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Questions: Important Communication Tool
Bible study on questions and communication.

Luke records Jesus' trip to Jerusalem at age twelve for the Passover. At the conclusion of the feast, Jesus' parents began the trip home and thought that He was among their family and friends. After His parents could not find Jesus in their company of travelers, they returned to Jerusalem and eagerly sought Him. Finding Jesus in the temple sitting in the midst of the teachers both listening to them and asking them questions, Jesus responds to his parent's question saying: "Why is it that you sought Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business" (Lk. 2:49)?

It is interesting to note that Jesus' first recorded words are in the form of two questions. Since Jesus is the master communicator, it is worth our time to study communication techniques from His words recorded in the Bible. Immediately, we notice that Jesus constantly employs questions while communicating.

Why are questions a valuable communication technique?

First, asking questions help us avoid false assumptions. You have probably been in a situation where someone has falsely assumed your thoughts or actions. False assumptions are nearly always bad, even if a good thing is assumed, therefore adding unnecessary stress to a relationship.

Secondly, asking questions help us to understand a person's thoughts, position, or condition. In Acts 19:2f Paul asked some disciples: "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" Paul did not assume whether they had, or had not, received the Holy Spirit. But, by asking a question he was able to determine their spiritual condition and hence teach them the things which were lacking in their lives. We, too, must ask questions to properly ascertain someone's spiritual beliefs and condition before we can begin to minister to them.

Third, we see that questions are helpful when making a defence of the hope that lies in us. In Matt. 9:1-6 Jesus answers the scribes who were accusing Him of blasphemy in their thoughts. Jesus could have spoken to them in the form of statements while imparting the same information, but he employs two questions and one statement saying: "'Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, "Your sins are forgiven you," or to say, "Arise and walk"? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins' - then He said to the paralytic, 'Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house'" (Matt. 9:4-6).

Did Jesus ask two questions, in responding to the scribes' thoughts, because He did not know the answer? Jesus had perfect cognition revealed by the fact that he knew their thoughts. Here we learn that questions are not used only to acquire information but to also engage a person in considering our defence.

Fourth, questions are valuable in answering questions. In Matt. 9:14-17 Jesus is questioned by John's disciples concerning fasting. Here again we see that Jesus could have imparted the information in a statement but chose to begin with a question saying: "Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them" (Matt. 9:15)? Answering a question with a question is valuable by engaging the questioner in the response causing him to logically think through the response.

Lastly, good teachers employ questions in their teachings. Jesus employs rhetorical questions in the sermon on the mount in Matt. 5:13; 5:46; 5:47; 6:25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31; 7:3,4, 9, 10, 11, 16, 22. We learn here that rhetorical questions are asked during a speech in order to keep the audience engaged in the lesson causing them to make application of the things being taught.

Asking questions is one of the most effective communication techniques available to us. In fact, I am convinced that asking questions is the first rule of effective interpersonal communication.

When are questions effective in communication? When in doubt, ask a question. To understand someone, ask a question. When defending your position, ask a question. When answering a question, ask a question. When teaching, ask a question.