![]() ![]() But it shows how important it is not to get lazy when you write discussion questions. That may seem like a subtle difference, and it is. It's not a good idea to ask, "Is Paul saying something true here?" This is the Bible, after all-of course he's saying something true! It's better to ask, "Is Paul saying something here that applies to women today?" Let's say you're studying 1 Corinthians 11-specifically, the passage about women wearing head coverings. It would be much better to ask, "How much should we care about the end times?" 4. So, the following won't work very well: "In light of the current theological debate about millennial views, which is prevalent in many seminaries-and other places as well, many books having been written about this from the premillennial, postmillennial and amillennial positions-how do you think we should respond to this debate in the church, in the our homes, in schools, and at the government level?" Good Questions Can Be Understood By EveryoneĪs a group leader, you want to keep the questions simple enough that everyone has a reasonable chance of knowing what you mean the first time you say it. Small groups are notorious for getting off the subject, and clearly worded, pin-pointed questions help a group leader avoid this problem. Well-focused questions also serve as a tool to keep bringing the group back around to the subject at hand. Rather than asking a multi-layered question, it's best to ask just one simple question and wait for responses before asking the next thing. How should we today respond to Jesus' statement to be the light of the world?.How did Jesus' disciples respond to his announcement about being the light of the world?.What did Jesus mean by "You are the light of the world?".Here's a poor example of how to address a topic: "What did Jesus mean by 'You are the Light of the world,' how did his disciples respond, and how should we today respond to this statement?" Instead, break those questions down to make them more clear and focused: ![]() Make sure your questions are focused and clear. It's also a good idea to remember that your knowledge or opinion may not represent the full scope of a passage or verse. Allowing people to discuss questions and process the answers themselves improves their rate of retention. But you want to gently steer the group toward the answer Jesus gives. Of course, as a leader, you will sometimes know what the Bible actually teaches about this-you're not supposed to be void of knowledge or opinions. There is no wrong answer to the question, "What do you think?" "What do you think Jesus means when He says, 'Sell your possessions?' Was He talking to you and me? What's your opinion?" The best example of this is to ask people what they think. In contrast, some of the best discussion questions solicit input from everyone present. That is not a healthy learning situation. You also don't want a scenario where you are the learned teacher asking all the questions, and the group members are under pressure to know the answers you expect from them. You don't want our small-group members to feel like they are in school, taking a test. Good Questions Create a ConversationĪnd they create those conversations without putting anyone in the spot. The book inspired several of the ideas below, and is still a helpful addition to any small-group leader's library. I began to think about this subject a number of years ago as a result of reading Karen Lee-Thorp's book How to Ask Great Questions. ![]() Questions are what transform a small-group lesson from a lecture into an interactive setting-which should be our goal as group leaders.īelow are a few guidelines for writing and asking good questions. Knowing how to ask good questions is one of the key elements of a successful small group. Note: This article has been excerpted from the training resource called How to Prepare for a Bible Study. ![]()
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