ABSG Questions for Discussion: Lesson 2 (Jan 2-8), Crisis in Eden

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, 2 January 2016

Lesson 2 (Jan 2-8), Crisis in Eden

Three Blessings

How is being fruitful and multiplying a blessing to humans and animals?
Have humans surrendered dominion over the earth to Satan only or also to animals?
Is the Sabbath for humans alone or also for animals?

The Test at the Tree

Why was it important for God to test humans? Could he not have banished Satan to some uninhabited world and confined him there?
What was it that fascinated Eve so much-- the talking serpent, the attractive fruit, or the idea independence from God?
Is there any middle ground between obedience and disobedience?

The Fall

Is the snake in nature the most crafty of all animals? Why do you think Satan chose a snake as his medium? Wouldn't it have been better to select a cute irresistible animal?
What could have made Eve include a ban on even touching the fruit in her response to the serpent when there is no record that God had placed a ban on touching the forbidden fruit?
Why does a mixture of truth and error add up to error and not truth?
Did Adam and Eve become more like God after sin?
What is the relationship of experiencing sin and the sense of nakedness?
Was God present during the temptation? Was the situation balanced evenly or was the temptation stronger than the urge to be faithful?

The Consequences

How much time could have elapsed between the creation of Adam and Eve and their sin?
Why do humans tend to justify their wrongdoing by blaming others? Was Eve truly deceived by the serpent?
Was Adam partly correct in blaming Eve? Should God have given him a better wife? What could have done if Adam resisted Eve's temptation?
If Eve had resisted successfully would Satan have been banished or would they have to be on guard always?
Will sin be possible in the New Earth?

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.