ABSG Questions for Discussion: The Promise of His Return

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.

Tuesday, 27 March 2012

The Promise of His Return

The Beginning and the End

1. If all the time from the creation till the Second Advent were 12 hours on a clock, what would be the time now? What was the time of the Adventist pioneers? What time did they think it was? What about Jesus’ disciples?

2. Why do you think God reveals to us how the world is going to end?

Promise and Expectation

1. Are we proud of our name “Seventh-day Adventist” or do we sometimes wish we had a more general meaning name like “Christian?”

2. Why do non-Adventists not ask more often what “Adventist” means? Is it to many people just a name?

Our Great Assurance

1. If the world could be improved and restored without a literal second advent, would that suffice?

2. Why has God provided prophecies of His return?

Where is the Promise of His Coming?

1. Why could not Eve’s son have been the Messiah and brought a quick end to evil?

2. Why do you think God chose to foretell the coming of the Messiah? Why not just come?

Behold I Come Quickly

1. How can Jesus say “I come quickly,” when it’s already been two thousand years?

2. Is there a real delay in the second coming or is it only an apparent delay?

3. In the parable of the stewards waiting for the return of the master they were told to “occupy” till he returned (Luke 19:13): What should we be doing?

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.