ABSG Questions for Discussion: Lesson 3 (April 13-19), Christ and Religious Tradition

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.

Saturday, 12 April 2014

Lesson 3 (April 13-19), Christ and Religious Tradition

Seat of Moses

Are all pharisees hypocrites or are some sincere?
Who fights more for what they believe, conservatives or liberals? Why?
Are people born with pharisaical characteristics or do they acquire them?

Human Commandments

Is there such a thing as major and minor laws? Are all the ten commandments equally important? Is love to God more important than love to man?
Did Jesus obey some man-made rules?
Does the Adventist church have some man-made rules?

Traditions of the Elders

Was non-observance of Mosaic laws a sin or just unhealthful?
Is it a sin to be unhealthful?
Who is eligible or authorized to explain God's law to others?

The Precepts of Men

Are we expected to observe laws even if we cannot discern any sense in them?
What the apostles instructed--such as women keeping silent in church, from God or from themselves?
Are our services too traditional? Should they be less structured and more informal? Is there a reason we follow more or less the same format for each service?

Excessive Righteousness

Is it possible to be too righteous?
What did Solomon mean (Eccl 7:16), when he advised people not to be overly righteous or overly wicked?

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.