ABSG Questions for Discussion: Lesson 9 (Feb 20-26, 2021), To Serve and to Save

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, 20 February 2021

Lesson 9 (Feb 20-26, 2021), To Serve and to Save

Servant Nation

Though any one can be God's Servant, who is specifically called to be God's Servant?
How well did Israel fulfill the task that God had assigned to the nation? What aspects of the task if any were accomplished? What aspects, if any, were not accomplished?
With so much evidence of God's help to Israel in the past why did so many kings not place their trust in him?

Unnamed Individual Servant

Why does God not identify his servant by name to make identification easier?
Is the term "servant" a positive term or a derogatory term In what ways was the Messiah God's Servant?
Is there a better term to describe the role of the Messiah in fulfilling God's task of saving humans?

Persian Messiah

How could Isaiah make a prediction of a Persian king by name two hundred years before he was born?
How much freedom of choice do we have if God knew everything we would be and do even before we were born?
Why do many people doubt that Isaiah could have made the prophecy so far ahead of time?

Hope in Advance

What would be the problem, if any, if there were really two Isaiah's like many people believe, one living an writing after the event?
Why would God promise comfort even before the distress came upon the nation of Israel?
Why is loyalty to one's nation so strong?

A Feeling and Suffering Servant

How successful was Jesus as God's servant? Was he a failure in any way because so many will not be saved?
How well is our church fulfilling the role of God's Servant?
What can local churches do to serve the community?

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.