ABSG Questions for Discussion: Lesson 6 (Aug 4-10), The Ministry of Peter

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.

Sunday, 5 August 2018

Lesson 6 (Aug 4-10), The Ministry of Peter

At Lydda and Joppa

How genuine and complete could have been the conversions of ALL the residents of Lydda and Sharon that resulted when they witnessed Peter healing a paralytic miraculously? What does "turned to the Lord" mean? Are people who need to see a miracle before they are convinced lacking in faith?
Why would Peter who had healed the paralytic Aenas in full public view have wanted complete privacy for restoring Dorcas to life?
Why did the widows show Peter all the clothes stitched by Dorcas? Did it help convince Peter to help?
Why doesn't God perform more miracles through the Adventist church and pastors to convince the world that this is the true church?

At Cornelius's House

What do you think prevented the Roman Centurian Cornelius from becoming a Jew officially even though he was a devout worshiper of Yahweh?
Why did the apostles heal Jews also and not only Christians? Shouldn't charity begin at home?
What prompted God to help Cornelius? Would it have been his devout prayers or his service to the poor?
Why did God direct Cornelius to Peter instead of teaching him directly?
Are people in today's world all treated as equal? Whose fault is it if there are inequalites?

The Gift of the Spirit

Why would the early Christians have wanted the gentiles to become Jews first before becoming Christians?
What convinced Peter that the "tongues" the gentiles spoke in, was a result of the receiving of the Holy Spirit?
How did the Jews hope to evangelize gentiles if they would not fellowship with them? How far can Adventists go in mixing with a group targeted for evangelism?

The Church in Antioch

How would people have perceived that "the Lord's hand" was with the Christians who reached out to the gentiles also? How would that have been evidenced? When evangelism is conducted today how can we know if the Lord's hand is with them?
What does it mean that Barnabas was "full of the Holy Spirit?" On what basis would people describe a person with those words?
How would church members know if a person like Agabus was a true prophet or not? Does it show a lack of faith if one decides to see first if a prediction comes true?

Herod's Persecution

Why would Herod support the Jews and want to please them rather than taking sides with the Christians?
What would make God decide to deliver Peter when he had allowed James to be put to death?
When the record states that the "Angel of the Lord" struck Herod and worms ate him causing his death, would the death have been by natural means or unnatural means?

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.