ABSG Questions for Discussion: Lesson 8 (Aug 18-24), The Jerusalem Council

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.

Monday, 20 August 2018

Lesson 8 (Aug 18-24), The Jerusalem Council

The Point at Issue

What impelled Judaizers to go around churches compelling converts to observe the Mosaic law? What was their motive?
Was it wrong for early Christians to observe aspects of the Ceremonial Law?
What kind of people today can be equated with those Judaizers?

Circumcision

What is similar in the God-believer relationship to a husband-wife relationship that a local marriage sign (circumcision) was adapted to identify believers?
Would Jesus have been circumcised if he had a choice?
Why did Jesus choose to be baptized? Does one have to be baptized into a denomination to be saved? If a person asked an Adventist pastor to baptize him/her, but who did not wish to join the denomination, what should the pastor do?

The Debate

Is circumcision a doctrinal issue?
Should doctrinal issues be settled by votes such as in a committee or a council?
How was the debate in Jerusalem brought to a close?
What lent the conclusion enough weight that it was not challenged?
Should the chairman always have the last word?
Why did Paul not enforce the "food offered to idols" part while happily accepting the "circumcision" part?

The Apostolic Decree

Were the dietary restrictions imposed by the Council a compromise with the Judaizers?
Why did Paul allow converts to eat food offered to idols when the Council clearly forbade that?
Should Christians today restrict themselves to Kosher meat which has the blood drained properly?
If the dietary restrictions were temporary what makes the laws on fornication still binding?

The Letter from Jerusalem

How is authority in the church determined after the passing away of the apostles?
How well would the Judaizers have received the decree? Why did the decree not cause a split in the church?
Why do people have different opinions in the church? Does the Holy Spirit speak differently to different people?

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.