ABSG Questions for Discussion: Jesus, Provider and Sustainer

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, 17 February 2013

Jesus, Provider and Sustainer

The Sustainer

On a scale of 1-10 how involved do you think God actually has to be to keep this world running? How involved does He seem to be in reality?
If God is fully in control of our world how free am I to make my own choices?
How open is God to my freedom of choice in the light of His knowledge of the future?

The Generous Provider

If you were Adam or Eve what more would you have asked God for?
If God is such a generous provider why do we have to keep asking Him for our needs and wants?
Why do people make their dogs do tricks before giving them food?

Natural Evil

How free is Satan to cause tsunamis and drought, etc., that kill humans?
Does Satan get permission from God for all his actions like in the book of Job?
What is the book of Job trying to teach us about God and Satan?

Governing a Damaged Creation

Are we more useful to Satan dead or alive?
Does God sanction each spell of rain? What about the storms?
What do we mean by the statement that "even the winds and the waves obey Him?"
Does God work His miracles within the laws of nature or not?

Provider for a Damaged Creation

What do you think prompted God to provide Adam and Eve their first durable clothes?
Are we more important to God than a sparrow is?
Does God want us to have just our basic need or does he wish us to be prosperous?

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.