Ryan Higginbottom | Knowable Word

Context Matters: God’s Ways Are Higher Than Our Ways

June 7, 2021 By Ryan Higginbottom

Perhaps you’ve heard that God’s ways are higher than our ways, that his thoughts are above our thoughts. You’ve been told that God is so great, and our minds are so small in comparison, that we cannot grasp his motivations or his logic.

I’ve heard well-meaning Christians tell others that God’s ways are beyond us in an effort to bring comfort and assurance. We cannot figure out what God is doing, our lives feel out of control, but don’t worry—God’s thoughts are higher than our thoughts. It’s okay—even predictable—that we wouldn’t track with what God is up to.

But is this what that verse in Isaiah is meant to convey? Are we using this phrase in its proper context? When we learn to read the Bible as a book instead of as an independent collection of sentences and phrases, we’ll find that some of the most familiar passages mean something different than we’ve assumed.

The Context in Isaiah

This passage about God’s ways being higher than ours comes from Isaiah, and it’s worth reproducing a good portion of the passage here.

“Seek the Lord while he may be found;
call upon him while he is near;
let the wicked forsake his way,
and the unrighteous man his thoughts;
let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him,
and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:6–9)

Peter has already written about the big-picture structure of Isaiah. Chapters 40–55 hang together, and this passage falls near the end of that section. This portion of the prophecy describes how God will use a Servant to pardon the iniquity of his people.

Crucially, for our purposes, this part of Isaiah is about forgiveness, reconciliation, and the restoration of God’s people.

The Context in Isaiah 55

This chapter begins with God’s famous invitation: “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price” (Is 55:1). God is calling those who hear to live by means of an everlasting covenant with him (Is 55:3).

Those who listen should “seek the Lord” and “call upon him” (Is 55:6). The call is to the wicked and the unrighteous, to “return to the Lord,” for God will “have compassion” and “abundantly pardon” (Is 55:7).

The often-quoted verses (Is 55:8–9) are connected to verses 6–7 by the word “for.” This is a simple but powerful observation. God’s thoughts are different than our thoughts—this explains his eagerness to welcome and forgive. Our ways are not his ways, because we are neither in a position to pardon the repentant, unrighteous man nor are we inclined to show this compassion.

The chapter ends with an explanation about how God intends to accomplish this plan of forgiving those who forsake their wicked ways. It will happen through his word; it will go forth, accomplish his purposes, and not return to him empty (Is 55:11). As a result, the people rejoice, and nature will “break forth into singing” (Is 55:12).

Our Compassionate God

In terms of kindness, God’s ways are high above ours. Isaiah mentions God’s compassion three times in the previous chapter (Is 54:7, 8, 10), so this is a familiar theme by the time we reach chapter 55.

Let’s return to our earlier question. Yes, God is infinitely wiser and more complex than we are; his plans are beyond our ability to unravel. But when Isaiah writes about God’s thoughts being higher than our thoughts, he’s referring to God’s welcoming love to repentant sinners. We should worship and adore the God whose compassion overflows in this way that ours does not.

Context matters.

For more examples of why context matters, click here.

How to Pray for Your Small Group Bible Study

May 24, 2021 By Ryan Higginbottom

It is no small thing to gather with others and focus on the Bible. God can (and often does) move mightily during such a meeting.

How can Christians pray for this work of God? What would that look like?

Praying for the Leader

A small group Bible study leader has an important calling from God. One of the best things we can do for our Bible studies is to pray for our leaders.

Pray for their Preparation

A lot goes into preparing for a Bible study meeting. Pray that your leader, in all of it, will depend on the Lord.

As they study the Bible in advance, pray that God would protect their time and give them wisdom. Pray that God would give them a faithful, accurate understanding of the passage. Pray also for their spiritual growth, for their fight against sin and their walk in God’s grace.

Pray that their understanding of the Scriptures would lead to genuine change in their lives. The most effective leader is the one who is regularly applying the Bible with the help of the Holy Spirit.

A good Bible study leader will think carefully about the discussion they plan to lead. Pray that they would frame the discussion in a way that is helpful for the group. Pray that God would help them to prepare questions that will encourage fruitful conversation.

Pray for their Leadership

It takes experience, sensitivity, and wisdom to lead well during a Bible study meeting. Pray that God would give your leader what is necessary to manage the meeting well.

Pray that your leader would be able to move the group toward the main point of the passage. And pray that they would encourage heart-oriented application in their group members.

A small group with a compassionate, honest leader is powerful. Pray that your small group leader would love all the members of your group.

Praying for those Who Attend

If we pray only for the leader of a small group, we’ve done just half the job. So much of the group dynamics hinge on the non-leaders in the group. Let’s pray for them too!

Pray that small group members would prepare themselves for the Bible study. This may involve homework, but it surely involves growing in their love for the Lord and for their small group friends.

Pray that those who attend would learn to be vulnerable during the meeting, willing to let others into the difficult parts of their lives.

Pray that attenders would engage in honest, thoughtful discussion. Pray that God would guide each person to speak and listen in love. Pray that God would give wisdom by his Spirit through each Bible-focused conversation.

Some churches and ministries grow in large part due to the expansion of their small groups. If you find yourself in that situation, you should pray for the end of your group.

Ministry Covered in Prayer

Bible studies are not just a social gathering or religious activity. A Bible study can stoke and fuel the fire of spiritual engagement and growth in a church.

With such important work taking place within these groups, we should spend time and energy asking God for his work and blessing through them. Why not use the suggestions above and make a prayer list for your local group?

Note: Aside from those linked above, we have written several other articles about leading and attending small group Bible studies that you may find valuable.

Context Matters: God’s Mercies Are New Every Morning

May 10, 2021 By Ryan Higginbottom

Perhaps you’ve heard that God’s mercies are new every morning. You’ve been told that his steadfast love never ceases, and you’ve sung “Great is Your Faithfulness.”

Perhaps your reminder about God’s mercies was splashed on an inspirational calendar above the perfect dew-brushed meadow. Or maybe you heard a perky Christian radio disc jockey quote this enthusiastically in an effort to motivate listeners to get out of bed.

I’ve heard this sentiment about God’s mercies on retreats, during good times, when the group I’m part of wants to extend its current momentum. We’re experiencing God’s blessings—both in ministry and life—and from this verse we’re told we should have confidence these blessings will continue. But does this use Lam 3:22–23 in the correct context?

When we learn to read the Bible as an actual book and not as a professionally-bound collection of pull-quotes, we’ll find that some of our favorite passages take on deeper and more sobering meanings.

The Book of Lamentations

The book of Lamentations is not cheerful. The author was not writing from a mountain top, riding the spiritual high of God’s favor.

In fact, picture the exact opposite of that setting. That’s the background for this book of laments.

(A quick note: Many people assume the prophet Jeremiah wrote Lamentations. There is wide disagreement about this, however, and I don’t think any interpretation changes if we drop this assumption.)

In 589 BC, Jerusalem was surrounded by the armies of Babylon and endured a long siege. The city fell in 587 BC and Babylon crashed in with fire and fury. The temple was desecrated and destroyed. The city was burned. Many Israelites died, and most of the rest were led away by the enemy forces. A scattered few people remained, and they were starving.

The author of Lamentations wrote in the midst of this terrible landscape. In five heart-wrenching prayers, he cried out to the Lord. He knew God’s hand was behind Babylon and that the Jewish people deserved this judgment for their idolatry. His laments were raw acknowledgments of their terrible, warranted state.

The Need to Recall Truth

If we’re going to read Lamentations 3:22–24 in context, we need to pay close attention to the preceding verse (among others).

But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope. (Lam 3:21)

The author had to remind himself what was true, because his circumstances offered no hope. In fact, he wrote that his “soul is bereft of peace” and his “hope from the Lord” had perished (Lam 3:17–18). It was remembering foundational truths (found in verses 22–24) that restored his hope. This is a glorious effect of calling God’s word to mind!

So, when we are low—when we feel God is absent or that his hand is against us—what should we remind ourselves? What should we remind each other?

God’s love is steadfast; it never ceases. God’s mercies are so plentiful and steady that they never end. We never run out of his mercies; they are new every morning. God is faithful and great in his faithfulness. God has given himself to his people as their portion, and because they have him, they have hope.

We need to rehearse these truths; they are as staggering as they are sustaining. And though they are appropriate when life is good, we should especially call them to mind when life is stubborn and hard.

Our circumstances will seldom sustain us. But God’s truth will cultivate hope in his people.

Seeking Means Waiting

This passage of Scripture also describes the posture of those who recall God’s mercies. I’ll warn you—in our flesh, it’s not what we want to hear.

“The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him” (Lam 3:25). The parallel construction here tells us that seeking the Lord requires waiting. Seeking the Lord may involve more than waiting, but it does not involve less.

Those who seek God should “wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord” (Lam 3:26). This is a good habit for everyone to learn from an early age (Lam 3:27).

Why can we wait? Why does seeking the Lord in this way make sense? What truth can give us the patience we need?

These questions are answered just a few verses later.

For the Lord will not
cast off forever,
but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion
according to the abundance of his steadfast love;
for he does not afflict from his heart
or grieve the children of men. (Lam 3:31–33)

In his judgment, God may cause grief. But his steadfast love is so abundant that he will have compassion. He does not afflict or grieve from his heart; he will not cast off forever.

Rejoice in the Steadfast Love of the Lord

We should remember the steadfast love of the Lord every day, but we need reminders most when we feel it least. When we’re tempted to lose heart, when our souls are cast down, we need to remember what God is really like.

Join the author of Lamentations. Recall the mercies of God throughout history and in your own life. Remember that he is your portion. Wait for him; he will have compassion according to his abundant, steadfast love.

Context matters.

For more examples of why context matters, click here.

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Why Interaction is Good for Small Group Members

April 26, 2021 By Ryan Higginbottom

Small groups are everywhere in churches and Christian ministries. And there are almost as many kinds of small groups as there are ministries.

We write with some frequency about small group Bible studies on this blog, and it’s worth defining our terms from time to time. My aim in this article is to describe the sort of Bible study we advocate and explain why this structure helps Christians get to know the Bible better.

An Interactive Group

When we write about “Bible studies,” we have this in mind: a group of people who “are actively engaged in mutual study and examination of the text of Scripture.” This definition comes from the first post in Peter’s series on leading Bible studies.

The “mutual study and examination” part of this definition is important. We’re not talking about a lecture or a presentation. Every group member thinks, reads, and prays along, wrestling together with the text.

The main benefit of this kind of group is the interaction that cannot be replicated in private devotions, a Sunday sermon, or a theology class. Peter has written about the many advantages of this type of group for leaders, but this is also a fantastic group setup for those who attend.

Hearing From Others

At a healthy interactive small group study, there is bountiful discussion. And this means that everyone present hears not just from the leader but (likely) from everyone else as well.

Why is this important? We all bring different angles and experiences to the Bible, and hearing a diversity of perspectives helps us understand God’s word more fully. To take one passage specifically, think about how a study of the promise of a resurrection body (in 1 Corinthians 15) might land differently if a small group contained people of several generations. Someone who has chronic pain or who has been diagnosed with cancer will add much to this conversation that a healthy twenty-five-year-old couldn’t provide.

We also benefit from hearing the questions, interpretations, hesitations, and affirmations of others. The road to truth is rarely smooth and straight. Charitable pushback—even disagreement—is not to be feared or avoided. God’s word is sturdy and can handle all the interrogation we can muster. Others help us think and see things in the Bible that we would not glimpse on our own.

Actively Engaging the Text

If you’ll permit it, I’m going to wear my educator hat for just a moment. It is now a well-established fact, that from kindergarten through graduate school, the most impactful kind of learning is active learning.

Active learning is what is sounds like—learning in which the student participates actively. This is contrasted with the passive learning of the traditional 45-minute lecture. In terms of effectiveness, it isn’t close. Active learning beats passive learning like an NFL team drubbing a high school squad.

Hopefully you can see it now—interactive small groups are active! Everyone is reading, asking and answering questions, thinking deeply about the Bible, offering alternate interpretations, and sharing different ways to apply the truths they’ve learned. Participants in the best small groups burn a lot of mental calories!

This interaction helps us learn and retain information, it deepens conviction and hope, and it solidifies our thinking. Our engagement during our Bible studies accelerates our journey on the road of Christian growth.

Speaking to Others

While technically this benefit could fit under the umbrella of active engagement, I want to call it out separately. In a healthy small group, all members speak several times during the meeting. And this is of great value to everyone present.

The process of expressing our thoughts or questions verbally often brings a clarity we miss if we keep quiet. Our brains shuffle, combine, and file information in a new way when we form words for others to hear.

Additionally, your group benefits when you speak! Just as you need to hear from others, others need to hear from you. This is an essential part of what it means to be part of a community.

This doesn’t mean everyone is a born teacher or scholar. Your questions, requests for alternate explanations, or personal applications can help move your group toward deeper understanding and more lasting change.

How to Find Such a Group

My advice regarding joining a small group Bible study is simple. Find a group that is committed to studying the Bible. And seek a group with plenty of lively engagement with the text. Start with these criteria and add others as appropriate.

And if you can’t find such a group, perhaps you should start one of your own!

What We Miss When We Skip the Book of Numbers

April 12, 2021 By Ryan Higginbottom

The majority of people who start a read-through-the-Bible-in-a-year plan don’t ever make it to the book of Numbers. They breeze through Genesis and Exodus, hit the quicksand of Leviticus, and give up.

Additionally, Numbers is not a popular book for personal devotions, small group study, or sermons. I think the census that kicks off the book (so many, well, numbers) makes many think this book is little more than a population registry.

But Numbers is packed with interesting and important narratives and instruction. In fact, a great deal of the action in the history of Israel between Mount Sinai and the promised land occurs in Numbers. (Much of it is also retold in Deuteronomy.)

Sure, Numbers has some difficult, slower passages. But the book as a whole is far from a slog. And since all of God’s word is valuable, we systematically neglect a portion of it to our harm.

Wilderness Wanderings

Most church-goers know that Israel wandered in the wilderness for 40 years after coming out of Egypt. Do you know why? After all, it didn’t take that long just to walk from the Red Sea to Canaan.

The answer can be found in Numbers 13–14. You may remember that Moses sent spies to scope out the promised land. When they reported back, they described a fruitful land—but with strong people and fortified cities (Num 13:27–28). Most of the spies concluded that Israel would not be able to go up against these people (Num 13:31). This led the people to despair and look back with fondness at their bondage in Egypt.

Caleb and Joshua were the only spies who believed that God would give the Israelites victory in the land (Num 14:6–9). The people tried to stone these two men in anger. And God became furious (Num 14:11–12).

Moses begs God to forgive his people. But God still delivers consequences for sin. A whole generation must die in the wilderness because of this faithlessness (Num 14:31–35).

Moses Cannot Enter Promised Land

If you skipped from Exodus to Joshua, you’d be surprised to find that Moses did not make it to Canaan. The man who spoke so frequently and intimately with God was not the one who led Israel into the promised land. Why not?

During a time in their journey, Israel had no water to drink and blamed Moses and Aaron (Num 20:2–5). These two leaders took the problem to the Lord, and God provided a solution (Num 20:6–9).

Moses struck the rock before him twice with his staff, and water gushed out. The people drank. But Moses was told to speak to (not hit) the rock, and God was not pleased with this disobedience. Moses may have thought striking the rock was the right way to go, as that solution had worked earlier in the journey (see Exodus 17:6). However, God told both Moses and Aaron that they had not upheld him as holy before the people, and therefore they would not be entering the promised land (Num 20:12). Aaron died shortly thereafter (Num 20:28).

Why are these two incidents (the spies giving a bad report and Moses striking the rock) such a big deal to God? One of the reasons I’m encouraging you to read and study the book of Numbers is to answer that question for yourself! In the context of the book, you can see why these sins were so terrible and why they warranted such swift and steep judgment.

Other Striking Passages

In addition to these two major historical judgments, there are several other passages in Numbers that resonate throughout the Bible.

In Numbers 21, God judged the people by sending fiery serpents among them. Moses delivered the afflicted by making a bronze serpent—whoever looked at this figure would live (Num 21:4–9). Jesus refers to this incident in his conversation with Nicodemus (John 3:14).

Later in that same chapter of Numbers, Israel defeats two kings: Sihon and Og. These battles are not referenced in the New Testament, but they appear scattered throughout the Old Testament as evidence of God’s deliverance from powerful kings. (See, for example, Psalm 135:11 and Psalm 136:19.)

In Numbers 27, Joshua was commissioned as the leader to succeed Moses. This was the first change in national leadership of Israel. Memorably, the episode with Balaam’s donkey also occurs in Numbers, in chapter 22.

Finally, the most famous benediction in the Bible appears in Numbers chapter 6. If you’ve been in church at all, you’ve likely heard those beautiful words: “The Lord bless you and keep you…” (See Num 6:24–26.)

Give Attention to Numbers

The book of Numbers is crucial for understanding the way God works with his people. I’ve only given a brief description of the passages and events above; we need to study them in context to grasp what’s going on.

When you’re next looking for a book of the Bible to read or study, I heartily recommend Numbers—especially if you haven’t gone through it recently. Like all of God’s word, it will richly repay your careful attention.

There’s a joke in here somewhere about a mathematician (me) urging people toward numbers, but I can’t quite access it.

A New Worksheet for Bible Study Leaders

March 29, 2021 By Ryan Higginbottom

Recently, I’ve been writing about leading small group Bible studies. In particular, I’ve tried to help leaders minimize the chances that their questions fall to the ground in silence.

As a result, I’ve been thinking about the importance of questions. Aside from studying the Bible text itself, writing good questions may be the most important, difficult work of a Bible study leader.

I’ve created a worksheet which contains the fruit of this labor. My hope is that some small group leaders may find this helpful as they write questions for their groups. (In the future, you can find a link to this worksheet on our Resources page.)

The Worksheet

At the top of the worksheet, there is space to write the main point of the passage under consideration. This can act like a compass for all question writing; most questions will either lead to the main point or flow from it.

The largest section of the worksheet is the space to write discussion questions. On the right side of the page, I have listed the characteristics of a good question, about which I have written previously. I have found this helpful in my own study preparations—having these qualities nearby is a great reminder.

Finally, I have space at the bottom of the sheet for a study leader to work on a launching question. Though this usually begins a small group meeting, I frequently write it last because I want to get a sense of the whole discussion before thinking about how to kick it off. The characteristics of a good launching question are taken from Peter’s first post on the issue and a follow-up that I wrote.

At Knowable Word, we aim to help ordinary people learn to study the Bible. I offer this worksheet to small group leaders as a tool for your work bench.

When Small Group Members Are Reluctant to Participate

March 15, 2021 By Ryan Higginbottom

Many small group Bible study leaders face long periods of silence during their meetings. They ask a question. They get no answer.

This awkwardness may be due to the quality of their question. Asking a good question that provokes thoughtful responses is hard! Unanswered questions may also be due to an atmosphere in the group that stifles interaction.

The last reason I’ve offered for these silent stretches is the people in the group. Some people are simply reluctant to participate.

Let’s be clear: People are not a problem to fix. Rather, it is our job as leaders to love our people.

Outside of Group Meetings

There are scores of reasons for people to be hesitant to engage in discussion about the Bible. These reasons may spring from bad experiences, feelings of inadequacy, or even social anxiety.

A small group leader should not guess or assume what’s going on. They should get to know their group members outside of the group meetings.

Relationships take time and effort, but a little can go a long way. Phone calls, emails, and conversations over coffee can help to break down barriers and build trust, friendship, and understanding.

With specific attention to small group discussion, these outside-the-meeting conversations can offer a lot of missing information. Group members can open up about their experiences, and they may be willing to share why they don’t often engage in the conversation.

If you are a small group leader trying to get to know their people outside of the group meetings, I have two broad pieces of advice. First, emphasize how much you value their presence in the group. Whether or not they participate, their membership in your small community counts.

You might also ask how you could make the discussion more helpful to them. The quiet members of your group may have insights about the group and your leadership that you haven’t considered.

These reluctant friends should know that you value any contribution they make and that you are eager for them to engage more—if and when they are comfortable doing so.

During Group Meetings

Getting to know members of a small group is a huge step forward, and it will help leaders during small group Bible study meetings.

It’s not hard to find gradual ways to involve members in the conversation. We can ask them to read portions of Scripture, to summarize the conversation from the previous meeting, or to answer some easier/observation questions. In this way we can build up the confidence of our quieter friends and help them feel more comfortable in the group.

Another strategy for involving quieter group members is to call on them by name (instead of throwing a question out to the whole group). We should only do this if we know in advance this won’t embarrass anyone, and we can even contact the person ahead of time and ask for permission and/or share the question we plan to ask them. When calling on a person by name, I usually include an easy way for them to politely decline to answer.

If our group members know that we love them, and if we’ve created a good climate in our group, then regular, gentle encouragement will go a long way toward bringing people into the conversation.

While some people can and should be encouraged to take risks and participate, others should not. Part of getting to know the people in our groups involves knowing why they don’t often speak and whether or not that reason is an area for encouraging Christian growth. For example, a young woman who doesn’t speak because she is afraid of being wrong is different than a thirty-something man whose reluctance springs from persistent migraine headaches. We should work with and encourage the former while being understanding and patient with the latter. Love and leadership takes many forms!

Conclusion

Small group Bible studies come in a thousand different forms, and each group member offers something different. The best group leaders will get to know their friends well and encourage them to contribute when they are able.

Creating an Atmosphere for Discussion in Your Small Group

March 1, 2021 By Ryan Higginbottom

Most Bible studies are marked by periods of silence that last just a little too long.

These silences usually happen when the group leader asks a bad question. I’ve recently written about the characteristics of a good question, and I’ve provided some examples.

Now we turn to another reason for unanswered questions: a group atmosphere that discourages interaction.

A Bad Atmosphere

The culture of any group takes a lot of time and effort to create, but after the culture is established a lot of decisions and behaviors become automatic. When everyone is expected to share prayer requests or stay afterward to play Backgammon, those activities develop into part of the routine.

A small group leader should aim to create a group atmosphere in which deep, vibrant conversation is expected. When this is the air we breathe, few good questions will go unanswered.

Creating a Good Atmosphere

A small group leader has an enormous influence on the group’s culture. There are at least four ways a leader can work to create a climate that encourages good discussion.

A Leader Must Value Discussion

Perhaps this is obvious, but a small group leader needs to value discussion in order for it to happen. They need to be convinced it is actually good—both for the group and for the leader—to have conversation in the group.

Many leaders know that the question-and-answer model is expected, but deep down they resent it. They think the group would be better off if they could share their knowledge without interruption—and a brain-to-brain download would be even more efficient!

Having attended classes and small groups for twenty-some years, I can tell when a leader values discussion and when they are just playing a part. And, if you’re a leader, trust me—your friends can tell whether or not you want to hear from them.

Hear this, leaders: Conversation is the best way for your group members to learn and grow. And discussion is also better than lecturing for you, as a leader. Your friends are not the only ones who need to listen, engage, and learn!

A Leader Must Invite Discussion

Inviting discussion is different than tolerating or even welcoming it. Leaders who value discussion will invite it from their group members—regularly and emphatically.

How does a leader invite discussion? They ask for it. They work hard to write good questions. And they thank their group members (both during and after the meeting) for their participation.

A small group leader should also look forward to conversation with their group, and they should say so. They should note the ways they learn and benefit from their friends’ insights, comments, and questions.

A Leader Must Engage in Discussion With Love

A great indicator of how much a leader values discussion is the way they listen and react when discussion actually happens. If conversation serves only as filler in the leader’s mind, they will be impatient or inattentive when others are talking. If this sort of leader is listening at all, it’s only to spot another opportunity to speak.

Our posture, our eye contact, our expressions, and our engagement with answers from our friends all communicate our desire (or lack of desire) for discussion.

Now, leaders need to be prepared to field some off-the-wall comments. We should be gracious in response, praising what is praiseworthy without affirming every point. This takes care, because a leader’s bad reaction to an answer will squash any further discussion during that meeting (and possibly for meetings to come).

When a small group member hijacks the conversation or shuts it down, the leader may need to speak with that person privately to explain how their behavior is affecting the group. And if this persists, that leader may need to ask questions targeted at (or away from) specific members of the group.

A Leader Must Pray

Though this item is last in my list, it is first in importance. A good small group leader should pray about all aspects of their group, and this includes the in-meeting discussion.

If we believe that the Holy Spirit is needed to understand and benefit from the Bible, and if we believe that the interaction offered in a small group study is vital for gaining this benefit, then we should regularly bring this request before the Lord.

Clearer Skies

The atmosphere in a small group Bible study can be like smog in a big city, choking out all possibility of vibrant conversation. But with some adjustments, a leader can aim for the blue skies and fresh air of wide, open spaces, where discussion will flourish and Christians can grow mightily in the Lord.

Asking Good Small Group Questions: An Example

February 15, 2021 By Ryan Higginbottom

You can tell me what qualities you like in a dessert all you want, but eventually I’m going to ask you to get specific.

Similarly, laying out principles for good questions to ask in a small group Bible study is all well and good. But leaders need examples for clarity and motivation.

1 Thessalonians 1

Today I’m sharing a Bible study I led on 1 Thessalonians 1 for my church small group. I am far from a perfect example, so please take this simply as one man’s effort to point in a helpful direction.

As evidence of how much I have to learn, I made several improvements to the study in the process of writing this article! Thinking carefully about good questions has been stimulating.

After the study, I’ll explain how these questions illustrate the six characteristics I described in my last post. I’m numbering my questions here in order to make later referencing easier.

Bible Study Plan

Here’s the outline of the study.

Launching question: Can anyone tell us about an experience you’ve had sharing your testimony of coming to faith in Christ?
Give background on the Thessalonian church. It was a young church!
What do you observe about Paul’s thanksgiving in verses 2–3?
- Follow-up: What is significant about the items Paul mentions?
What evidence does Paul give that God has chosen the Thessalonians?
- Follow-up: Does the power and conviction in verse 5 refer to Paul or the Thessalonians? How do you know?
Why does Paul mention God’s choice?
Note that Paul is speaking of the Thessalonians’ experience chronologically.
What happened to the Thessalonians after the gospel came to them? (See verses 6–7.)
- Follow-up: What is the difference between the way Paul uses “imitator” and “example”?
What is significant about the locations Paul mentions? (See verses 7–8.)
What were people saying about the Thessalonians? Why does Paul highlight these things?
The main verbs in verse 9–10 are “turn,” “serve,” and “wait.” How are these actions important for young Christians?
- Follow-up: How are these actions important for more mature Christians?
Does Paul intend verses 9–10 to be a summary of the Christian life? How do you know?
How does the gospel relate to verses 9–10?
- Follow-up: How do verses 2–8 relate to verses 9–10?
What is Paul’s main point in writing chapter 1? How do you know?
What implications does this have for us? What implications does this have for our work making disciples?

Reviewing These Questions

I have tried to write these questions with my list of six characteristics in mind. Let’s see how those qualities affected my questions.

A good question is asked in a natural order.

While my launching question is personal, none of my other questions get personal until the end. I’ve also tried to ask easier, observational questions (like questions 3 and 4) before harder, interpretive questions (like questions 5, 8, or 11).

A good question is honest.

While I have studied this passage quite a bit, I know that others in my group have much to teach me. So I want my questions to be open and inviting (like the follow-up to question 3 and questions 8 and 10). I also avoid fill-in-the-blank questions–it’s actually for this reason that I state some observations (see #6 above) instead of asking about them. I don’t want my group to feel they must read my mind.

A good question is tethered to the text.

In many of my questions, I use specific language from the passage or verse numbers. In other places, when I ask, How do you know?, that is my effort to direct my friends back to the Bible for their reasoning.

I have made room for people to speak from their different perspectives and experiences (see questions 10, 12, and 14). But ideally all such discussion will spring from the words of God.

A good question is understandable.

I’ve tried to avoid long or complicated questions. My longest question above is question 10, and I would ask this twice before inviting responses.

A good question is purposeful.

When putting this study plan together, I wrote down the main point of the passage and then wrote the questions to lead my group toward that conclusion. My hope was that when I asked question 13, my group would have a solid answer.

A good question is prayerfully considered.

In my planning I tried to imagine the responses that each question could provoke. If the question was ambiguous or unclear, I tried to write with more focus. This lead to several inquiries with immediate follow-ups prepared.

I’ve written this before, but it’s worth repeating. Preparing good questions is time-consuming, demanding work.

Encouraging Conversation

This two-post series on good questions is part of a larger effort to help Bible study leaders encourage conversation in their meetings. In my next article, I’ll write about creating an atmosphere within a Bible study that invites interaction.

6 Characteristics of a Good Small Group Question

February 1, 2021 By Ryan Higginbottom

A bad question is one reason for lingering silence in a small group Bible study. So, for small group leaders, it is worth our time to think about what makes a good question.

Learning how to ask good questions is a lifelong pursuit. It pays dividends in almost every setting and every relationship in life. But there are few gatherings in which this skill makes a greater difference than in teaching or leading a small group.

What Makes a Good Question?

I have taught and led small group Bible studies for many years, so I’ve had plenty of occasions to ponder the quality of my questions. The observations below are the fruit of my experience, though I know I have much more to learn. I welcome additional contributions in the comments.

In my experience, good questions in small groups share these six qualities.

A good question is asked in a natural order.

What is true in one-on-one conversations is also true in small groups: Accelerating too quickly makes things awkward. Learning and respecting the natural progression of questions is a concrete way for leaders to love their group members.

Questions should generally move from easy to difficult and from objective to personal. It is also usually advisable to ask questions in the observe-interpret-apply progression that we suggest as a Bible study framework.

A good question is honest.

I’ve written an entire post about honest questions, so I will offer only a quick summary here.

Having studied the Bible passage in depth before the meeting, a leader should have a point of view and a direction in which they want to lead the conversation. However, the best questions are asked in humility, understanding that even the most studied Christians have much to learn from others.

Asking simplistic fill-in-the-blank or guess-what-I’m-thinking questions is often more an activity than an invitation to interaction. These questions rarely supply enough oxygen to sustain a conversation.

A good question is tethered to the text.

There are certainly times to probe our friends’ thoughts, experiences, and feelings. After all, our group members’ backgrounds and perspectives are part of what makes small groups so valuable. But within a small group Bible study, discussion should flow from the Scriptures.

If the purpose of our small group is to study the Bible, we should ask questions about the Bible. Our human tendency is to look away from Scripture, so many of our questions must gently remind our friends to look back at the text.

Application questions are the most personal and individual questions we can ask, but even these should originate in the text. Having talked through observations and interpreted the passage as a group, the author’s main point should drive all application questions.

A good question is understandable.

When we are excited about a Bible passage, it is easy to get carried away when writing questions. We must break our questions down into small, manageable steps.

Good questions should not be too long. They should not introduce fancy concepts or big words. Usually, they should not consist of multiple parts.

A good question is concise and clear. It asks people to consider something specific. If our friends can’t understand what we’re asking, we’ve no chance of a good discussion.

A good question is purposeful.

When putting notes together for a meeting, a leader should have a defined plan. They should have a considered idea about the main point for the passage, and they should put a question plan together to help their group gather the information to arrive at that destination.

This means that some interesting features of the passage may not make it into the discussion. With a limited amount of time, a leader needs to choose their questions carefully.

A good question is prayerfully considered.

As leaders, we should pray about all aspects of our Bible study meetings. This includes our questions and the conversations they spark.

A key ingredient of planning our questions is considering possible responses. If we envision the answers, we can evaluate the quality of our inquiries and anticipate the need to rephrase or follow up in a particular way. And the better we know our small group members, the better we’ll be able to predict how our questions will land on them.

Worth the Effort

A low-quality question is just one of the explanations for silence in a small group. But it may be the most common. (I will write about bad group atmospheres and reluctant group members—the other reasons I gave for unanswered questions—in the coming weeks.) Next week I’ll provide an example of small group questions that have the qualities I’ve listed above.

Planning helpful questions is slow, difficult work and it takes time to get better. But it’s worth it—for the good of our meetings and the growth of our friends.

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