Chapter 3
Use Launching Questions
Jesus used more than a hundred questions as recorded in the gospels. He used
them:
- to make people think
- to define terms
- to appeal to the conscience.
- to refute criticism
- to present a problem
- to present solutions
- to accomplish other goals
Developing good questions is a skill you can learn. In leading a small group, the most important type of question is a launching question—one that launches people into discussion and discovery. This question grabs people's attention and creates a desire to share what they know.
Though this chapter focuses on launching questions, they shouldn't be used alone. They should be accompanied by guiding questions. Guiding questions keep people focused on the correct subject and steer the conversation away from pitfalls and unnecessary diversions.
Launching questions and guiding questions, together, are much like a rocket. Launching questions provide thrust and power and get things off the ground. Guiding questions are the fins that steer the rocket toward the correct objective. You'll learn more about guiding questions in the next chapter.
Three characteristics of good launching questions are:
- They have many right answers.
- They have suitable difficulty.
- They focus on the right subject.
Many right answers
Launching questions must have many right answers, or no discussion is initiated. Suppose you ask a group, "Is Jesus the only way to God?" Someone answers, "Yes," and the discussion is over. Instead, you should reword your questions so that several people can respond with correct answers. For example, the questions could be:
"What would be some of the implications if Jesus was not the only way to God?"
or:
"Why are many non-Christians offended when we say Jesus is the only way to God?"
or
"What are some passages in the Bible that teach that Jesus is the only way to God?"
As you look over the examples above, notice that each will probably create a slightly different discussion. You could choose the question that would start the discussion in the direction you want it to take.
Now, evaluate the questions below. Do they each have many right answers? If any does not, reword the question so it does.
- "Did God create us for His glory?"
- "How much does God love us?"
- "What does it mean to be created in God's image?"
Compare your answers with these—
- Did God create us for His glory?
This doesn't meet the criteria for a good launching question. It's a classic yes/no question. the answer is either yes or no, right or wrong. One of several ways of rewording it is, "What are some ways God is glorified by us?" - How much does God love us?
This isn't a yes/no question; but even though many different words might be used in giving an answer, they'd all be saying substantially the same thing. It could be restated: "What are some ways God shows His love for us?" - What does it mean to be created in God's image?
This ones tricky. There are many answers, but who's to say how many of them are correct? It would be better to look at what you can learn rather than try to answer a question with so many possible interpretations. One way to accomplish this is: "The Bible says we are created in God's image and likeness. What are some ways we are like God?" Answering this question will help people arrive at their own conclusions about the definition of being created in God's image without any pressure being exerted on others to conform to their thinking.
Suitable Difficulty
To be answerable and interesting, a launching question must have suitable difficulty. If it's too difficult, people will be discouraged, embarrassed, and silent. If it's too easy, people will be embarrassed, silent—and bored.
Suitable difficulty changes for every group. "What are some things God has created?" is too easy for adults, but fine for young children. "What are some passages that refer to justification?" is a correct level of difficulty for people who have been studying the Bible for awhile, but not for new Christians.
Questions that are long, involved, confusing, and that use difficult words or technical terms are usually too difficult. Rhetorical questions, or those that ask the obvious, are usually too easy.
Evaluate the following questions for difficulty for your small group:
- "What are some indications of God's love for us?"
- "Explain the process by which a person becomes a child of God."
- "What are some of the Old Testament promises about the Messiah that Jesus fulfilled?"
Compare your answers with these—
- What are some indications of God's love for us?
For the average group, this should be about right. It may be improved slightly by taking away the one obvious answer: "God's great demonstration of loves was on the cross. What are some other indications of God's love for us?" - Explain the process by which a person becomes a child of God.
Too hard. The question is unclear. (It also is asking for only one answer.) - What are some of the Old Testament promises about the Messiah the Jesus
fulfilled?
Probably about right. It may be too hard for some in the group, but others will probably respond. It would be too hard if you ask for the references of these Old Testament verses.
Right Subject in Focus
There's no value to discussion just for the sake of discussion. The launching question should be pointed at the right target. Guiding questions can then maintain the proper direction.
You want to lead your group to the right facts from the Bible. You want to encourage a good application so they can grow. Four general areas on which questions will focus are:
- Information — What does the Bible say?
- Opinions — What do you think about it?
- Feelings — How do you feel about it?
- Application — What are you going to do about it?
If you focus on any one of these without the others, the discussion won't be as fruitful as it should be.
Be sure not to use questions to focus attention on your own answers. Once people discover you are leading them only to your conclusions, they'll feel pressured and resent it. Others will try to figure out what you have in mind and won't share their own thoughts and ideas. When this happens, any applications people make will be based on your idea—not their own. Until they personalize application, people won't grow.
Evaluate the focus of each of the following questions for your group:
- "When did creation take place?"
- "What are the responsibilities of a shepherd?"
- "What emotions does God's total knowledge of you evoke?"
Compare your answers with these—
- When did Creation take place?
It's on the subject of Creation, but focuses on information not readily available and that doesn't have much practical application. It's a poor question. - What are the responsibilities of a shepherd?
Good focus. This launching question also rates high in the other two areas of having many right answers and suitable difficulty. It should, however, have guiding questions with it. They could point out how Jesus, as our Shepherd, assumes these responsibilities and could ask what our response should be. - What emotions does God's total knowledge of you evoke?
This focuses on feelings, which may or may not be appropriate, depending upon how comfortable your group members are with one another.
Launching questions should provoke people to share their thoughts and ideas. Sometimes they don't. If no interaction begins, don't be afraid to repeat your launching question. If you're in a group of quiet people, you may need to repeat it several times, calling upon a different person to answer each time.
Too often, leaders are embarrassed by silence and begin telling their ideas on a question. Don't fear silence, and don't feel it's your responsibility to fill the void it creates. Give people time to think and respond. When you're in a group situation, 10 seconds seems like a long time, and a minute seems like an eternity. Even so, wait for others to respond.
For your next small group leaders' meeting, come prepared with three good launching questions on the material you are studying.
Summary
Small group leaders primarily use two types of questions: launching questions to start a discussion and guiding questions to direct a discussion toward the objective.
Good launching questions must meet three criteria:
- They have many correct answers.
- They are of suitable difficulty.
- They focus on the subject.
How to Squash Enthusiasm in Your Group
Ask only complicated and difficult questions. You want everyone to realize how much they don't know and how smart you are.
Never use questions that cause others to think. Once they start, they may never stop. They may even challenge a few of your ideas.
Things to do in a leaders' meeting
- Discuss the three characteristics of good launching questions and the good and bad examples given.
- Discuss the launching questions that you prepared for the meeting, evaluating them against the three criteria.