Questions · Part 1

0:13 I've got to say that one punctuation mark can change your life. You might think that's a bold statement, but it's not. One punctuation mark, in fact, the question mark, that's what it is, can change your life. questions. We need to ask the right people the right questions to get the right answers. 3,000 questions in the Bible. 300 were lobbed our way by Jesus himself. Questions. Are you a questioner? Because all of us should get our ask in gear. ask always seeking knowledge always seeking knowledge several years ago i was invited to a little leadership symposium on lake michigan there were some high-level leaders in the room and the guy that hosted it is someone most of you would would would recognize but i don't need to mention his name. He went around the room and, you know, the ubiquitous, tell us about yourself.

1:32 And then he said, tell us about the leadership books you're reading. Okay. So starts with this one guy and he's reading like five books at one time. And there's someone else, they're reading three leadership books. And then it comes to me and I said, I'm Ed Young, pastor of Fellowship church and I've never read a leadership book. the host goes, what? No, I've never read one. I said, I've written a couple of them, but I've never read one. I said, in fact, the ones that I read, I feel like they are asking and answering questions I've already asked and answered. They're kind of like just underscoring what I already know. So what I do, I told the presenter is, I ask questions. Questions are organic.

2:25 Questions are living and breathing. Because... seated beside you are people who know more than you do about a particular subject. Let me say that again. The people you rub shoulders with every day, I don't care who they are, I don't care their background, their net worth, I don't care who they are, they know certain things that you don't know. I'll confess that my favorite subject to talk about is myself the reason you laugh is you're the same. Human beings just love to talk, and especially we love to talk about ourselves.

3:27 So because of that, if I ask the right people the right questions, I'll get the right answers. Because of that, I can learn from people in an organic setting like books and even chat GPT can't hold a candle to.

3:50 Are you a questioner? Do you ask questions? Or do you say, no, no, no, no, I really don't. In the book of Exodus chapter 18, if you have your Bibles turned there, If not, I'll read some scripture and then comment on some. Exodus chapter 18 is a pivotal chapter in the Bible in the life of Moses. Now, you've probably heard of Moses. Most people have. You remember Moses, the guy that led millions of Jews out of Egyptian slavery, and their goal was to get into the promised land. The journey was supposed to take, you know, several weeks. It took 40 years.

4:42 Moses saw God do all of these crazy things, these supernatural events. And then, after two months of running from the Egyptian army and dodging other unique situations, he found himself in his RV at the base of Mount Sinai. He was just camping out. He hadn't seen his wife and kids for two months. And Exodus chapter 18 tells us his father-in-law showed up while he was camping. His name was Jethro. Those of us who were over 50 remember the great Jethro Bodine, don't we? If you're young, you're like, who is that?

5:34 Just Google him. He's one of the greatest characters in the history of television. You know what I'm talking about? The Beverly Hillbillies? Okay, yeah. I know it's cold in here. We're so cold, it's like, yeah. So Jethro comes up to Moses, brings his wife, his kids. They're celebrating. They have this meal. And Jethro's like, I want to learn from this guy who is an amazing leader. I mean, I'm going to learn some real stuff from Moses. So they have this great meal. They spend the night. They wake up the next morning. And you know how father-in-laws are. The father-in-law's like, well, I don't have anything to do, Moses. I guess I'll just go with you to work. So Moses said, come on. so Moses finds himself working and Jethro is observing and here's what the Bible says in Exodus chapter 18 verses I need more hair transplants don't worry I'll be getting those soon I've gotten them before.

6:47 I need to go in for a second round. Exodus chapter 18, verses 13 through 14. The next day, Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening. Now, I want you to think about this. Here is Moses, this amazing leader, and people are just... standing around. When his father-in-law, Jethro, saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, what is this you're doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge while all these people standing around you are just there from morning until nighttime, until evening? What are you doing? And why are you doing it?

7:43 Those are two questions that change and will change the tectonic plates in your life because they changed the tectonic plates in Moses' life. What are you doing? That's information. Why are you doing it? That's explanation. Try that question with your kids. try that line of thinking with those who report to you. try that line of thinking with your spouse. What are you doing? That's information. Why are you doing it? That's explanation. Moses was trying to do everything himself. And Jethro was like, you're going to wear yourself out. Moses, the Bible said, listened to his father-in-law.

8:38 you have to humble yourself. Come on. To listen to your in-laws? He did. And it changed the way he led. Because see, God was setting him up because God knew this journey would take 40 years. So God was setting him up because he knew that Moses had to change his whole leadership scheme. Observation I'll say it Like we can understand it Without investigation Leads to Limitation If you want to limit your life If you want to stop Just stop asking questions Just stop And it's amazing how we get these question cramps.

9:38 The UK did a study that found that toddlers ask 260 questions a day. We don't ask questions. Oh, that might be a dumb question. That might be off subject. They might think I'm stupid, so I'm just not going to ask it. I'll find out myself. I'll go online.

10:11 I understand that. And that's great. we have these vehicles where we can get some information, but I'm talking about real questions. Have you ever just thought about some of the questions that God asked? Like, where are you? First question in the Bible, he asked to Adam and Eve.

10:32 Then he asked, is anything too hard for the Lord? Who gave man his mouth? And then Jesus said, are you ready for this? who do you say that I am? Whenever I ask questions, I'm just mirroring the character and nature of God. That's all I'm doing. It's really a Holy Spirit thing when I ask a question. Because when I ask someone a question, or you ask someone a question, you're taking a trip inside their mind. I'm totally putting myself in your shoes and I'm allowing the Holy Spirit to work as I, here we go empathize with you So questions, real questions are about empathy.

11:28 And most of us, I hate to use this word, but I will, are just two or three questions away from a breakthrough. Again, that word is used out of context, but you know, I'll explain it this way. after our oldest daughter passed away, LeBeth, Lisa and I, it was a Holy Spirit thing. It just had, and we've had many opportunities to share with people about the pain that we've gone through. And here's what we've discovered. When we meet people, that's a cool suit. When we meet people, usually every person, not all, but almost every person is processing pain. You wouldn't know it when you first meet them. How are you doing? Doing great, man. It's all good, you know?

12:21 But then after a while, ask another question. Ask another question. And then, oh wow, I'm so sorry you're dealing with that or you dealt with that or you're facing that. So I'm just saying to you, don't stop after like just one question or two questions. You see, you have this conversational cadence going on, this dance, this Q&A. Think about the church. We're about community, right? What is community? Asking questions and getting answers. It's asking questions and getting answers. Give me an A. Give me an S.

13:02 Give me a K. What does that spell? Always seeking knowledge So As I wake up Always seeking knowledge Always seeking knowledge Always seeking knowledge Always seeking knowledge They have knowledge That I don't have You have knowledge That I don't have I have knowledge That you don't have And then it Man Do not believe The places It will take you Ask the right people The right questions To get the right answers But to do that You have to ask A lot of wrong people The right questions to see who the right people are to give you the right answers.

13:42 Let me go back to it. Question cramps. We used to ask 290 questions a day. Oh, now we stop. Why? Oh, the first one is pride. I just think I have it figured out. And, you know, who am I to ask this person a question? this Wednesday we'll have about 3,500 leaders Christian leaders at Fellowship Church for our Creative Church Conference it's amazing we have all sorts of speakers from Tim Tebow to Jerry Colangelo to Kirk Cousins to, I mean, you can look and see Cliff, oh man, Cliff's awesome great, great, and his son, Stuart Great, great lineup. There's going to be a bunch of pastors here, listen to me very carefully, who have just started their churches.

14:42 They run maybe 50 to 80 people. The stats on starting churches are dismal. Did you know that? Well, I'll tell you the answer. 90% fail. Man, I'm glad I didn't know that 34 years ago. so some of these pastors, pastor small churches, they've only been in the game for maybe a year, others have been in the game for a while, there's others that are, you know, large, like fellowship church, and I'm sure some that are way out there, as a questioner, as a question man, I ask all three people questions. I can learn as much, and sometimes more, because they're honest, from the brand new church start, because man, they're desperate.

15:43 I love talking to desperate people like that. Desperate leaders. I learn many times more from them than I do from the fat cats who are like, yeah, we got it going on, you know. so you can learn as much from a landscaper as you can from Elon Musk I'm serious ask the right people the right questions you get the right answer pride man I can't I can't ask that question they might they might think I'm a horrible leader I mean why am I going to ask this church running, you know, 75 people about how they're imparting vision to their church when fellowship is this and that and whatever. You see what I'm saying to you? I've got to get over myself. and guys, I think we struggle with pride, in fact, I know we do, more than women, generally speaking.

16:37 Women are more in touch with reality than guys, but also being out of touch with reality is what makes guys guys. Also, fear. So you got pride and fear. I'm fearful of asking a question because it might mean I've got to work harder. It might mean that I'm doing something that's totally off base. That's what Moses was doing. Moses was trying to do everything himself. And here is the answer that Jethro gave him. Delegate, my man, delegate.

17:19 Not relegate, but delegate. So Moses set up people over a thousand people over hundreds, people over fifties and whatever. And he delegated that to them, but he handled the big stuff. So only do what only you can do. Say that. Only do what only you can do. And the other, we can delegate, but, but, but, but it'll change. I'm telling you the course of your life. What are you doing? Ask people that. We ask our staff that all the time. In this staff meeting, two questions. What are you doing and why are you doing it? You won't believe what it will reveal. It reveals some significant stuff and also some superfluous stuff. When you're asking questions, think about the people in your life that are way ahead of you, as I'll say again, and ask them questions.

18:25 Also, for review, ask people who are right where you are, and then ask people who are where you were. And then you have this brilliant, brilliant knowledge of a situation. So ask the right people the right questions to get the right answers. Who are the right people? I know you're asking that, aren't you? Who are these people, Ed? Well, you're going to find a lot of them in the church. Not everyone here is the right person for you, but your percentages go way through the roof. But here's what I do, and here's what, I mean, the Bible does, and I would challenge you to do when it comes to questions. Ask God, first question, God, what is your take on this situation? So is it in the context and content of your scripture?

19:22 Does it reflect your character? Does it coincide with your call on my life? So if I'm in an adulterous relationship and the marriage is hanging by a thread, I mean, I ask God and that's kind of a no-brainer, isn't it? I mean, that's not what I should be doing because God's content and his character and his call are so specific and prolific in our lives. So we ask God these questions. We also have to ask others these questions. Anytime you do something, you'll have a group of sinful sympathizers or spiritual empathizers. You remember Jonah, God's running man?

20:19 God asked him a question. How about the great city of Nineveh, Jonah? And Jonah's like, forget that. He turned because of pride and fear and ran, and he found a boat headed toward Tarshish. I love that. I love that name, Tarshish. and basically it was a symbol and a sign of compromise, of doing the opposite of what God wants. I'm blown away at how sinful sympathizers will come around those of us who are really dealing with some serious stuff. Now we need to meet and ask questions too. spiritual empathizers. Okay, let's go back to my wedding illustration and then go back to marriage and then go back. Let's make it really, really spicy. Adultery. Okay, I mentioned to you a hypothetical situation. Your marriage is hanging from a balance and you're committed and you're committing adultery. So you don't really want to ask God about that because you know.

21:33 So you ask others and you ask the sinful sympathizers. They're like, yeah. I mean, yeah, go for it. You know, yeah. Well, your spiritual empathizers are going to say, hey, I understand what you're going through. I've gone through a similar situation or whatever, and we stayed with the program, and here's what God did. Does that make sense to you? And then, of course, ask yourself questions. I mean, I try to ask myself questions all the time. Like, okay, I'm going to make this decision. Thinking about my past, okay, thinking about my present and my future,

22:19 God, what do you want me to do? I call that an intense decision. Ask the right people the right questions to get the right answers. To do so, you've got to ask a lot of wrong people the right questions to see who the right people are to give you the right answers. What are you doing? Why are you doing this?

22:45 You start on that quest, and I'm telling you, some great things will happen. But you know what? There's one more question that is even more important than what are you doing and why are you doing it. and here's the question what have you done to fill the deepest longing in your soul that's the deal and I pray that no one leaves this place until you have that question answered you might be going well are you talking about eternity yes I'm saying would you spend eternity with the Lord if you were to die tonight well you might be thinking okay here's my answer i grew up catholic Lutheran Baptist okay that's that's good you might be saying well I lived a really righteous life I mean if you look at my good marks compared to the bad marks the good marks eclipse the bad marks great but those answers will not get you to where you want to go the answer to life's biggest question is Jesus God commissioned Christ to live and to die on the cross in your place for your sins and mine, to rise again, and he offers you and me eternal life.

24:19 He offers us the answer, and Jesus is the answer. So before we delve deeper into questions over the next several weeks, it begins, doesn't it, with the answer to life's biggest question. It begins with Jesus. as our heads are bowed and eyes are closed, I want to pray a prayer. And I want to include some of you in this prayer who have never made this decision. Just simply say with me, God, I admit to you what you already know about me, that even though I've done some good things, I know good isn't good enough because even after my best day, I still fall short.

25:22 I believe God. that you sent Jesus to die on the cross for my sins, to make up my shortfall because of your righteousness. I believe that. I turn from my sins and turn to you, Jesus. I ask you, just say that, won't you? I ask you, it's your choice to come into my life. I believe, Jesus, you are the answer. you know every week we have people make these decisions and it is the most important Q&A that you'll ever do so Father thank you for this time