ABSG Questions for Discussion: Lesson 6 (Aug 2-8), Growing in Christ

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 August 2014

Lesson 6 (Aug 2-8), Growing in Christ

What would a person like Nicodemus understand about being born again? Had anyone witnessed anything like that?

To Be Born Again

How does one get a new heart?
Do we have more or less to do with our new birth compared with our physical birth?
How will we know if we have been born again?

New Life in Christ

Does the new life in Christ precede or follow baptism?
Are there some people who respond more readily to the Holy Spirit?

Abiding in Christ

If we spent as much time in prayer and communion with God as Jesus did would it be easier to live victorious Christian lives?
Is it practically possible to spend as time with God as Jesus did or would that be a full time job?
Why cannot Christ empower us offline?

Prayer

What do you think prompted the disciples to ask Jesus to teach them to pray? Why did He teach them such a short prayer?
If Jesus had to teach a prayer today would it be the same?
Did Jesus intend for us to memorize the prayer in KJV English and recite it together? What are the dangers in doing that? What are the advantages? What if you taught your children how to speak to you and they memorized it and spoke in unison to you in those very words?

Die to Self Everyday

What do you think Paul was doing wrong every day? How do we die? How do we kill our human weaknesses?
Will there come a time when we may not jave to die daily?

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.