ABSG Questions for Discussion: Let the Church Know

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.

Thursday, 14 June 2012

Let the Church Know

A Biblical Principle

Should our church be concerned with reports and statistics or should we just evangelize and never mind the numbers?
John and Peter reprted to back to the disciples the problems they had faced. Why do you think our leaders report only good things in committees and not the challenges they faced?

What God Had Done

What are the benefits from hearing a good report of evangelism?
What are the benefits of sharing the challenges being faced in evangelism?

The Importance of Reporting

Some time ago we used to have reports before the church service on persons helped, meals given away, sick visited, etc. Should we restore those reports in church?
Have you heard mission reports that inspired you? Have you heard reports that turned you off? What made the difference?

Reporting and Motivation

Why did Moses'ten spies give a negative report? Why did Caleb and Joshua give a positive report?
What is the difference between faith an presumption? What would it have been if all twelve spies gave an encouraging report and the Israelites went ahead? Give reasons for your answer.

Giving Him Glory

Can you give an honest sincere report and still have some people think you are boasting? What might give people that impression?
Is some of the reports of results of evangelism untruthfull? Can there be good motives for a dishonest report?
What do you think of an evangelist who reports hundreds of baptisms and ends with "Praise God, I brought more than 200 souls to Christ last year."

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.