Tag / Seventh-day Adventist Adult Sabbath School class

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

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

Photo by Sora Shimazaki on Pexels.com

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

4: Parables-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

Photo by LilacDragonfly on Pexels.com

Prepared by William Earnhardt, for Sabbath School class, July 27, 2024.

Main Theme: Jesus used parables to help His listeners relate to the Gospel.

Read in Class: Mark 4:1-9. Discuss the main idea of this passage.

Study: What are the different soils like, and what happens to the seed that falls on them?

Apply: What are some other spiritual lessons that we can learn from nature?

Share: Your friend asks, you if you have ever seen any fruit from the spiritual seeds you have planted. What testimonies can you share with your friend?

Read in Class: Mark 4:10-20. Discuss the main idea of this passage.

Study: Why did Jesus teach in parables, and how did Jesus interpret the parable of the sower?

Apply: Consider your own life. Are any characteristics of the path, the rocky ground, or weedy ground creeping into your experience? This could happen more subtly than you realize. What choice can you make to change, if need be?

Share: Your friend asks why Jesus did not want those on the outside to understand the parables? What do you tell your friend? Hint: 1 Corinthians 2:14.

Read in Class: Mark 4:21-25. What are the main ideas of these passages?

Study:  What is Jesus’ special emphasis in the parable of the lamp? What lesson is Jesus conveying with the parable of the measuring basket?

Apply: How can we better understand the principle that with what measure you use, it will be measured to you? Think about it in all your dealings with others.

Share: Your friend asks why the one has little has even that taken away from them? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Mark 4:26-32. What are the main ideas of these passages?

Study: What is the primary focus of each parable?  What is the important stress of the parable of the mustard seed?

Apply: “ ‘And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come’ ” (Matthew 24:14). Consider what the “church” was like when Jesus made that prediction. Why is this such a remarkable and faith-affirming prediction?

Share: Your friend asks you how you are currently sowing the Gospel seeds. What do you tell your friend?

by In Light Of The Cross

3: Controversies-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

Prepared by William Earnhardt, for Sabbath School class, July 20, 2024.

Main Theme: This week we will look at how Jesus handled some controversial situations and what we can learn from Him.

Read in Class: Mark 2:1-12. Discuss the main ideas in this passage.

Study: What was the paralytic looking for when he was brought to Jesus, and what did he receive?

Apply: In the story in Mark 2:1-12, Jesus is preaching the Gospel. A group of frirends are bringing another friend to Jesus to hear the Gospel. Another group of people are critisizing Jesus and questioning Jesus’ words and methods. Which group to you most closely identify with and why? Which group was doing waht they were supposed to be doing?

Share: Your friend asks how Micah 6:6-8 explains what was happening between Jesus and the leaders. What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Mark 2:13-22. Ask the class to summarize this passage.

Study: Who was Levi, the son of Alphaeus, and why would there be an objection to him becoming a disciple of Jesus?

Apply: Who are those who today might be looked upon as the tax collectors were in Jesus’ day? How do we adjust our thinking regarding them?

Share: Your friend asks you if we should be fasting to today, and if so why and how? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Mark 2:23-28. Discuss the main idea of this passage.

Study: How does Jesus counter the charge brought by the Pharisees?

Apply: In the NLT Mark 2:24 says the pharisees accused the disciples of “harvesting grain on the Sabbath.” Really? All they were doing was plucking a few heads of grain to eat right then. Would you really consider that “harvesting?” Were the pharisees going a little overboard on this accusation? What are some things we sometimes go overbaord on or may be a little too picky about?

Share: Your friend asks you what Mark 3:1-6 teaches about Sabbath keeping. What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Mark 3:20-35. Discuss the main idea of this passage.

Study: What connection do you see between the two stories intertwined in this passage?

Apply: Based on Scripture how would you explain what the unpardonable sin is?

Share: Your friend says she is afraid she has commited the unpardonable sin. What do you tell your friend?

by In Light Of The Cross

11: Practicing Supreme Loyalty to Christ-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

Photo by August de Richelieu on Pexels.com

Prepared by William Earnhardt for Sabbath School class, September 9, 2023.

Main Theme: Honoring our parents helps us to be well rounded, successful family members and individuals.

Read in Class: Ephesians 6:1-3. Define the main idea of this passage.

Study: What advice does Paul give to children, and how does he support that counsel from the Old Testament?

Apply: How do these verses reinforce how important family relationships are?

Share: Your friend says he was abused by his parents as a child. Today he appreciates God as his loving heavenly Father, but says there is no way he can ever honor his earthly parents. He says, “Surely God does not expect me to honor my parents.” What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Ephesians 6:4 and Colossians 3:21. Define the main idea of these passages.

Study:  What motivation does Colossians 3:21 provide for avoiding irritating one’s children?

Apply: Though the context of the lesson here deals with parents and children, what principles can be taken from these texts that should impact how we should deal with all other people?

Share: A friend tells you she know she has needlessly provoked her children in the past, but doesn’t think she should say she is sorry, because authoritarians should never have to say they are sorry. What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Ephesians 6:5-8. Define the main idea of this passage.

Study: What does Paul require of Christian slaves in his detailed instructions to them?

Apply: However much we might wish that Scripture had openly condemned this horrible practice, it doesn’t. Nevertheless, what principles can we draw from Paul’s words in this context about how we relate to people we work with in our own context?

Share: Your friend says that the Bible is tone deaf towards slavery and other social issues of the day like how women should be treated or even homosexuals for that matter. What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Ephesians 6:9. Define the main idea of this passage.

Study: Assuming that you are a Christian slave master who is listening to Ephesians being read out in your house church, how might you react to this counsel, offered in the presence of your slaves? 

Apply: Even though we do not own slaves, how should Ephesians 6:9 help guide us in the way we treat our employees or those under our “command?”

Share: How can you show your appreciation this week for your employees or someone in a servant position?