ABSG Questions for Discussion: Lesson 12 (Dec 10-16), Job's Redeemer

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.

Thursday, 15 December 2016

Lesson 12 (Dec 10-16), Job's Redeemer

My Redeemer Liveth

What are things that people redeem? What makes it necessary for a person to be humanly redeemed?
Why do you think God chose to reveal himself in the book of Job through a cyclone/hurricane/typhoon/whirlwind?
Why did God point out himself as creator to Job? What is the connection between "creator" and "redeemer?"

The Son of Man

Why did God feel it necessary to experience the travails of human beings personally?
Did the fact that Jesus preserved his divinity even during his incarnation dilute the value of his assuming human nature?
Could we have become sons and daughters of God without Jesus becoming the Son of Man?

The Death of Christ

Can the perfect life of Christ serve as a practical example for us since we do not have the divine nature he had? Did Jesus have an advantage over human beings in living in obedience to God successfully?
Is Jesus' perfect life less important for the salvation of humans as is his death?
Considering that Job was blameless and upright, did he need a redeemer?

The Sufferings of the Son of Man

What does Isaiah mean when he says that "He hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows?" Aren't we still bearing them? What griefs and sorrows of mine is Jesus bearing?
What made Satan in the book of Job accept God's role in the story?
How did God remind Job that he understood the sufferings of creation?

Satan Unmasked

Did God unmask Satan and his role to Job?
What purpose did God have in describing the behemoth and leviathan to Job? What indicates that those are earthly creatures? What characteristics of those creatures inform us that those are describing something supernatural?
Why was it necessary for Job to understand the great controversy?
How does a knowledge of the existence of Satan help us to understand life on 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.