ABSG Questions for Discussion: Last Things: Jesus and the Saved

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, 16 December 2012

Last Things: Jesus and the Saved

The Heavenly Sanctuary I, II

Did the Israelites have to understand the meaning of the sanctuary and its services or just follow the instructions?
Do you learn more about a symbol from understanding the real, or do you understand the real more from studying the symbol?
Which way would you feel more confident of forgiveness: faith in Jesus, or sacrificing an animal for sin?
How do we know the limits of connections between the symbol and the real? Does every nail and colour of the sanctuary have to have some meaning for salvation?

The Second Coming of Christ

In what ways is the world getting better or worse?
Can Jesus have come as early as the disciples expected and the time prophecies of Daniel and Revelation have a shorter interpretation?

Awaiting the Advent

How should Adventists live while waiting for the second coming of Jesus?
Why do we claim that what happened to the sun, moon, and stars around 1800 are signs of the second coming when such things happened earlier, and will possibly happen again.

Death and Resurrection

What happens to the spirit of a person that returns to God at death?
If Jesus was raised bodily, how could He go through walls?

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.