ABSG Questions for Discussion: Lesson 11 (Dec 5-11, 2020), The Christian and Work

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.

Saturday, 5 December 2020

Lesson 11 (Dec 5-11, 2020), The Christian and Work

The Many Sides of Work

What does "work" mean? How can play be work?
Should a person work who does not need it for money? What are the blessings of work?
Would we consider what Adam was doing before sin as "work?" Why did Eden have to be dressed and kept?

Work and Nurture

What are kinds of work that do not involve the use of hands?
Are we breaking the fourth commandment if we do not labour for six days a week?
What makes some people more generous and helpful than other people?

Work and Excellence

What is the cost of excellence--doing whatever we do to the best of our ability?
What makes people lazy?
If work is good for humans why do modern inventions attempt to reduce effort?
Do we dishonour God if our churches are less than the cleanest and tidiest possible?

Work and Spirituality

How practical is it to manifest the gifts of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, kindness, gentleness etc. in the workplace?
How well do non-Christians display the gifts of the Spirit in their lives and work?
In what way are love, joy, peace, etc gifts? Are kindness and gentleness developed or are people born like that?

Work and Stewardship

What can we do now about all the time we wasted on the job in earlier years?
Do administrators who bear heavy responsibility have a right to benefits from the organization more than lower employees.
What are ways in which a worker can show great stewardship in the workplace?

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.