Bible Questions

From listening to learning

Use any combination of these questions that work best for the passage you're reading and the people you're reading with.

Some things to ask before reading a familiar story or passage

  • What do you already know about this story or passage?
  • Why do you think this story or teaching is in the Bible?
  • What have you previously learned from this story or teaching?

Some things to listen for while reading a passage or story

  • Truth about God
  • Truth about Jesus
  • Truth about the Holy Spirit
  • Truth about humanity
  • Truth about the world
  • Truth about how followers of Jesus should live
  • If the story is new to people, you can also use this process from Matt Canlis (of the video "Godspeed"):
  1. Read one verse (or other obvious storyline break).
  2. Ask people to describe the scene so far — what they see, what they hear, what they smell, where characters are standing, etc.
  3. Ask people what they think will happen next.
  4. Continue reading, repeating the same process throughout the story.

Some things to ask after reading a passage or story

  • Why do you think [character(s)] acted the way they did and said the things they did?
  • How do you think [character(s)] felt about their situation? What do you think they expected from Jesus?
  • Did Jesus' words or actions surprise you? Why?
  • What's something you learned about God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit?
  • What's something you learned about yourself?
  • What's something you want to learn more about?
  • What's something that confuses you?
  • What's something that surprises you?
  • What's something that challenges you?
  • What's something that encourages you?
  • What's something you think God is trying to teach you or tell you to do?