Category / Sabbath School Teaching Plans

by In Light Of The Cross

7: Worshiping the Creator-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

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Prepared by William Earnhardt for Sabbath School class, May 13, 2023.

Main Theme: Our natures are created for worship. We all worship something. The only question is what do we worship? Only God deserves our worship.

Read in Class: Revelation 1:9, Matthew 13:21 and Acts 14:22. Define the common thread of these passages.

Study: What’s the message here for all who seek to follow Jesus in this world?

Apply: Have you ever been persecuted or inconvenienced because of your beliefs? If faithful servants of God, like John, face suffering and tribulation, what makes us think we, ourselves, won’t face trouble either? (See 1 Pet. 4:12-15).

Share: Your friend says, the reason the church does not see more persecution is because the church fits right in with the rest of the world. Is your friend right? Why, or why not?

Read in Class: 2 Corinthians 5:17, Acts 17:27, and Colossians 1:17. Define the common thread of these passages.

Study: What do these verses teach us about the closeness of God?

Apply: How can we learn to draw hope and comfort from understanding the immanence of God? Or does it scare you, because God knows your darkest secrets? How should the gospel give you peace in that context?

Share: Your friend asks you how you know God is real? Have you seen Him actually work in your won life where you knew without a doubt it was God? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Ephesians 3:9, Romans 5:17-19, Colossians 1:13-17 and Revelation 4:11. Define the common thread of these passages.

Study: What do these texts teach about Jesus as Creator and Redeemer?

Apply: Why is Jesus worthy of your worship? Why is no one else worthy of your worship?

Share: Your friend says God must be on some ego trip to want everyone to worship Him all the time? What do you tell your friend? See also, Why worshiping God Must be a Choice and not an Addiction.

Read in Class: Revelation 14:6-7. What is the main idea of this passage?

Study: What does worship have to do with the everlasting Gospel? What reason does the angel give for worshipping God and what commandment do these words remind us of? How is that commandment linked with the everlasting Gospel?

Apply: Earlier we talked about being persecuted for our beliefs, but is it always just beliefs we are persecuted for? How do your actions and acts of worship set you apart from the rest of the world?

Share: How can you share the everlasting Gospel with your actions as well as words this week?

by In Light Of The Cross

6: The Hour of His Judgment- Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

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Prepared by William Earnhardt for Sabbath School Class, May 6, 2023.

Main Theme: The cleansing of the Sanctuary justifies God’s people as well as His character of love.

Read in Class: Daniel 8:14, and Daniel 9:24-27. Discuss the link between these two passages.

Note: Gabriel tells Daniel that 490 years are “cut off” (the literal meaning of the Hebrew word chathak, sometimes translated “determined”). Cut off from what? It could be the only other time prophecy alluded to here: the 2,300 days of Daniel 8:14. These 490 years, a time prophecy, is directly linked back to the time prophecy of Daniel 8:14, the only part of the vision left unexplained in Daniel 8 and the only time prophecy in Daniel 8, as well. Thus, we can see that Gabriel with this prophecy is coming to help Daniel understand what he didn’t understand in the previous chapter: the 2,300 days.

Study: What was to happen at the end of the 2300 days?

Apply: Why is it significant that the death of Jesus, as revealed in Daniel 9:24-27, is directly linked to the judgment, in Daniel 8:14? What great truth is taught here by this link?

Share: Your friend says there is no reason for an investigative judgment because God already knows everything. What do you tell your friend? See also The Cleansing of the Sanctuary in Scripture.

Read in Class: Leviticus 16:7-9, 15-22. Define the main idea of this passage.

Study: What did the priest do with the blood? What did he do with the sins? Who does the scapegoat represent? See The Sanctuary and the Scapegoat.

Apply: How does this segment of the cleansing of the sanctuary and Jesus dying on the cross help you to see that God is love and not the evil tyrant Satan wants us to believe He is? See Was the Atonement to Appease an Angry God or an Angry Race.

Share: Your friend says that the scapegoat cannot be Satan because Satan does not make an atonement. What do you tell your friend. See The Sanctuary and the Scapegoat.

Read in Class: Leviticus 23:27-30. Define the main idea of this passage.

Study: What are God’s people to be doing during this time? What happens to those who do not repent and turn from open sin?

Apply: How might Galatians 5:19-26 help us to understand what it means for us to “do not work” during the literal atonement we are in today?

Share: Your friend asks, how does God’s people being purified help others to see God as a God of love? What do you tell your friend? Hint: An ancient philosopher once told a group of Christians, “If you want me to believe in your Redeemer, you are going to have to start looking a lot more Redeemed.”

Read in Class: Hebrews 4:14-16. Define the main idea of this passage.

Study: What assurance does this passage give us in the investigative judgment and cleansing of the sanctuary?

Apply: How has God’s grace and mercy changed your behavior and attitude towards others?

Share: How can you help your friends see the love of God in the cleansing of the sanctuary and investigative judgment?

For further resources see The Cleansing of the Sanctuary in Light of the Cross.

by In Light Of The Cross

5: The Good News of the Judgment-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

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Prepared by William Earnhardt, for Sabbath School class April 29, 2023.

Main Theme: God is the Judge whom we must all answer to.

Read in Class: Revelation 20:12. Discuss the main idea of this text.

Study: What does the everlasting gospel have to do with God’s judgment?

Apply: What is the meaning and purpose of the judgment? 

Share: Your friend says that the wicked will be judged, but the righteous will not need to be judged. What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14, 26-27. Discuss the main idea of these passages.

Study: What did Daniel see? What is the result of the final judgment?

Apply: Why is the judgment good news and not bad news? 

Share: Your friend asks why we are judged by our works if we are saved by grace? What do you tell your friend? Hint: See Saved by Faith, Rewarded for Being Faithful.

Read in Class: Revelation 5:8-12. Discuss the main idea of this passage.

Study: How does God’s judgment reveal the character of God?

Apply: How does the knowledge that the hour of God’s judgment has come affect our daily lives? How can we make sure it does? 

Share: Your friend says that God’s character is being judged in the judgment. Is your friend right? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Revelation 4:2-4. Discuss the main idea of this passage.

Study: Who are the 24 elders seated before the throne and what do the crowns on their heads represent?

Apply: If someone asked you if you thought you would be present for your case in the heavenly court, how would you respond to them?

Share: Can you think of someone who you can share the good news about the judgment with this week?

by In Light Of The Cross

4: Fear God and Give Glory to Him-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

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Prepared by William Earnhardt for Sabbath School class, April 22, 2023.

Main Theme: To fear God means to be in awe of His love and power. This fear causes us to reverence Him in our hearts and in the way we live our lives.

Read in Class: Revelation 14:7. Define the main idea of this passage.

Study: What specific instruction does he give us?

Apply: What has been your own experience of fearing God? How would you explain to someone, in a positive way, why “the fear of God” is something good?

Share: Your friend quotes Ecclesiastes 8:11, and says that people today have no reason to fear God, because sinners never get their just due anymore. They get away with everything! What do you tell your friend? See Ecclesiastes 12:13-14.

Read in Class: Deuteronomy 6:2, Psalm 119:73-74, Ecclesiastes 12:13-14. Define the common thread of these passages.

Study: What is the result of fearing God?

Apply: How do Jesus’ words here “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matt. 10:28, NKJV) help us understand what it means to fear God?

Share: Your friend states, that Revelation 21:7-8 says the fearful will be thrown into the lake of fire. Why is God throwing the fearful into the lake of fire if we are supposed to fear God? How would you answer your friend, and how would what we read in Matthew 10:28 help?

Read in Class: 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 and Romans 12:1-2. Define the common thread of these passages.

Study: How do these passages help us understand one way that we can glorify God?  What appeal does the apostle Paul make regarding the totality of our life choices?

Apply: Think about what you do with your body. What can you do to make sure that you are, indeed, glorifying God with it?

Share: Your friend asks, what is the difference between glorifying God with our bodies because we fear Him, and glorifying God because we are afraid of Him? For a hint: Read Exodus 20:20 in the NKJV and then Read Exodus 20:20 in the ERV.

Read in Class: Hebrews 4:14-16 and Hebrews 7:25. Define the common thread of these passages.

Study: What is the means of overcoming and living lives that “fear God” and “give Him glory?”

Apply: Are there things in your life you desire to overcome? How can we translate our desires into action? What practical steps can we take to be one of Revelation’s “overcomers”?

Share: How do we teach children to fear us without being afraid of us? How can we show others how to fear God without being afraid of Him?

by In Light Of The Cross

3: The Everlasting Gospel-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

Prepared by William Earnhardt for Sabbath School class, April 15, 2023.

Main Theme: The three angels’ message is the Seventh-day Adventist statement of faith and message to the world.

Read in Class: 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, Romans 3:24-26 and Romans 5:6-8. Define the common thread of these passages.

Study: How is the “everlasting gospel” presented in these texts? What great hope is presented here for us?

Apply: How does it help you to know that Jesus died for you while you were still sinners? How does this fact influence your attitude towards others?

Share: Your friend asks you how she can know if she has eternal life? What do you tell your friend? See Salvation in Light of the Cross.

Read in Class: Revelation 13:8 and 1 Peter 1:18-20. Define the common thread of these passages.

Study: What do these verses teach us about the plan of salvation?

Apply: Read Ephesians 1:4. Think about what it means that, even before the “foundation of the world,” you had been “chosen” in Christ to have salvation in Him. Why should you find this truth so encouraging?

Share: Your friend asks, “What does it mean that we were “chosen” before the foundation of the world? Does that mean that we are predestined to be saved or lost without any choice of our own?” What do you tell your friend? See Does Romans 9 Teach Predestination?

Read in Class: Revelation 14:6 and Matthew 28:19-20. Define the common thread of these passages.

Study: What is the extent of the proclamation of the everlasting gospel, and why is the answer important to us and our mission and calling as a church? How does Matthew 28:19-20 link with the first angel’s message?

Apply: What has been your own experience in being involved in something bigger than yourself? How does that experience help you understand the point of this day’s study? Also, what could be bigger than being used by the Creator of the cosmos to make an eternal difference in the universe?

Share: Your friend asks, “How is the everlasting gospel going to be preached when many of the countries of the world are anti-Christian – either Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu, Shintu, Communist, or Atheist? How cam God’s people share this gospel in antagonistic areas?” What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Revelation 14:6, Acts 1:8, and Matthew 24:14.Define the common thread of these passages.

Study: While their is so much opposition, where and how do you see these passages being fulfilled today?

Apply: What role can you play in bringing the three angels’ messages to the entire world? 

Share: Can you think of someone you can share the gospel with this week? How can you plan to share it with them?

by In Light Of The Cross

2: A Moment of Destiny-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

Prepared by William Earnhardt for Sabbath School class on April 8, 2023.

Main Theme: The three angels’ messages is Jesus’ final message of mercy, a call that leads us from trusting in our own righteousness to trusting the righteousness of Jesus to justify us, to sanctify us, and, at the end of time, to glorify us.

Read in Class: Matthew 24:14 and Revelation 14:6. Define the common thread of these passages.

Study: What promise did Jesus give to His disciples regarding the worldwide spread of the gospel just before His return?

Apply: How does God shape our characters? What means does He use for us to grow in grace? What can we do to more fully allow the Holy Spirit to transform us to be more like Jesus?

Share: Your friend complains that no one is preaching the three angels message anymore. What do you tell your friend? Hint: See “Beware of Preachers Presenting Themselves as the Last Person Preaching Bible Truth.”

Read in Class: Revelation 14:14 and Acts 1:9-11. What similarities does your class discover?

Study: Read Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14. Why did Daniel call Jesus the “Son of Man” in something as serious as the judgment? What, given what we have already looked at, should be comforting in knowing that the “Son of Man” is so central to judgment?

Apply: Think about the fact that your whole life will come under scrutiny before God. What, then, is your only hope when this happens? (See Rom. 8:1).

Share: Your friend asks, “Why is the title “Son of Man” an encouragement in the judgment hour as we anticipate the second coming of Christ? Why is it comforting to realize that a man, a human being, is up there representing us in the judgment?” What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Revelation 14:15 and Mark 4:26-29. Define the common thread of these passages.

Study: What similarities do you see between the texts? What are they both talking about?

Apply: “The germination of the seed represents the beginning of spiritual life, and the development of the plant is a beautiful figure of Christian growth. As in nature, so in grace; there can be no life without growth. The plant must either grow or die. As its growth is silent and imperceptible, but continuous, so is the development of the Christian life. At every stage of development, our life may be perfect; yet if God’s purpose for us is fulfilled, there will be continual advancement. Sanctification is the work of a lifetime. As our opportunities multiply, our experience will enlarge, and our knowledge increase.” — Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons, pp. 65, 66.

How do you understand Ellen G. White’s statement that “at every stage of development, our life may be perfect”? What does that mean, especially when we can see our faults and defective characters now?

Share: Your friend asks, “What is the difference between being saved by grace and growing in grace?” What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Revelation 14:17-20. Define the main idea of this passage.

Study: What does the expression “the great winepress of the wrath of God” mean? See also Revelation 14:10, Revelation 15:1, and Revelation 16:1.

Appy: How well can you discern the contrast between good and evil? Why is it important that we do? (See Heb. 5:14).

Share: Can you think of someone who you can share the gospel with this week? How can you share the gospel of the third angels message with them? See The Gospel Presentation.

by In Light Of The Cross

1: Jesus Wins-Satan Loses- Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

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Prepared by William Earnhardt for Sabbath School class, April 1, 2023.

Main Theme: This study will give a good preparation for understanding Revelation 14 and the three angels’ messages.

Read in Class: Revelation 12:7-9, Isaiah 14:12-14, Ezekiel 28:15. Define the common thread of these passages.

Study: How could these things happen in heaven? What does this tell us about the reality of free will and free choice?

Apply: Think about how sacred free will and free choice must be to Jesus, who, though knowing that it would lead Him to the cross (see 2 Tim. 1:9), gave us free will anyway. What should this tell us about how carefully we should use this sacred, but costly, gift?

Share: Your friend asks you how this war was fought in heaven? Was it with machine guns and battle tanks or bows and arrows? What kind of weapons did Satan use? What weapons is Satan using in the war here on earth? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Revelation 12:4-6, 9. Ephesians 5:25-27, 32. And Psalm 2:7-9. Define the common thread of these passages.

Study: How do these passages help us define the dragon, the woman, the male child and the rod of iron?

Share: Why is the assurance of salvation, because of Christ’s victory over Satan, so crucial to us? How can what Paul wrote in Philippians 3:9 be our own experience?

Share: Your friend says that we never actually, literally overcome sin and temptation here on earth. It is just by faith. What do you tell your friend? See Justification: Just Declared Right or Made Right?

Read in Class: Revelation 12:10-11. Discuss the main idea of this passage.

Study: What encouragement should you get from the fact that your accuser “has been cast down” (NKJV) ? What assurance of victory does Christ give us in this passage?

Apply: How does the blood of the Lamb, the sacrifice of Christ help you to overcome and to love Jesus more than life itself?

Share: Your friend says that her pastor preached last week that those who gossip are the accusers of the brethren just like Satan. Is your friend’s pastor right? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Revelation 12:6, 14-17. Discuss the main idea of this passage.

Study: Notice carefully the time period, Satan’s attack on the “woman” (God’s church), and God’s provision for His people. What are these verses talking about? What characteristics of God’s remnant, His last-day church, are found in this verse?

Apply: How do you see the reality of Revelation 12:17 played out in your own life, in your own Christian experience? That is, in what ways do you find the great controversy being played out in your own life?

Share: Your friend asks why Seventh-day Adventists believe they are the remnant church of Bible prophecy? What do you tell your friend?

by In Light Of The Cross

12: Rewards of Faithfulness-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

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Prepared by William Earnhardt for Sabbath School class, March 25, 2023.

Main Theme: While saved by grace, God rewards faithfulness.

Read in Class: Hebrews 11:6, Isaiah 40:10, Revelation 22:12. Define the common thread of these passages.

Study: What doe these texts mean to us? What do they teach us? How should we respond?

Apply: How do we understand the difference between salvation by grace and a reward according to works?

Share: Your friend asks, “Why is God rewarding us by our works when we are saved by grace?” What do you tell your friend? For a hint see Saved by Faith, Rewarded by Righteousness.

Read in Class: Revelation 21:1-4, 7-8. Discuss the main idea of this passage.

Study: What are some of the things that we are promised?

Apply: Read Revelation 21:8, about the fate of those who will face the second death. Which sin of those depicted there cannot have been forgiven by Jesus? Why, then, are these people lost when some who have done the same things are saved? What is the crucial difference between these two groups?

Share: Your friend asks why God does not save people who are cowardly or fearful? Why be so harsh with someone just for being fearful? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Matthew 25:14-23. Define the main idea of this passage.

Study:  What does God say to those who were faithful money managers in supporting His cause? What does it mean to “enter into the joy of your lord?”

Apply: How are you going to fare when God comes to “settle accounts” with you?

Share: Your friend asks why the master was so harsh on the man who only had one talent? What do you tell your friend.

Read in Class: Romans 8:16-18. Define the main idea of this passage.

Study: How was the knowledge that he was a child of God a factor in his faithfulness?

Apply: How have the things you have already suffered helped you become more faithful to God?

Share: Can you think of someone who is going through a hard time and struggling to be faithful? What word of encouragement can you share with them this week?

by In Light Of The Cross

11: Managing in Tough Times-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

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Prepared by William Earnhardt, for Sabbath School Class, March 18, 2023.

Main Theme: Amid trying times, when we need to lean on the Lord more than ever, there are some concrete steps, based on biblical principles, that we should follow.

Read in Class: 1 Chronicles 21:1-14. Discuss the main idea of this passage.

Study:  Why did David decide to number Israel or count his soldiers? Why did his commander Joab counsel against this? How was David contradicting himself in Psalm 127:1?

Apply: How do we strike the right balance between doing what we can, for instance, to be financially secure, and yet, at the same time, trusting in the Lord for all things?

Share: Your friend asks, “David showed a lack of faith in God’s care by counting his own men. What does that have to so with the our lesson today about managing during tough times? We don’t have an army. What might you and I be counting today that might show our lack of faith in God’s care?” How do you answer your friend?

Read in Class: 2 Peter 3:3-12. Discuss the main idea of this passage.

Study: What is Peter telling us with these words?

Apply: If you knew Jesus were coming within ten years, how would you change your life? Or five years? Or three?

Share: Your older friend says, “I have saved up so many things over my life, and now my kids want me to sell it all and move in with them. I’m not sure how I feel about that?” What do you tell your older friend?

Read in Class: Matthew 6:24 and 1 John 2:15-17. Define the common thread of these passages.

Study: What has been your own experience with the truth in Matthew 6:24? How are the three things mentioned in 1 John 2:15-17 manifested in our world today? Why is the danger they present sometimes more subtle than we realize?

Apply: Read 2 Peter 3:10-14. How should what he says here impact how we live, including what we do with our resources?

Share: Your friend says, keeping up appearances and keeping up with the Jones’ is what creates all the stress and hard times in our lives? Do you agree with your friend? Why or why not?

Read in Class: Revelation 13:11-17. Discuss the main idea of this passage.

Study: How do financial matters fit in with the end-time persecution?

Apply: If you had to break the Sabbath in order to work and earn money for your family to eat would you? Why or why not? Or if you only had enough money to return tithe or feed your family which would you do and why? See Does God Still Expect us to Give During Tough Times?

Share: Do you know someone going through a tough time right now? How are you going to encourage them this week?

by In Light Of The Cross

10: Giving Back-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

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Prepared by William Earnhardt for Sabbath School class, March 11, 2023.

Main Theme: In this week’s lesson we look at how to manage money wisely in our golden years.

Read in Class: Luke 12:16-21. Define the main idea of this passage.

Study: What’s the relevant message to us here? What strong rebuke did the Lord give to the foolish man, and what should that say to us regarding our attitude toward what we own?

Apply: At any age and with any amount of money, how can we avoid falling into the trap that the man did here? Ask yourself, “What am I living for?”

Share: Your friend says he has worked hard all his life saving up money so he can enjoy his hard earned money when he retires. He asks why he should be expected to share it with the church or anyone since after all, he worked so hard for it.

Read in Class: Proverbs 23:23-27, Proverbs 30:8 and 1 Timothy 6:17. Define the common thread of these passages.

Study:  How would you interpret “Be diligent to know the state of your flocks” (NKJV) for Christians living today?

Apply: “For riches are not forever” (Prov. 27:24, NKJV). Why is it important to keep this thought before us?

Share: A friend asks, “What plans have you made for God and family if you died suddenly? What would happen to your property? Would it go where you wanted it to?” How would you respond to your friend?

Read in Class: Psalm 24:1, Hebrews 3:4, Psalm 50:10, Genesis 14:19 and Colossians 1:15-17. Define the common thread in these passages.

Study: How should these passages help us know what to do with all God has given us?

Apply: How do you balance what you spend your money on that shows you are faithful in managing God’s money? In what ways could your spending be better?

Share: Your friend says it seems many people use money to manipulate others instead of blessing others. What do you say to your friend?

Read in Class: Ecclesiastes 2:18-22. Discuss the main idea of this passage.

Study: What does this passage tell us about human life?

Apply: Death, as we know, can come at any time, and unexpectedly, too, even today. What would happen to your loved ones were you to die today? What, too, would happen to your property? Would it be distributed as you would like?

Share: Besides money, what do you want to share with others before you die? What plans are you making to share this week with friends?