Improving Our Skills in the Ministry—Using Questions Effectively

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WHY IMPORTANT: If “the thoughts of a man’s heart are like deep waters,” then questions are like a bucket to draw them out. (Pr 20:5) Questions help us to involve our listeners. Answers to well-chosen questions often provide valuable feedback. Jesus used questions effectively. How can we imitate him?

HOW TO DO IT:

Ask viewpoint questions. Jesus asked a series of questions to determine his disciples’ point of view. (Mt 16:13-16; be 238 ¶3-5) What viewpoint questions might you ask?

Ask leading questions. To correct Peter’s thinking, Jesus asked questions and provided possible answers that led Peter to the right conclusion. (Mt 17:24-26) What leading questions might you ask to help someone reach the right conclusion?

Commend your listener. After a scribe “answered intelligently,” Jesus commended him. (Mr 12:34) How might you commend someone who gives an answer to a question?

Be respectful. We do not have the authority that Jesus had. So we must show respect especially to older ones, people we do not know, and those in positions of authority.—1Pe 2:17.

WATCH THE FIRST PART OF THE VIDEO DO THE WORK THAT JESUS DID—TEACH, AND THEN ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

Why is this an example of poor teaching, even though the information is accurate?

*** mwb16 September p. 8 Avoid These Pitfalls When Conducting a Bible Study ***
Talking Too Much: Do not feel that you must explain everything. Jesus used questions to help people think and arrive at the right conclusion. (Mt 17:24-27) Questions make the study lively and help you to determine what your student understands and believes. (be 253 ¶3-4) When asking a question, be patient and wait for the answer. If the student gives the wrong answer, instead of telling him the right answer, lead him to the correct conclusion by using additional questions. (be 238 ¶1-2) Talk at a pace that allows the student to grasp new ideas. —be 230 ¶4.
Making It Complicated: Avoid the temptation to relate all that you know on the subject. (Joh 16:12) Focus on the main point of the paragraph. (be 226 ¶4-5) Details, even interesting ones, can obscure the main points. (be 235 ¶3) Once the main point is understood by the student, move on to the next paragraph.
Why must we do more than just explain the information?
*** mwb16 September p. 8 Avoid These Pitfalls When Conducting a Bible Study ***
Just Covering Material: Our objective is to reach the heart, not cover material. (Lu 24:32) Utilize the power of God’s Word by focusing on the key scriptures in the lesson. (2Co 10:4; Heb 4:12; be 144 ¶1-3) Use simple illustrations. (be 245 ¶2-4) Consider the student’s personal challenges and beliefs, and tailor the lesson to him. Ask questions like these: “How do you feel about what you are learning here?” “What does this teach us about Jehovah?” “What benefit do you see in applying such counsel?”—be 238 ¶3-5; 259 ¶1.

WATCH THE SECOND PART OF THE VIDEO, AND THEN ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

How did the brother use questions effectively?

*** km 10/11 p. 1 pars. 1-4 Help the Householder to Reason ***
1 Which approach in the ministry is more effective—one that is dogmatic or one that helps the householder to reason and draw the correct conclusions? The apostle Paul used the latter when speaking to Jews in Thessalonica, and “as a result some of them became believers.” (Acts 17:2-4) What is involved in reasoning with others?
2 Consider Feelings and Background: A reasoning approach takes into account the feelings of those in the territory. Paul started a discourse to unbelieving Greeks at the Areopagus by mentioning things they likely knew and accepted. (Acts 17:22-31) Therefore, when preparing your presentation, consider the common beliefs and prejudices of people in your territory. (1 Cor. 9:19-22) If the householder raises an objection, try to find common ground, and build your conversation on that.
3 Use Questions Skillfully: We cannot give a traveler directions to help him reach his destination unless we know his current location. Similarly, we cannot help a householder to reach the proper conclusion unless we know his current opinion. Before reasoning with a listener, Jesus often asked questions to find out the person’s thinking. For example, when someone asked Jesus, “By doing what shall I inherit everlasting life?,” Jesus sought the man’s viewpoint before answering. (Luke 10:25-28) On another occasion, when Peter gave a wrong answer, Jesus skillfully used questions to correct his thinking. (Matt. 17:24-26) Therefore, if the householder asks a question or expresses a wrong opinion, we can use questions to help him to reason on matters.
4 When we help the householder to reason, we imitate the Great Teacher, Jesus, as well as other skillful evangelizers in the first century. We dignify the householder and show him respect. (1 Pet. 3:15) As a result, he may be more inclined to allow us to return.

What other aspects of his teaching can we imitate?

*** km 11/04 p. 4 pars. 3-4 Part 3—Conducting Progressive Bible Studies ***
3 Use Questions: Instead of explaining Bible texts to the student, have him explain them to you. You can prompt him to do this by the skillful use of questions. If the application of a scripture is obvious, you might simply ask how the text supports what is stated in the paragraph. In other cases, a more specific question or series of questions may be needed to direct the student to the proper conclusion. If further explanations are needed, these can be made after the student has responded.
4 Keep It Simple: A skilled archer often needs just one arrow to hit a target. Similarly, a skilled teacher does not require many words to make a point. He can convey information simply, clearly, and accurately. At times, you may need to do research in Christian publications to understand a scripture and explain it correctly. (2 Tim. 2:15) But avoid trying to explain every aspect of each scripture in the study. Include only what is needed to make the point under consideration.

What effect does our teaching have on others? (Lu 24:32)