ABSG Questions for Discussion: Lesson 1 (Dec 31-Jan 6) The Spirit and the Word

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, 4 January 2017

Lesson 1 (Dec 31-Jan 6) The Spirit and the Word

The Holy Spirit and Revelation

How does a prophet know whether a message is from God or from his own imagination?
How can we be sure which persons have been chosen by God to receive His revelations?
Can a person be deluded as to the origin of his/her messages? Can Satan also pretend to the the Holy Spirit and give messages to humans?

The Holy Spirit and Inspiration

If we discover dis-harmonies in supposedly inspired writings how do we know which one to discard?
Are there some parts of the Bible which are not inspired and should not be quoted as authoritative?
What is the difference in believing that the Bible is inspired or the Bible-writer is inspired?

The Holy Spirit and the Truthfulness of Scripture

How can we account for some factual errors in the Bible?
Does the Holy Spirit supervise the making of copies of the Bible?
Are there some parts of the Bible that are applicable only to certain cultures and times, or is it timeless and universal?

The Holy Spirit as Teacher

Why is it necessary to have the Holy Spirit help us understand Scripture as we read it? Is the plain reading not the most reliable?
How can we be sure that it is the Holy Spirit that is guiding our understanding of the Bible as we read it, and not our own imagination?
Is it necessary to approach Scripture with an open mind, or are there some things that should be taken for granted?

The Holy Spirit and the Word

Why is Jesus referred to as the "Word of God?" What are the similarities between Jesus and the Bible?
Is the truths of the Bible conveyed in words or thoughts? What do we really mean by "word?"
Is there such a thing as progressive revelation? How should we react to "new light?"

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.