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Let’s Make Sabbath School a Bible Study — 13 Comments

1. Dave From Oak Harbor SDA in Washington.

   I am forced to agree after teaching SS for years. I do follow the quarterly as a rough guide but really facilitate "discovery" of scripture by forcing SS attendees to search the scriptures in class.

   I came to understand most people really don't study and really have no idea as to how to study. So, while I do concentrate on the rough lesson and the message it teaches, because it is Spirit led, my SS classes focused on tools that are available to aide in studying and comprehending what is said in Scripture. I came to understand that most don't even know how to use a Strong's or Young's concordance.

   There is room for socialization but I limit that to the first five minutes of class and even with an hour for SS it's not enough time to really get through the entire lesson. It takes me 16 or more hours to study the lesson for myself. Impossible to cover it all in less than an hour of class time.

   When I was teaching I was always two weeks in advance. I would do the lesson, annotate it with scriptural references and definations of names, places and words, insert contraversial questions and EG White comments. Then I would email it to each SS member for discussion in class. Class sizes were never more than 6 people, mainly because most church members claimed they were too difficult and boring.

   It would be better if they did it themselves but repetition and exposure to the scriptures does facilite learning about God even if it's much slower and difficult.

   "He who hath ears, let him hear." It's found 6 timers in Scripture so it must be important.

   2 Tim2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

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   • Dave, could you share with us some of the tools that are available to aide in studying and comprehending what is said in Scripture in addition to Strong's and Young's concordances.

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     • You might start with the Bible Study Center on Sabbath School Net.
       As I look at it now, I see that it may need a little updating, but the tools listed are still good.

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   • Dave, I like the idea of emailing the outline to class members. We usually just use the quarterly as a guide and include additional EGW readings and other authors and articles as well. And we incorporate current relevant world news as applicable. We always ask how we can apply the lesson theme and Scripture in our own lives, because if we don't, then it's not relevant to us and we won't prioritize it. I like the website ancient-hebrew.org as a reference for the culture of the Hebrews and for word studies. I also recently purchased a Bible with the Hebrew and Greek Strong's built in, which is really growing my understanding.

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     • Hi Karen,
       Would you kindly share the details about the Bible? I'm about to start a Biblical Hebrew course and would love to review this version. Thank you.

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2. I agree with you William. When I do the Bible study, I focus more on the Scriptures it gives us then on the study itself. And I like to read before and after the scripture to get the full picture. I focus inward to Jesus' Spirit and am aware of His connection between me and the Father. When I read the scriptures, I'm looking all the time for insight from him to show me a true meaning of who He is in reference to what he is saying in the scriptures. This is where I get all my insights--from the Bible. I must admit I do love Ellen White's writings and it seems almost every time that I start to read it the spirit moves within me and I know she has received from God some insight that he wants to show me. I love my Bible study. And I get up early in the morning to be sure to have time to sit and read the Bible and worship God. He is the greatest!

   I always hope that sharing my witness of what God is doing in my life will help others believe what God does for all His children, and look forward to the same in their lives.

   It is so exciting to see God's character flourish in and around us. I make no credit in myself. It's all about Jesus!

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   • Amen ...in Christ Jesus 🙏

     Luke 24:27 (CSB)
     27 Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, *he interpreted for them* the things concerning *HIMSELF* in *all the Scriptures.*

     Shadows in the Hebrews scriptures and Reality in Christ !
     The letter to the Hebrews in the New Testiment, is a classic in Types and Antitypes aka Typology !

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3. I also used the teaching plans when I taught and was grateful for their focus.
   I added “Cradle Roll for adults” - really just a very short nature nugget at the beginning tied to the theme or some point in the lesson to give another thing for the class to “hang thoughts on”.
   It’s not really about the class, just Bible learning generally - one thing I’ve found useful for me personally is copying the Bible - and I try to do it by books, usually tied to the subject of the quarterly. Genesis is really big and I’m a bit behind this quarter. I try to keep up with the lesson as it adds to my learning. I learn best by writing so it is definitely my type of activity. My husband knows more about the Bible than I could learn even with non-stop study, but he doesn’t have any interest in writing the Bible.
   Even though we read through the Bible yearly, I find things I’ve “never seen before” when I write it out.
   I’m very Thankful for everyone who leads out in SSNet.

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   • When I want to focus on the meaning of a passage of scripture, I will write a paraphrase. I am not a Koine Greek or ancient Hebrew scholar, but I will do my best to work off the Greek or Hebrew concordance and interlinear texts (e.g., https://www.logosapostolic.org/bibles/interlinear_ot1.htm). You are right about "never seen before" when doing this.

     Often the text will use Greek or Hebrew idioms, which require a bit of research to really understand what they mean. For example, the euphemism of Genesis 24:2. All of this has opened my eyes to the patience and condescension of God in his dealings with mankind. It is truly amazing grace.

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4. Yes. The Sabbath just passed I had the privilege of facilitating the discussion. I based the lesson on the same major events/incidents in the life of Joseph as the Sabbath Quarterly had suggested, then finished up with 6 pages of notes without barely a reference to the quarterly itself. Everything came from scripture. The result was the most animated discussion we've had for a long time, everyone contributed, took the full hour, and we had covered only 3½ pages of the notes.
   Of course, the Joseph story covered 4 chapters of scripture, had numerous points of interest and lessons that brought controversy and debate, but trusting the holy Spirit and having an open Bible before you to find insight and inspiration is by far the more rewarding and joyful means by which to uncover the treasures of scripture.
   Relying solely on the quarterly lessons is a lazy way of study, and as you say, could hardly warrant the description of Bible Study at all.

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5. What I appreciate about SSNet is the community of thoughtful, deeply-committed seekers who want to know the true God and Jesus Christ whom he sent. (John 17:3.) It is a community that is willing to ask hard questions that are sometimes necessary to explore and deepen relationships with God and with each other. It is a safe place where diverse perspectives can be shared and considered respectfully, even lovingly. I think this is the kind of community the apostle Paul had in mind when he coined the term “speaking the truth in love” about the Ephesian church. (Ephesians 4:15 in the context of Ephesians 4:1-15.)

   This is the kind of Sabbath School to which I aspire in my local church and the kind of teaching methodology I endeavor to encourage in my fellow SS teachers. None of us call ourselves “teachers” because it evokes an image of “school” where there is only one “right” answer to any question. Instead, we think of each other in our SS community as facilitators of the Holy Spirit, who will guide us into all truth, which is all about glorifying Jesus. (John 16:13 in the context of John 16:12-15.)

   My experience is that there is usually nothing more mind numbing and Spirit quenching than going by rote through the lesson day by day from Sabbath to Friday in the Quarterly week. Way to waste an opportunity to reach those who are seeking the Way, the Truth and the Life. (John 14:6.) Sabbath School is a place and time for the Gospel.

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6. The study of the Sabbath School Lesson is what each of us personally makes it.

   Personal Bible study can be found in personal study of the Sabbath School Lesson also. I remember the essence of a Bible text but not the text always, and then go to word search to find the text I have in my mind. I am often surprised of some of the gems I run across that are not the text I was thinking about. Many of them marvelous promises. It is good to include in our Bible study and communion with God, promises from God. Yes it is good to spend a thoughtful hour on the life of Christ, as well as with the promises of God. Promises dispel doubt and strengthen trust in God.

   Personal Bible study is fodder for our prayers.

   "Do Not Let Go of God's Promises—Every saint who comes to God with a true heart, and sends his honest petitions to Him in faith, will have his prayers answered. Your faith must not let go of the promises of God, if you do not see or feel the immediate answer to your prayers. Be not afraid to trust God. Rely upon His sure promise: "Ask, and ye shall receive." God is too wise to err, and too good to withhold any good thing from His saints that walk uprightly..." Prayer 70.1.
   Prayer by EG White

   Those of us who follow SSnet have a plethora of texts to study. And if one person does not use the text, we can use our word search to find a text to match their thought. In my SS class absolutely we do what Myron Widmer observed, nothing wrong with that, as we expect every member to have already studied the lesson thoroughly and be able to talk about it in our own words, rather than reading the texts only with out any home work. Yes we do read some texts in our hour on Sabbath morning, to stay on track and to back up our rehash of what we have studied during the week. It works well for us. I sometimes read a pertinent EGW quote, one member says, were did you get that? I give them the book and page. I remember Myrion Widmer when I was at Pacific Union College. I always enjoyed his talks. Great guy. Whew about 50 years ago. Time flies.

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7. I hesitate to join the fray regarding the use of the Sabbath School Lesson Quarterly as the primary subject of our Sabbath School classes. I have always thought that the presentation of context (introduction to the principle at hand from the biblical narrative), content (opening the Bible and reading appropriate narrative scriptures with penetrating questions), then application of the principles in the lives of our Sabbath School participants, then, conclusions is a straightforward approach. Usually, the lesson can be "boiled down" to 2-3 principles that form the basis for study. I have the advantage of a twin with whom I find great relish discussing the areas of the narrative that is most effective and while we may not agree on presentation for our separate church audiences, this discussion serves to create the "meat" of our lessons. What is most enjoyable is the distillation by Drs. Moskala, de Souza, Doukhan, Stefanovic, Hasel, Cortez, and other Andrews seminarians that have contributed to a more refined understanding that should bring us to heart worship. Although using EG White as the final word is unnecessary, this is practiced to punctuate principles. One such quote I have found comes from the Counsels for Sabbath School Workers page 117:

   "In some schools, I am sorry to say, the custom prevails of reading the lesson from the lesson sheet. This should not be.
   It need not be, if the time that is often needlessly and even sinfully employed, were given to the study of the Scriptures. There is no reason why Sabbath school lessons should be less perfectly learned by teachers or pupils than are the lessons of the day school. They should be better learned, as they treat of subjects infinitely more important. A neglect here is displeasing to God."

   If one is to read the entire chapter (4) of this book (The Teacher and His Work), it suggests that the desire to enlarge the understanding of God from the Bible for Bible students is our highest aim. We should all study to this end!

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