22 Questions For Spiritual Growth
- Randall Heier
- May 21
- 3 min read
Questions are such an important part of life. We encounter questions all the time, some of incredible importance, others of no real significance. A few questions we may ponder are, "What are your hopes for the future?" "What qualities do you look for in a potential partner?" "How do you define success?" All these questions reveal who we are or who we are becoming. Other questions in life are a lot less thought-provoking, such as, "What do you want to do this weekend?" "What should we eat for lunch?" "What is your favourite movie?"
Asking good questions is an art. So much can be revealed in ourselves and others by being asked or asking great questions. Jesus was masterful at asking questions. Every question he asked searched the depths of the souls of the hearer. "Who do people say I am? Who do you say I am?" "What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?" "What do you want me to do for you?"
As followers of Christ, we desire to become more like him in every aspect of our lives, we are his disciples, his students. Becoming more like him is not an exercise in trying harder, but surrendering more to the Spirit at work within us. In Philippians 1:6, Paul states, "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." The Spirit of God living in us is faithful to finish the work he has begun, making us more like Christ. Oftentimes the Spirit uses questions for us to ponder and respond to in order to make us more into the image of Christ. Becoming more like Christ requires us to live honestly and authentically before God and others, asking ourselves the hard questions, not shying away from the answers found deep within our hearts.
John Wesley, an evangelist and founder of the Methodist movement in the 1700's was well aware of the importance of questions in being a disciple of Christ and becoming more like him. The roots of the holiness movement can be traced back to many of Wesley's teachings; John and his brother Charles were the founders of what they called the Holy Club. In this club, they would meet for prayer, bible study and spiritual discipline. Wesley put together a list of twenty-two questions all the members of the Holy Club would ask themselves daily as they met.
Over the last few months, these questions have been at the forefront of my mind and have searched the depths of my soul, as the Holy Spirit has brought much conviction through them.
I have revised Wesley's twenty-two questions, not because they inherently need it, but to modernize some of the language. I would encourage you to use these questions in your personal devotion or for small group conversation and prayer.
22 Questions
Do I give the sense or notion that I am better than I am? Am I living authentically before God, myself and others?
Do I live honestly in all my actions and words, or do I inflate the truth?
Do I keep personal and important information shared with me confidential?
Am I dependable? Can I be relied on?
Am I bound by clothing, friends, work, or addictions? Do I walk in the fear of man?
Do I worry about what others think about me, do I have a victim mentality, or do I feel the need to justify myself?
Did God's Word live through me today?
Do I spend time reading the Bible every day?
Do I enjoy God in prayer?
When was the last time I shared my faith?
Do I allow God to speak to me about the money I spend? Do I ask for his wisdom in financial decisions?
Do I go to bed on time and wake up on time?
Is there any part of my life where I am not obeying God?
Do I continue to do anything that would make my conscience unsettled?
Is there any part of my life where I do not have victory?
Am I envious, jealous, impure, critical, irritable, easily offended or distrustful?
Do I honour God with my spare time?
Do I have pride in my heart?
Do I look at others and thank God I am not like them?
Is there anyone I fear, despise, disown, criticize, have bitterness toward or think poorly of? If so, what am I doing about it?
Do I grumble or complain constantly? Am I content?
Is the person of Jesus Christ real to me?
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