The Gift of Questions

One of the hallmarks of City Church is that we encourage questions. Today we want to look at why that’s the case.

In one of the longest conversations in the Bible, the woman at the well interacts with Jesus as a theological peer - curious, pushing back, asking questions, trying to surface awkward realities and name deep truths.

Listen to her as three times she asks Jesus questions:

1. How can you ask me for a drink? (v. 9)

2. Where can you get this living water? (v. 11)

3. Are you greater than our father Jacob? (v. 11)

And respect her for the three times she pushes back against Jesus

1. You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. (v. 9)

2. You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. (v. 11)

3. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim… (v. 20)

She’s clearly one of the greats in the New Testament - one of the very few who can hang with Jesus in this length and depth, this back and forth, this relationally dynamic encounter.

Are there some questions you’ve been holding back asking God? Is there some push back you’ve been downplaying instead of surfacing that awkward reality? Ponder what to do with those things today as you read over this quote from a theological mentor of ours:

For me, questions are an invitation to stay curious and to keep listening. Oftentimes, when we feel like we have the answers, we stop paying attention—and I never want to stop listening or paying attention to the divine voice within the pages of the Bible. - Kat Armas, Abuelita Faith