| March 2008 |
Vol 1, Issue 2
|
|
|
|
Great Questions
Godly Teaching, Godly Impact!
|
|
|
|
Asking
Great Questions
|
It was such a privilege to spend time with
disciplers across the Intermountain District during the SDMI tour in
February. I am excited to hear what God is doing in and through
the lives of His people, and look forward to continuing those
conversations during several other events in the upcoming year.
One of the discipleship tools we talked about on the tour was that of
great questions. Jesus himself used questions frequently to help
his followers to discover and to consider more deeply what they were
learning. "Who do people say that I am?" "Why did you
doubt?"
These are significant questions with life-changing answers, so it is
important for disciplers to remember, as D. MIchael Henderson wrote in Making Disciples One Conversation
at a Time, to slow down a bit and allow the ones you lead to
process. Like excellent music, excellent conversations require
some "rests," or silence. "Let silence do the heavy lifting."
If you have chosen to follow God, He has entrusted others to you, to
walk together on the journey with Christ. Let's take seriously
this call to be both disciples and disciplers, and continue to invest
our lives in intentional discipleship!
Pastor Tim Brewer |
|
 |
|
|
| Devotional Thoughts: Questions God Asks |
Consider some of the great questions God asks
throughout the Bible:
- To two people hiding after their sin: "Where
are you?" (Gen. 3:9)
- To a frightened prophet: "What are you
doing here?" (I Kings 19:9)
- To two blind men: "What do you want me to
do for you?" (Mt. 20:32)
- To an impulsive water-walker/sinker: "Why
did you doubt?" (Mt. 14:31)
- To a rich young man: "Why do you call me
good?" (Mk. 10:18)
- To a man killing Christians: "Why do you
persecute me?" (Acts 9:4)
- To the disciples: "What about you?
Who do you say I am?" (Mt. 16:15)
- To fishermen in a violent storm: "Why are
you so afraid?" (Mt. 8:26)
- To a man who'd been an invalid for 38
years: "Do you want to get well?" (Jn. 5:6)
- To disciples faced with feeding
thousands: "How many loaves do you have?" (Mt. 15:34)
- To one caught in adultery: "Where are
they? Has no one condemned you?" (Jn. 8:10)
Which of these questions most captures your heart today, and why?
How has God used questions -- through scripture, prayer, or other
people -- to challenge and/or encourage you? In what ways are you
different as a result?
What question do you most wish someone would sincerely ask you right
now? Consider finding a Christian friend and asking that person
the privilege of telling him or her the answer question, even though it
wasn't asked.
What question would be most difficult for you to answer a friend
honestly right now, and why? Is there something you need to do
about this? |
| Bloom's Questioning |
How well do
those you lead really understand what you're teaching them, and how do
you know?
A model which many educators find useful in developing effective
questions is Bloom's Taxonomy. In this model, there are six
different "levels" of questioning which are useful both to stimulate
higher-order thinking and to evaluate understanding. Click on the
image to the left to expand this useful diagram.
Knowledge. This
refers to observation and simple recall of information. What were the names of the twelve
disciples? Quote Colossians 3:17. Who betrayed Jesus for
thirty pieces of silver? This level of understanding begins to
form a foundation for all higher levels.
Comprehension. To
grasp meaning is a step beyond remembering information. At this
level, the student becomes able to begin interpreting
information. What is an
example of a spiritual discipline? How might you paraphrase
Philippians 4:4-8? Create a short dramatic sketch to tell the
Parable of the Talents.
Application.
Everyday life brings situations which are not directly addressed by the
Bible. These questions encourage the appropriate use of biblical
instruction in new ways. What
can you do to show honor to your parents this afternoon? How
could you apply the Matthew 18 principle of reconciliation in a recent
or current conflict?
Analysis. This
reaches further into critical thinking by seeking out relationships
between ideas and recognizing patterns within the whole. How were King Saul and King David similar,
and how were they different? What biblical arguments might a
person make for and against the death penalty?
Synthesis.
Synthesis is making something new from existing parts. It is a
vital part of Christian discipleship, and one which must be entered
into with particular care to draw accurate conclusions and to know the
limits of those conclusions. Other
than the obvious, what might we infer from the command "Do not
murder"? Develop a list of 3-5 househole rules which could be
used as the foundation for developing strong biblical community in your
home.
Evaluation. With
clear understanding in the other levels of thinking, one becomes more
capable of making value judgments and choosing the best courses of
action. Are some sins worse
than others? In what ways should Christians address the issue of
abortion in our culture? If your unchurched friend agreed to read
exactly one book of the Bible, which would you recommend and why?
Each "level" of understanding is important. As a teacher or other
disciple-maker, how much time and energy do you invest in each?
If you would like to explore this further, click here to see some ideas
of different verbs that might be useful in helping you to ask great
questions!
As Christians, we are not to rely on our own wisdom and understanding,
of course, but to seek God's wisdom and God's guidance in the
process. As you talk with children, fellow small group members,
students, co-workers, and others in the process of intentional
discipleship, prepare well, ask great questions, and pray constantly.
Click here for more
information on Blooms Taxonomy.
|
| "One Thing" |
 If you attended one
of the "Intentional Discipleship" events during the
last week of February, think back to your "one thing." What steps
have
you taken since that time? What is in process? What
barriers have you
encountered, and how have you sought to overcome them? What do
you
expect to see in the lives of the people you serve as you live out your
"one thing"? In what ways have you seen God at work?
We would
love to hear from you! If you would like to send a note to the
SDMI
team, you can simply reply to this e-mail. Or, if you would
prefer to
send it directly to one of the team members, you can access most of
their e-mail addresses here.
May God bless you, and bless others through you, as you serve Him! |
|
|
|
|
