Guide to Answering Study Group Questions
In answering a question, ensure that you first understand what the question is asking before attempting to answer it. Chances are that you already have an idea of what the final answer is but you should arrive at your answer in a 'stepwise', concise and clear way.
This is what you should try to achieve:
Systematically arrive at the answer. That is, put pieces together and exegete to arrive at the answer in a meaningful way maybe logical too. It is not just about 'yes' and 'no' or 'accepting' and 'refuting', what is more important is: Why do you accept or why do you refute? Why do you agree or why do you disagree? Why do you say yes and why do you say no? That is what is called explanation. Your answer should be logically theologically arrived at. Instructions on the study group today.
Things to consider in laying down your thoughts when answering questions are:
• Are you saying things that haven't been explained?
• Each point made should lead to the other in a logical and systematic way. This means you don't just drop statements.
• Also, the points you are making should not be off topic. This means when making explanations, they should be tailored to the end that they help the understanding of the subject matter or question.
The following are things you could be doing wrong:
• Sending the transcript of the teaching as answers: The transcripts are good for you. But you need to provide answers in a systematic way. Sometimes, your answer may not follow the same order Pastor mentioned them in the teaching. Recall how Pastor has told us how we should listen to teaching series a couple of times in order to have a good grasp of the subject matter.
• Answering as you are listening: This is very poor and cannot give answers adequately. You will either underanswer the question or answer beyond where you ought to bring to a logical conclusion
• Not concluding: This is rampant with many. Your conclusions are like the icing on the cake. They tell in a summative way what has been written down. Many times, your conclusion brings home the point where your main body of writing is not as clear. Note, however, that conclusions do not always have to have the word 'conclusion'. However, they can be a separate paragraph from your main body of writing.
• Not addressing the subject matter: Do not attempt to pour back transcript from the teaching - this is lazy. You should use the teaching as a major tool to answer the questions. In other words, your answer should bear the question in mind. Many times, you are either agreeing to a submission or refuting them. This should be done either ways with adequate proofs to establishing the position that you stand.
Thank you.