It All Begins With A Question
1 April, 2009 -
Why does sour cream have an expiry date?
Why is abbreviation such a long word?
What happened to the “B” batteries?
Do Bell Tea employees take a coffee break?
Or probably the most famous question of all,
“Will you marry me?”
A young man got his friends to write “the question” on the beach and then took his girlfriend to the top of the hill. They gazed on the message together: “Well?” he says!
Or the man who handed the menu to his girlfriend at a restaurant and there it is under the entrées: “The question!”
Recently I was flying from Wellington to Auckland. Obviously a young man had asked the question at 33,000 feet and it became evident that her answer had been yes when the announcement was made to everyone on the plane. These questions were not spur-of-the-moment. They were planned and had purpose.
If questions are never asked then answers are never discovered. I wonder how many questions go unanswered because people do not know how, when, or where to go, to ask them?
Our young people are growing up within an educational culture that fosters questioning. Name a topic: articulate - this is what I know; this is what I want to know! It’s not the answer in itself that is important but the process. The significant learning comes in seeking the answer to the question. The more I know… the more I discover I don’t know.
Some questions need to be raised in order to create awareness. “I had not thought of it like that before!”
Sunday morning is an ideal time to raise some big questions in the context of our worship experience, yet the discovery of the answer usually initiates a journey. We need time to think, reflect, discuss. One question often moves to another. An impersonal question becomes personal: “So, what does this mean for me?”
Mark Ashton writes; “When Jesus went about inviting people into the Kingdom of God, what tools did he use? Did he hand out cartoon-laden papyrus tracts? Did He draw a diagram of a bridge in the sand? Did He hold an altar call and ask people to recite a prayer of salvation? Did He share a pre-packaged two-minute testimony?”
Jesus used none of these techniques. Instead Jesus hung out at parties, went to the market place, walked from town to town and, as He did so, He asked a ton of questions. More than sermons, more than miracles, more than clever tricks, Jesus asked questions to reach out to people around Him. When He wanted to start spiritual conversations, He asked a question. When He wanted to make a major point, He punctuated it with a question. When He knew he was the target of a trap, He turned the conversation on its head with a question.
Who do you say I am?
Whose picture is on that coin?
Which of these was a neighbour?
Does no one condemn you?
Just as questions were a great teaching tool for Jesus, questions are also an excellent tool in the hands of his followers. With friends, work mates or neighbours you can spark a spiritual conversation. Jesus’ example of using questions to spark spiritual conversations succeeds not only with individuals but also with groups. This is not a time for teaching, preaching or a monologue, rather engaging the head and heart of everyone in the group. A leader’ role is to stimulate thinking and facilitate the learning process. The way we craft our questions can make the difference between a good small group experience and a great one. Whether it be a discussion starter, exploring a Bible passage or sharing a personal experience. Some questions we ask merely explore our knowledge but others require us to delve deeper, unlocking our thoughts, feelings and beliefs. Great questions not only create an opportunity for learning but also assist people in remembering that they are learning.
(Garry Poole in his book “Seeker Small Groups - engaging spiritual seekers in Life-Changing discussions” step you through this process in much more detail)
The question is one of the most powerful tools we have when it comes to sharing our faith with others;
Questions help to steer and control the conversation.
Questions make people think - to re-evaluate their positions, beliefs and values.
Questions show interest and make people feel known and valued.
Questions are a tactful way to confront a person’s poor thinking.
Questions allow people to share information about themselves and then open their hearts to learn more about someone or something else.
Questions invite decision
“The important thing is not to stop questioning” Albert Einstein
So what do you think?
Margaret Spicer
Executive Director
WCANZ
