Now That's a Good Question!
PIC No. 111: Pails in Comparison
• Title: Now That's a Good Question! How to Lead Quality Bible Discussions
• Author: Terry Powell
• Publisher: Serve Strong Publishing (Jan. 19, 2016, 134 pages)
• Management Bucket #9 of 20: The Team Bucket
Welcome to Pails in Comparison, the sidekick of John Pearson’s Buckets Blog. This blog features my “PICs”—short reviews of helpful books—with comparisons to other books in my 20 management buckets (core competencies) filing system.
Managing Monopolizers!
Are you thinking of joining a Bible study, or small group, in the new year?
Or…maybe you’ve been asked to lead a group—but you’re hesitant?
Or…maybe you’re in a group—but your leader needs a refresher course in Better Discussions 101?
Or…maybe this is you—and you’ve heard this more than once: "If you don't know who the dysfunctional person in your small group is, it's probably you."
Whatever your situation or interest level…read this book and order another copy for your favorite Bible study discussion leader. Terry Powell brings years of Bible teaching experience (professor, pastor, blogger, and author of 19 books) to the table and serves it up in just 116 pages (plus notes).
You’ll appreciate:
#1. The importance of details. (No spoiler alert here—but I was tempted.) Read why an eminent professor of medicine at Oxford University lectured his medical students on the importance of observing details—and then passed a small bottle of urine around the room, asking each student to “please do exactly as I did.” Yikes! (See Chapter 2, “Getting Into God’s Word.”)
#2. “Harder to turn off than Niagara Falls!” Powell features two chapters (are those enough?!) on “Handling Discussion Problems.” Oh, my…he’s been in our Bible study discussions! He writes:
“Despite the numerous advantages of Bible discussions, I'd be remiss if I didn't acknowledge the potential pitfalls. Adversaries to effective interaction include:
• conflicting interpretations;
• comments rooted in ignorance or speculation rather than textual investigation;
• a group member who’s harder to turn off than Niagara Falls;
• plus the participant who chases rabbits during the discussion, and tries to take everybody else along for the hunt.”
#3. Managing Monopolizers! Page 100 is worth the price of the book! The author gives five ways to address “a group member who feels that a second of silence is a divine mandate to speak. Though most monopolizers are motivated learners who are passionately involved with the subject matter, their verbal initiatives cause passivity among others in the group.”
Powell’s fifth way to address the problem: “Speak one-to-one with the monopolizer.” He suggests how to use humor and affirmation to coax the excessive talker into being a more appropriate group member.
#4. Must-read: Chapter 9! Actually, I spoke too soon. This second chapter on “Handling Discussion Problems” is worth the price of the book! Put this on your next small group training PowerPoint:
That’s just one of dozens of side notes, call-outs, and attention-getting graphics sprinkled throughout the book. Others include:
• “Try This” ideas
• A “Key” from Howard Hendricks: “Interpretation without application is abortion of the Word of God.”
• “Definitions” and “Wise Words” insights
• “Caution” warnings
• “Super-Size It!” half-page sections with “tips that are relevant to larger group or classroom discussions.” (Brilliant!)
One more quote from Howard Henricks: “If teaching were only telling, my kids would be incredibly brilliant.”
Not a typo! All of this, Terry Powell delivers in just 116 pages, plus notes. I could go on, but it would be inappropriate for me to lecture you about a book on leading discussions.
Discuss! With the person next to you, share whether you’re going to buy one, two, or three copies of this amazing book!
PAILS IN COMPARISON: Reading this book reminded me of several other must-read books in the Team Bucket, plus other buckets/core competencies.
[ ] Serve Strong: Biblical Encouragement to Sustain God's Servants, by Terry Powell. (Order from Amazon. Read my review.)
[ ] Oh God, I'm Dying! How God Redeems Pain for Our Good and His Glory, by Terry Powell and Mark Smith (Order from Amazon. Read my review.)
[ ] Can You See The Cross From There? Grace and Grit for Sufferers and Sinners, by Terry Powell (Order from Amazon. Read my review.)
[ ] The Top 10 Leadership Conversations in the Bible: Practical Insights From Extensive Research on Over 1,000 Biblical Leaders, by Steve Moore. (Order from Amazon. Read my review.)
[ ] Visit the “Questions Issue” of Your Weekly Staff Meeting (Issue No. 665), highlighting Terry Powell’s book, Now That’s a Good Question!—plus other books on asking good questions. It will also be posted at John Pearson's Buckets Blog.
TO ORDER FROM AMAZON, click on the title for Now That's a Good Question!: How to Lead Quality Bible Discussions, by Terry Powell. (And thanks to the author for sending me a review copy.)
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Note: This is the NEW location for John Pearson's Pails in Comparison Blog. Slowly (!), the previous 100+ blogs posted (between 2022 and 2025) will gradually populate this blogsite, along with new book reviews each month.
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