ABSG Questions for Discussion: November 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.

Sunday, 3 November 2024

Lesson 6, November 2-8, 2024

MORE TESTIMONIES ABOUT JESUS

Why does the performance of miracles divide those who witness it? Why do some people reject miracle workers?

Humility of Soul: John the Baptist Testifies Again

What did Jesus mean when He said that if He were lifted up, He would draw everyone to Himself?
How effective was John's testimony of the Messiah, considering his own disciples didn't seem to have accepted it?
How important is the role of a bridesmaid or bestman?

A New Understanding of the Messiah

What did John do that prepared the way for the Messiah?
Why does political freedom seem more urgent than salvation?
Why didn't Jesus bring freedom from Rome as well as salvation from sin?

Acceptance and Rejection

Why did Jesus use revolting terms as eating His flesh and drinking His blood?
Why do you think Judas did not walk away from Jesus?
Considering that His disciples understood His mission of salvation only after His death, why did they keep following Him?

The Witness of the Father

Why did Jesus say about the Father "You have not heard His voice," when the Father had spoken audibly at his baptism?
When God spoke again (John 12:28), why did some people think it was thunder and others think it was the voice of an angel, though Jesus had addressed His Father?
How does God glorify His name?

The Witness of the Crowd

Since no one had seen Christ before, were people justified in being confused as to Who He really was?
Since the people knew that the Messiah had to be born in Bethlehem and from the line of David, why did they hesitate to connect Jesus to the Messiah?
How does a crowd turn into a mob?

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.