What if three simple questions could completely change the impact of daily devotions, lesson and sermon preparation, as well as the sermons and Sunday School lessons? What if the questions were so simple they could be easily be remembered, practiced, and taught? Would you be willing to use them and pass them on?
I found the questions while reading a blog post by my friend, Eddie Mosely. Eddie is the Executive Director of GroupLife for LifePointe Church in Smyrna, Tennessee. The post is entitled What? So What? Do What? Make sure to check out the entire post, but here is Eddie’s explanation of the three questions (SG=small group):
“What?” As you read through your SG study for this week, ask “What is the information that is being communicated?” This is the head knowledge that is required to teach and educate. But often times we leave the information transfer here.
“So what?” So, what difference does it make that I know this now? It is nice that we are getting to check off our daily readings of God’s Word. In 50 or so weeks we will have read through the entire Bible. So what? I am realizing that daily God is giving me encouragement for my life, my decisions, my Small Group, my neighbors, my baseball players. Each reading has implication for our life today, what is today’s?
“Do what?” What is the application of what I am reading? This question clearly points you to the next step on your journey. Get up. Do what the Holy Spirit is telling you to do.
WHAT? This question gets to the root. It explores the message communicated in God’s Word. “What” focuses on the truth of the passage and gets at the context. If this step is skipped, God’s Word can be misunderstood or applied.
SO WHAT? This question turns devotions, preparation, and lessons/sermons toward application. The question investigates and applies meaning to culture and life today. “So what?” seeks meaning from the passage to my life. The question seeks to discover why the “what?” is important.
DO WHAT? This question is the “now what?” question. It seeks to understand what God wants as a result of this encounter with God in His Word. This question asks, “what am I supposed to do now?” “Do what” understands what and why and seeks to be obedient.
Want to improve your daily devotion? Want to improve your lesson/sermon preparation? Want to help others gain more through your lessons/sermons? Practice these questions and teach them to do the same. Encounter God in His Word. Apply the truth. Be obedient. Be revolutionary!
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