A Short Course on Teaching by Using Questions

Using Questions to Teach Spiritual Things - Lesson 1

You can teach leaders how to teach using questions. This is a wonderful method of teaching spiritual truths from the Bible. 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.