ABSG Questions for Discussion: Lesson 10 (Mar 2-8), Discipling the Nations

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, 6 March 2014

Lesson 10 (Mar 2-8), Discipling the Nations

The Prophets Foretold

Why didn't God commission more prophets like He forced Jonah to Nineveh?
How could prophets like Baalam exist outside Israel? Was he a prophet of Yahweh?

Woe Unto Thee

If God foreknew that Israel would fail, why didn't he select another people in the first place?
What made the Israelites fail to recognize their mission to evangelize the world?
How much better is the Adventist church than Israel as an organization? What about as individuals?

We Would See Jesus

What could be the motive in such a request as this which the Greeks made to Philip?
Could they have made a better request? If so, what?

Breaking Down Barriers

Did the disciples understand their mission to the world before the crucifixion or only after? How did they acquire that understanding?
Did the Jews look down on all foreigners or only certain ones?
Did Jesus attitude to and illustrations involving Samaritans help the Jews appreciate them more or did it make things worse?

The Great Commission

Were missionaries in the former centuries more dedicated to the gospel commission?
Were the earliest Adventists faithful to the gospel commission or not? How would you rate Adventists compared with other denominations in fulfilling this commission? How do you come to this conclusion and what accounts for this situation?
How do Adventists compare in supporting missions financially compared to other denominations?,On a scale of 1-10 what score would you give Adventists for their involvement in fulfilling the gospel commission?

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.