A Short Course on Bible Teaching by Using Questions

Using Questions to Teach Spiritual Things - Lesson 1

As you lead this discussion in a small group, give everyone a chance to answer, but finish the lesson in 45 minutes.

1. Why are questions useful?
2. How does it feel when someone asks you a question but doesn't listen to your answer?
3. If you were leading a discussion, would you prefer to use “yes or no” questions, “open-ended” questions, or lecture? Why?
4. Have you ever noticed how a follow-up question can draw out further discussion? How would you know when to give a follow-up question spontaneously?
5. What should you do if you ask a question to the group, but nobody answers?
6. Who is the teacher in the room – you or a list of questions? Or is it the Holy Spirit?
7. “To write a good discussion question, just focus on a point that you want to make, and then create a question that will help your people discover the answer.” Do you agree with this statement?
8. The Lord Jesus Christ often taught using questions. For example, read Matthew 11:7-10 together. What kinds of questions did he use in this passage? How did he use questions in this passage to teach a point from Scripture and apply it to a present situation?
9. For your homework: Carefully read Luke 2:46-47 and think about Jesus' example. What could you do to adjust your teaching style to imitate him more?

Using Questions to Teach Spiritual Things - Lesson 2

As you lead the discussion, give everyone a chance to answer, but finish the lesson in 45 minutes.

1. A good discussion allows people to learn from each other and the topic of study. What are some things you like about discussion groups? What are some things you don't like?
2. How is the leader responsible for keeping the group on track? Give some examples of problems that could arise in a discussion group and how the leader can prevent or remedy them.
3. Does the seating arrangement matter when you create the setting for a discussion group? Try some different arrangements now, such as sitting in a circle, or at a table, or in rows. Which arrangements make you feel the most at-ease to participate? Would the same sitting arrangement work well if the size of your group were doubled, tripled, or cut in half? Does the posture or position of the leader make a difference?
4. Read Matthew 16:13-17 together. How did the Lord Jesus Christ use a question and a follow-up question in this passage to narrow the focus of what he wanted to communicate? Think about who the “revealer” was to Simon Peter (see v. 17). How did Jesus' question draw out of Peter what God had revealed to him? Wouldn't it be great if your Bible study group used questions in that way?
5. Don't answer this question until we have paused for 10 seconds of silence after it is asked: What should you do if you ask the group a question, but nobody answers right away?
6. It's good to mix easy questions with ones that are deeper, so that people of different backgrounds can answer them. Short answer and yes/no questions are usually easy. Questions about specific points in the text such as who/what/when/where are fairly easy for good readers. Questions that invite people to open up and share are tougher but valuable. Read Mark 4:26-29 together. Have each person write two discussion questions about this text. Then, share the questions with each other, practicing how to ask them and listen for the responses.
7. Sometimes, there isn't enough time to cover all the questions you prepared, but that's OK. Shall we skip this one?
8. End the discussion with prayer for each other, asking God to help each of you to be a dynamic, sensitive teacher in Jesus' name.

About Spiritual Gifts, Especially Prophecy

In the West, we have generally followed a sterilized form of Christianity that lacks the supernatural power that the Bible teaches. I say, “We”, because I have often lacked such power or even the desire for it, and I have seen the same mindset in many fellow believers. We Bible-believing evangelical Christians typically make our faith fit into the secular, rationalistic culture that surrounds us. We have adopted a modern, scientific point of view that, for the most part, disallows that miracles happen today. Unfortunately for us, we are missing out. Our brothers and sisters in other lands are experiencing God's miracles, healings, and other spiritual gifts today. They do not have the same rationalistic hang-ups that we have here and  their faith is stronger in this area.

Have you noticed that the New Testament opens with miracles and prophecies? In its first two chapters,  God speaks to his people five times through dreams, giving them specific guidance about what to do. We learn from the Holy Spirit by this example that God speaks to his people. We know that this type of communication was not just for that time and place. It is found all through the New Testament, and was itself foretold by the prophets. It is expressly declared that God will continue to communicate with his people during these “last days” that we live in. Consider this prophecy from Joel, quoted by Peter: “It shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.” (Acts 2:17-18)

We should expect, based on God's promise above, that visions, dreams, and prophecies will be approved and helpful experiences for the church of God. God is still pouring out his Spirit today, and we are still living in the last days before Jesus Christ returns. We should therefore not despise prophecies, but consider them and test them. We should eagerly desire to use the gifts of the Holy Spirit, especially the gift of prophesy. They are given to us to build up the people of God.

Am I saying then that God is still writing inspired Scripture today, as if to extend or even replace the Holy Bible? Of course not. The Bible itself contains many examples of people prophesying, whose actual words were not included in the Bible. For example, the twelve men in Ephesus, and Philip's four daughters all prophesied, but we are not told what they said. Not all prophecies, therefore, were to be included in holy Scripture. And that is how it is today. The prophecies that God gives today are to guide his people, to correct them, to comfort, and to encourage them. Sometimes they are given to show the secrets of a person's heart so that he will fall down and worship God. Prophecy as a gift of the Holy Spirit will never replace or change what he has already written in the Bible. The Holy Spirit will not contradict himself.

You will know how to appropriately use the gift of prophecy if you read and obey all of chapter 14 of 1 Corinthians. Don't ignore this chapter. It is so important for the church today, as it always was. There you will also find how to properly use the gift of speaking in tongues. What ever spiritual gifts you have received, use them in accordance with the word of God, no matter what your denomination might do otherwise. (I think of certain churches I have been in where everyone is speaking in tongues at the same time or where a woman stands up to prophesy in church. These are mistakes that 1 Corinthians chapter 14 corrects.) Fear God and be faithful to his holy, written Bible.

Finally, don't confuse prophesying with preaching. In the West, we often hear that prophesying is gifted or inspired preaching. This is inaccurate, although a preacher may indeed prophesy. Prophesying is knowing and telling something that God revealed. For example, Agabus stood up in church and predicted by the Holy Spirit that a great famine was going to be coming on all the land. And Peter declared the secret sins of Ananias and Sapphira. And Paul was comforted by the Lord showing him the state of things while he was in Corinth, and in Jerusalem, and before the shipwreck on Malta's coast. All of these things were secrets that God knew, and he shared them when it pleased him to do so.

If you don't have any spiritual gifts that you know about, first make sure you belong to Jesus Christ (see Save Your Soul). Then, ask God in Jesus' name to give you some of the gifts. In my opinion, I say keep asking until you are sure he has answered you. Persistence in faith and prayer pleases him.

Dear Earth-Dwellers

If you are alive and hear this message, it is not too late. The ancient prophecy spoken by the Son of God will soon be fulfilled, which is this: “The hour is coming, in which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”

You will be raised from death for judgment. Seeing that your eternal destiny will be determined, make every effort to enter into the Kingdom of God now. Today, the gates are open, if you will pass through. Though your life may be a shipwreck, there is salvation for those who believe.

Indeed, why should you care? Perhaps you are ignorant that God's hand is raised up in wrath against all liars and all who do evil. His judgment is prepared, but waits because of His great patience. If you have turned away from the Most High God, you are in certain danger of hell. Your own sins will find you out. As it is written, “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.”

Even so, Today is the day you can find hope, for “a living dog is better than a dead lion.” You have a chance for your sins to be washed away forever. The Son of God has paid for them once for all. He suffered and died, having been nailed to a wooden cross. He who had no sins became sin for us and received our punishment. Three days later, He rose from death to life and defeated death. He visited His disciples for 40 days. He showed them the nail-holes in his hands and feet. He blessed them, and rose up to heaven to sit at the right hand of God. His name is Jesus Christ.

Trust in the Son of God. If you believe with all your heart that He paid for your own sins, and if you turn from your sins to God, and if you live to do the will of God, you will be saved. Your wickedness will be washed away. You will be rescued from God's righteous judgment of your life.

Call on Jesus Christ now, asking Him to pardon you and receive you. Obey His commands, which are written in the Holy Bible. Ask Him to give you His Holy Spirit. May God give you peace and joy as you follow His Son.

Bible references: John 5:28-29, Hebrews 9:27, Ecclesiastes 9:4, Acts 16:31, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Luke chapter 24.