows what he or she will be encountering next.
Quarter One
Contrast between God’s kingdom and kingdom of evil (Matthew 5:1-12)
A life of Christian character
The Great Controversy
The sinner’s need of Jesus
Growing in grace
Your identity in Christ (parts 1 and 2)
Breaking down your own prejudice
Withholding judgment
Transforming the critical spirit
Heroes
Jesus, ultimate hero
You a hero
Quarter Two
Communicating with the kingdom through prayer (Matthew 7:7-12) (parts 1 and 2)
Walking with God (parts 1 and 2)
Hanging on in God’s apparent absence
“Alone” with God
Listening on purpose (parts 1 and 2)
Authenticity and hypocrisy (parts 1 and 2)
Needs, wants, and blessings
Competition and the Christian (parts 1 and 2)
Quarter Three
What does “perfect” look like in the kingdom? (Matthew 5:38-48)
Getting a handle on our emotions
Coping with guilt and fear
Created in God’s image
Reflecting God’s image
God’s Truth
The way the world began
Changed by baptism
Gossip and grace
The Christian and homosexuality
Random acts of kindness
Vocation and the Christian
Quarter Four
Spiritual Disciplines and the kingdom (Matthew 6)
Prayer and Bible study
Christian Service
Worship and tithing (Lordship)
Submission
Secret goodness
Fasting, purity, simplicity
Christian sacrifice and faith
Handling money as a Christian
Speaking the truth in love
Expressing emotions
Finding someone to talk to
Use of time
Quarter Five
Witnessing for the kingdom (Matthew 5:13-16)
Why am I a Christian?
What is my mission?
Holiness---growing in grace
End-time prophecy (parts 1, 2, and 3)
A missions mindset
Finding my place
Resisting negative peer pressure
Substance and other body abuses
Living in the here and now (postmodern culture) (parts 1 and 2)
Quarter Six
Christian lifestyle and the kingdom (Matthew 7:13-23)
Positive reading choices
The Bible
Bearing the title “Christian”
Global missions
The body of believers and mission
Service and servant leadership
Growing in a church family
Teachers
Making choices
Balance and moderation
Media and entertainment (parts 1 and 2)
Quarter Seven
Judging others in the kingdom (Matthew 7:1-6)
Growing stronger in Jesus
Addictions (parts 1 and 2)
Friendship
Guys and Girls
Sexuality
Profanity
Suicide
The upside-down kingdom
Fools for Christ
Music
Quarter Eight
Rules of the kingdom (Matthew 5:17-37
Pornography
Spiritual gifts
Relating to the local church
Family matters
Fashion and modesty
Attacks on Jesus’ identity and ours (parts 1-4)
The Christian and technology
Rulership and ecology
Jesus' second coming