ABSG Questions for Discussion: Lesson 9 (Aug 23-29), Our Mission

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, 23 August 2014

Lesson 9 (Aug 23-29), Our Mission

To Be the Light of the World

What is the connection between truth and light? Why is falsehood equated with darkness and blackness?
Does God need light? Will we need light in the new earth?
Is there more light or more darkness in the universe?

To be Witnesses

How can we today be witnesses if we were not there to see things as they happened? Can eye-winessing be handed down?
If the witnesses wrote down their account, why are others needed to witness?
To what about the gospel can we today witness to others?

So Send I You

Are we each called personally to witness, or can we send someone in our place with our money?
Are we failures as witnesses if we neglect to share our faith with others around us?

To Make Disciples

Does the God-given power to make disciples interfere with a non-Christian's freedom of religion?
Does the right to propogate religion belong on the same level as the right to follow any religion?
Are Christians sometimes guilty of offering incentives for conversion? Is this excusable in the light that each person is intelligent enough to accept or reject?

The Early Explosion

What challenges does explosive growth bring to a church?
What mission, if any, are we responsible for besides baptizing and teaching?

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.