Why Questions ?
A personal note from Steve at StevesBibleQuestions.com . . .
If you've landed on this page, I'm guessing that you're probably a lot like me: You love God's Word. You care about your class. And you want more than just "getting through the lesson" each week. You want real conversation, life change, and adults who are genuinely growing in their faith.
That's why I've built almost everything I do around one simple idea:
Adult Sunday School discussion questions can change the way a class learns. Not trivia. Not "right-or-wrong" answers.
But real, open-ended questions that help adults wrestle with Scripture and apply it to real life.
You're probably wondering: Why should I teach with questions?
First and foremost, it's the way Jesus taught. All through the Gospels, Jesus used questions to engage His listeners, provoke reflection, and reveal deeper truths. His questions made people think, examine their hearts, and respond personally-not just repeat information.
One of my favorite examples is in Matthew 16:15. Jesus looks at His disciples and asks, "But who do you say that I am?"
That one question led to Peter's powerful confession of faith: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus could have simply told them who He was. Instead, He used a question that forced them to wrestle with the truth and own it for themselves.
That's what good Adult Sunday School discussion questions do. They move us from, "What does the passage say?"
to
"What does this mean for me and how I live this week?"
For those of us teaching the Bible to adults, that model is incredibly powerful. Questions invite people to slow down, think, and respond in ways that lectures almost never can.
The second reason I teach with questions is this: Teaching With Questions Actually Makes My Job Easier
Let me be honest with you. I love teaching, but I've often found it daunting to spend hours studying and preparing a full "mini sermon" week after week. I've had those weeks where I wonder:
Is anyone really listening?
Are we just filling time?
Is all this prep work really making a difference?
When I started building and using questions-based worksheets in my own adult class, something changed. Instead of carrying the entire teaching load myself, I began to share the load with the group:
- The questions drew out their experiences and insights.
- Quiet members started to open up.
- I stopped feeling like I had to say everything, and started guiding a
conversation instead.
In other words, the Adult Sunday School discussion questions did a lot of the heavy lifting. Don't get me wrong - - I still study. I still prepare. But I don't feel like I have to lecture for 40 minutes to "earn my keep." The class learns from each other, and I get to serve as a facilitator-pointing everyone back to Scripture and keeping us on
track . . . and I always come away feeling like I learned as much from my class as they did from me. So - - If you're a busy teacher (or a church leader trying to support busy teachers), this approach can be a real relief.
The third reason I use questions is : Questions Meet Adults Where They Really Live
Good questions do that. Instead of asking only, "What does verse 7 say?" We can also ask things like:
- "Why do you think we struggle to obey this?"
- "Where have you seen this play out in your own life?"
- "What might need to change this week if we took this passage seriously?"
When we use well-crafted Adult Sunday School discussion questions, we:
- Meet class members where they really are.
- Allow them to be honest about doubts, struggles, and fears.
- Encourage them to think for themselves about the Scriptures.
- Help them move from "I heard a lesson" to "God spoke to me today."
That's the heart behind Steve's Bible Questions. I don't want to just help you "cover the material." I want to help you lead conversations that God can use to shape hearts and lives.
How My Worksheets Help
If this resonates with you, that's exactly why I created the Explorations and Life Lessons worksheets.
Each one is built around:
- A short, clear introduction to the passage
- About 10 Open-ended Adult Sunday School discussion questions
- Supporting Scriptures and cross-references
- Life application prompts designed to nudge people toward action,
not just talk
They're designed to:
- Save you prep time (especially in busy seasons)
- Give you a solid framework for discussion
- Help you feel more confident walking into class
- Encourage deeper participation from your group
You don't have to reinvent the wheel every week. You can start with a set of questions that have already been crafted with adult learners in mind.
A Simple Next Step
If you've been longing for richer discussion, less pressure on you, and more visible growth in your class, I'd love for you to experience this approach for yourself. But don't take my word for it-try it in your class.
Download a free sample of the discussion worksheets. Use them with your adult group this Sunday. See how your class responds when you lead with questions instead of lectures. If they help you, keep going. If not, you've still invested in thinking more intentionally about how you teach-and that's never wasted.
Thank you for being faithful in your ministry. It's an honor to come alongside you and support the work you're doing.
Grace and encouragement,
Steve Guidry
Publisher