When Jesus is Not the Answer: A Better Way to Teach God’s Stories

When we ask questions with obvious answers we often demean our learners. We can do better.

Anyone familiar with Sunday school knows the common practice of asking questions with the predictable answer: "Jesus." While it's true that everything in Scripture ultimately points to Jesus, repeatedly posing questions with obvious answers can trivialize the Word of God. Similarly, questions that elicit simple "yes" or "no" responses do little to engage learners.

What we do after hearing a Bible story is crucial. We want our learners to grasp the core elements of the story that convey God's truths. Many teachers use review questions to ensure children understand the narrative. However, if God’s stories are taught thoroughly and thoughtfully, the learners will naturally come to understand them. Simple, frivolous questions not only dull God’s Word but also underestimate our students’ intelligence.

Gretchen Pritchard, in her book Offering the Gospel to Children, highlights the absurdity of asking simple questions after reading a Bible story:

"Preschoolers might play along with us because they are so eager for stories that they will take them on terms that insult their intelligence and their sensibility. But would we be surprised if, as they grew and we still kept up this silly game, they became first baffled, then bored, then contemptuous… and would we be surprised if the story lost all its power over them—its power to impart hope, its power to invite them to wonder and struggle with the meaning of their life, and its power to suggest the tools for that struggle?" (p. 45).

Consider reading Cinderella to a class and asking, "Who helped Cinderella get to the ball?" or "What did Cinderella lose?" This approach seems ridiculous and trivializes the story, akin to popping a beautiful helium balloon. Unfortunately, we often do this with God’s Word. As teachers, we may feel compelled to fill classroom time with explanations and discussions. Perhaps we have forgotten to trust God to speak through His Word to our children’s hearts. Our role is to tell God’s stories in age-appropriate ways and trust the Holy Spirit to be the ultimate teacher. This is crucial for forming faith in our children.

Ask Wondering Questions

Psalm 46 speaks of "Being still and knowing that God is God." This approach is an appropriate response to Scripture. After telling the story of Adam and Eve being cast out of the garden, for instance, we could encourage a period of stillness and contemplation. The entire narrative of creation has imploded, deserving the solemnity we give to Good Friday. All hope seems lost; all is now death.

One effective method is to ask wondering questions. These questions don’t require immediate answers but invite imagination and reflection.

• "I wonder what Adam and Eve did when they were sent out of the garden?" Pause.

• "I wonder where they went?" Pause.

• "I wonder where they slept?" Pause.

• "I wonder if they were scared?" Pause.

• "I wonder what you learned about God in this story?"

Encourage children to express their thoughts quietly, perhaps by drawing. Older children might journal, write a poem, or a song, or pray.

When teaching about Jesus, for example, children will hear about His miracles. Rather than rushing through these stories, we should consider each miracle deeply. Questions like "Who healed the man?" or "What was wrong with him?" are less meaningful than:

• "I wonder how this man’s life changed now that Jesus had healed him?"

• "What was it like for him to see for the first time?"

• "What was it like to know he was healed by God’s Son, Jesus?"

• "I wonder what this man thought about Jesus after he was healed."

• “I wonder how this story makes you think about Jesus.”

My all-purpose wondering questions can be adapted to any story:

• "I wonder what you thought was the most important part of the story?"

• "I wonder what you want to remember the most in this story."

• "I wonder what part you wish hadn’t happened?"

• "I wonder what you learned about God."

Wondering allows us to engage deeply with the story. It encourages us to imagine and ponder, bringing God's Word into our experience and thoughts. It slows us down and provides time to consider what has happened in the story, what it would be like if we were there, and what God is doing.

We are far removed from the lives and land of the ancient Near East, yet God’s Word is intended for us as well. Waiting and wondering in the story is a powerful way to experience it. It creates a quiet space for the Holy Spirit to speak, for us to hear, and for us to respond.

• "I wonder how reading this will change how you teach God’s stories to the children in your care."

• "I wonder if it will change how you read and study Scripture."

• "I wonder what you will learn about God."