ABSG Questions for Discussion: Lesson 4 (Oct 18-24), Being and Doing

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.

Tuesday, 21 October 2014

Lesson 4 (Oct 18-24), Being and Doing

What is the difference between hearing and listening?

Knowing Your Enemy

What is the deeper motive of looking into a mirror?
Why did Mark Twain say "If you like what you see in a mirror you have a good sense of humor?" What does that mean?
How well are we able to assess our spiritual condition?

Being a Doer

What actions are expected after hearing the Word, such as through a sermon?
What are various ways the Word comes to us? How can we tell if instruction or advice is from God or just the human?
To what extent can we really do what is expected of us?

The Law of Freedom

How can laws be understood to bring freedom when from school days we have understood rules to curtail freedom?
Are doers of the law attempting salvation by works?
If we could live as we liked, breaking any laws without consequence, how would we live?
Would Christians live better if we could be saved only through works and not grace?

Useful or Useless

Why must we do good deeds, helping others in order to be saved, such as the "sheep" are commended for?
In today's culture and society are we still obliged to care for widows? Why did Jesus and other Bible writers not include widowers?

Unlike the World

How are we to remain unspotted? How good a solution is it to live like a hermit beyond the reach of temptation?
Why is it not enough to avoid doing evil?

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.