Study Guide: The Discipleship Blueprint - Chapter 6
- Dr. Layne McDonald
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
"Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, 'What are you seeking?'" : John 1:38 (ESV)
In the economy of the Kingdom, information is rarely the bottleneck to transformation. We live in an age of unprecedented access to sermons, podcasts, and commentaries, yet many believers feel "stuck" in the same cycles of spiritual stagnation. Why? Because discipleship is not merely the transfer of data; it is the transformation of the heart. And the most effective tool Jesus used to unlock the heart was not a lecture, but a question.
In Chapter 6 of The Discipleship Blueprint, we explore "The Power of Questions." We move from being "answer-givers" to "soul-probers." For church family groups and small group leaders, this is the shift from leading a classroom to guiding a journey. When we ask the right questions, we stop managing people’s behavior and start inviting them to encounter the Living God.
The Questioning Savior: A Biblical Analysis
When we look at the Gospels, we see a striking pattern. Jesus was not a lecturer who happened to take questions; He was a questioner who occasionally gave answers.
Scholars note that Jesus asked approximately 307 questions in the Gospels. In contrast, He was asked about 183 questions, and He only directly answered about four of them. His standard response to a question was often another question or a parable. This wasn't because He was being evasive; it was because He was being a disciple-maker.
A direct answer satisfies the mind, but a well-placed question pierces the soul. A question forces the listener to "own" their position. It demands participation. When Jesus asks the disciples in Caesarea Philippi, "Who do you say I am?" (Matthew 16:15), He isn't looking for a theological definition. He is demanding a personal confession of allegiance.
Part 1: Probing the Motives
Focus: John 1:38
When the first disciples began to follow Jesus, His first words were not a mission statement or a call to repentance. They were a question: "What are you seeking?"
This is the foundational question of all discipleship. Before we can grow, we must name our desire. Are we seeking comfort? Are we seeking religious approval? Or are we seeking the Christ?
For Discussion:
If Jesus walked into the room right now and asked you, "What are you seeking?", what would your honest, unfiltered answer be?
Why is it often harder to answer a question about our motives than it is to answer a question about our beliefs?
How does naming our "wants" help the Holy Spirit begin the work of "wants-correction" in our lives?
Part 2: Confronting the Fear
Focus: Matthew 8:26
In the middle of a life-threatening storm, Jesus doesn't start by rebuking the wind. He starts by rebuking the disciples’ perspective. "Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?"
He uses a question to reveal that their primary problem wasn't the weather; it was their lack of trust in His presence. In discipleship, we often focus on solving people’s "storms" (circumstances). But biblical discipleship uses the storm as a backdrop to ask, "Why are you afraid?"
For Discussion:
Think of a "storm" you are currently facing. If you look past the circumstances, what is the specific fear that this storm has revealed in your heart?
How does Jesus' presence in the boat change the answer to the question "Why are you afraid?"
As a group, how can we help each other identify the difference between a "circumstance problem" and a "faith problem"?
Part 3: Restoring through Inquiry
Focus: John 21:15–17
After Peter’s epic failure: denying Jesus three times: Jesus restores him not with a lecture on loyalty, but with a recurring question: "Do you love me?"
Jesus asked it three times, matching the three denials. He didn't ask, "Will you try harder next time?" or "Do you promise to be brave?" He went straight to the heart of the relationship: Love.
For Discussion:
Why do you think Jesus chose to ask Peter about his love rather than his performance?
When we fail in our walk with Christ, why is "Do you love me?" the most restorative question we can hear?
How can we use "love-based" questions rather than "performance-based" questions when we are discipling others or our own children?
Practical Application: The "Ask-Don't-Tell" Challenge
This week, your mission is to practice the "Master’s Method" in your everyday life: at home, at work, and in your church family.
The Challenge: In your conversations this week, especially those involving conflict or spiritual guidance, try to ask three curious questions before you offer a single piece of advice or an opinion.
Instead of: "You really should pray more about that."
Try: "What do you think God is trying to show you in this situation?"
Instead of: "Stop worrying; the Bible says not to."
Try: "What is the specific thing you are most afraid of losing right now?"
Group Action Step: Commit to one person in the group that you will "check in" with this week. When you call or text them, don't just say "How are you?" Ask a Jesus-style question: "Where have you seen the Spirit of God moving in your life since we last met?"
A Prayer for the Group
Heavenly Father, we thank You that You are a God who pursues us. Jesus, we thank You that You don't just give us answers to memorize, but You ask us questions that set us free. Holy Spirit, give us the courage to answer honestly when You probe our hearts. Help us to become a community that listens more than it speaks and loves more than it judges. Transform us through the power of Your Word and the wisdom of Your questions. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Layne McDonald, Ph.D. Dr. Layne McDonald is the Founder and Director of Layne McDonald. With a Ph.D. and a heart for biblically grounded discipleship, he specializes in long-form Christian publishing, Bible commentary, and leadership resources. His mission is to help believers understand Scripture, grow in faith, and navigate culture through a biblical lens, all while remaining firmly rooted in the truth of Jesus Christ.
What is the one question God has been asking you lately that you’ve been too afraid to answer?
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