OVERVIEW

Different by Design:

How God Weaves Ethnic Identity

Into His Grand Story

Outline of the Curriculum

Each lesson corresponds to a chapter in the companion book, which is made available at no cost to educators implementing this curriculum

Introduction

Lesson 1: God and my ethnic identity

God incorporates people’s cultural identities,
experiences, skills, and perspectives into his work.

PART 1:

Stories of immigrants and refugees

Lesson 2: Jesus and the gentile woman

As an infant, Jesus’ parents became refugees in Egypt, fleeing from Herod.

Lesson 3: Abraham and Hagar

God called Abraham to immigrate to Canaan, and during a famine he moved to Egypt, where he acquired a foreign slave who encountered God.

Lesson 4: Joseph and Judah

Trafficked to Egypt and enslaved, Joseph was
raised up by God to save his family. Judah's change of heart redeemed a broken relationship.

Lesson 5: Ruth and Rahab

Foreign women who showed loyalty to God's
people and experienced God’s favor.

PART 2:

Stories of bicultural identities

Lesson 6: Daniel and Ebed-Melek

First-generation immigrants who learned to

live and work in a foreign culture.

Lesson 7: Esther and Mordecai

God elevated this bicultural, third-generation immigrant to a position where she could save her people.

Lesson 8: Paul

Paul’s bicultural identity and skills were essential

assets in his cross-cultural ministry.

PART 3:

Mixed ethnicities & third-culture identities

Lesson 9: Timothy and Lydia

Paul’s co-workers. Timothy’s mixed ethnicity

(Greek & Jewish) was key in his ministry.

Lesson 10: Ephraim and Manasseh

Hebrew/Egyptian sons of Joseph who became
leaders of two tribes of Israel.

Lesson 11: Moses

God maximized Moses’ hybrid identity

(Hebrew/Egyptian/Midianite) to lead his people.

Lesson 12: Zipporah and Jethro

Moses’ Midianite wife and father-in-law
showed skill in navigating cross-cultural issues.

PART 4:

Stories of cultural perspectives

Lesson 13: Jonah & Naaman’s servant girl

Ethnocentric, nationalistic Israelite who God challenges to develop a heart like his. The Jewish servant girl advocates for her foreign master’s healing.

Lesson 14: Ezra & Nehemiah

Bicultural, third-generation immigrants
returning to their ancestral homeland.

Lesson 15: Stephen

Hellenistic Jew whose sermon highlights

God's presence outside the Holy land.

Lesson 16: Philip & Peter

Philip’s pioneering gentile ministry;

Peter’s divine vision for non-Jewish converts.

Lesson 17: Luke

His cultural perspective informed his writings

emphasizing gentile inclusion.

Conclusion

Lesson 18: Magi

Review of curriculum themes, ending with

multicultural worship (Revelation 7:9).

Appendices

Appendix A:

Human identity according to Scripture

Appendix B:

The Bible storyline overview -

Summary overview of the stories presented in the curriculum in chronological order.

Appendix C:

How to have conversations about difficult topics - A guide for parents, teachers, and youth leaders about best practices on how to talk about ethnic-racial issues with young people in the church.

Glossary

Definition of key Biblical concepts and

terms about ethnic-racial identity development.

Sample Chapter & Lesson:

Paul

Chapter on Paul

Paul BC.pdf

Lesson Plan on Paul