Recently I met with a...
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Object:
Recently I met with a group of people from another church who wanted to query me
about my book. I didn't know most of them and wasn't given any hint about the questions
they might ask. I reviewed areas where I might be vulnerable, and I prayed for wisdom.
So far during the numerous "Question and Answer" sessions I've held, my ability to guess
what people might ask has been perfect; my score is zilch.
I shouldn't have worried about this group. They were seekers, refreshingly honest and eager to hear new insights about God's word. No one attempted to trick me with "hard" questions like the ones the Pharisees used in their attempts to ensnare Jesus.
Christian teachers need to pray for the gift of discernment, the God-given ability to know when questioners are genuine seekers or hard-hearted, self-righteous, specialists in entrapment. We need also to pray that when we encounter the latter we can follow Solomon's advice: "Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent" (Proverbs 17:28 RSV).
I shouldn't have worried about this group. They were seekers, refreshingly honest and eager to hear new insights about God's word. No one attempted to trick me with "hard" questions like the ones the Pharisees used in their attempts to ensnare Jesus.
Christian teachers need to pray for the gift of discernment, the God-given ability to know when questioners are genuine seekers or hard-hearted, self-righteous, specialists in entrapment. We need also to pray that when we encounter the latter we can follow Solomon's advice: "Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent" (Proverbs 17:28 RSV).
