ABSG Questions for Discussion: Lesson 5 (Jan 28-Feb 5), The Baptism and Filling of the Holy Spirit

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, 1 February 2017

Lesson 5 (Jan 28-Feb 5), The Baptism and Filling of the Holy Spirit

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit

Does being baptised in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit indicate that one has received the baptism of the Holy Spirit?
Does 1 Cor 12:13 teach that all Christians have been baptised in the Spirit?
How can one know if he or she has been baptised by the Holy Spirit?

Being Filled With the Holy Spirit

What is the difference between being baptised and being filled with the Holy Spirit?
Can one be partly full of the Holy Spirit?
Since it is the Holy Spirit that does the filling how can we be commanded to be filled?

Conditions

Does the Holy Spirit lead one to repentance or is repentance a prerequisite to receiving the Holy Spirit?
Is trust in God's word a prerequisite to receiving the Spirit or does the Holy Spirit lead one to trust in His word?
By asking can one receive what God might not have given otherwise?
Why is obedience a precondition for receiving the Spirit? Doesn't the Spirit speak to the disobedient? What is the difference between the Spirit speaking or being received?
What must one do in order to receive the Spirit?

Self-centered Living Versus Christ -centered Living

Are humans born selfish or do they develop selfishness?
How can a selfish person become unselfish?
How can a person receive Christ if not through the Holy Spirit?

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.