ABSG Questions for Discussion: Lesson 1 (Sept 29-Oct 5), Creation and Fall

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.

Tuesday, 2 October 2018

Lesson 1 (Sept 29-Oct 5), Creation and Fall

Love as a Foundation of Unity

Was love built into Adam and Eve or did it have to be developed?
Were Adam and Eve created virtuous or merely innocent? What does it mean that they were created perfect? How could perfect humans fail?
At what point did disunity enter, at the fall, before, or after?

The Consequences of the Fall

How did Adam and Eve learn to blame someone else?
Could Adam and Eve have defended themselves without blaming anyone else?
How did sin influence the relationship between Cain and Abel?

Further Disunity and Separation

What makes people launch out as pioneers in new lands? Why did the people not spread out after the flood?
How could the people forget God after such a major event as the flood?
How else could God have dispersed people besides confounding their language? What made the assault on language ideal for His purpose?

Abraham, Father of god's People

Do Muslims and Christians worship the same God?
Can it be argued that not all Adventists worship the same God?
Why could Abraham's sons and Isaac's sons not remain united like Jacob's sons? Do two sons have a harder time getting along than a dozen?

God's Chosen People

Why did God keep starting with one person at a time (Adam, Noah, Abraham), rather than with a group of people?
What qualities in Abraham attracted God? What weaknesses did he have? Did those have to be overcome, or did some remain till the end?
What makes Adventists believe that they are a chosen people, the remnant?

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.