ABSG Questions for Discussion: Creation Care

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.

Sunday, 19 February 2012

Creation Care

What work would Adam and Eve have had in a perfect Garden of Eden?

The Lobster Liberation Movement

1. Are we to just do our own part in preserving the environment, or should we correct others, becoming tree huggers and Greenpeace activists?

2. Knowing that Jesus is coming very soon shouldn’t we use up as much of the earth’s resources as we can rather than waste it unused?

A Statement on Creation Care

1. The Adventist statement on care of the environment advocates a simple wholesome lifestyle: should we return to the rural Indian way of life which makes little demand on the earth’s resources and where waste returns straight to the earth?

2. What is the use of me, one person, saving a few drops of water when everyone else is wasting it by the bucketfuls?

Creation Care

1. In what ways can misuse of the environment be against the spirit of loving God and fellow-humans?

2. Gen 2:15 makes humans “servants” and “keepers” of the land: What is the difference from being owners and rulers, in terms of responsibility.

Sabbath and the Environment

1. How much is enough? At what point should a person stop accumulating?

2. How does Sabbath-keeping control our desires to abuse the environment?

Humankind’s Dominion

1. Is the dominion of humans over creation incomplete because women are scared of mice and frogs (leave alone tigers and lions)?

2. Have we accomplished God’s first command to humans – “replenish and fill the earth?” What does “fill” mean?

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.