ABSG Questions for Discussion: Love Stories

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, 18 March 2012

Love Stories

If God were not love, what would the world be like?

The First Romance

1. What is romantic love? What determines if it is good or bad?

2. Does romance increase or decrease with marriage?

Biblical Romances

1. How was Abraham able to romance Sarah after so many years of marriage? Did the absence of kids contribute to that?

2. Can arranged marriages like Isaac’s become romantic?

God’s Love

1. Is true love Jealous like God’s?

2. If God loves us so much, why doesn’t he make us want to stay with Him? If you love someone who wants to leave, how can you make that person want to stay?

3. How do you feel when someone loves you intensely, and that someone is God?

A Book of Romance

1. If sex weren’t enjoyable would there be so many kids around?

2. Are you embarrassed by the Song of Solomon? At what age would you allow your children to read the book? Why do you think it is in the Bible?

Jesus and Romance

1. Why do you think Jesus performed his first miracle at Cana: (1) to find out what He could do? (2) to show His favour on marriage? (3) to honour His mother? (4) None of these? (5) All of these?

2. In what ways does God bless our marriages?

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.