As I read the Gospels, it's interesting to note how many times Jesus answers a question with a question. The disciples ask Jesus how they are to respond when people ask them who He is...Jesus responds by asking them who do you say I am? The Pharisees question Jesus' miracle on the Sabbath...Jesus responds by asking them if it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath? The list goes on...
In my own experiences in ministry I have often found that if I can respond with a question, most people will be able to digest and discern for themselves the answer. However, learning to ask the right question is the most important yet challenging thing to do.
In order to keep a conversation going, questions that only require a yes or no answer are absolutely the worst kinds of questions. And when dealing with students, this usually ends the conversation. Asking questions differently can get to the heart of what actually needs to be discussed. I say this because usually when I am asked a question that causes controversy or is a grey issue, there is a hidden reason behind the motives of the question. Most people are looking to get around the 'rules' or push the boundaries in what they believe. They want to know things like how far is too far and how close can I get to the line without crossing over. Instead of sharing our own convictions, we need to ask better questions in response to the things people ask us. Andy Stanley writes a whole book on this subject titled, "The Best Question Ever". Spoiler Alert: The best question ever is to ask yourself: What is the wise thing to do? A lot of regrets can be avoided if we replaced our questions with the thought of, is this wise?
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