Questions for Discipleship

Jesus asked Questions for Discipleship

 “Jesus is recorded as asking 307 questions in the Gospels. In contrast, he directly answers only three of the 183 questions he is asked. Just three.” - Paul Woolley  

 Gen. 3:8-10 NIV Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.  But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”

He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so, I hid.”

 Where in your life are you hiding from God?

 Matthew 8:26 (ESV) “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” 

 Where, in your life, is their fear?

 Matthew 7:3 (ESV) “Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?”

 Mark 14:37 (ESV) “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour?”

 John 5:6 (ESV) “Do you want to be healed?”

 We learn best when we are confused! (insight from Jean Piaget) Jesus used questions to help confuse people so they could learn truths they didn’t know they needed to learn

 2. What are the types of questions we need to ask?

 The Ministry of Questions:

 1. Connecting questions

 Shallow questions:  What are they Comfortable Talking About?

 John 4:7 (NLT) Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.”

 2.  Probing Questions: Probing into Life a Bit, into Faith

 What is Jesus communicating?

What’s your story?  (Or testimony, depending on context.  This will help you see if they are actually saved or not!)

 Matthew 16:15 (NLT) Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?”

 Luke 6:46 (ESV) “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?”

What good thing is God doing in your life today that we can celebrate together? – Matt Dabbs

 Luke 5:22 (NIV) Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts?

What is on your mind/what are you thinking in your heart? – Matt Dabbs

What is the Holy Spirit trying to teach you in this moment? – Matt Dabbs

 Have you been spending time in the Word daily? What has stood out to you? - Darrell Stetler

Have you shared your faith with anyone recently? - Darrell Stetler

Transition questions that can be answered staying in category two, or can be launch pads, when the time is right to explore category

 Have you faced any struggles or temptations? How did you handle them? - Darrell Stetler

Where are you struggling to trust God and fully surrender?

 

3.  Soul Searching Questions

(only when there is a very intense level of connection and openness):  fantasy life, private life, deep accountability, deep wounds from past, deep shame from past.

 John 21:15 (NLT) After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.”

 

Key Questions for Reference:

1.      How are you holding up?

2.      What is going on with you and God? (Very open, I go to church, God is speaking to me, etc... Lots of room for follow up and ongoing conversation)

3.      How is your heart?

4.      What is your story/testimony?

 Answers bring about a responsibility for accountability!

 Read the Book of John

1.      Scripture (prayerfully engaging the Word with the Holy Spirit)

2.      Observation (who, what, when, why, where and how?) where is Jesus?

3.      Application (what needs to change in my life because of this truth?  Wait on the Lord here)

4.      Prayer, turn the key application passage into a prayer

 

FAT Christians:

- Faithful

-  Available

-  Teachable

 

3. Questions don’t Work without Listening to Answers

 Three questions to guide your listening: Offered by David Benner

1.      am I fully present or distracted?

2.      Am I loving or judging?

3.      Am I open or closed to being changed? 

 Do we have empathy or merely sympathy?

 Heb. 4:15 (NIV) For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.

 Are we incarnational listeners?

 We must refuse to accept that people are growing in love for God in ways that do not translate into growing in love for people. – Peter Scazzero

4. Practically Listen:

Reflect back, paraphrasing as accurately as you can, what you have heard this say

When you think they may be done, ask, “is there more?”

When they are done, ask, “of everything you shared, what is the most important thing you want me to remember?”

 Matthew 22:37-39 (NKJV) Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

 

Micheal W. Smith “Place in the World”

The wind is moving but I am standing still
A life of pages waiting to be filled
A heart that's hopeful, a head that's full of dreams
But this becoming is harder than it seems
Feels like I'm

Looking for a reason
Roaming through the night to find
My place in this world
My place in this world
Not a lot to lean on
I need Your light to help me find
My place in this world
My place in this world

If there are millions down on their knees
Among the many, can You still hear me?
Hear me asking, "Where do I belong?"
Is there a vision that I can call my own?
Show me, I'm

 

Questions for discussion/reflection:

1.      Can you recall a time when a question was formational in your life?  If so please share it.

2.      Why do you think Jesus asked so many questions during His earthly ministry?

3.      What makes asking questions difficult for you?  How can you overcome that obstacle?

4.      What makes incarnational listening difficult for you?  How can you overcome that obstacle? (Review David Benner’s questions about being distracted, etc..)

5.      What helps you enter the world of another (engaging with empathy not sympathy)?

6.      Does the idea of accountability make you uncomfortable? Why or why not?