The Master Question-Asker Has it ever dawned on you that the all-knowing God, full of all wisdom, knew everything yet he asked questions? Are questions simply scientific? Is there an art to them? Are they spiritual? God asks a lot of questions. The Bible makes it a priority to ask questions. It s filled with nearly 3,300 questions. The truth is that questions reveal much about the one who is asking them. Questions also invite us (the question receivers) to something deeper. Questions provoke discovery. God does not ask questions because He doesn t know the answers. He asks us deep, penetrating questions because He wants us to think. The famous philosopher Socrates, who lived about 400 B.C., used the very same teaching method. Rather than merely giving his pupils the answer to a particular problem, Socrates would ask them questions that forced them to analyze the situation and find the answers for themselves, which, in turn, helped them learn each subject more thoroughly. Joel Comiskey makes a thought provoking observation. Christian A. Schwarz and his team from the Institute for Church Development in Germany have proven that direct application to immediate needs makes the difference between an effective and an ineffective small group. They analyzed responses from 4.2 million people, from more than 1,000 churches in 32 countries. Schwarz concluded that successful small groups must be holistic small groups which go beyond just discussing Bible passages to applying its message to daily life. In such groups, members are able to bring up those issues and questions that are immediate personal concerns. 1 As small group leaders, there is much we can learn from Jesus, the Master Teacher. Jesus was the Master Teacher not only because the answers he gave but also the questions he asked. There are 175 times where Jesus is recorded asking questions. Whether in a public gathering, a confrontation with his enemies, or a private conversation with his closest friends, Jesus consistently used questions to produce change and growth. Sometimes some of the best questions asked aren t even questions, but it s the simple presentation of a scenario and causing tension to the listener. As group leaders we don t like tension. We give people the answer before they have time to think about it. We don t like silence yet often times the best thing we can do is to cause our members to think amidst silence and tension. There s much to learn from Jesus in Mark 8. He used eight types of questions.
1. Answering with Questions (Mark 8:5) Rather than merely answering a question (and thereby stunting the question s teaching potential), Jesus would often answer a participant s question with a question of his own. In Mark 8, when his followers asked Jesus how he planned to feed a crowd of 4,000 people, he responded with a question: How many loaves do you have? That question kept his followers involved. It takes confidence and wisdom to ask involving questions. Asking a question as simple as What do the rest of you think? can keep people engaged and searching for truth. When we answer every question, we rob the questioner of the satisfaction found in personal discovery. Group Dynamics: When someone in the group asks you a question during discussion, be prepared to re- route the question to other group members. When you answer a question that another member could have answered, you ve potentially robbed that member of significant contribution. One on One: When someone asks you a question and is expecting a solution help him find the solution on his own. This will increase his self-confidence and ability to find the best solution for his problem. 2. Gathering Data (Mark 8:5, 19-21) Jesus eventually asked some personal questions in this chapter. However, he began with, and interspersed throughout the dialogue, questions of a more factual nature. How many loaves do you have? involved his followers on a non-threatening level. Using these types of questions helps maintain group involvement while gently moving toward the more personal application questions. A factual question such as How many years have you worked in your current job? doesn t require much personal disclosure but still reveals insights about the person. Group Dynamics: Look for opportunities to engage new or quiet members in conversation through data gathering questions. These questions give members a non-threatening way to join the conversation. You may need to call on specific people with these kinds of questions to give them a sense of permission to contribute. If the group is discussing the fear of the Lord, a simple example might be John, what are some common childhood fears? One on One: Continue to gather information, but limit your questions. It is important to listen to what the individual is sharing with you and for him/her to feel
like they have not only been heard, but understood. 3. Making Statements (Mark 8:12) Jesus skillfully asked rhetorical questions to emphasize a point in a powerful but non-combative manner. Why does this generation seek for a sign? communicates much better than You stubborn group of unbelieving people! Such diplomacy is a beneficial teaching skill. Group Dynamics / One on one: You can communicate group vision through rhetorical questions. Examples may include, Isn t it incredible that a dozen people from various backgrounds can be so united in Christ?, and Don t you just love the way we lovingly bring out the best in one another? 4. Communicating Passion (Mark 8:17-18) When rhetorical questions are linked together, they can transport tremendous passion. In Mark 8:17-18, Jesus asked his followers: Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? As Jesus joined questions together without giving pause for an answer, his listeners were rendered thoughtfully speechless. This technique can be used effectively in discussion groups to powerfully reinforce a point. Group Dynamics: Similar to #3, when we string multiple questions together we implore people to amen the rhetorical questions and enhance commitment. One example could be, Isn t it amazing how much we ve learned through this study? How many memorable concepts and practices have we developed over the past 6 weeks? Aren t you thankful for the way that God is equipping us to grow beyond where we ve been? One to One: After the study thank one of the members of the group for sharing their struggles. For example: I like how you shared your heart with us today. 5. Correcting (Mark 8:21) When we need to correct someone, phrasing it as a question can allow the person to make the necessary changes without defensiveness or losing face. Instead of saying, You are so stupid you never understand anything, Jesus asked, Do you not yet understand? This question made the point while maintaining the involvement of his participants.
Group Dynamics: It is difficult to gently correct people in a group setting. Asking the right questions can be a way to carefully re-affirm truth and keep the group on task. In the event that you notice an answer that takes the group on a tangent, take responsibility for not asking a better question, then re-state the question with more direction. For example, I m sorry for being ambiguous with the question. Isn t it true that we tend to try to earn favor with God, even though Ephesians 2:8-9 clearly explains that faith is the foundation of our salvation rather than works? One on One: Try to understand the individual s frame of reference, validate his/ her opinion and then ask the question again to get the information you need. 6. Seeking Feedback (Mark 8:23) While healing a man of blindness, Jesus asked, Do you see anything? We can ask the same kind of question throughout any teaching process. A question such as Do you understand what we re studying? can reveal the level of comprehension and keep people on track. Group Dynamics: As the group discussion comes to an end, asking one or two people to summarize the main points will empower those individuals while reinforcing the lesson. Sally, what have we learned thus far? would be a great way to echo the truths discovered in the lesson. One on One: Sometimes it is good to hear from an individual how they are benefiting from the study or lesson. For example: How are you benefiting from this study? What would you do differently if you were the leader? Are there any blind spots that I should be aware of? 7. Encouraging Personal Application (Mark 8:27-29) Toward the conclusion of Mark 8, Jesus used two increasingly personal questions to lead his followers into content application. He began with a more general question Who do people say I am? (Mark 8:27) before leading into the directly personal question Who do you say I am? (Mark 8:29). Group Dynamics / One on One: When we want to move our group to application, a good approach is to ask, What are some ways we could...? before transitioning to What are some ways you could...?
8. Soul Searching (Mark 8:36-37) Mark 8:36-37: What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? These types of questions reach to the heart of an issue and have no comfortable reply. One example of such a question might be: How can a church survive if it isn t in touch with the needs of the congregation? Closing with this type of question or writing it at the bottom of a handout can make a strong impact.* Group Dynamics / One to One: We rarely like to ask soul searching questions. Yet, these questions are a great way to conclude a group meeting. Even when there is no easy answer, asking such questions will provoke greater introspection and continued reflection long after the group meeting has concluded. To conclude this discussion on questions, a great soul searching question would be Meditate on Proverbs 20:5. What kind of questions do you ask yourself as you seek the Lord in your personal life? Top 8 Principles for Asking Questions 1. Do not be afraid of silence. 2. Don t ask why questions as they often provoke defensiveness. 3. Ask a limited number of questions. Sometimes less is more. 4. Use nonverbal and verbal prompts ( hmm, uh-huh, sure, yes, I see, ah, and okay ). 5. Validatefeelings. 6. Observe and mimic the body language of the other person. 7. Don t miss the opportunity to engage timid members with less threatening questions. Seek answers to these questions by asking individuals directly, while soliciting answers to more revealing or difficult questions generally. 8. If you are following a study guide, do not ask the questions in a predictable pattern. Mix it up and add your own insights or questions. Remember, the advantage of asking questions are:» Good questions make people think. When people think, they learn.» Questions help you know whether the group is grasping the content. Without feedback you ll never know what your group is learning.» Questions keep the group interesting.» Questions cause group members to learn more together than they would have on their own.» Questions enable the leader to focus and direct the discussion.
» Group interaction helps relationships develop within the group, which in turn helps learning and application. *Article, Use Well Thought Out Questions To Make A Lasting Impact by Dave Arch originally posted on 11-10-06 by www.smallgroups.com Additional comments in italics by Jorge Bonilla and Jim Probst from Eastview Christian Church 1 Excerpted from How to Ask Stimulating Discussion Questions by Joel Comiskey Posted on 7-16-08 by www.smallgroups.com