ABSG Questions for Discussion: A Love Response

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, 3 June 2012

A Love Response

Motivated by Love

Do parents do things for their children more out of duty or out of love? How can a child tell the difference?
Which is more enjoyable, to give love, or to receive it?
Does God do things for us because He loves us, or because He wants us to love Him?

Not By Guilt

The gospel commission to go and evangelize, is that a command or request? Are we sinning if we disregard it? Should we feel guilty if we are ignoring it?
Is it wrong to witness because we feel guilty if we don’t?

Motivated to Serve

Is it possible to love someone and not be motivated to do things for that person?
How does a person performing chores out of love feel about it?

The Legalism Trap

Does a Christian get credit for any of his actions (like fasting and praying)? Will each soul brought to Christ earn him/her a star?
Does God’s infinite grace cover for all of one’s deficiencies to the point we don’t have to worry about anything as long as we profess to love Christ? If I have to do something that would be “works,” right? So why should one act on the gospel commission?

Free to be a Slave

What’s the difference in being a servant of the devil or a servant of Christ?
What does it mean to you to be a “servant” of Christ? What is the problem if it becomes burdensome? What is the solution?

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.