How to Ask Great Questions: Guide Discussion, Build Relationships, Deepen Faith

by Karen Lee-Thorp

Great answers start with great questions.
People remember what they discover for themselves far more than what others tell them. A great question can mean the difference between exchanging information and discovering deeper meaning.

In How to Ask Great Questions , you’ll learn when and how to ask effective questions and how to promote follow-up discussions that will lead from thoughtful conversations to life application. Ideal for small-group leaders, Sunday school teachers, and anyone who regularly leads group discussions or committee meetings.

How to Ask Great Questions will equip you to Transform a gathering of acquaintances into a community of friends.

Genres: Christianity, Christian Non Fiction, Leadership

112 pages, Paperback

Published October 9, 2018

About the author

KAREN LEE-THORP is a freelance writer and former senior editor for NavPress Bible studies. She has written or co-written more than fifty books, workbooks, and study guides. She speaks from years of research on the Bible and women’s issues as well as from her own experience of God’s goodness in the face of incest, anorexia, and health challenges. She holds a BA from Yale University. Her books include Why Beauty Matters, the Doing Life Together series (Zondervan), the Revolutionary Parenting Workbook (Cook, with George Barna) and several volumes in the series Bringing the Bible to Life (Zondervan). She lives with her family in Southern California.

Reviews

[Esther Hallel Brimm Lehman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't led a discussion based study or support group before so I can't say much about this work. I can imagine it being really helpful to promote togetherness and discussion that focuses on the text and on one another, instead of on the leader and their ideas.

The rest of us members have so much intention we can bring to discussion. I appreciate Thorp's guidance as rational and considerate. Overall I didn't "bond" a lot with this book as it is less conceptual, there are things I don't remember from it. I think we benefit the most not in "processing" it (theres a lot of practical advice), but in letting it simply set for us to come back to, to pull from time to time as needed.

Overall, a valuable guide. 4.5 stars

[Diana Gleaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short book that concisely shares how and why to ask various types of questions to help groups grow spiritually and work together well. I particularly appreciated, for example, the chapters on 1) Telling Our Stories (creating questions that help groups feel safe as they begin getting to know each other) and 2) So What (application questions). The latter was particularly helpful as it considered how quickly people can apply lasting change to their lives, how to help the group move from the application for the original Bible readers vs for us today, how to develop holistic plans for change that lasts, and how to help the group periodically assess how they are doing with those change plans. A short, easy to read book that I will refer to often as I am writing Bible studies.

[Ryan Oakes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, helpful content in this book. I’d say it’s better to consult as a resource than read as a book.

[Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This concise little book is packed with an abundance of helpful strategies on how to ask the right questions at the right times. The book is simple and well structured. The author gets straight to the point while also weaving helpful anecdotes throughout.

This is an excellent little resource that I expect to return to often in order to sharpen skills for asking questions.

[Maddie Stephens · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed how the author provided so many examples of how to rethink questions and lead into deeper discussions in a variety of small groups.

She included how Jesus asked questions throughout scripture and how we ought to be like that.

[Tanner Emerson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book on learning to lead small groups better by asking great questions. This book gives advice on when and why to ask certain questions while also giving example questions from various scenarios.

[Amy Kannel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really excellent. Glad I picked this up. Concise and clear enough to blow through in one sitting, but insightful enough that I’ll definitely come back to it as a reference as I write Bible study questions and group discussion questions.

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very solid book. Lots of practical advice for group discussions and Bible studies that I can’t wait to put into practice.

[Grace Brock · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was fine. I could see it being helpful for running a Bible study or Sunday school class, but I would have liked some more in- depth examples from Scripture.

[Jaycee Mindeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book. It is more tailored toward leading group discussions and not individual conversations. Something that isn’t communicated very well on the outside of the book.

[Moriah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly helpful resource for those looking to lead small groups effectively. Karen is able to break down a task that feels difficult to "teach" someone into bite size chunks. I will be recommending this to group leaders of all ages and experience levels.