SERIES SUMMARY
At Fellowship Greenville, we desire to reintroduce people to Jesus and the life that He offers. We realize that each of us growing as disciples of Jesus is imperative to us being about God’s mission of redemption in our circle of influence. Therefore, as we continue to grow with more and more people joining us, we want to take several Sundays this summer and articulate our discipleship values, while also inviting everyone to the discipleship pathway available to them here at Fellowship Greenville.
PASSAGE GUIDE | Questions: Our lives shaped by asking gospel motivated questions that help others see what they can’t see.
Questions are present throughout Scripture; God and Jesus use questions not simply to gain information, but to prompt transformation. From Genesis to the Gospels, questions are central to how God interacts with humanity. In the Garden, God's "Where are you?" and "Where is your brother?" reveal not physical questions, but deep spiritual prodding into relationship with Him and others. This pattern of questioning continues throughout Scripture, not as a rhetorical tool, but as a way of awakening self-awareness and revealing God's heart.
Jesus exemplifies this divine strategy. With over 300 questions recorded in the Gospels, He regularly invited people into deeper reflection rather than handing them prepackaged answers. His questions served multiple functions: validating teaching, challenging assumptions, exposing hypocrisy, and drawing out faith. Whether it was the bleeding woman, the rich young ruler, or Saul on the road to Damascus, Jesus' questions provoked a re-evaluation of personal belief, identity, and purpose. They were custom-fit to the heart conditions of the individuals He encountered.
These questions, far from being manipulative, were rooted in love, patience, and truth. They often upended expectations—causing discomfort but opening pathways to grace. Jesus refused to settle for superficial answers. Instead, He used questions to dismantle self-righteousness and lead people toward the transformative power of grace. For instance, the parable of the Good Samaritan challenges listeners to consider moral behavior and the posture of their hearts toward others. Questions like “What do you want?” or “Why are you persecuting me?” shift the burden of introspection onto the listener.
In today's culture, where quick answers and self-promotion dominate, Jesus' use of questions offers a countercultural model. This model invites a deeper relationship, humility, and curiosity. Instead of leading with judgment or didacticism, Christ’s approach fosters dialogue and ownership of faith. As followers of Jesus, we are invited to emulate this method in our understanding of Scripture and our relationships with others. Learning to ask meaningful questions can soften hearts and open minds more effectively than statements or arguments.
Ultimately, God’s questions are acts of grace. They invite repentance, foster discovery, and deepen faith. Rather than shaming us, they help us see ourselves clearly and see God more rightly. They beckon us to consider our spiritual location, our desires, our responsibility toward others, and our relationship with the Creator. In this way, the questions themselves become part of the answer—drawing us closer to the heart of God and forming us into people who reflect His wisdom, truth, and love.
*We are a church located in Greenville, South Carolina. Our vision is to see God transform us into a community of grace, passionately pursuing life and mission with Jesus.
SUGGESTIONS FOR COMMUNITY GROUP DISCUSSION
Remember, these are “suggested” questions. You do not have to go through every single one of them. You do not need to listen to both sermons at both campuses to participate in the discussion.
OPENING PRAYER
Start with gratitude. Thank the Lord that He is a God who desires to be in communication with you.
OPENING QUESTION
Share an experience where a question changed your perspective or led to an important decision in your life.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- What was your biggest takeaway from the sermon or texts that were used?
- How do questions and questioning overlap with what God has been teaching you in His Word?
- Why do you think God asks questions in Scripture when He already knows the answers?
- What does Jesus’ pattern of asking questions teach us about how to engage others in spiritual conversations?
- Which question from Jesus in the Gospels has personally challenged or shaped your faith the most?
- When God asked Adam, “Where are you?”, what might He be asking you in your life right now?
- How does asking questions rather than giving answers open the door to deeper reflection and change?
- What do your immediate reactions to correction or probing questions reveal about your heart?
- Have you ever sensed Jesus asking you a question during prayer, Scripture reading, or a hard moment? What was it?
- How can adopting a posture of curiosity and humility change the way you handle conflict or disagreement?
- How can asking questions change how you share the gospel with others?
- How might your prayer life grow if it included more space for God’s questions rather than just your requests?
PRACTICE OPTIONS
Life in Community: Take some time to reflect on your recent conversations and ask yourself if they have been marked by truth and tenderness, or opinion and haste. Remember, Spirit-led questions break through silence and draw each other closer to Christ.
Life with Jesus: Allow yourself to sit with the One who still asks, “Where are you?” not to condemn, but to call you deeper. May the Spirit lead you beyond routine faith into honest encounter, where the questions of Jesus stir your soul and awaken your heart to grace.
Life on Mission: As you step into the end of summer and the beginning of fall (and all it brings), may you carry not just answers, but the humility to ask Spirit-shaped questions. Let your words stir hunger for God, and may those you meet feel invited into the story of redemption.
CLOSING PRAYER
Ask God for divine guidance in being quick to listen and slow to speak as you encounter others. Pray for the kinds of questions He would ask to fill your mind and bring about supernatural peace.