Paul paints a clear picture of what it means to follow Jesus: “But knowledge puffs up while love builds up.” (1 Co. 8:1). Discipleship isn’t about information, it’s about transformation. A big head often gets in the way of a big heart. As disciple-makers, our responsibility is to help our people take the eternal truths from God’s Word and apply them to our lives. The following tool will help you create thoughtful and practical questions.
Take the following questions and put them into your own words. Chances are, you won’t use all 12 for every topic. Use the ones that work best for your ministry context.
1. What is X? How would you define X? What’s the opposite of X? What did today’s lesson teach about X?
Let’s use “self-control” as an example:
What is self-control? How would you define it, in your own words, with just a sentence or two? What’s the opposite of self-control? Being as specific as possible, what did today’s lesson/scripture/message teach about self-control?
2. Why is X important? Why do you feel X is important? Why does God feel X is important?
Why is self-control important in our world today? For you personally, is self-control important—why or why not? Why do you think God wants us to have self-control?
3. A life WITH X would look like . . . The results of a life WITH X would be ….
What does a self-controlled person look like? Where does self-control show up? How does their self-control impact their family, work, and friendships?
3. A life WITHOUT X would look like . . . The results of a life WITHOUT X would be ….
Engage your imagination, what would a person’s life look like if they lacked self-control? What impact would this have on their family, work, and friendships?
5. What are some common barriers to having X? What do you struggle with in achieving X? What are some “enemies” of X? What are some situations that make X difficult?
What’s the enemy of self-control? What keeps most people from having self-control? When do you find you have the greatest struggles with being self-controlled? Be specific: what are the places or people or situations where you find it most difficult to be self-controlled?
6. Going to the extremes, what does too much of X look like? (causes/consequences/results)
Is it possible to have TOO MUCH self-control? What would that look like? Do you ever struggle with being “too controlled?”
7. Going to the extremes, what does too little of X look like? (causes/consequences/results)
Is it possible to have NOT ENOUGH self-control? What would that look like? Do you ever struggle with not having enough self-control? (For the topic of “self-control,” this question would probably generate answers similar to question #4. However, it could be a good fit for other topics.)
8. What are some false “applications” of X?
Is all self-control good? Is it possible to be self-controlled out of an impure heart or bad motives? If so, give an example.
9. How does God want to build X into your life?
Based on our study and discussion tonight, how do you think God wants to build self-control into your life? How has God taught you self-control in the past?
10. Do you feel like your life is an example of X? Why or why not? How do you work to maintain X in your life?
(Note: These kinds of questions can be tough to answer in a group! Tread carefully)
How self-controlled are you? Consider the last week or so, have you been self-controlled? Have you been self-controlled with a pure heart or was it for the wrong reasons?
11. What are some practical ways you can be held accountable for/to X?
What are one or two practical ways we can hold each other accountable to be more self-controlled? What is one or two specific areas where you need accountability?
12. How can you work to build X in others?
How could you be a person who helps and encourages others be more self-controlled? What are some potential dangers as it relates to helping others be more self-controlled?
