How should I begin this post? Should I ask a question? Tell a story about the last time I tried to create a clever introduction? Perhaps I must always make a broad and over-generalized but intriguing suggestion. Or maybe ultra-vivid, razor-sharp imagery will slice your jugular and capture your attention while your lifeblood slips through my fingers.
I have many options, but each promotes the same goal: hooking you early and giving you reason to read on.
Perhaps such a communication technique is a place where “the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light” (Luke 16:8). The secular world runneth over with advice on presentations, public speaking, dynamic teamship, and interpersonal communication; but many Bible studies are boring. And the boredom wastes no time to settle in. The first 5 minutes often signify what is yet to come.
Steve Jurvetson (2011), Creative Commons
In his excellent Growth Groups training manual, Colin Marshall recommends introducing Bible studies with a “launching question.”
A launching question should be:
• Purposeful—introducing the main ideas or applications that will be addressed.
• Interesting—engaging the group’s attention and arousing their minds.
• Easy—making them the experts so all can contribute early in the discussion.
• Open—with many possible answers.There are two general types of launching questions:
• Topical—to raise the issues related to the goals of the study, by posing a dilemma or asking opinions.
• Textual—to raise an issue in the text being studied which will help to unravel the whole passage. (p.39)
While we don’t have examples in Scripture of Bible study discussions, we have plenty of examples of good introductions. They’ll mold our thinking as long as we don’t train ourselves to ignore them and move quickly to the “body” of the text. Here’s a sampling:
- In Galatians 1:1-5, Paul introduces his key themes of apostolic authority and true gospel.
- Matthew 1:1 insinuates that this Gospel will focus on Jesus’ Jewishness and kingship.
- Daniel 1:1-2 exposes the book’s main idea early: Though there are earthly kings who wield power according to their own pleasure, there is a heavenly King of kings who decides what finally happens and what gets given into whose hands.
- Psalms 1 and 2 provide context for the collection by bracketing a double blessing (Psalm 1:1, 2:12) around those who 1) delight in God’s law and 2) submit to God’s king.
What other biblical introductions motivate you to read on?
By beginning a Bible study well, we do the same thing: We give people reason to listen and take part. “But the Bible itself is reason enough to listen and take part. We shouldn’t have to try to make the Bible exciting,” you say.
And I say, “Right on. We don’t have to make the Bible exciting. But if we’re not careful, we’ll lead people to think it’s boring and irrelevant.”
That’s why the launching question is usually the last thing I do when I prepare to lead a Bible study. (See the 5th of the 5 practices for preparing effective Bible studies.) The goal of the launching question is not merely to capture attention; you could do that by painting your face and dancing in Gangnam style. The goal is to unleash the text and win people early to the main idea.
Therefore, before I can start the trip, I must know where I’d like to go.
Peter — The example you gave of a “launching question” on the earlier post where you shared your notes for the evening was very helpful. Could you share another example of a launching question you’ve used, or perhaps an example from the Colin Marshall book? Thanks!
Yes, I’d be happy to share some sample launching questions. I’ll do that in next week’s post.
Super! If it’s too much trouble, you can always post a video of yourself dancing Gangnam style instead.
Um…it’s not too much trouble at all. But thanks for giving me that freedom.
Hello Peter, just dropping an encouraging word. I really appreciate this blog and also your subtle sense of humor which comes out through your wacky analogies.
Hi Drew. Thanks for the encouragement. It means a lot! But please don’t let my wife hear you using the word “subtle” around my sense of humor, or she’ll pull an ophthalmic muscle from over-hard rolling.
I don’t know what an opthalmic muscle is, but it sounds painful. Tell your wife my use of the word subtle was dripping with sarcasm
Oh, sorry about that. I was simply trying to say “she rolls her eyes at me a lot,” but I was trying too hard to be clever. I’ll deliver your message. 🙂