Focus 1 (of 4)-The Questions You Hold

Consider this ice breaker as you gather for the Spotlight.
Would you let aliens beam you up if they came to Earth?

See what this Spotlight—and series—is focused on.
Tap on the words "Focus 1" in the image below to read this Spotlight's summary.

Let’s talk about going down the rabbit hole.
Listen to this audio clip when you’re ready to begin today’s Spotlight. (And welcome, by the way! It’s great that you’re here!)

“In fact, now I come to think of it, do we decide questions, at all? We decide answers, no doubt: but surely the questions decide us? It is the dog, you know, that wags the tail—not the tail that wags the dog.”

- Lewis Carroll

Tell us which is the “truest” to you? The questions you (and everyone around you) are asking do, in fact, exist—nobody can deny it. That being said, everyone has different feelings when the questions come.


Click the button below and rank some quotes from “life in the rabbit hole” in Alice and Wonderland based on how well they reflect the way you feel about life, doubts, questions, answers, and the like.


+ ANSWER THE QUESTION

Discover everyone’s aggregated results from that question.
The interactive graphic in the link below has been taking stock of everyone’s answers (yes, even yours) and ordering them based on popular response. Check it out!

+ SEE THE RESPONSES


No matter how you feel about questions, this series is an invitation into them—and, as Lewis Carroll would say, into Wonderland.

(And just so you’re clear about where we’re headed: Think carefully about how “Wonderland” got its name… Hint: It has nothing to do with being wonderful.)

Welcome Perspective
Sometimes, when you reach,
it feels like all you can find to grasp are questions.

Interact with this presentation to consider what God wants of you.
The Bible's story of Job is remarkable. Pain, doubt, questions, misinformation, and faith are all met with the same thing: The answer of the Almighty. In each part of this series, you'll walk with a different character from the story through their thoughts. First, you’ll hear from Job. Then, you'll hear from his terrible friends, followed by a young man named Elihu. Finally, the voice of God.


(If you’d like an excellent, quick summary of Job’s story, click here.)


Can you find yourself in these words? Before you interact with this image, get out some way to take notes—hopefully, one you’ll use for all four Spotlights in this series. As you interact, write down one or two of the things Job says that feel like they could have come from your own voice.

Pray with Job as you get comfortable with your questions.


Job by Jason Jasperson

Job’s journey was difficult, and it wasn’t entirely his fault. (Which sounds like a lot of people’s struggles with questions and doubts.) Perhaps most remarkably, Job’s story didn’t end with answers. It ended, instead, with Job being comfortable with God and therefore getting comfortable with his questions.


Does this mean that if you’d just “get comfortable with God” you’ll be fine with every question that comes along and won’t care about the answers?


Goodness, no.


Absolutely not.


Don’t be ridiculous. 

It does mean, though, that it’s about MORE than just the question and answer. It’s also about getting comfortable with God and with God’s willingness to let you exist in those questions. 

Take your favorite Job quotes and pray the below prayer along with (if you want) this background music:

The goal is about 2 minutes of honest prayer that starts like this:


“God,

These words from Job felt like they could have come from me:

[insert a quote you chose from Job]

They make me think of questions about myself and you and the universe, like these:

[insert your questions and doubts]

You listened to Job while he was frustrated. I’m asking you to listen to me. Use these questions to bring me closer to you.

[add whatever else you’d like/have time for]

Amen.”

If you’re struggling, here are some Job quotes that might help:

• Why is light given to those in misery, and life to the bitter of soul, to those who long for death that does not come, who search for it more than for hidden treasure, who are filled with gladness and rejoice when they reach the grave? | Job 3:20–22
• Therefore I will not keep silent; I will speak out in the anguish of my spirit, I will complain in the bitterness of my soul. | Job 7:11
• Can anyone teach knowledge to God, since he judges even the highest? | Job 21:22

Let’s answer this question: “If he’s worthy, why doesn’t he… ?” together.
Use the arrows in the frame below to navigate through this interactive experience.

Listen and sing along to this song.
This is a very recent release—Jon Foreman’s new album came out in February of 2021. This song (by far the most popular so far because it strikes a chord with people) is one of the most honest descriptions of personal doubt that a Christian songwriter has offered.


Bonus? It’s also a prayer, and one you’ve probably prayed at least a little over the last 12 months.

Lyrics for Jesus, I Have My Doubts by Jon Foreman


Jesus, I’m sorry ‘bout last night.
Jesus, we both know I tried.
Jesus, feels like the worlds in pieces—
I’m sure you’ve got your reasons
but I have my doubts.
Jesus, I have my doubts.

Everything that’s right feels wrong
and all of my belief feels gone
and the darkness in my heart is so strong.
Can you reach me here in the silence?
Singing these broken songs.
Looking for the light for so long,
but the pain goes on and on and on…
Can you reach me here in the silence?

Jesus, what a week we’ve had.
Jesus, has the world gone mad?
Jesus, feels like the worlds in pieces—
I’m sure you’ve got your reasons
but I have my doubts.
Jesus, I have my doubts.

When everything that’s right feels wrong
and all of my belief feels gone
and the darkness in my heart is so strong,
can you reach me here in the silence?
Singing these broken songs,
looking for the light for so long
but the pain goes on and on and on…
Can you reach me here in the silence?

Are you there? Can you hear me?
Do you care? Are you near me?
’Cause I’m scared and I’m weary.
Are you there? Can you hear me?
Are you there? Can you hear me?
Do you care? Are you near me?
’Cause I’m scared and I’m weary.
Are you there?

Everything that’s right feels wrong
and all of my belief feels gone
and the darkness in my heart is so strong.
Can you reach me here in the silence?
Singing these broken songs,
looking for the light for so long
but the pain goes on and on and on…
Can you reach me here in the silence?

Can you reach me here in the silence?
I have my doubts.

Worship Perspective
What if when you doubt,
God is using your questions to draw you to him?

Put your questions in a pile.
Want to see “behind the scenes” in Spotlight prep? Here’s a list of the taglines that were developed for this series:

• “This is a series that will leave you with more questions than answers.”
• “Sometimes the questions are more important than the answers.”
• “Question everything… and let the Almighty answer.”
• “Come for the answers, stay for the questions.”
• “$10 says church has more questions than you do.”
• “What good is the answer if you don’t know the question?”
  
  

The point? This series really is designed to help you identify your questions because identifying your questions helps you grow by getting you honest about your room for growth and your status as a human being. 





Follow these steps to add to the pile.


One important note: the questions you submit during this activity—your questions together with your name—will be publicly visible once submitted in the comments section below. (If you have a question you’re sincerely uncomfortable sharing here, please email it privately to Illume’s pastor, Kent Reeder at kent@illume.church.)

1. First, and foremost, commit to not judging the questions that come up in this activity. The only “wrong” question is the dishonest question.
2. Second, and second-most, commit to not answering the questions that come up in this activity. It’s okay, even if you believe you have the answer, to wait to share it until another day.
3. Begin with this prayer: Lord, use our questions to reach out to us and draw us to you. Amen.
4. If you’re doing this Spotlight in a group, wish each other the best and turn off your camera/go to different areas so you can have privacy to think over and submit your questions.
5. Have someone set a timer for five minutes. They’ll bring everyone back after time is up.
6. Start thinking (if you haven’t yet). It might help to jot notes down as you formulate your question(s).
7. Submit your questions—as many as you'd like—in the comment section below. (Hint: you must be logged in to do this.)
   
   

The kinds of questions that belong here are quite varied…

• Sometimes they are about things that happen around the world. 
• Sometimes they are about the way God’s church on earth functions. 
• Sometimes they are about the way God functions.
• Sometimes they are about life & direction.
• Sometimes they are about a point in the Bible. 
• Sometimes they are about God’s existence and character.

(But remember that no questions are off limits. This is a judgment-free zone.)

Okay, enough preamble. Ready or not, here we go. Head to the comment section at the bottom of this page to begin. (Again, you must be logged in to do see and do this activity.)


Look over all the submitted questions now that you've submitted yours. The questions you submitted should show up, too, once submitted. As you scan over everything, think about (and if you’re doing this in a group, discuss, too) what it felt like to search yourself for questions and share them here—discussing things like…

• Are you comfortable sharing like this? Have you done it before? Why or why not? 
• Do you think it’s good/important? Why or why not?

Discover the glory of God and kings.
Questions are good. In fact, God encourages you seek out the right questions and answers—he even calls it glorious.



Structure of parallel statements.

Notice the way this verse is made up of two parallel statements. By analyzing them, you should be able to get a sense for at least one reason why God gives you the questions you hold.

Hint: You can tap on the following images of text to reveal even more.

“It is the…” vs “but the…”

What can you infer from the order of things in this verse? Who is the actor, and who is the reactor?

“glory” vs “glory”


When doing something gives the doer “glory,” that’s a good thing. Tell a story of a time you did something that was your “glory” because you did it.


What glory does it give God to be concealing things, and what glory are humans getting to search out those things?

“of God” vs “of kings”


This might be the simplest difference. Why do you think Solomon said “kings” here instead of “peasants” or “white-collar workers” or someone from another station in life? (Hint: The answer here can be both contextual and conceptual.)

“to conceal” vs “to search out”


Here is the big issue. Why would God conceal something he knows humans are going to have to try to search out? Hint: Consider the way these two concepts are connected to each other.

“a matter” vs “a matter”

When a person is trying to search out a “matter,” what is their goal? (Don’t overthink this one.) When God looks at the “matter” at hand, what ultimate goal does he have for it? 

So, finally, explain: 

“It is the glory of God to conceal a matter,
but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.”

Listen to this song about questions.
As you do, use the ideas of the song to round out your personal questions list. (This is a list you’ll need in the Spotlights coming up.)

The repeated chorus of this song says this: “The one thing I don’t question is you, you really love me like you say you do.”


Do you like that quote? How could a person take issue with it?


How could a person find good in it?

Learn Perspective
A clearer question
is likely a good sign of a closer answer.

Let’s consider the impact of the pandemic response on education.
Since this series is all about asking questions (and kids are the ultimate question-askers), the Serve portions of the Spotlights in this series will focus on the impact of COVID-19 on education.


Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6

Watch this video to begin considering the impact.
(Yes, this video is all about the impact of the pandemic in the UK, but that is what makes it an ideal way to get a sense for what’s going on without the added pressure or controversy of it happening in your backyard.)


As you watch, pay attention, because at the end you’ll be asked to share your “most stunning statistic” from the video.


Stop watching at 7:15, when the video begins to discuss the “School Exam Result Controversy.” (Also, if you’d like, you can get away with watching at 1.5 speed.)

Now, discuss the video with your group.

1. What was the most surprising statistic from the video, to you? 
2. Are things worrying you about the way education has been affected by the pandemic? 
3. One way God approaches people’s questions is to empathize with them as they wait for an answer. How is Jesus able to empathize with the feelings of teachers during the pandemic? How is he able to empathize with the feelings of children during the pandemic? 
4. Based on what you heard in the video, in what ways has God provided solutions to some of the learning challenges poised by the pandemic?

Finally, acknowledge the complications the pandemic has brought by encouraging those directly impacted.


You can…

• Reach out and encourage a parent who is juggling kids at home. 
• Write a letter to a student you know just so they know you’re thinking of them and can read something that isn’t on a screen. 
• Send a Starbucks Gift Card to a teacher.

Feel free to submit a prayer request by filling out the below form.
(If you choose to make your request public, you'll see it display in the Current at the end of the Spotlight along with anyone else who did the same.)

Pray through your requests—together—as a group.
After submitting your requests in the above form, take some time to share with your group whatever requests the group might have for this week.

Serve Perspective
God made us to think, to ask questions,
and to help those who are asking.

Pray about questions, answers, and wisdom using the video below.
As you finish this first Spotlight of the series and embrace the questions, reflect prayerfully on what wise King Solomon learned after a lifetime of seeking answers to big questions.

Sing along with (or listen to) this song to close out this Spotlight.
Feel free to sing along or simply listen. Do what makes you comfortable—but do whatever helps you focus on the song's meaning best.

Farewell Perspective
The questions you hold may be God’s hand reaching out to hold on to you.

Let's wrap things up by taking a look at what's Current at Illume.

Tap on the buttons in the frame below to see what’s currently happening at Illume—information on everything from current and upcoming online content to live events and opportunities to serve in the community can all be found here.