“All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim 3:16-17).
Regardless of one’s pedigree, at some point every human being on the planet has been asked a question to which they did not know the answer. Whether it be from an opponent to the faith, someone exploring the faith, or a fellow believer, at some point any follower of Christ will be asked such a question. For a cell group leader, this will likely be frequent.
I want to make three suggestions about how to deal with these questions.
- Be honest
- Be aware of the resources available to you
- Be growing
Be honest
Oftentimes as leaders we feel the need to present ourselves as “having all the answers.” This typically leads to giving rushed, incomplete, or incorrect answers that we regret afterward. In my own life, I’ve found that the desire to always have an answer is rooted in pride. It is rooted in the desire to be perceived as knowledgeable and spiritual. Paul urges us to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility…” in Eph 4:1-2. When we are confident in Christ’s work on the cross, he will empower us to walk in this humility.
Having all of the answers can’t add a drop to the blood of Christ. In light of this, I suggest that we all be honest with our students. Oftentimes they can tell when you are shooting from the hip, and will lose trust if they don’t believe you are confident in the things you say. When you are asked one of these questions, a good response is “I actually am not sure about that. Let me look into that and get back to you next week.” Admitting when you don’t know the answer will set a beautiful precedent of honesty and humility for them.
Be aware of the resources available to you
After telling a student that you will look for an answer, it’s very important to know where to look to find the answer. Oftentimes all it takes is some thought, meditation, and prayer over the scripture in question. Other times it might take going to some Biblical resources like commentaries, theological resources, or apologetic resources. One resource that can sometimes be overlooked is other people in the body. Be they pastors, other staff members, or cell group leaders, we are blessed with a great deal of knowledgeable men and women who would love to provide insight or opinion. No leader should feel the burden of trying to answer every question by themselves. Different members of the body of Christ serve different functions (Rom 12:4-8), and we should look to take advantage of different individuals’ skills and knowledge. We should feel free to view the entire church body as a great resource to help us lead.
Be growing
In light of the fact that we will all undoubtedly face difficult questions, we should be excited about every opportunity we have to grow and prepare. Just as the early church “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching” (Acts 2:42), so should we. All small group leadership (and any Biblical teaching at all, for that matter) should come out of the overflow of one’s personal time with and teachings from God. If you are growing and learning on your own, you will be better equipped to answer more questions as they are brought to you. Abide in Christ. Spend time in prayer. Spend time in the word. The word of God is “able to build you up” (Acts 20:32). Let it do it’s work.
May we be challenged by Paul’s words to Timothy:
“I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing to his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (2 Tim 4:1-5).
