Saturday, July 11th, 2015.
Bigger churches plan their meetings like a Broadway musical, and often small churches try to be like the big boys and so people simply come and sit ready to be “served” in the service.
This is sad. A major benefit of having a small Bible study or church is the ability to ask and answer Bible questions during the meetings.
Before and after every lesson I ask our gathering if there are any questions about the Bible. Though I don’t know what question will be asked, I believe church meetings should be the place to find answers to our questions about God, salvation, and all things doctrinal.
If a question is asked and I don’t know, then I say so, but I log the question on my list of study topics to investigate. Knowing what people are thinking about helps me to perform my responsibility as a pastor.
On Sundays we dedicate an entire hour meeting toward Q&A. People have the opportunity to raise their questions, I ask if anyone would like to answer, then I give mine.
These meetings can be the most useful and fun when questions are raised and people in the church edify one another.
Sometimes the conversations get personal, and so we don’t upload every 10am meeting we have. However, we have been recording them lately and are starting to upload some of them on our new Q & A Session audio page.
If you are leading a Bible study, or a grace church, make sure you give time for your people to ask questions.
If you are not leading, make good questions known and watch how real edification happens in your group. If your leadership cannot be questioned, or does not give time for your questions, it may be time to find a place where your questions can get answered.
There is such a place in a town called Swayzee, Indiana.
If there is not such a place near you, then perhaps you should start one. If you are not ready to teach, then start by asking questions. Study a question, and give a report the following week.
Here is your first question, “Who is responsible for making all me see the fellowship of the mystery in your town?”
Any questions?
Justin “inquisitive” Johnson