Ask Good Questions

Reading + Understanding The Bible
Every book was written to a specific audience in a specific context. Understanding what it meant to them back then can help us know what God speaks to us for today.

Along with following the ROAD…

Ask good questions like these:

WHAT?

1. What does the passage say?
Put it in your own words. Look up difficult words. What is the argument or flow of the passage? How does each sentence and paragraph fit into the flow of the passage? What is the historical and cultural background of the passage? Does this help us understand what is being said?

WHY?

2. Why does the author say it in this way?
Is it a promise, a command, a question, a statement of fact?

3. Why does the author say it here?
How does this passage fit into its immediate context? What is the overall message of the book? What does this passage contribute to the message of the book? How does the overall message of the book inform this passage?

4. Why do this passage & book belong here in the Bible Story?
How does this passage relate to the Bible’s overall story? How does it point to Jesus? What does it show us about the Gospel? What else does the Bible say about this theme? (Remember the Big Story?)

5. What response did the author want from his hearers/readers?
To whom was the author writing and why? Why does the author tell them what he tells them? What does he want them to think or do? Understanding why the author said it then enables you to work out what it says for us today.

SO WHAT?

6. What response should we make today?
How is this passage God’s word for us today? How does this passage link God’s purposes to our place as teens, as students, under the authority of our parents? How should this passage shape our actions, which come from our beliefs? Make links between belief and behavior. What our hearts believe and desire shapes our actions.