ABSG Questions for Discussion: Freedom is Christ

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, 7 December 2011

Freedom is Christ

Christ Has Set Us Free

1. What is the difference in being a slave to the law and being a servant of Christ?

2. What are the differences between bondage to the law and bondage to sin?

3. How would you feel about a person freed from jail who because he could not handle freedom, desired to go back to the familiar life of prison?

The Nature of Freedom

1. Are those who are free really free?

2. Are there limits to freedom of speech, freedom of religion, etc.? Why or why not?

3. Is there something in my life enslaving me? How badly do I desire freedom from it?

The Dangerous Consequences of Legalism

1. Are we Adventists happy with our tag of “people obsessed with the law?”

2. Would it be better to be known as “people of love and compassion?”

3. Is it possible to be both?

4. Why wouldn’t God appreciate a slavish servitude to keeping His law?

Liberty Not Licentiousness

1. Why would God not appreciate a generous use of His grace by people not bothered to keep the law?

2. How does freedom from bad habits affect our relationship to others?

Fulfilling the Whole Law

1. Is it necessary to keep the whole law or is loving God and our fellow humans enough?

2. Is it easier to obey the law or to love God and our neighbors?

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.