Category / Sabbath School Teaching Plans

by In Light Of The Cross

3: The Prologue-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

Prepared by William Earnhardt, for Sabbath School class, October 19, 2024.

Main Theme: This week’s lesson will begin with the Prologue (John 1:1-18) and summarize its major themes. These themes will then be looked at in other places in John’s Gospel, as well.

Read in Class: John 1:1-5, 14. Ask Class to define the main point of these passages.

Study: What are these verses telling us that Jesus, God Himself, did—and why is this truth the most important truth that we could ever know?

Apply: Why is the full deity of Christ such an important part of our theology? What would we lose if Jesus were, in any way, a mere created being?

Share: Your friend says, If Jesus knew Lucifer was going to sin, and cause Him to have to die on the cross, why did He even bother creating Him? Jesus should have only created people who would use their free choice to obey Him. What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: John 1:9-13. Have the class define the main idea of this passage.

Study: What harsh reality is John depicting here about how people respond to Jesus?

Apply: In what ways might we, even those of us in the church reject Jesus today? How do we make sure we are not rejecting Him?

Share: Your friend asks you How has your life changed by becoming a son or a daughter of God? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: John 3:16-21, John 9:35-41, and John 12:36-46. Ask the class the common thread of these passages.

Study: How do these texts repeat the theme of belief/unbelief found in the prologue?

Apply: In what ways do you live out your faith in Jesus, as opposed to merely holding an intellectual assent to Him as the Messiah? Why it is important to know the difference?

Share: Your friend asks, why Isaiah says that God blinded peoples eyes and hardened their hearts? What do you tell your friend? See Matthew 7:21-23.

Read in Class: John 17:1-5. Ask the class to define the main point of this passage.

Study: What did Jesus mean when He said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you” (ESV)?

Apply: Think about what it means that it took such a drastic thing, God Himself on the cross, to save us from sin. What should this tell us about just how bad sin really is?

Share: How can you use your influence to help those around you believe in Jesus as the Messiah and Savior of the world?

by In Light Of The Cross

Signs of Divinity-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

Prepared by William Earnhardt, for Sabbath School class, October 12, 2024.

Main Theme: This week’s lesson looks at three of the greatest signs of Jesus’ divinity. What is striking is that, in every case, some people did not believe the miracle or perceive its significance. For some, it was a time of turning away from Jesus; for others, a time for deepening blindness; and for others, a time to plot Jesus’ death. And for others—a time to believe that Jesus was the Messiah.

Read in Class: John 6:1-14. Ask the class the summarize this passage.

Study: What parallels can be found here between Jesus and Moses? That is, what did Jesus do here that should have reminded the people of the deliverance that their ancestors had received through the ministry of Moses?

Apply: Read Isaiah 53:4-6 and 1 Peter 2:24. What great truth do these texts teach about Jesus as the Lamb of God? How does His divinity tie into this truth, and why is this truth the most important truth we can ever know?

Share: Your friend asks, you how God has provided for you in a way that helped you see His miraculous power? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: John 6:26-36. Ask Class to summarize this passage.

Study:  How did the people respond to Jesus’ miracle of feeding the multitude, and how did Jesus use this to try to teach them who He was?

Apply: How can we avoid getting caught up in material things at the expense of the spiritual?

Share: Your friend from church complains that some people only come to church when there is fellowship lunch and they don’t even bring anything. All some people come to church for is the socials and food. What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: John 19:1-16. Ask clas to summarize this passage.

Study: What did the disciples think was the cause of this man’s blindness, and how did Jesus correct their false beliefs?

Apply: What should this story tell us about the dangers of being so blinded by our own beliefs and traditions that we can miss important truths right before our own eyes?

Share: Your friend says there seems to a lot of division in our world today. How can we tell if someone is a good person or not when we keep hearing rumors all the time? How do we know what to believe about people? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: John 11:38-44. Ask the class to define the main point of this passage.

Study: What did Jesus do that supported His claim?

Apply: What hope does the divinity of Christ give you concerning death? Why are both his humanity and divinity so crucial in validating your hope?

Share: Your friend says he is sure Jesus was a good man, but He was not God? What do you tell your friend?

by In Light Of The Cross

1: Signs That Point the way-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

Prepared by William Earnhardt, for Sabbath School class October 5, 2024.

Main Theme: This week we are looking at miracles as “signs” that Jesus is the Messiah?

Read in Class: John 2:1-11. Ask class to summarize this passage with the key points.

Study: What sign did Jesus do at Cana, and how did this help His disciples in coming to believe in Him?

Apply: What are your reasons for following Jesus? (We have been given many, haven’t we?)

Share: In John 2:5 Jesus’ mother tells the servants, ” “Whatever He says to you, do it.” Simple but yet profound words. Don’t worry about the consequences, just do whatever He tells you. Can you share with the class a time you did what Jesus told you to do simply because it was right, even though you were not sure what might happen to you later? How did it end for you?

Read in Class: John 4:46-54. Ask the class what is the main idea of this passage?

Study: Why does the evangelist make a connection back to the miracle at the wedding feast?

Apply: Even if we were to see a miracle, what other criteria must we look at before automatically assuming it is from God?

Share: Your friend asks you if you or anyone in your family has ever had a “miraculous” healing? What do you tell your friend?

Read in class: John 5:1-16. Ask the class to define the main idea of this passage.

Study: Because anyone by the pool obviously wanted to get well, why did Jesus ask the paralytic if he wanted to be healed? What lessons can we take away from the amazing hardness of the religious leaders’ hearts in regard to Jesus and the miracle He had just performed?

Apply: Jesus later encountered the man in the temple and said, “ ‘You have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you’ ” (John 5:14). What is the relationship between sickness and sin? Why must we understand that not all sickness is a direct result of specific sins in our life?

Share: Your friend tells you that it does not seem like Jesus respected the Sabbath commandment in this passage? What do you tell your friend? See Matthew 12:10-12.

Read in Class: John 5:38-47. Ask the class what the main point is of this passage.

Study: What was Jesus’ warning? What can we learn from these words? That is, what could be in us that blinds us to the truths we need to know and apply to our own lives?

Apply: What things did Moses teach that applied to Jesus being the Messiah?

Share: Your friend asks you, who in the Old Testament besides Moses prophesied about the Messiah, and how Jesus fulfilled those prophecies? What do you tell your friend? See The Messiah in Scripture.

by In Light Of The Cross

13: The Risen Lord-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

Prepared by William Earnhardt, for Sabbath School Class, September 28, 2024.

Main Theme: Jesus is risen and we are to take this message to all the world!

Read in Class: Mark 16:1-8 and 1 Corinthians 15:1-8. Define the common thread of these passages.

Study: How does what happened here change the world?

Apply: How certain are you that Jesus was really resurrected? How do you know? See How do we Know the Disciples Didn’t Just Make Everything Up?

Share: Your friend tells you that Sunday is the Biblical memorial to the resurrection. What do you tell your friend? See First Day Texts in the Bible, and The Biblical Memorial to the Resurrection. See also, Romans 6:3-6.

Review in Class: Mark 16:1-8. Ask the class if they notice anything this time they did not notice the first time they read this?

Study: How did the women first respond to what happened?

Apply: Why must we not keep silent about Jesus and what He has done? Who can you tell today about Jesus and the plan of salvation?

Share: Your friend asks you why the angel singles Peter while mentioning the message to the disciples? What do you tell your friend? Your friend also mentiones the women being concerned about the stone, only to find it already rolled away when they got there. Your friend asks if you have ever worried about something in the future, only to find God had already taken care of it by the time you got there? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Mark 16:9-20. Have the class sunmarraize this passage.

Study: What do these verses add to the Resurrection story?

Apply: How can we protect ourselves from falling into the spiritual trap of doubt and unbelief? Why must we daily link ourselves to the risen Christ?

Share: Your friend asks you if God has ever done anything in your life or in your family’s life that you did not believe was possible or you had trouble beleving at first? What do you tell your friend?

Review in Class: Mark 16:14-20. Ask the class if they notice anything this time they did not notice the first time they read this?

Study:  What did Jesus say to His disciples when He appeared to them, and what do these words mean to us today?

Apply: Read Matthew 28:19-20. What words of comfort can and should we take from Jesus’ words?

Share: What specific good news from this week’s lesson will you be sharing with a friend this week?

by In Light Of The Cross

12: Tried and Crucified-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

Prepared by William Earnhardt, for Sabbath School class, September, 21 2024.

Main Theme: In Mark 15 we see the plan of Salvation being perfectly carried out for you and me.

Read in Class: Mark 15:1-20. Have the class define the main idea of this passage.

Study: What kind of ironic situations occur here?

Apply: How hard is it to go against the crowd and majority opinion in any given situation? Is it hard to go against the flow? 

Share: Your friend says, “Many of these people who were crying out “crucify Him” were ignorant and surely God will not judge them.” What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Mark 15:21-38. Have the class share the main idea from this passage.

Study: What painful ironies appear in these passages?

Apply: Would you sacrifice yourself for people who cursed you, spit on you, mocked you, maimed you, and beat you half to death? Why didn’t Jesus just say, ‘forget it, you don’t deserve my love and efforts.’?

Share: Your friend asks, “Why did Jesus have to die in our place in order for us to be saved? Did God just have to see someone suffer for our sin? Why couldn’t God just forgive wihtout a sacrifice?” What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Mark 15:33-41. Have the class define the main idea of this passage.

Study: What are Jesus’ words on the cross in Mark? How do you understand why He said them?

Apply:  How can we learn that regardless of what happens around us or to us, that we can trust God and know that He will prevail?

Share: You friend says he heard that Jesus died the second death for us? What does that mean and how do we know? What do you tell your friend? See The God-forsaken God.

Read in Class: Mark 15:42-47. Ask the class to share the main point of this passage.

Study: What was the importance of Joseph’s intervention, since all the disciples were nowhere to be seen?

Apply: How can we be sure that when in crucial times, we are not missing in action? 

Share: Can you think of one friend who may benefit from hearing the plan of salvation this week? What can you do to share it with them?

by In Light Of The Cross

11: Taken and Tried-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

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Prepared by William Earnhardt for Sabbath School class, September 14, 2024.

Main Theme: Throughout the narrative, two contrasting story plots march hand in hand. In a crisp style, Mark sets before the reader these clashing plots while revealing the triumph of Jesus.

Read in Class: Mark 14:1-11, 22-31. Ask the class to summarize this passage.

Study: What two stories are intertwined here, and how do they play off of one another? What great significance to the Christian faith is found in this account of the latter passage?

Apply: What can you learn from whatever times you promised God that you would or would not do something and ended up doing or not doing it anyway?

Share: Your friend asks you if we should still be observing Passover? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Mark 14:32-42. Ask the class to define the main idea of this passage.

Study: What did Jesus pray in Gethsemane, and how was the prayer answered?

Apply: What is the closest you have ever come to experiencing what Jesus experienced in Gethsemane?

Share: Your friend asks why was Jesus seeking assistance from His disciples? Since He was God why couldn’t He just make it on His own? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Mark 14:43-52. Ask the class to define the main idea of this passage.

Study: What happens here that is so crucial to the plan of salvation?

Apply: Think about the fearful idea that being a slave of only one vice led Judas to do what he did. What should this tell us about hating sin and, by God’s grace, overcoming it?

Share: Your friend points out that in Matthew 26:50 Jesus calls Judas “friend,” when He is being betrayed. Your friend asks why Jesus called Judas “friend.” What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Mark 14:60-72. Ask the class to define the main idea of this passage.

Study: Compare how Jesus responded to events in contrast to how Peter did. What lessons can we learn from the differences?

Apply: What words of hope would you give to someone who, though wanting to follow Jesus, fails at times to do so? Who of us has not, at times, failed to follow what we know Jesus wants?

Share: Can you think of a friend who may feel like they are on trial right now? How can you support them this week?

by In Light Of The Cross

10: The Last Days-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

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Prepared by William Earnhardt for Sabbath School Class, September 7, 2024.

Main Theme: Jesus not only predicts the future but also instructs His disciples both then and now in how to prepare for the coming trials.

Read in Class: Mark 12:41-13:13. Have the class summarize these passages.

Study: How much did the widow give, and what did Jesus have to say about that? How did the disciples respond to Jesus’ statement about the temple, and what is the significance of Jesus’ answer to them?

Apply: What do these passages teach us about being faithful in giving our offerings as well as our entire selves for the Lord’s work?

Share: Your friend tells you she gets scared just thinking about the time or trouble in the last days. What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Mark 13:14-18. Ask class to define the main idea of this passage.

Study: What clue does Jesus give in figuring out what the “abomination of desolation” refers to?

Apply: Read Daniel 11:31 and Daniel 12:11. What event are these passages applied to? What was the abomination of desolation during the days of the Roman empire? What event in the last days could be the abomination of desolation? Hint from Tuesday’s lesson: The abomination likely refers to the planting of the Roman pagan standards in Israel during the siege of Jerusalem in the late A.D. 60s. This was the sign for the Christians to flee, which they did.

Share: Your friend asks you why you trust the Bible? What predictions of Jesus have already been fulfilled? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Mark 13:19-23. Define the main idea of this passage.

Study: What does verse 19 refer to?

Apply: What hope do you find in Mark 13:20-23 for God’s people during the time of persecution, and what warning does He give them as it closes?

Share: Your friend asks, who are the false Christ’s Jesus warned us about? Can a false Christ also be a false idea or misconception about Christ? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Mark 13:24-32. Define the main idea of this passage.

Study: What great event is described here?

Apply: Is it possible for us to believe Jesus is coming soon but still plan like He is not coming in our lifetime? Why or why not is this a good idea?

Share: Can you think of some friends who would be encouraged to be reminded Jesus is coming again? How can you share this hope with them this week?

by In Light Of The Cross

9: Jerusalem Controversies-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

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Prepared by William Earnhardt, for Sabbath School Class August 31, 2024.

Main Theme: While the religious leaders tried to defeat Jesus they never could. Jesus’ teaching and examples will help truth to be victorious in our day as well.

Read in Class: Mark 11:12-26. Ask the class to define the main idea of this passages.

Study:  What is the significance of the events depicted here?

Apply: What things in your life do you need Jesus to clean? How does this happen?

Share: Your friend asks you, what if Jesus came into our church today? What signs of irreverance might He find? What do you tell your friend? What solutions might you share with your friend?

Read in Class: Mark 11:27-33. Ask the class the define the main idea of this passage.

Study: What challenge did the religious leaders bring to Jesus, and how did He respond?

Apply: Read Mark 12:1-12. How did this story apply to those accusing Jesus?

Share: Your friend tells you she has been trying to share with her inlaws Bible truths she has been learning in the Adventist Church. However, one of her inlaws is a pastor of another denomination. Her inlaws tell her they will listen to their relative pastor, but not to her because she is not a pastor, and has no authority to be trying to teach the Bible to them. What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Mark 12:13-27. Ask the class to summarize this passage.

Study: What is going on here, and what truths does Jesus teach?

Apply: If someone were to ask you, “Do you know the power of God?” what would you reply, and why?

Share: Your friend asks what Jesus meant when He said, “But concerning the dead, that they rise, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the burning bush passage, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living.” Your friend asks you if this means Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are still alive right now? What do you tell your friend?  

Read in Class: Mark 12:28-34. Ask the class to summarize this passage.

Study: What deep question did the friendly scribe ask, and what double response did Jesus give?

Apply: How do we learn to love God and to love our neighbors as ourselves? Why is the Cross the key to following these commands?

Share: At the end of Mark 12:28-34 it says “no one dared ask Him any questions after that.” Your friend asks you what it was about that teaching that made them stop asking Jesus questions? What do you tell your friend?

by In Light Of The Cross

8: Teaching Disciples, Part 2-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

Prepared by William Earnhardt, for Sabbath School class, August 24, 2024.

Main Theme: Jesus’ lessons prepare us for the challenges of discipleship.

Read in Class: Mark 10:1-16, Genesis 1:27 and Genesis 2:24. . Define he main idea of these passages.

Study: How did the Pharisees try to trap Jesus with their question? What did Jesus teach in these passages about the sacredness of marriage and family, including children?

Apply: How does your church family encourage and mentor married couples and their children?

Share: Your friend says she would love to work with the kids in Adventurers, but with so much in the media today concerning teachers and kids, she does not want to be falsely accused of anything, so she has decided not to participate. What do you tell your friend? See Coaching and Mentoring Vs. Grooming.

Read in Class: Mark 10:17-31. Define the main idea of this passage.

Study: What crucial lessons about faith and the cost of discipleship­—for anyone, rich or poor—is revealed here?

Apply: Read Romans 6:1-11. How do these verses describe the reality of letting go of selfish ambition and following Jesus.

Share: Your friend asks, why did Jesus ask the young ruler to sell all that he had? Why not just some of what he had or even just half? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Mark 10:32-45. Define the main idea of this passage.

Study: How do these verses reveal the continued ignorance of the disciples regarding not only Jesus’ mission but what it means to follow Him?

Apply: What does it mean as a Christian to be a “servant” to others? That is, how do you manifest this principle in your daily interaction with people?

Share: Your friend asks you if you can name a leader who has led with a servant’s heart? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Mark 10:46-52. Define the main idea of this passage.

Study: How did Bartimaeus react to Jesus’ passing by?

Apply: In what ways have you at times cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”? What happened, and what did you learn from this experience?

Share: Can you think of someone who could use Jesus’ help this week? How can you be the hands of Jesus in helping that person this week?

by In Light Of The Cross

7: Teaching Disciples Part 1-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

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Prepared by William Earnhardt, for Sabbath School class, August 17, 2024.

Main Theme: This section of the second Gospel is marked off by the healing of two different blind men, one at the middle of Mark 8:1-38 and the other at the end of Mark 10:1-52. These miracle “bookends” illustrate dramatically how discipleship includes spiritual insight regarding who Jesus is and where He is going. As His teachings challenged the twelve disciples about two thousand years ago, so they continue to confront disciples today with the deep cost, and benefit, of following Jesus.

Read in Class: Mark 8:22-30. Define the main idea of this passage.

Study: Why did it take Jesus two touches to heal the blind man, and what lessons came out of this account?

Apply: What does this story teach us about times when it’s important not to say some things, however true they might be?

Share: Your friend asks you if it has ever taken you a while to understand something in Scripture. What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Mark 8:31-38. Define the main idea of this passage.

Study: What does Jesus teach here about the cost of following Christ?

Apply: “ ‘He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life’ ” (John 12:25). How have you experienced the reality of these words?

Share: Your friend asks you if there was ever a time when you had to make a public stand or confession for Jesus, maybe even when no one else was standing up for Jesus? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Mark 9:1-27. Summarize this story.

Study: What did Peter, James, and John see one night with Jesus?

Apply: In what situations, if any, have you had to cry out, “ ‘I believe; help my unbelief’ ”? What did you learn from those experiences?

Share: Your friend asks what led to the disciples lack of faith in this story. What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Mark 9:30-41. Define the main idea in this passage.

Study: What is different about Jesus’ second prediction of His death and resurrection (compare with Mark 8:31)? Also, what do the disciples argue about, and what instruction does Jesus give?

Apply: What is the biblical idea of greatness in contrast to the world’s idea? Which one are you striving for?

Share: Your friend says, we may not come right out and say we are the greatest, but in what ways or actions do people try to say they are the greatest today?