Quarterly Index of Weekly Lessons | Introduction to the QuarterCurrent Daily Lessons | Current Weekly Lesson | Daily Lessons by Email | Lessons in PDF FormatTeacher Resources | More Resources on The Book of John | Previous Quarter: The Book of Mark |Next Quarter: God’s Love and Justice

Current Lessons

2024 Q4: Themes in the Gospel of John

Themes in the Gospel of John Cover: The Good Shepherd Leading His Sheep

Image © Pacific Press

Recent Lessons

See more in our Archives


Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guides Online

Sabbath School for mobile devices, such as iPhone, iPad, iPod, Android phones and tablets

  • I just tried out the updated  iPhone and Android app produced by the Sabbath School and Personal Ministries department of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. It is so much better than it used to be.  It gives you access to print content from Beginner through the Adult Bible Study Guide. The app is called “Sabbath School & PM” by Adventech. It provides links to all lessons in PDF format, which are downloaded when you click on them. Also included are the Adult, Kindergarten and Primary audio podcasts, the Kindergarten animation podcast, the weekly reading of the Collegiate Quarterly, Sabbath School University video, Sabbath School University audio, and podcasts in various languages. Sabbath School Leaders can discover ideas in Cool Tools and access the Sabbath School Manual right from the app. The app is available for free in the Android app store. It is also available at the iTunes app store. Apple may charge a small fee for access.
  • Rusek Ministries’ SDA Sabbath School Quarterly app for android and ITunes features the complete Adult Bible Study Guide, with links to a companion Bible app. It allows high-lighting and includes sections for notes that are saved till needed in Sabbath School discussions. On your device, just go to  your app store and search for “SDA Sabbath School Quarterly.” It’s a free app in the Books & Reference section. All it lacks is online discussion. For that you have to come back to Sabbath School Net.
Don’t have a Kindle reader? You can download the Amazon.com free reader for the PC, or the FREE app for android or apple devices.
OR
You get your own genuine Kindle Paperwhite, starting at US$ 99.99.  (You may find a refurbished Kindle for less.) The smallest Amazon Fire Tablet  is just slightly larger than the classic Paperwhite. It works like a regular tablet, has color,  and you can usually get it for less.
We enjoy the freedom to size the print to our liking and reading in bed without needing a light to shine on a paper book.

Discussion and/or Teachers’ Helps

Other Adult Sabbath School Resources

Audio, Video & Braille Resources for the Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guides

Click here to go to the Audio , Video & Braille Resources

Collegiate / Young Adult Resources

Click here to go to the Collegiate /Young Adult Resources

Youth Sabbath School Resources

Click here to go to Youth Sabbath School Resources

Juniors & Teens Sabbath School Resources

Kids – Beginners to Primary

More Resources in our Links Section

Non-English Sabbath School Resources


Please note that we do not write or edit any of the Study Guides for any age group. You can click on the link to contact the editors of the Adult Bible Study Guide. For the editors of other lessons, please go to the appropriate site. Any comments made here, but addressing another site, will be deleted. We do not send out paper copies of anything. This is an internet ministry. Everything we offer is found on this site. Please explore the site before asking questions. If you still have questions after searching this site, you may contact us through the link under “About Us” in the menu. If you wish to comment on a lesson, you may do so under the appropriate lesson post.

(275)

Comments

Adult Sabbath School Study Guides & More — 67 Comments

  1. thank much for ur concerning am always visit your website but my request in that lesson are always available in english and ather language but there are people from east african countries who wishes to read the lesson through internet but they dont english it si our request the kiswahili copy to be available in website so aspeople from east africa can understand the word of God. THANK MUCH MAY GOD BLESS YOU.

    (190)
  2. Dear Arop,

    We do not send out lessons weekly. You can access our weekly lessons by going to our front page and clicking on one of the options above and below the lesson cover at the top of the left sidebar.

    We do send out daily lessons. To receive these by email, you need to subscribe yourself to one of our email distribution lists.

    To do so, go to our front page and click on "Discuss." Underneath, you will see a drop-down menu, which includes "Posts by Email." Click on that and choose the appropriate option. For the Daily Lessons, choose the option for your area of the world.

    If at some time you should want to unsubscribe, use the link at the bottom of one of the posts you received.

    (42)
    • The short answer is that there is no single "best bible version to study." If at all possible, it is best to consult several different versions to get an idea of what translations are possible from the original text.

      The bottom line is probably that the best Bible version for you is one you will actually read. The "best bible version" that mainly sits on the shelf is not nearly as good as a "lesser" version that you read.

      And most important of all is to ask the Holy Spirit to interpret the Bible to you. He inspired the Bible in the first place, and He can and will make it as clear to you as necessary.

      (94)
      • Amen.... I really agree with answer given above, thank you.
        We must not merely listened to the word and deceive ourselves, we have to do what it says.

        Anyone who listen to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror & after looking at his face goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

        Yes of course, we can go on and read as many Bible as we can BUT we really need the Holy Spirit to guide and teach us what we are reading so we understand what exactly the Bible tells us to do. (James 1:22 -24)

        (21)
      • Versions of the Bible ARE significant. Words, phrases and punctuation all have meaning and can change meaning in a text. You should consider utilizing the King James Version of the Bible as your authoritative version of the Bible. Happy Sabbath!
        Elder JB Taylor, Head Elder
        Watts New Hope SDA Church
        Los Angeles, California 90059

        (17)
          • You need to do a little more serious study on how the KJV (AV 1611)came to be and the documentary evidence concerning it's absolute accuracy. Papyri going back as far as around 90 A.D agree totally. There is a great deal more evidence to prove it's genuineness and accuracy than I can list here.
            Nonetheless, any reliable translation is good for reading and casual study. Doctrinal studies and word studies should stay with the KJV (AV 1611). Take note that some KJV editions have been edited by one group or another and may contain word or phrase changes. Most put those changes in parenthesis.

            (4)
            • I have done the serious study and a brief summary of that is found in the article I have written. I marvel at its accuracy but at the same time I am aware that certain phrases and expressions were deliberately used to support the Church of England. That bias is well documented. That does not detract from the translation but it is worth bearing in mind.

              Furthermore the KJV that we currently use is the 1769 revision and not the 1611 original. This is also documented in the article that I wrote.

              (13)
          • The KJV like any other translation was published with an agenda in mind. We need to understand this. Furthermore, the use of definite and indefinite articles in the English language is not directly related to the original, particularly in Hebrew. In ancient Hebrew, there was no indefinite article and the definite article had a different intention to the English usage. Translation is much more than just word conversion.

            (11)
          • What we look for is "that they may know Thee, the Only True God, and Jesus Christ Whom thou has sent" (John 17 - Prayer of Jesus Christ).

            God's Word is consistent with the character and intent of God - God is Love. We become authentic presenters of the Sayings of God when we genuinely get to know God through the working of the Holy Spirit on our hearts, and continue to be conscientious students learning to know and become like Jesus Christ.

            (3)
      • Thanks for this answer. I bumped on this article while looking for the Lesson site.

        This Translations thing has been my worry as some translations really vary on certain verses so widely one wonders if we are reading the same Bible.

        I have been doing how you advised above; reading many versions on a biblical story or subject at ago.

        The main important thing is to pray that the Holy Spirit guide you.

        Phelix Odiango

        from Kenya.

        (5)
  3. Thanks a lot Brethren for the lessons. we are growing rich with the word of our God every day as we study.

    let all churches both local look for a formula of studying our lessons as we do not read and finish on time. let us be good steward of time.

    be blessed all.

    (46)
    • Samuel, I would like to suggest a more helpful approach than going through the lesson, page by page.

      I recommend that each teacher study the lesson at least three times:
      1) Once, with the question, "What does God want to say to me in this lesson?"
      2) What is the most important point in this lesson for my Sabbath School Class? What is the main theme?
      3) Study with the idea of coming up with good questions to allow the class to conclude what the teacher concluded in (2).

      If teachers follow this format, they will always be able "cover" the most important points in the lesson for their classes. They can arrange their lesson outline in the order of most important to "also important" and "helpful," followed by a summary of the most important points just before closing.

      And as Sabbath School "students," please appreciate a teacher doing serious preparation and not following the lesson outline day by day.

      (75)
      • Thanks for your help to identify the best sabbath school teachers, just to add lets avoid these types of words when share the lessons: i do not agreed with him or her, i want to contradicte what he or she said,or i want to support what the AB said contrary to what C said.
        Plz we are sharing what we know even what we do not know only the Holy Spirit itself helps us to understand the main idea,plz lets pray for these teachers who think that they know while they do not ......

        (13)
    • Currently we do not know of anyone producing the lesson in PowerPoint, but that doesn't mean that no one does.

      If anyone would like to offer a PowerPoint version, they can let us know.

      (21)
        • Yes, I see that this is an attractive PowerPoint presentation. It can be an aid to study, like some of the classes viewable on the internet, but it should not be used as a substitute for personal study guided by the Holy Spirit.

          Above all, we do not recommend using PowerPoint presentations for teaching purposes. And here's why:

          • A PowerPoint presentation encourages a lecture-type approach, while an ideal Sabbath School class is highly interactive. See, for example, the Hope Sabbath School class, also viewable on Youtube.
          • A presentation encourages the mindset of a "correct view" to be accepted, rather than God's Word to be explored with the aid of the Holy Spirit - which is the view we want to encourage.

          Electronic presentations can also result in more attention on the media than the Word of God. We want to encourage individual study of the Bible, in the consciousness that the Holy Spirit is equally available to all believers, whether or not they are pastors or teachers. The same God who inspired the Scriptures is by the side of each believer to teach us individually. When we recognize this, the Sabbath School class becomes a forum where we share the insights God has given to each of us, because the Holy Spirit adapts His teaching to our individualities.

          The insights a "teacher" gains are not intrinsically better than those a "student" gains. In fact, I personally love teaching a Sabbath School class from all the insights I gain from the "students."

          Here's some advice for teachers to ensure a productive, interactive Sabbath School class:

          1. Pray and study the Sabbath School lesson early in the week to see what God has to say to you (teacher) personally.
          2. Pray and stdy the Sabbath School lesson again to discover what God may want to say to the members of your particular class, as you know them. This should be in the form of one main message with two or three supporting points.
          3. Pray and formulate questions that will allow your class to reach the conclusions you reached in No. 2. Questions should be open-ended - that is, not answerable by "yes" or "no" or a factoid. Use a lot of "why" and "how" questions. Once in a while you may suggest, "I think ... what do you think?" Encourage your class members to believe that the Holy Spirit is as available to them as to you. It's quite okay if they don't reach the same conclusions - as long as your questions made them think and engage.
          4. Make a written outline with the questions you formulated and use them in teaching. Be aware that open discussion may not follow your outline exactly. That's just fine, if you are well prepared. Allow productive discussion that is a little sideways from the lesson, but try to avoid arguments. That means acknowledging an argumentative comment and then quickly moving on to another point.

          It should be evident that that approach will not result in a day-by-day catechism approach of the lesson. Begin with whatever part of the lesson suits your teaching purpose - usually the part you deem most significant in your situation. Then, if there's a lot of discussion on that point and you don't get around to other points, you'll have covered the most important point(s) of the lesson.

          Recognize that the Sabbath School Quarterly is a guide to study. It is not a catechism to be learned. It should be used as a springboard for discussion and further Bible study.

          (5)
  4. I wanted to know if there is a site you can recommend where people around the world participate in the weekly lesson discussion online so that i can gather a wider range of views. I am a lesson teacher and i like taking a practical approach in my teaching as it makes a greater impact to my class as opposed to just reading the written text.

    (15)
    • Alex, you are on that site! It is called Sabbath School Net. 🙂

      If you'll go to our front page or to the Daily Lesson page, you'll see comments from people all over the world. I suggest you consult our Frequently Asked Questions page if you need a little help understanding our site.

      As far as I know, this is the only site with this many exchanges from people around the world.

      I suggest you also review our Comment Guide Lines, which ask you to use your first and last name, among other things.

      (14)
      • Thank Anderson you for the guidance. At first, I was just rushing through the page as i was working with several windows on the same. I have taken time to view through the comments and am finding very useful contributions on this weeks lesson. Thank you again and God bless you.

        (14)
  5. prise the lord sir, i thank god first for i got this site,and please add sabbath school lesson in videos format that is very helpful for us

    (9)
  6. Dear Sugi,

    If you will check our front page, you will see that we already feature one video every week, and there are more in our Audio-visual section.

    That said, the intent of the Sabbath School lessons is to give you and your friends a subject to study and discuss for yourselves - not to watch others discussing. 😉

    May the Lord bless you as you use the weekly lessons as an aid to getting to know Christ better through the study of His Word.

    (12)
  7. Thank you all for the wonderful comments. One asked which is the best bible version? To all that are reading this comment, experience has shown that if you are SDA don't go out on a bible study without KJV as your standard reference bible, if not the NKJV. You can use the other translations to compare but don't forget the KJV lest you be amazed when you are stuck and have no where to turn to and are bombarded with questions and you discover the version you have has some verses not included. Happy sabbath.

    (11)
    • Stephen, the texts "left out" in reliable modern versions are the ones not found in the most respected ancient documents. It is best to leave out questionable texts when we give Bible studies, no matter which Bible version we use. All our doctrines can be demonstrated from nearly any translation of the Bible, including the "New World" translation (Jehovah's Witness).

      We need to remember that the KJV is available only to English speakers, and God has people in all language groups of the world, not just the English-speaking world. The KJV is a beautiful translation, and that's one of the reasons many of us love it. (I have memorized a lot of texts out of the KJV.) And there's reason for its beauty - the translators were charged with creating a translation with beauty of language. When they had a choice of how to translate a text (and those choices do happen in translation), they chose beauty of language over accuracy.

      That said, the KJV is still a good translation for the many people who love it. But we should not insist on using only the KJV because it presents a real hurdle to younger people we want to reach with the gospel - the hurdle of learning a new language, since the KJV is not written in the language of today.

      (11)
        • The writings of Ellen White are a blessing for those who believe and are not intended to be used to persuade others to believe as we do.

          That said, however, some of her writings are quite suitable to share with those who do not believe as we do - books like Christ's Object Lessons, Thoughts from the Mount of Blessings, Steps to Christ and every book of the Conflict of the Ages series. We need to pray for wisdom to match the literature to the needs of people we meet, remembering it is not our job to convict, but only to share.

          (14)
          • I appreciate the way you say, "it is not our job to convict, but only to share." This stands in contrast to what I've heard some say, who I'm sure are well meaning, that "we ought not push some subjects on people; the Holy Spirit will teach them." (These comments usually come up in the context of discussing Christian standards.) May God give us all eyes to see the opportunities that we have for sharing, with the words to express His will in attractive ways.

            (14)
  8. I'm a greeter for the Adventist world church and love to study the bible, but I'm looking for any more ideas for preaching biblical hermeneutics. I'm an avid spirit of prophecy person who enjoys reading the deeper truths in SOP including diet reform purity and last day events. I also tell children's story and do special music on piano for the Hazelton B.C. Seventh-day Adventist church. I've been doing Music ministry at my church for a long time now and would love to know more about preaching bible based messages. and where are the opportunities to do so. Thanks a million Blessings love and prayers Andrew Whitaker

    (4)
    • Dear Andrew,

      We're happy to hear that you enjoy studying the Bible. The object of Bible study is to get to know Jesus better, and if you ask Him to speak to you through His Word at the beginning of your study, He will speak to you.

      As for where there are preaching opportunities, I gather you mean other than in your community. If so, I suggest you contact ShareHim.org.

      The best place to practice preaching is in your home church. 🙂 You will learn as you practice and ask the Holy Spirit to give you wisdom. "Hermeneutics" is about interpreting the message of the Bible. Usually people go to college and the seminary to study under that big word, but the Holy Spirit is quite willing to interpret His Word to anyone who asks. So ask that the Spirit will speak to you as you read and study. It's no good preaching to others what you have not experienced yourself.

      If you want a little taste of biblical hermeneutics, you can go to Biblical Hermeneutics: The Interpretation of Scripture on our site and study through the material referenced there.

      May God bless you as you study.

      (8)
  9. I am having a lecturer that is an atheist I would like to get some innovative ways I can reach him.Any Ideas out there saints?Thank you.Love you and God bless.

    (3)
    • I have had many Atheist lecturers in my career, and have developed strong friendships with some of them. My best advice is that if you live your life as a Christian should, sooner or later lecturers who have become your friends will ask you questions about your lifestyle and beliefs. There are a few things to keep in mind.

      1) Show respect for the beliefs of others. Many of my atheistic friends have thought long and hard about what they believe and come by their beliefs quite honestly. Telling them that their beliefs are wrong and that you have the truth is a fairly sure fire way to end any discussion of spiritual values. If you show them respect for what they believe, they will show you respect.

      2) Atheists speak a different language. It is no use using christian "terminology" to explain what you believe as the vocabulary you would use is like a foreign language to them. You will need to be quite innovative in thinking of ways to communicate your ideas to them.

      3) Spend more time listening than talking. My PhD supervisor had relationship issues. At our weekly research meetings I would often spend as much time listening to him unburden himself about the issues with his wife, and later, girlfriend, as we did discussing research. He appreciated the fact that I would listen and not lecture him on what he should or should not be doing.

      4) At the end of the day, how you act is always going to speak much more than what you say.

      (13)
  10. I enjoy these lessons but i also need the Bible class lessons for my fiance who is about to be baptised. How do i get them?

    (2)
    • Every cover I paint is, of course, a reflection of that quarter's content, Ben. Some covers are more symbolic, some more interpretive, and some are simply representative of the lessons.

      In the case of The Book of Job cover, I have painted a close up of Job's face showing the boils that tormented him, illustrating the bewilderment he felt at the horrors that He believed God had inflicted on him in such quick succession. Job's eyes show him pondering what has happened, and trying to understand why God has allowed it. The body language of his three friends illustrates that they are concerned, but are puzzled as well, initially unsure themselves why their friend seems to be cursed of God.

      The Book of Job is one of the most plainly written answers to the basic questions of life and suffering that we have in Scripture. It gives us a very straight forward revelation of Satan, the battle between good and evil, and the invisible world that we are connected to. Our existential questions are answered directly. And I like that.

      I hope that helps answer your question.

      (8)
    • Yes, you have come to the right place. If you look near the top of this page you will find a link to Amazon.com where you can buy the electronic version of the lesson. It is in Kindle format but you can get a free Kindle app for just about any computer/phone/tablet available. The cost of the Kindle version of the Lesson is usually about $4 but it depends on which currency you are using.

      (3)
  11. The Sabbath School online information are very helpful and I have benefited a lot more from it. Please send me more information.
    Firm regards.

    (15)
  12. Please Help.
    Where can I order a Samoan edition of 2020 sabbath school quarterly lessons? I searched a couple websites and was unsuccessful.

    Thank you and God Bless

    (5)
    • I personally do not know of any Samoan editions of the lesson quarterly but will post your comment here in the hope that someone who has access to one will post the details here. We will add it to our resource links if it checks out.

      (5)
  13. Sabbath School Net is not the Sabbath School Department of the Church. We are an independent ministry that supports the church. We can only provide what you can see on our web pages. If you need copies of the third quarter, we suggest you contact regular church sources. I am not sure how early they are published.

    (2)
  14. AS you Study, please take time to Pray. I will instruct you and teach you, in the way you should go; I will guide you with mine eye. Psalms 32:8 and actually read the rest of the chapter. So, as you pray and read the Bible the Holy Word of God, He will enlighten you for He has promised.

    (7)
    • ... and we would love you to join us in the discussion Joseph. If you go to the home page of ssnet.org you will see that we post each day's lesson there. If you click on the link you will be taken to where you can make comments and ask questions. we have a great ongoing discussion and you are welcome to join in. Please read the Comment Guidelines before you start commenting

      (2)
  15. Dear Patrick,
    We are an online ministry and do not send out printed lessons. You can order the lessons online at the Adventist Book Center (See links near the top of this page.)
    In the meantime, you can use our online lessons to study, and you can engage in discussion with other Bible students from around the world.
    May you be blessed as you study!

    (5)
    • Lawrence, if you need a printed study guide, contact the appropriate church or Adventist Book Center in your area.
      You can find a digital study guide on our website each quarter. (We do not sell/send out paper study guides.)

      (1)
  16. For a while I was using a version of the SS lession that allowed me write notes and it would be saved on either my computer or my phone. How do I find that again? What do I need to do?

    (1)
  17. Is there any Bangla language version of the SS lessons? If there isn't, can I help with providing bangla language content?

    (0)
    • Sabbath School Net does not produce the lessons but from what I understand, local language versions are the responsibility of the Division conference for your area; in your case the North Asia Pacific Division. I suggest you contact them or your local conference/mission office to see what the avaiablity is.

      (0)
  18. Please sign me up for the correspondence bible course through postal mail. If you have any Christian booklets, books, etc..I would really appreciate if you send those as well. Thanks!!

    [Address redacted for privacy.]

    please send a bible with lesson.

    (0)
    • Greetings J Hubbell,
      We are an online dicussion forum centred around the study of the Sabbath School lesson as provided by the Seventh-day Adventist Chuch. We do not offer any mailout materials as such. The Seventh-day Advenists Church does offer correspondence courses and you could try this link: https://www.bibleschools.com/en/

      (0)

Leave a Reply

Please read our Comment Guide Lines and note that we have a full-name policy.

Please make sure you have provided a full name in the "Name" field and a working email address we can use to contact you, if necessary. (Your email address will not be published.)

HTML tags allowed in your comment: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>