Why Teach with Questions (When My Lecture Is Soooo Interesting)??

This is the first article of an ongoing column on teaching with questions. Over time, we’ll explore methods, pitfalls, and resources for Bible discussion questions. Today, we’re considering the WHY of teaching with questions. Let’s dive in:

The Goal of Bible Teaching

Let’s be honest: Some of us are gifted lecturers. We have notes. We have stories. We have transitions. We have a point that lands like a well-thrown fastball. We can quote a commentator, define a Greek word, and still make it to class on time with coffee in hand. And if we’re really honest, sometimes we leave the room thinking, “That was good.”

So why in the world would I teach with questions… when my lecture is soooo interesting?

Because your lecture can be excellent and your class can still be quiet.

Because adults can nod the whole hour and still not be changed.

Because Sunday School is not supposed to be a podcast with chairs.

And because the goal of Bible teaching is not simply to cover material. The goal is to help people engage the Word of God in a way that leads to faith, obedience, and real-life transformation.

Questions help you do that.

The Uncomfortable Truth About Lecture Mode

Lecture mode feels productive. It feels safe. It feels controlled. Nobody surprises you. Nobody goes off the rails. Nobody says something strange that forces you to decide, in the moment, whether to correct it, ignore it, or pretend you didn’t hear it.

Lecture mode also comes with a hidden assumption: “If I explain it clearly enough, people will grow.” But in fact, most adults do not grow spiritually simply because they heard something that was true. They grow when truth gets inside their thinking, their choices, their relationships, and their habits. That requires something more than listening. It requires engagement. And engagement is what questions are designed to invite.

The Difference Between “Covering” and “Feeding”

Imagine you invite ten people to dinner. You set the food on the table, stand at the end, and give a detailed lecture about it…

“This is roast. It was cooked at 325 for two hours. I seasoned it with garlic, salt, and pepper. Notice the texture. Notice the aroma. Let me tell you about the history of pot roast…”

Everyone smiles politely. But nobody eats. That’s what lecture mode can become. You are describing the meal beautifully, but you are not getting it into anyone’s system.

By contrast, teaching with questions is like pulling up a chair and saying, “Okay. Take a bite. Tell me what you notice.”

Why Questions Work (even when your lecture is good)

Questions do three things lecture rarely does on its own. This is why well-designed Bible discussion questions are so effective in adult classes…

1) Questions force attention. Adults can listen passively. But when you ask, “What do you notice in verse 4?” their eyes go back to the text.

2) Questions expose what people believe. A lecture can leave misunderstandings hidden. A question brings them into the light gently.

3) Questions invite ownership. People remember what they wrestle with. They forget what they simply receive.

That is not a slam on preaching. Preaching is a gift to the church. But Sunday School and small group ministry have a unique strength: the ability to help people engage Scripture together.

But What If Nobody Answers?

Ah yes. The nightmare: You ask a question. The room goes silent. You hear the air conditioner. Someone shuffles paper. A Bible page turns like thunder.

Welcome to adult education.

Silence does not mean your question was bad. It often means your class is not used to being asked. Adults have learned a pattern: teacher talks, class listens. When you interrupt the pattern, you create a moment of uncertainty. The answer is not to quit asking questions. The answer is to lead the room through the transition. (I’ll expand on some techniques to deal with silence in a future post.)

“But My Lecture Really Is Interesting!”

I believe you. And here is the good news: teaching with questions does not cancel your lecture. It upgrades it. Questions do not remove your best insights. They place them in the right spot. Your best content does not disappear. It becomes more effective because people are participating.

Why This Matters

Sunday School and small groups have always been about more than information. They are about relationships, discipleship, and real change. They are places where people learn not only from the teacher, but from one another, as they open the Word together. When a class stays in lecture mode forever, people may learn facts, but they often miss the deeper benefits: confession, encouragement, wisdom, accountability, and application.

Teaching with questions helps those things surface. And here’s a hidden benefit: it helps YOU as the teacher carry less weight. You do not have to “perform” the whole hour. You can lead a process that lets the Scripture and the group do real work. More later, next time…

About the Author: For nearly 40 years, Steve Guidry has worked with churches and individual teachers to develop skills for connecting Adult Sunday School classes and Small Groups to the Scriptures using Discussion Questions. You can connect with him at StevesBibleQuestions.com.