**Originally in 2010 I completed an epic quest to write an A-Z of Children’s ministry, Now because of the epic fail detailed on an earlier blog post I am reposting an updated 2018 version!
Q… quit, queen, Qantas, quacksalver…
Q is for Question – Your kids have questions. Lots of them probably. They will ask the most random question at the most random times. I know that when I am with one of our KDG’s (Kids Discipleship Groups – small groups), and talking I can see certain kids brains veering wildly out of control on a tangent which inevitably leads to a question like “If God is my Father, then is Jesus my brother?”.
I talked in the “E is for Encouragement” post about this topic a little. Whatever happens, you do want to encourage questions because they show thought and initiative both things that kids have control over.
So I want to talk about the questions you ask as a leader and follower.
Asking questions shows:
- That you are eager to learn
- You care about other peoples worlds
- You want to improve
- You are aware of what is going on around you
- That you are interested
- You don’t think you have all the answers
- You want to involve others in the answers
As a leader you need to ask the most questions in the room. There is so much that goes unsaid in a team, assumptions, traditions, the way that we do things that are never articulated. Even if you feel like everyone in the room has heard it all before, say it!
Beginner stand-up comedians will work on new jokes until they have a solid ‘five minutes‘ of material they know is funny. They may keep using those jokes for years and years as they develop. Jerry Seinfeld in the movie/documentary comedian restarts his stand-up career after TV by writing all new material, and it is painful to watch at times as he goes through the growing pains.
Say what you have to say as a leader and then say it again. It will make your whole team laser focussed and avoid all the questions you don’t want to hear.
The questions you hear reveal your weaknesses, and the questions you ask reveal your heart.
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