ABSG Questions for Discussion: October 2024

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, 31 October 2024

Lesson 5 for October 26-November 1, 2024

Who, if any, are some types of people that we might not mind being left out of God's kingdom?

THE TESTIMONY OF THE SAMARITANS

The Setting of the Encounter

Why might a well still be called "Jacob's" after more than a thousand years?
Why would Jews avoid traveling through Samaritan territory?
What were advantages and disadvantages of fetching water at an unusual time of the day?

The Woman at the Well

How could one with "living water" become thirsty?
How does one get converted?
How else, besides "living," can we describe the water that Jesus offers?

Sir Give Me This Water

What properties did the Samaritan woman think "living water" might have had?
Why are questions a good way to introduce a topic?
How does hiding sin affect us?

The Revelation of Jesus

Why did the Samaritan woman bring up a discussion of holy sites?
What are the pros and cons of worshiping in church versus at home?
What are the dangers, if any, of worshiping in churches of other denominations?
How did Jesus catch the woman's attention, and how did He hold it?

The Testimony of the Samaritans

Why do you think the disciples, as soon as they returned, urged Jesus to eat?
Why would the gospel writer record that the woman left her pot behind?
What could have convinced the town folk to follow the woman to Jesus?

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.