Tag / Sabbath School teacher helps

by In Light Of The Cross

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

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

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: Jesus Opens the way Through the Veil-Sabbath School Teaching Plan

Prepared by William Earnhardt for Sabbath School class, Sabbath, March 5, 2022.

Main Theme: The book of Hebrews shows us how Jesus is working on our behalf in the heavenly sanctuary.

Read Together: Hebrews 9:24. What is the main idea of this passage?

Study:  According to this passage, what was the purpose of Jesus’ ascension to heaven?

Apply: Why should the reality of what Christ has done, not only on the cross but what He is doing now in heaven, give us assurance of salvation?

Share: Your friend shares that she thinks there is no real sanctuary in heaven. Christ is the actual sanctuary. How would you answer your friend’s claims?

Read Together: Leviticus 10:1-3, and Leviticus 16:1-2. Define the main idea of these passages.

Study: What warning do we have in these passages?

Apply: Matthew 27:51 tells us the veil of the earthly sanctuary was torn apart when Jesus was crucified. In Hebrews 4:14-16 it tells us to come boldly before the throne of grace in time of need. How does this veil being removed give you confidence to enter the presence of God today?

Share: Your friend asks you, if Jesus was God why weren’t people destroyed when they saw Him walk the earth, just like the Israelites were destroyed if the approached God on Sinai or the temple? How do you answer your friend? Hint: Hebrews 10:19-20.

Read Together: Hebrews 10:19-22. Define the main idea of this passage.

Study: What invitation do we have in this passage?

Apply: What accusations could Satan make against you before God, if He were allowed? Though he is a liar, how much would he have to lie about you in order to seek your condemnation? What’s your only hope?

Share: Your friend asks, “What does it mean to be able to enter into the holiest through the veil through His flesh and blood by a new and living way? And what does it mean to have our hearts sprinkled and our bodies washed?” How do you answer your friend?

Read Together: Hebrews 12:22-24. What is the main idea of this passage?

Study: In what sense have we arrived at heavenly Jerusalem into the presence of God? See Ephesians 2:5-6 and Colossians 3:1.

Apply: How can we learn to make the promise of eternal life real to us now, amid a world so full of pain and suffering? What answer can you give to those who say that this is all just a fantasy to help us feel better about our life here and now?

Share: Your friend asks you how you know your name is registered in heaven? How do you answer your friend?

The precious Saviour will send help just when we need it. The way to heaven is consecrated by His footprints. Every thorn that wounds our feet has wounded His. Every cross that we are called to bear, He has borne before us. The Lord permits conflicts, to prepare the soul for peace.–The Great Controversy, p. 633. (1888)