ABSG Questions for Discussion: Lesson 12 (Dec 12-18, 2020), Sabbath: Experiencing and Living the Character of God

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.

Thursday, 17 December 2020

Lesson 12 (Dec 12-18, 2020), Sabbath: Experiencing and Living the Character of God

Time to be Astonished

Are Genesis 1 and 2 two accounts of creation or one account? What makes the difference between one and two accounts of a story?
On the basis of Genesis 1 referring to God as Elohim and Genesis 2 using his name Yahweh, some scholars attribute the accounts to different sources? How valid is this argument? How many people have two "names"?
What kind of a relationship do you imagine between God and Adam before Eve was created?
What do you think Adam and Eve talked about when they first were introduced? What was there to talk about?

Time for Rediscovery

What could be the causes why humans forgot about the Sabbath? At what period do you think that happened?
Why do you think God supplied manna on Sabbath if he didn't want the Israelites to collect it on that day?
Why is the Sabbath full of restrictions? Why are Sabbath keepers so happy for the Sabbath to arrive on Friday evening, and yet equally happy for it to end on Saturday evening?
What does the fourth commandment imply about what should be avoided on Sabbath?

Time for Learning Priorities

What is the relevance of the Sabbath as a sign between God and his people Israel? Is Sabbath keeping still a sign that a people belong to God? Why or why not?
What significance is there in Isaiah's instruction about Sabbath keeping? What is the connection between work of the fourth commandment and "pleasure" in Isa 58?
Are you as a person generally more or are you less strict about Sabbath keeping today compared with the earlier part of your life? At the same time is your relationship with God closer now or before? What are reasons for your answer?

Time for Finding Balance

Why do you think religious leaders multiplied the restrictions in Sabbath observance after coming back from Babylon? Can anyone enjoy the Sabbath with full restrictions?
Why did Jesus heal on Sabbath? Couldn't he have come back another day?
Why didn't Jesus condemn his disciples for plucking grain on Sabbath? Is it okay to harvest on Sabbath?
How can children be educated on Sabbath observance so that they do not view it as a burden?

A Time for Community

Why do we need to go to church on Sabbath? Isn't it a day of rest? In fact why did Moses tell the Israelites not to come out of the house on Sabbath?
What are the benefits of attending church? Is it wrong to go for a walk in nature instead of going to church?
How has the lockdowns of recent months affected our religion? How has the lack of church affected our relationships with other members or with God?

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.