Facilitating Spirit-Filled Discussion

Perhaps no skill is more important to the success of your small group than that of facilitating Spirit-filled discussion through asking good questions. A good question is one that promotes Spirit-filled discussion. A Spirit-filled discussion is one in which the Holy Spirit feels welcomed by the nature and tenor of the discussion. Jesus’ discussion on the road to Emmaus is an excellent model of the Spirit-filled discussion.

Facilitator’s Role

  • Facilitate Spirit-filled discussion — not teach
  • Give affirmation to people’s responses
  • Keep group on track
  • Be okay with silence
  • Help make new members feel comfortable
  • Get people involved — i.e. asking people to read and pray at beginning and end
  • Make sure the discussion is pleasing to the Holy Spirit — ask yourself:
    • Is this a gross display of knowledge or an edifying conversation?
    • Is this argumentation or inquiry?
    • Is this respectful or condemning?
  • Manage tangents — ask yourself:
    • Is this off-topic?
    • If so, is it a Spirit-guided tangent?
    • Are people learning and being edified by it?

Questions

Purpose

To facilitate Spirit-filled discussion

Types

  • Launching — to get discussion started
  • Understanding — what is the text saying?
  • Application — how to apply the text to our lives

Do’s and Dont’s

Balance Head and Heart Questions

A good progession of questions in the course of a Bible study tend to follow the traditional mental prayer model:

  • Begin with questions that stimulate the cognitive faculties, or, that bring understanding.
  • Move to affectional questions that stir the heart.
  • Conclude with resolutional questions, or, those that move the will to action.

Avoid:

  • leading questions, and, instead, use specific questions with various possible responses.
  • Avoid “Yes-or-No” questions because they do not generate discussion.

Keep:

  • questions simple and to the point.
  • the Sacred Text central.

While, occasionally, the use of other materials, such as books and the Catechism can add insight and bring clarification, the Scriptures should generally be the focus of the group’s discussion. The heart of each gathering should be reading, reflecting, and discussing the actual Biblical text.

Questions You Can Use Most Anytime

  • What are the central themes of the chapter?
  • Are there any problems or difficulties that the chapter is trying to address?
  • What is the most difficult part of the chapter for you?
  • Are there any promises that you could claim?
  • Are there any commands that you could more obediently follow?
  • Are there any sins mentioned that you should seek to avoid more diligently?
  • Are there any errors that you should avoid?
  • Are there any examples of persons that you would like to emulate more closely?
  • If you had to pick out your favorite passage in the chapter, what would it be and why?
  • What part of the passage most helped you to understand God or how to relate to him, and how?
  • What part of the passage most helped you to understand how God wants you to relate to others, and how?

Dealing with Controversial Topics

  • Use them to facilitate discussion, humility and growth
  • Refuse to be the “answer man.” Let the group wrestle with the question
  • After sufficient discussion, have a volunteer look up the question in the Catechism or a theological dictionary (Always have these resources available at your group.)