Can I Ask You A Question?

By Pastor Eric

Teaching Catechism here at Friendship is not only a joy for the opportunity of building relationships with the students but it’s a deep blessing to dig deep into our faith together. I also find it a joy and privilege to teach alongside Mr. Genzink who is humbly filled with wisdom and much life experience. One of the philosophies Mr. G and I have tried to communicate to the students over the past several years is, “good questions lead to even better decisions.” 

To have a faith that informs the way we live, we have to ask good and relative questions. The greatest example of asking good questions is Jesus himself. Jesus’ questions require deep thought and reflection about what we know, what we don’t know yet, and what we believe. 

Reading through the book of Matthew this past week, I was struck by the two powerful questions Jesus asked the disciples in chapter 16, verses 13 and 15. The first question was, “who do the people say the Son of man is?” Several answers came up: Elijah, John the baptist, and even Jeremiah. These answers were to be expected from the people who were looking for an earthly king, a general who would lead an army against the Romans, defeating the oppressors and setting the people free. The people had not yet realized or understood who Jesus was and why he had come. 

Then Jesus asked the disciples, who had been following/serving him closely, seen many miraculous things, and heard the teachings of Jesus directly, “but what about you, who do you say that I am?” I can only imagine what must have been zooming through the minds of the disciples who were put on the spot, not wanting to get this one wrong–or maybe unsure, not wanting to be the first to answer. Either way, this “good question” caused the disciples to pause, reflect on what they knew to be true and what they believed. Simon answered, “you are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Simon’s answer was directly informed, not by what he could see, but by what the Spirit had revealed to him, THE TRUTH. The decision Simon made to answer the question the way he did would lead to his name change (now Peter), an anointed position in the work of the Kingdom, a deeper relationship with Christ, and the keys to Heaven. The truth was revealed and proclaimed because a “very good” question was asked by our Lord and Savior. 

Brothers and sisters, What about you! Where do you go to find the answer to life’s most important questions? As you search the Bible, seeking biblical truth, your answers will guide and direct the way you live out your faith in the world. You will learn how to live righteously, to grow in your faith, deepening your relationship with the one who holds all truth, and becoming all that God has created you to be for his glory!  

What questions do you need to be asking, answers which require TRUTH? Who are you seeking those answers from? 

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5