Here’s the situation: you’re in a conversation with someone about the Gospel. The person you’re talking with says, “Let me ask you a question.” You feel a pit forming in your stomach because there are some questions you really, really don’t want to be asked.

I want to build up an inventory of those questions, so let me have ’em. Please use the mail form to send in your questions—I’ve turned off the comments because I don’t want anybody to be afraid of asking questions “in public.” (Note: if you’d actually like a question answered, please indicate that on the mail form and someone will get in touch with you.)

To jump-start your brainstorming, here are some categories of questions you might come up with…

Hostile Questions

These come from your lawyer friend who is out to get you. The questions are all attempts to trap you. The questions are phrased just right so that you can’t give a simple answer… the questions are loaded, misleading, or are asked in such a way that no matter what you say, he’s got you.

Example: Luke 20:19-26

Genuine, Interested, Sincere Questions

These are the questions you want to be asked. People who are really seeking after the truth have good, honest questions. They are seeking to understand. If you don’t have the answers, don’t pretend that you do… but it’s all the better if you have solid answers for these sincere questions.

Example: Acts 8:26-40

Confused, Clueless Questions

These come from the person who doesn’t even know what question he should be asking. It’s the person who doesn’t ask much, but the questions he does manage to ask are so vague that you can’t do much with them. Or maybe the whole question is based on some wrong thinking that you have to deal with before you can really address the question. These questions leave you muttering to yourself, “man, where do I even start?”

Scary Questions Kids Ask

Parents, you know what I’m talking about… ’nuff said.

Complicated, Smarty-pants, Mr. Wiseguy Questions

Your friend the professor routinely hits you with these. He starts with everything he knows about life, the universe, and everything, and from these “simple facts” he asks you to answer the most bizarre, complicated, or technical questions you’ve ever heard.

Ask Away

Have a question like any of those? Fire away!