ABSG Questions for Discussion: Lesson 9 (November 21-27), Jeremiah's Yoke

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.

Monday, 23 November 2015

Lesson 9 (November 21-27), Jeremiah's Yoke

A Solitary Life

Is it better for a pastor not to have children, or to not even marry, so that he/she can concentrate more on the ministry?
Is it possible for a pastor to do his/her work properly and still devote adequate time for the spouse and family?
Has humanity fulfilled the command to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth? Should we now make efforts to reduce the population?

Jeremiah's Yoke

To what extent does God expect people to support governments when they are corrupt? To what extent does God expect church members to support church administrators when they are corrupt?
Could Jeremiah have presented the message of of the Babylonian conquest and captivity in such a way that he would not have seemed disloyal to the nation?
Was it practical for Jeremiah to actually act out all the signs he describes or could he have just used them as parables?

War of the Prophets

Can we distinguish between a true and a false prophet without having to wait for the prophecy comes to pass?
Will God hold us responsible for believing a false prophet if we do so innocently?
Why are prophecies mostly bad news and condemnatory?

The Yoke of Iron

Why did Hananiah preface his prophecy with "Thus saith the Lord?" Do false prophets believe their messages are from God?
Is it possible to stop a genuine prophecy from being fulfilled?
Does the Bible (see Exodus 22:28 and Acts 23:5) teach that it is wrong to speak ill of a church leader?

Trusting in Lies

Why would God have wanted for Hananiah the false prophet to die within the year? Wouldn't failure of his prophecy to be fulfilled within the two years he prophecied be adequate self-condemnation?
Does the damage done by a false prophet end with his or her death?
Which is more serious, to believe a false prophet or to doubt a genuine one?

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.