Questions for Parents
Questions for Parents
“Why do you call Me good?” Jesus asked him. “No one is good but One—God.” (Luke 18:19)
What Would Jesus Ask?
Jesus knew how to ask the perfect question. The Gospels record more than a hundred questions He asked. Some were rhetorical, like when He said in Matthew 6:27, “Can any of you add a single cubit to his height by worrying?” Other times His questions made a person think, such as when the young ruler called Him “Good Teacher,” and Jesus responded, “Why do you call Me good? . . . No one is good but One—God.” Questions are a great, nonthreatening way to engage someone in conversation.
Ask and You Will Receive
As parents we can learn a lot from Jesus when it comes to the power of questions. Instead of talking at our children to teach a lesson or pass down our beliefs, we may be more effective by asking questions. Make sure your questions can’t be answered in a simple yes or no. Try to ask your kids open-ended questions that get them talking so you can hear what they really believe.
As our children get into their teen years, it’s especially important to ask questions to keep communication flowing. By encouraging your kids to think and formulate their own opinions, you’ll help them build a stronger foundation. When we’re forced to articulate what we believe, it fortifies our beliefs. Following Jesus’ example in asking questions is one small way we can be like our Savior.
Bottom Line
Questions can be key in communicating with our children. Just make sure to have a conversation, not an interrogation.