ABSG Questions for Discussion: Lesson 11 (Sept 7-13), Living the Advent Hope

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, 8 September 2019

Lesson 11 (Sept 7-13), Living the Advent Hope

How Long O Lord

Why does God not respond immediately when people call on Him in their distress?
Does God answer a prayer He might not have just because a person pled over and over?
Does a prayer for the hundredth time demonstrate more faith than the first time?

A Certain Kind of Hope

Does the Advent hope show a disconnect with the current situation in the world?
How much hope does Adventism lend to members? How much hope have we conveyed to others?
What would the world have been like if not for Jesus interest in humanity?

Resurrection Hope

What did the fact of the resurrection do to the followers of Jesus? Why did the resurrection make so much difference?
Are there still benefits from Christianity for the current life if the future is taken away?
Why did the resurrected Jesus appear only to his disciples?

Judgement Hope

Do the wicked prosper more than the righteous or does it only seem like that?
Is it important only for the righteous to be rewarded or must the wicked be punished too?
Why does God allow the righteous to judge the wicked during the millenium?

No More Tears or Pain

Why are tears wiped away only in the New Earth and not in heaven itself before that?
Does suffering end only in the earth made new or in heaven before that?
Is the world getting better or worse? What makes it seem like that?

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.