ASKING GREAT QUESTIONS AND LEADING

GREAT DISCUSSION

Ken Braddy, Manager – Ongoing Curriculum

Which quotation do you like best?

“Judge a man by his questions rather than his answers” – Voltaire

“My greatest strength as a consultant is to be ignorant and ask a few questions” – Peter Drucker

“Teaching isn’t telling; learning isn’t listening” – Dr. Howard Hendricks, Dallas Theological Seminary

“The one who talks is the one who learns” – Karen Dockrey, author

“Conversation is the laboratory and workshop of the student” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Insights from Scripture

Jesus invited people to talk Jesus asked questions

To help draw conclusions To correct thinking

Jesus moved from the simple to the complex

Questions

The Yakety-Yak Principle: people learn

better when they discuss what they are

learning

Teaching the Bible Creatively, p.61

“The first step of transformation suggests that teachers may help

persons by …raising questions”

Basics of Teaching for Christians, p61

Types of discussion questions Icebreaker Bridge Closed Open Inductive Text-based Experience-based

Discussion-killing questions

Idiot Unreasonable Long-winded Compound Leading-the-witness Spur-of-the-moment

Questions that boost discussion

Thoughtful/provocative Controversial Follow-up Emotional

Leader tips

Encourage discussion by finding something to agree with in each answer given

Never laugh at or ridicule the person

Allow group members to talk more than you do

Engage in active listening Don’t be afraid of silence

Silence is golden

“Research indicates that the quality of student responses improves if the wait time after a teacher’s question extends beyond the normal one to three seconds to twenty seconds” – Basics of Teaching for Christians (Pazmino, p.68)

Leader tips

Be intentional Be consistent Be patient

“What is often remembered from a special meal is the conversation that occurred during and after the meal, when people linger and open their hearts and minds…this assumes that dialogue and interaction are key elements to anticipate and plan for in advance of the actual teaching” – Basics of Teaching for Christians (Pazmino, p.35)

“I am convinced that depth in learning God’s Word is often directly related to how much people interact on a personal

level as they discover, wrestle, and apply principles from the text

to their lives.”

Heart Deep Teaching, p127

“…good questions do not just happen…questions formulated on the spot are often vague or unproductive. It is best for teachers to write out questions in advance. They should avoid yes/no and short answer questions in favor of questions that motivate thinking” (p.191)

Let’s Practice!

James 1:1-4

1 James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ: to the 12 tribes in the Dispersion. Greetings.

2 Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials

3 Knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

4 But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.

Questions we developed for an upcoming James 1:1-4 lesson

Who in your life is good at making lemonade out of sour circumstances? (icebreaker)

What keeps you from reacting joyfully when the pressure of life feels overwhelming? (bridge)

What emotions did you feel during your most recent trial? (emotional)

During your most recent trial, how did you see God walking with you? (experience)

How have you been encouraged by the endurance of others during trials? (experience)

Suggested resources

Field Guide For Small Group Leaders, Sam O’ Neal

Creative Bible Teaching, Richards & Bredfelt

Teaching the Bible Creatively, McNabb & Mabry

Heart Deep Teaching, Gary Newton Basics of Teaching for Christians,

Robert Pazmino