Asking Questions
“The purposes of a man’s heart are deep waters,
but a man of understanding draws them out.”
“Where are you?” [1] “Will you give me a drink?” [2] They asked him, “Then who are you?” “Do you understand what you are reading?” [4] “Who are you, Lord?” [5] “What shall I do, Lord?” [6] What do all of these have in common? Are they not all examples of the hundreds of questions recorded in the Bible? Have you ever read through the Bible just looking for the questions? Have you noticed God asks people questions, people ask God questions, and people ask other people questions all the time in the Bible? Have you ever read Dale Carnegie’s book “How to Win Friends and Influence People?” Do you remember his Principle 4 of Six Ways to Make People Like You -- Be a good listener? [7] Do you remember his Principle 4 of Be a Leader -- Ask Questions? [8] Don’t you love it when people ask you questions about yourself and actually listen to you? Do you think other people love it when you ask them questions about themselves and actually listen to them? When was the last time you experienced the joy of asking someone enough of the right questions that they finally figure something out for themselves and you could almost see the light bulb of understanding go off over their head? Did you know that is called the Socratic Method of teaching because it is believed that Socrates instructed his pupils largely by asking questions? Can you appreciate the power of starting spiritual conversations by asking deep, probing questions? Do you have a standard set of questions that you are always prepared to ask other Christians that will help, encourage, admonish or teach them to have a deeper friendship with God? Need some help with this area? Can you think of any questions related to their intake of the Bible? How about questions related to the quality of their prayer life? Can you think of any questions related to the time and energy they invest in helping younger believers grow? How about questions related to their boldness as a witness for the Lord Jesus Christ? Would you be willing to ask someone if Jesus was on the throne of their life or if they were firmly seated there? If someone asked you these questions would you be willing to answer them? Would the answers be pretty? If you knew that the person you were asking might ask you the same questions, would it stop you from asking? Could you believe God that it was the right thing to do to ask those questions? Do you have a standard set of questions that you are always prepared to ask the lost? Are they questions that will move people closer to a personal relationship with Jesus? Need some help with this area? Can you think of any questions you could ask about their eternal security? How about questions related to loneliness? Significance? Purpose in life? What they are giving their life to? Would you feel comfortable answering those questions? On a scale of 1-10 how confident are you that you will be in heaven with God for ever and ever when you die? Have you ever talked about that with anyone? Have you ever ask anyone that question? Depending on their answer, would you know what to say or ask next? Are you prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have? [9] Should you be? Do you have hope? So what are your standard conversation starting questions going to be? How often will you intentionally ask them? Every day? At least once a week? Who can you think of that you would like to intentionally ask questions to? Your spouse? Your family? Your friends? Your co-workers? Do you have a list? Should you start one? Should you add to the one you have? When would be the best time for you to start asking more questions? Years ago? When would be the second best time? Right now? Did you realize that this entire essay is made up of questions? How do you feel about that? Don’t you just love questions?!
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Posted on August 13, 2008
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