ABSG Questions for Discussion: Lesson 2 (Apr 2-8) The Ministry Begins

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.

Wednesday, 6 April 2016

Lesson 2 (Apr 2-8) The Ministry Begins

John the Baptist and "Present Truth"

What did John the Baptist mean when he declared that the kingdom of heaven was at hand? What would the people have understood? Could he have made it more clear so that the people would not misunderstand him?
Why was repentance the best preparation for the Messiah? Did John understand fully how the Messiah would come?
Why did God choose a cousin to be the herald of the coming of Jesus? What were the advantages and disadvantages?
Why do we baptise people at a much younger age than Jesus was when he was baptised?

The Contrast in the Wilderness

Why didn't Jesus wait till he was physically strong and recovered from fasting before facing temptations of the devil? Do we succumb more easily to temptation when we are physically weak?
Did Jesus have an advantage or disadvantage compared to us in facing temptation?
Why is it easier to be proud than to be humble?

The Temptation

Why did the Spirit lead Jesus to temptation? Wouldn't it have been better to avoid the devil? Hadn't there been enough temptations all through his life?
Does the devil know what we are thinking about when he comes to tempt us?
What does it mean to command the devil "to get behind us?" How does it work?

The Land of Zebulun and Naphtali

Did prophets foretell the future about the Messiah or did Jesus do things consciously to fulfil prophecy?
Was it necessary for each prophecy to be fulfilled in detail or were some metaphorical?

The Call of the Fishermen

What qualities did Jesus look for when he chose his disciples?
How easy is it for evangelists to reach a higher class than they themselves come from?
What were the advantages and disadvantages of having sets of brothers among the disciples? Is it acceptable to have more than one member from a family in the same administration?

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.