September 22, 2008
Posted by johnny
Developing an Atmosphere of Questions…
Throughout my years as a young Christian, I’ve learned to my value questions. Questions, in their purest form, are a sign of humility and a desire to learn. Questions lead to answers, and where would we be without answers??
It’s this same appreciation for honest questions that I’d like to instill in my students, because questions are a HUGE part of faith development. So, it’s my challenge, whether with High School or Junior High students, to create an environment and an attitude of questioning.
Ideas for creating a Questioning Environment…
1. Develop simple and truthful messages.
We all panic and use “christian-ese” sometimes. We feel like we need to fill our message time with fluff and seminary words. Students, unlike adults, are not impressed by this. In all actuality, they are turned off by this. Speak from the heart. Talk about what you know. Anecdotes and analogies seem to convey complicated spiritual truths in an easily attainable manner.
2. Include discussion sheets, or follow up cards.
Try not to speak for a llooonnnggg time. A student’s attention span is much small than an adult’s. Providing time to discuss or reflect can deepen the impact of the message greatly and give the students a sense of responsibility with own faith questions. It may also open the door for more questions.
3. Save time for questions.
Maybe find time to sit in on a break out group or hold a question and answer time during your programming. This will validate the importance of their questions and prove to them that their agenda is important to you.
4. Equip them (and their family) to keep digging.**
Start an email list to parents that provide an outline or set of questions so they can remain in the loop. Hopefully this will equip the parents open dialogue with their students and encourage the students to discuss their faith with their family. When the entire family is involved in spiritual growth, big things can happen.
**this is an idea that is still in the development phase.
6 Comments
September 22, 2008
What a great idea. This will be a great aid for other people that work with youth and are either at a stagnant place or are simply lost in what to do or where to go next.
Sounds great! So keep up the inspiring work!
September 22, 2008
Anonymous questions from the young’ns are always a good option to keep around. There is so much peer pressure at that age, you don’t want to ask anything out of the ordinary to risk ruining your reputation. While it may not add to the “atmosphere” it would be a good way for kids to ask the “unspeakable” questions without fear of ridicule, and if answers are addressed to the whole group, then the “atmosphere” can still be somewhat saved. Something that we have done at my church a couple of times is set up a box to receive text messages during a sermon/testimony/etc and then have it printed out and brought to the speaker at the end of the talk. If there are too many questions to answer live, they are then answered on the blog, that way, no one feels like their question was selected to not be answered. end ramble.
September 22, 2008
Hey man I think the email to parents is GREAT! I think many parents have a hard time trying to find ways to be “in that loop” and may feel like they don’t know enough “Bible” to ask questions. I think giving them tools like that is great.
Also one thing I have done in the best is do a series of “Q and A” where students can submit their questions (without a name) and we will answer them during the message. (maybe 3-6 questions a night for 3 weeks or so.) I REALLY like doing that one because they can ask questions that THEY want. (Plus they come up with some AMAZING questions!)
September 23, 2008
WOW! Thanks for the encouraging words. I like the combo of Alex and Rick’s idea of anonymous questions. I’ll be looking into text responses and question drop boxes. thanks for the input.
September 24, 2008
I sent you a link a few weeks ago to do the live texting on the screen. Not sure that would be worship appropriate, but would make for an exciting special event to have kids provide live feedback to the responses.
September 24, 2008
I saw that. I’ve actually emailed them and they’re supposed to get back to me about subscription info.
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