Sabbath School

2010-09-15T12:07:06Z

209.12.14.250: /* See also */

{{About|the Seventh-day Adventist church service on Saturday}}
'''Sabbath School''' is a function of the [[Seventh-day Adventist Church]], [[Seventh Day Baptist]] and some other [[Sabbath in seventh-day churches|sabbatarian]] denominations.
==Program Context==

Sabbath School usually begins around 9:30am or 10:00am on Saturday [[mornings]] before the [[worship service]] starts. The [[Sabbath and Seventh-day Adventism|Sabbath]] school service for adults typically has two portions. The first portion begins with a [[song service]], followed by a mission emphasis and a short talk. The second, and larger portion, is the lesson study. Although this is one common format, not all Sabbath School services employ it. Different churches choose to conduct Sabbath School in a wide variety of ways. Whatever format is used, and regardless of whether the worship style is very traditional or slightly more contemporary, most Adventist churches teach on the same topic or reading in a given week, as each quarter of the year has a different theme that reflects Bible, doctrinal, or church lifestyle teachings. Thus the lesson booklet is called "quarterly."

Sabbath School may be conducted in one large class, which would probably meet in the sanctuary, or the congregation may separate into smaller groups for discussion in the sanctuary, or meet in various rooms throughout the church building. Children and/or young adults often meet in separate Sabbath School rooms. International churches may offer classes in a variety of languages as well and there are easy English versions for English learners, larger print for the mildly visually impaired, and braille for the blind. Larger churches often have a sign language class and worship service or provide a translator. When Sabbath School draws to a close, the small groups join back together and the worship service begins, usually at 11:00am.

One does not have to be a baptized member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church to participate in Sabbath School or in the worship service. Many attend it without joining the church. For those interested in getting baptized, there is usually a class conducted by the minister or a Bible worker. Hence, Sabbath School membership is often greater than that of the church itself.

On the last Sabbath of the quarter, or the 13th Sabbath, a special collection is taken for a missionary project in one of the administrative world regions, such as the building of dormitories or chapels in denominational colleges or a hospital or charity facility. During the "13th Sabbath Program," youngsters may present a music or acting special based on the subject learned that quarter or explain the traditions and dress in the attire of the countries or world regions which offerings collected will benefit. Communion Service preceded by footwashing may happen on or right after the 13th Sabbath.

An estimated 67% of Adventists (including 63% of youth aged 18 and under) "attend Sabbath school nearly every week", according to a 2002 worldwide survey of local church leaders.<ref>"[http://www.adventist.org/world_church/official_meetings/2002annualcouncil/strategic-issues-report.pdf Three Strategic Issues: A World Survey]". [[General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists]], 2002. See question 4, on p19 etc. For youth, see question 58</ref>

==Teachers==
Sabbath school teachers are usually [[Laity|lay people]] who are selected for their role in the church by a designated coordinator, board, or a committee. Normally, the selection is based on a perception of character and ability to teach the Bible rather than formal training in education. Some Sabbath school teachers, however, do have a background in [[education]] as a result of their occupations. Some churches offer courses to assist in the teaching process to educate others, or hold teachers classes to go over the lesson for that Sabbath while other churches allow volunteers to teach without training; a profession of faith and a desire to teach is all that is required in such cases.

==Study Guides (Seventh-day Adventist)==
===Adult lesson===
[[Adult]] church members are provided with the ''Adult Bible Study Guide'' (formerly known as ''Sabbath School Quarterly'') issued four times a year. It is also known as the "Quarterly"<ref>[http://www.pacificpress.com/index.php?pgName=splSearch&sku=10967400 Pacific Press Publishing Association - Search]</ref> and the "Lesson". It is published by [[Pacific Press Publishing Association]]. Sabbath School quarterlies are Bible study guides that cover a specific topic or book of the Bible every quarter. The quarterly is designed to be read during the [[week]], so that during Sabbath School, the class members are ready to discuss questions and topics raised in that lesson in small groups. The Adult Sabbath School always has a heavy focus on the [[Bible]]. All [[Seventh-day Adventist Church|Seventh-day Adventists]] around the world use the same Sabbath school quarterly, [[translation|translated]] into the necessary [[languages]] (with few exceptions such as Germany, where members cover the same topic with different material). The current [[editing|editor]] of the Adult Sabbath School lessons is [[Clifford Goldstein]].

===Other lessons===
At the same time as the adult study, [[children]] attend classes aimed at their age group. Typical age group divisions are Beginner (infants), Kindergarten (K), Primary (Grades 1-3), Junior (Grades 4-6), Earliteen (Grades 7-8), and Youth (High School and University). Each age division has its own specific quarterly, which is titled by the class name up to Primary. Juniors and Earliteens often share the same quarterly entitled ''PowerPoints''. Some Earliteen groups use a new separate publication entitled ''Real Time Faith''. Youth use either ''Cornerstone Connections'' or ''Collegiate Quarterly (CQ)''. In some churches, the children receive a weekly [[magazine]] at the close of Sabbath school, which they can read quietly during the [[sermon]]. Kindergarten receives ''[[Our Little Friend]]'', Primary receives ''[[Primary Treasure]]'', Juniors and Earliteens receive ''[[Guide (Adventist magazine)|Guide]]'', and the Youth receive ''[[Insight (Adventist magazine)|Insight]]''. The most popular magazine tends to be ''Guide''.{{Citation needed|date=July 2008}}

==See also==
* [[Seventh-day Adventist Church]]
* [[Seventh-day Adventist interfaith relations]]
* [[Seventh-day Adventist Church]]
* [[History of the Seventh-day Adventist Church]]
* [[28 fundamental beliefs]]
* ''[[Questions on Doctrine]]''
* [[Biblical Research Institute]]
*[[Adventist studies]]
* [[Seventh-day Adventist eschatology]]
* [[Sabbath in Seventh-day Adventism]]
* [[Sabbath in Christianity]]
* [[Seventh-day Adventist worship]]

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
*[http://absg.adventist.org/ Adult Bible Study Guide] official website
*[http://www.adventistarchives.org/documents.asp?CatID=166&SortBy=1&ShowDateOrder=True Sabbath School Quarterly], Adventist Archives
*[http://www.adventistworld.org/article.php?id=330 Lee Dunstan], "From Here to There: The incredible journey of the Adult Bible Study Guide" in ''Adventist World'' (June 2008)
*[http://www.ssd.org/sspm/ss.html Sabbath School Division] of the Southern Asia Pacific Division
*[http://biblestudiesforadventists.com/ Bible Studies For Adventists], Biblical commentary on the Sabbath School Bible Study Guide
*http://www.adventist.org/bible_study/sabbath_school.html.en
*[http://www.spectrummagazine.org/articles/Sabbath+School Sabbath School Center] from ''[[Spectrum (magazine)|Spectrum]]'' magazine
*http://www.ssnet.org/
*[http://www.creativeministry.org/article.php?id=86 Contemporary Comments] on the lesson by the [[Center for Creative Ministry]]

[[Category:Seventh-day Adventist Church]]

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Sabbath School