ABSG Questions for Discussion: Boasting in the Cross

Welcome

Many Sabbath School class teachers either preach a sermon to their class or deliver a monologue on the whole lesson, going through it "day-by-day." The most rewarding sessions involve the members in discussion. These questions here are intended to stimulate the active participation of the members in your class. Of course pertinent information imparted by the teacher is also very valuable, for which there are many resources in print and on the internet. This site seeks to provide a resource for discussions.

If you are a member and not a teacher and your class is boring, try asking questions such as these in your class.

Wednesday, 28 December 2011

Boasting in the Cross

Paul’s Own Hand

1. How can you make a letter to a person you are not on good terms with sound sincere?

2. Is a handwritten letter superior to an email? Why or why not?

Boasting in the Flesh

1. Is it alright to seek the support of non-church members in your struggles within the church when you are in the right. In other words is it alright to use outsiders to fix problems inside the church?

2. Do any forms of persecution exist within my church?

Boasting in the Cross

1. What are things that I boast about myself, my family, my church?

2. Have I ever boasted about the cross? How does one do that?

3. How did Paul’s life and preaching demonstrate boasting in the cross?

A New Creation

1. How does the experience of baptism contribute to becoming a new creature?

2. Can the rite of circumcision accomplish the same thing?

3. What does it mean or feel like to be a new creature? How will you know if you are a new creation?

Final Remarks

1. What are some of the different standards by which people determine what is right or wrong in church?

2. What kinds of scars do believers have as a result of their relationship with Jesus?

How to Teach a Sabbath School Class

1. Make a conscious decision that you will lead a discussion and not preach a sermon. Prepare accordingly and be alert for discussion opportunities. A discussion in which many participate is very rewarding.

2. You must have a page of freshly written notes. Don't waste people's time with inconsequential things just to occupy the time.

3. Sprinkle your notes with discussion questions and mark them out in bold. Any time you feel you are losing the attention of the members get them into another discussion. The discussion should be relevant to the lesson as well as to everyday life.

4. Start the lesson with a discussion question, or at the very latest within the next few sentences. If you wait for ten minutes and then try to generate a discussion it will be too late. The class will have tuned you out because you have tuned them out.

5. The opening question should be general enough so that even those who have not studied will be interested in contributing.

6. Avoid questions that can be answered by a single word. If someone answers with "yes/no" ask them to give reasons for their answer. If the answer is too short ask them to clarify or simplify the answer.

7. If a member asks a question, that is a golden opportunity for a discussion. Don't waste it by answering it too quickly. Throw the question back to the members for their opinion. You can give yours at the end.

8. Avoid childish questions such as "Which day is the Sabbath?" Members will not feel any need to answer it. Similarly do not pause in a sentence for the members to supply the last few words. That kind of participation is not a discussion. Members must contribute ideas and thoughts and not just words.

9. Avoid trick questions. Members will be embarrassed if you show them wrong and they will not answer the next time. Also avoid questions that will make it obvious whether or not they have studied the lesson. Those who have not studied should also feel urged to contribute.

10. You may sometimes present two views and ask the members to evaluate the views.