I actually thought I was the only one concerned about how little Bible study is actually done in Sabbath School. It seems we study the quarterly more than the Bible. Then I found this quote from 1991, and found out I am not alone, and have not been for years.

“Too often I find that what passes for Bible study in many Sabbath School classes is little more than a rehash of familiar sayings, personal opinion, and Ellen White quotations. It isn’t Bible study, but simply comments about the Bible…..Our “lesson study” has the guise of Bible study but isn’t. It is more a study of the Sabbath School lesson quarterly than the Bible.” –Myron Widmer, Adventist Review, September 12, 1991.

During the quarantine I would ask people what they have been finding in their personal Bible study time, only to get answers about what they heard a television preacher say. I never got any direct answers to my question about personal Bible study time. This greatly concerned me. In Acts 17:11 they were not only listening to Paul preach, but they were searching (not just casually reading) the Scriptures (Not a quarterly or periodical) daily, not just every now and then.

This is why I enjoy Michael Fracker’s teaching plans. These plans make Sabbath school a Bible study that may casually reference the quarterly, instead of a study of the quarterly that may casually reference the Bible. Quarterlies are great as they direct us to the Bible, but we need to follow those directions and go to the Bible. By the way, after using Michael Fracker’s lesson plans for twenty years, I have also helped write his lesson plans on occasion and even edit them. In the process I have also developed my own lesson plans, following Michael Fracker’s vision of making Sabbath school time Bible study time. While some use my plans and many more use Michael Fracker’s teaching plans, I talk to several Sabbath School teachers who feel more comfortable making their own teaching plans. That is really best. The suggested plans are just to get you started. What is most important is making sure Sabbath School time is Bible study time. 

Amen!(2)

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/lets-make-sabbath-school-a-bible-study/

Read Genesis 40:1-41:36. How are the dreams of Pharaoh related to the dreams of the officers? What is the significance of this parallel?

The providential character of the events continues. Over time, Joseph is put in charge of the prisoners, two of whom happen to be former officers of Pharaoh, a butler and a baker (Genesis 41:9-11).

Image © Bible Adventure Collection at Goodsalt.com

They are both troubled by dreams that they cannot understand, because “there is no interpreter” (Genesis 40:8). Joseph, then, interprets their respective dreams.

In parallel to the two officers’ dreams, Pharaoh also has two dreams, which no one can interpret (Genesis 41:1-8). At that moment the butler providentially remembers Joseph and recommends him to Pharaoh (Genesis 41:9-13).

In parallel to the other dreams, Pharaoh, like the officers, is troubled, and like them reveals his dreams (Genesis 41:14-24), and Joseph interprets them. Like the officers’ dreams, Pharaoh’s dreams display parallels of symbols: the two series of seven cows (fat and gaunt) just as the two series of heads of grain (plump and thin) represent two series years, one good and one bad. The seven cows parallel the seven heads of grain, repeating the same message, an evidence of their divine origin, just like Joseph’s dreams (Genesis 41:32; compare with Genesis 37:9).

Though Joseph is the one who interpreted the dream for Pharaoh, Joseph makes certain that Pharaoh knows that it was God, Elohim, who showed the king the things that He, God, was going to do (Genesis 41:25, Genesis 41:28). It seems, too, that Pharaoh got the message because, when he decided to appoint someone to be over the land, his argument was as follows:

“Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word” (Genesis 41:39-40, , NKJV).

How fascinating: thanks to God, Joseph goes from ruler over Potiphar’s house to ruler over the prison to ruler over all of Egypt. What a powerful story about how, even amid what looks like terrible circumstances, God’s providences are revealed.

<–Wednesday Friday–>

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/thursday-dreams-of-pharaoh/

You can view an in-depth discussion of Joseph, Master of Dreams; in the Hope Sabbath School class led by Pastor Derek Morris. Click on the image to view: With thanks to Hope Channel – Television that will change your life.

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/11-joseph-master-of-dreams-hopess-video-discussion/

We now pick up the flow of Joseph’s stories, which had been “interrupted” by the Tamar incident. Joseph is now working as a slave for the “captain of the guard,” who is in charge of the prison for royal officials (Genesis 40:3-4; Genesis 41:10-12).

Read Genesis 39:1-23. In light of the example of Joseph’s working as a manager under Potiphar, what are the factors that led to such success?

Image © Lifeway Collection at Goodsalt.com

Almost immediately, Joseph is characterized as a man of success (Genesis 39:2-3). He was so good and his master so trusted him that “all that he had he put into his hand,” and even made him “overseer over his house” (Genesis 39:4).

Joseph’s success, however, does not corrupt him. When Potiphar’s wife notices him and wants to sleep with him, Joseph unambiguously refuses and prefers to lose his job and his security rather than “do this great wickedness, and sin against God” (Genesis 39:9). The woman, humiliated by Joseph’s refusal, reports falsely to her servants and to her husband that Joseph wanted to rape her. As a result, Joseph is cast into prison.

Joseph experiences here what we all have experienced: the sense of abandonment by God even though, even in this difficult time, “the LORD was with Joseph” (Genesis 39:21).

Eventually, the Lord acts, and He has an impact on Joseph’s relationship with the officer of the prison. Here, too, as in his master’s house, the Lord blesses Joseph. He is obviously a gifted man, and despite the even worse circumstances now (after all, before, he was still a slave!), he seeks to make the best of it. Whatever his gifts, however, the text makes it clear that, in the end, it was only God who brought him success. “The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph’s authority, because the LORD was with him; and whatever he did, the LORD made it prosper” (Genesis 39:23, NKJV). How important that all who are gifted, all who are “successful,” remember where it all comes from!

<–Tuesday Thursday–>

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Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/wednesday-joseph-slave-in-egypt/

Key Thought: Joseph is the master of dreams because he receives, understands, and interprets prophetic dreams, and also fulfills them in his life.
June 11, 2022

1. Have a volunteer read Genesis 37:12-36…

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
2. What family dynamic predisposed Joseph’s brothers to hate him so much?
3. Personal Application: Did you have a lot of competition in your family? How did you learn to get along and cooperate? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your relatives states, “Wasn’t Joseph rash by telling his dream to his family, causing more resentment? Shouldn’t he have kept quiet about the dream and hid this in his heart instead? Was he causing more trouble with his brothers this way?’” How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read Genesis 38:24-26..

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. Do you think Judah may have been afraid to give his youngest to Tamar, because he might die also? Did he think Tamar may be cursed?
3. Personal Application: Compare Judah’s behavior with Tamar’s. Which of the two is more righteous and why? Share your thoughts
4. Case Study: One of your friends states, “Why didn’t Tamar go directly to Judah in the first place, when his youngest son was of age, and call upon him to give her in marriage to him? Why all this trickery? How would you respond to your friend?

3. Have a volunteer read Genesis Genesis 39:7-11..

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
2. What are the factors that led to Joseph’s success as a manager under Potipher?
3. Personal Application: How do we deal with temptation? Can we overcome easily once, but if it is present day after day, how hard is it to reject it constantly? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your relatives states: “Why did Joseph specifically sat that to do what she asked would be a sin against God? What understanding does he show of the nature of sin and what it is?” How would you respond to your relative?

4. Have a volunteer read Genesis 40:1 – 41:36..

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. How are the dreams of Pharoah related to the dreams of the officers? What is the importance of this parallel?
3. Personal Application: How can we learn to trust God and cling to His promises when things don’t appear to be good at all? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.”Ministry of Healing, p. 148).

Amen!(1)

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