Tag / Teaching Seventh-day Adventist Sabbath School lesson

by In Light Of The Cross

11: Ruth and Esther-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

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Prepared by William Earnhardt, for Sabbath School class, June 14, 2025.

Main Theme: In prophecy, of course, a woman is a powerful symbol for God’s church, shedding much light on how God regards His people. Let’s look at the biblical accounts of these two women, whose life circumstances have been immortalized in the Word of God, and seek to draw whatever lessons we can from their experiences.

Read in Class: Ruth 2:5-20. Ask the class to identify the main idea of this passage.

Study: Why is this such a pivotal moment in the story? Why do you think Naomi’s discovery of the benefactor’s identity was such good news?

Apply: Try to wrap your mind around not only the Creator’s becoming part of His own creation but then dying for it. How should this astonishing truth impact how we view our own existence?

Share: Your friend says things worked out great for Ruth, but what about people who go through famines and hardships, who don’t have anyone to help them? What about them? What do you tell your friend? For ideas, see Isaiah 59:16.

Read in Class: Esther 3:1-14, Revelation 12:14-17, and Revelation 13:15. Ask the class to identify the common thread in these passages.

Study: How is John’s description of God’s remnant church like Haman’s description of God’s people?

Apply: Think about the “small” things that test your faith now. If you compromise on them, the “small things,” how will you do when the big test comes?

Share: Your friend says that the only job she has is mopping the floors at a school. She says she will never hold an essential position like Esther’s, so how does that story apply to her? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Esther 4:13-14, 5:1-3, and 9:20-28. Ask the class to identify the main idea in this story.

Study: What lessons can we draw from these passages regarding our plight in the closing moments of Earth’s history?

Apply: Things worked out well, at least in this story, for God’s people. It doesn’t always happen that way, though, does it? Why, then, must we always take a long-term view of things to maintain the hope that we have in Christ?

Share: Your friend says that while God’s people were saved in this story, it does not happen every time. James and John the Baptist were beheaded. Stephen was stoned to death. What good did this Bible story do them? What do you tell your friend? See Revelation 2:10.

Read in Class: Ruth 1:1-5. Ask the class to share the main idea of this passage.

Study: What hardships fell on Naomi and Ruth, and what caused them? How does this reflect the situation that the entire human race now faces?

Apply: Even after six thousand years of sin and death, how does the earth still reveal the wonders of God’s love and creative power? 

Share: Can you think of someone who may be encouraged by something in this week’s lesson? Tell the class how you plan to share it with them this week.

“If we have tasted and seen that the Lord is good, we shall have something to tell.” –Ellen White, Steps to Christ, Page 78.

by In Light Of The Cross

3: To be Pleasing to God-Sabbath School Lesson Teaching Plan

Prepared by William Earnhardt for Sabbath , January 18, 2025.

Main Theme: By God’s grace we can be pleasing to God.

Read in Class: Luke 15:11-32. Have the class summarize this story.

Study: What does the parable of the prodigal son reveal about God’s compassion and love? What warning does it provide for those who, like the other son, remained home?

Apply: Interesting is the reaction of the other son. Why was this reaction such a human reaction, based at least in part on fairness, and so understandable, as well? What, however, does his part of the story teach us about how human concepts of fairness don’t capture the depth of the gospel or of God’s love for us?

Share: Your friend says young people will never appreciate being in the church until they have first gone out into the world and experienced sin. After all, people who have stayed in the church all their lives don’t have any amazing conversation stories to share. What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Zephaniah 3:17 and Ephesians 5:25-28. Ask the class what the common thread is in these passages.

Study: How does Zephaniah 3:17 shed light on the parable of the prodigal son? What does Ephesians 5:25-28 say about the love we should display as well?

Apply: When you hear that someone who has left the church has returned, what is your first reaction? Rejoicing and celebrating or skepticism? Exactly how should we celebratee when soneone returns to the church? Throw a party like the prodigal son’s father?

Share: Your friend is very upset because her church is having a baby shower for a 15 year-old unwed mother. The 15 year-old girl is sorry and wants to come back God and raise her child in the church, but really? Why should the church reward this girl’s sinful behavior with a shower? What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Isaiah 43:4, Psalm 149:4, and Proverbs 15:8-9. Ask the class what these passages are saying?

Study: What do these passages tell us about God taking delight in His people?

Apply: Think about how closely tied heaven and earth must be that God, the Creator of the universe, can be so intimately involved, even emotionally, with us. What hope should this amazing idea give you, especially if you are going through a hard time?

Share: Your friend says he hears people in the church talking bad about the youth and how worldly they dress and act. Everyone seems disappointed in them. What do you tell your friend?

Read in Class: Romans 8:1 and Romans 5:8. Ask the class what the main idea is of these passages.

Study: What do these texts teach about our standing before God?

Apply: Read 1 Peter 2:4-6 and compare it with Hebrews 11:6. What does this tell us about how we can be pleasing to God?

Share: Your friend asks how he can know if he is pleasing God or not? What do you tell your friend?

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?