Tag / Sabbath School lesson teaching plan

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

7: Christ’s Victory Over Death-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

Prepared by William Earnhardt for Sabbath School class on Sabbath, November 12, 2022.

Main Theme: We can be sure that Jesus rose from the grave and that He gives us victory over death.

Read in Class: Matthew 27:62-66. Discuss the main idea of this passage.

Study: How did these actions only help provide the world later with more evidence for the resurrection of Jesus?

Apply: Has God ever freed you from a situation where you thought there was no way out? Can you tell us about it?

Share: Your friend suggests that the disciples did steal the body of Jesus to make it look like He was resurrected. What do you share with your friend? Keep in mind that all but one disciple was martyred for preaching about the resurrection. What does that tell us? See also How do we Know the Disciples Didn’t Just Make Everything up?

Read in Class: Matthew 28:1-6, John 10:17-18 and Romans 8:11. Define the common thread of these passages.

Study: Who was directly involved in the resurrection of Jesus?

Apply: Some scoff at the idea that the first people to see Christ resurrected were Romans. Why? In what ways is this truth symbolic of what was to come: the gospel going to the Gentiles, as well?

Share: Your friend says we are supposed to keep Sunday holy as a memorial to the resurrection. What do you tell your friend? What memorial to the resurrection do we find in Romans 6:3-6?

Read in Class: Luke 24:13-27 and Luke 24:44-49. What is the main idea of these passages?

Study: Why did Jesus take them to the Scriptures instead of just letting them recognize them?

Apply: Do you put more faith in what you see or what God’s Word says? When what you see seems to contradict God’s Word do you put faith in what you see or in what God’s Word says?

Share: Your friend asks you, exactly where in Scripture did Jesus take the disciples to show them what was to happen to the Messiah? What do you tell you friend? See The Messiah in Prophecy.

Read in Class: Matthew 27:51-53, 1 Corinthians 15:20 and Deuteronomy 26:1-11. What is the common thread of these passages?

Study:  In what sense did Paul refer to the risen Christ as “the first fruits of those who have died?”

Apply: No matter how bad things can get now, why can we trust in God’s ultimate victory for us as we still struggle in this fallen world?

Share: Who can you share the hope we have in the resurrection with this week?

by In Light Of The Cross

5: Extreme Heat-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

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Prepared by William Earnhardt, for Sabbath School class, July 30,2022.

The Main Idea: God will do whatever it takes, even being misunderstood in order to help us become like Jesus.

Read in Class: Hosea 2:1-12. Define what the main idea is in this passage.

Study: What methods does God say He will use to pull Israel back to Himself? What would these experiences have felt like?

Apply: Read Hosea 2:14-23. What does this passage reveal about God? Ask the Holy Spirit to show you if you have been running from God in any area of your life. If you are convicted that you have been, why wait to go through the crucible? What’s stopping you from surrendering all to the Lord now?

Share: Are you willing to share with the class, what you consider is the most sever means God has used to bring you back to love and obedience to Him?

Read in Class: Job 1:6-2:10. Define the main idea of this passage.

Study: What causes Job’s sufferings and how does Job respond to these trials?

Apply: How does Job’s trials help you with your own trials?

Share: Have you ever been tempted to just “curse God and die?” Why did you or why didn’t you? What was the final outcome of your crucible in this specific situation?

Read in Class: 2 Corinthians 1:4-9. Define the main idea of this passage.

Study: In 2 Corinthians 1:4, Paul states that the reason for receiving God’s compassion and comfort is “so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God” (NIV). To what extent might suffering be a call to ministry? How could we become more alert to this possibility?

Apply: What can you learn from Paul that can help you keep from falling into self-pity amid your own struggles?

Share: Can you share how others have comforted you during a hard time? How did it make you feel? How did you respond?

Read in Class: Isaiah 43:1-7. What is the main idea of this passage?

Study: What are the different ways in which God assures His people of comfort during the times of water and fire. What picture of God does this paint in your mind? Which promises can you claim for yourself?

Apply: What do these verses teach you about the actions and character of God? Ps. 103:13, 14; Matt. 28:20; 1 Cor. 10:13; 1 Pet. 1:7. How have you experienced the reality of these verses in your own life?

Share: Can you write a letter, text message or email this week offering encouragement to someone you know who is going through a crucible?

by In Light Of The Cross

03: The Roots of Restlessness- Sabbath School Teaching Plan

Prepared by William Earnhardt for Sabbath School class on July 17, 2021.

Main theme for this week’s lesson: It is the love of self that causes us to be restless.

Read Together Matthew 10:34-39. Define the main theme is this passage.

Study: Why did Jesus bring a sword instead of peace?

Apply: How do we take up our cross? Is Jesus inviting us to come and die with Him?

Share: Your daughter tells you she has been studying about World War 2, and about Chamberlain wanting peace at any cost. Is that an attitude we should have as Christians? Why or why not? How does Matthew 10:34-39 help you answer that question?

Read together Luke 12:13-21. Define the main point of this passage.

Study: Is planning for the future wrong? What was the man in the story doing that showed his selfishness?

Apply: What are some guidelines that may help us to give generously and yet responsibly?

Share: Your coworker tells you his older brother cheated him out of his father’s will and took everything from the estate. How do you counsel your coworker according to Luke 12:31-21?

Read Together Philippians 2:5-8. Define the main idea of this passage.

Study: How does the love of self cause restlessness? See The Love of Self Causes Unrest.

Apply: What are some practical ways we can have Jesus’ selfless attitude at work, school and in the home?

Share: A fellow board member complains that when she mentions an idea no one seems to listen, but later when another board member says the exact same thing everyone thinks its a great idea. You have seen this so you know she is right. What do you tell her? How would Philippians 2:5-8 guide you in what you might say?

Read Together Luke 22:14-30. Discuss the main idea of this passage.

Study: Who did the disciples forget about when they were talking about who was the greatest?

Apply: what are some practical ways you can be a servant during the week this week?

Share: What ideas from this week’s study and discussion are you eager to share with others this week?

But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. James 1:22 NLT

by In Light Of The Cross

9: Covenant Sign – Sabbath School Teaching Plan

9: Covenant Sign – Sabbath School Teaching Plan

Prepared by William Earnhardt

Key Thought: The Sabbath is a covenant sign that points back to Creation, the covenant of grace, and to the final recreation when God makes all things new.
May 29, 2021

1. Have a volunteer read Genesis 2:1-3

  1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
  2. Why did God rest on the seventh day? Is there a parallel between God resting after creation and Jesus resting in the grave on Sabbath after He redeemed us?
  3. Personal Application: What do you think the first Sabbath was like for Adam and Eve? They didn’t really have a long week that week. What type of a rest did they need? Hint: Psalm 100:3 says it is God who made us and not we ourselves? Do you think they appreciated realizing they were made by God’s work and not their own work? Just was we are redeemed by Jesus’ works and not our own works?
  4. Case Study: I saw a Sabbath debate on Youtube a while back. The person debating against the Sabbath said that while God made the Sabbath at creation He did not tell anyone to keep it until Sinai. How would you respond to this debate? Hint: Mark 2:27 tells us why the Sabbath was originally made. Also see Exodus 16 as well as Exodus 20:8-11. Also see Did God Tell Adam and Eve to Keep the Sabbath?

2. Have a volunteer read Exodus 20:8-11.

  1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
  2. How is the Sabbath commandment linked to creation? If the Sabbath had never been forgotten would man have forgotten his creator? Would atheism still be rampant? Why or why not?
  3. Personal Application: What is it about the Sabbath that makes it appropriate as a symbol of the saving relationship with God? How does the Sabbath symbolize Salvation by grace instead of by works?
  4. Case Study: Your neighbor tells you she does not need the Sabbath because she keeps everyday holy? How do you respond to your neighbor? What in the commandment itself tells us we can’t keep every day holy or alike? Hint: see Exodus 20:9.

3. Have a volunteer read Exodus 31:13-17.

  1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
  2. What does it mean to be sanctified? Can we sanctify ourselves? Can we make a day holy?
  3. Personal Application: How has the Sabbath helped you in your relationship with Christ? Why do you think God was so particular that no work be done on the Sabbath? Could that have anything to do with us not trusting our works to save us?
  4. Case Study: One of your co-workers says that the Sabbath was just a sign for the Jews. How do you respond? Was the Sabbath a sign that they were Jews or a sign they were God’s people? Also can we claim for ourselves the promises given to the Jews without obeying the commandments given to the Jesus?

4. Have a volunteer read Deuteronomy 5:14-15 and Hebrews 4:1-4.

  1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of these passages is.
  2. How are we to keep the Sabbath holy? See The Sabbath in Light of the Cross.
  3. Personal Application: While Pharaoh made the Jews work so he could rest, God worked so the Jews could rest. The Sabbath was a sign that the Jews were saved from slavery by God’s works and not their own. What does the Sabbath remind you that you have been saved from?
  4. Case Study: Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.”Ministry of Healing, p. 148).