John MacArthur Tribute (Day 5): Questions and Answers

Questions and answer times (Q/A’s) make me a little nervous for 2 reasons: first, I have no idea what will be asked and second, I am not “good on my feet.”

The people that ask questions are “wild cards.” You never have any idea what will come from their lips.

• Will they ask about an exegetical insight they had that you have never seen in a text?

• Will they ask you a speculative question you may not be able to answer well (e.g., “Where did Satan’s sin come from?”)

• Will they ask a combative or critical question that might be motivated by undermining your authority?

You see? Wild cards!

I respect men and women who regularly conduct Q/A’s, because they can be a real challenge for the one who is being asked to answer questions.

And there is biblical precedent for Q/A’s. In Acts 17:1-2, Paul reasoned with the people in the synagogue. That word “reason” means “dialogued.” Paul was not preaching or teaching, as we think about preaching or teaching.

There was back-and-forth. There were questions and there were answers. Paul was committed to both monologue AND dialogue.

With that said, I know no one, and I mean no one, who is better equipped and more gifted for Q/A’s than John MacArthur. I have been a part of many Q/A’s with many men and women who know the Scripture well, but none of them come close to MacArthur’s role during a Q/A.

It’s not just His knowledge of the Scriptures that serve Him well; MacArthur is simply called to this special ministry in the local church and he excels in serving there.

If you have never seen MacArthur in this kind of setting, there isn’t a “go-to” Q/A to watch or listen to on the web. I would encourage you to simply go to YouTube, search for “John MacArthur Q/A” and just pick one. You will not be disappointed.

Here is a sample of one: