ABSG Questions for Discussion: 7. Now Hear This! (For Discussion on Nov 14)

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.

Friday, 13 November 2026

7. Now Hear This! (For Discussion on Nov 14)

Anger at God's Messenger

1. Would it be easier or harder to be angry with a divine being we could see?

2. What do you think made Caleb and Joshua different from the other spies?

3. Why did the Israelites doubt Moses's leadership so many times even though they had clear evidence that God had chosen him?

Destroying the Message: Part 1

1. What do you think King Jehoiakim believed he accomplished by cutting and burning the scroll that the prophet Jeremiah had written?

2. Why did the king bother to listen to the entire scroll instead of rejecting it as soon as he sensed the message?

3. What extra words (Jer 36:32) do you think Jeremiah added? Do you think he added these on his own?

Destroying the Message: Part 2

1. Why does God allow his messengers to be mocked and abused when it is in His power to prevent it?

2. Is it easier to reject a prophet because they are human like the rest of us? Should God send his messages with angels instead?

3.What is the purpose of sending a message to a person or people who are sure to reject it?

Hypocrisy

1. Why do people turn hypocrites? How does hypocrisy benefit them?

2. Why did Jesus use sarcasm against the pharisees?

3. What is the difference between hypocrisy and sarcasm?

For Our Admonition

1. Is it better to learn from our own mistakes or from the mistakes of others?

2. To what extent does God reward the righteous and punish the wicked in this life?

3. What are invisible ways in which God blesses the righteous and punishes the wicked?

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.