Ask Dumb Questions
Lessons in Curiosity from Jesus' Disciples
"Judge a man by his questions rather than by his answers." - Voltaire
This week, students across our city are heading back to school. My girls are among them, and like many parents, we’ll spend the next few days settling into new routines and embracing the fresh start that comes with another school year.
In the school spirit, I’m reminded of a habit I think many adults desperately need to recover: the willingness to ask dumb questions.
Now, before we go any further, let me clarify what I mean. I don’t believe there is actually such a thing as a dumb question. By “dumb,” I simply mean the kind of question we hesitate to ask because we’re afraid of how asking the question will make us look.
If you’ve spent any time reading the Gospels, you’ve probably noticed that Jesus’ disciples don’t always come across as the sharpest group of people. They misunderstand His parables, argue over who is the greatest, and occasionally say things that make us realize they completely missed the point.
It’s easy to criticize them, but I think much of that criticism comes from a privilege they never had: hindsight. We know how the story ends. We know Jesus dies, rises again, and sends the Holy Spirit. We know how many of His teachings fit together because we’ve had two thousand years to read, study, and reflect on them.
They didn’t.
The more I’ve read their story, the less interested I’ve become in criticizing them and the more interested I’ve become in learning from them. One lesson, in particular, continues to stand out: they asked questions.
Lots of them.
As a matter of fact, some of the greatest insights we have from Jesus came because one of the Twelve had the humility to ask what may have felt like a dumb question.
Let’s explore three that come to mind for me:
1. Thomas: Curiosity Clarifies Confusion
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”
Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:1-6 NIV
Thomas is often remembered for his doubt, but long before he questioned the resurrection, he courageously admitted something he didn’t understand. In John 14, after Jesus tells the disciples He is going away and they know the way, Thomas responds, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” That honest question becomes the occasion for one of the clearest declarations Jesus ever made about Himself: “I am the way and the truth and the life.” A revelation only made available because of Thomas’ humility.
2. The Twelve: Curiosity Learns from Failure
When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.”
“You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment.
Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”
He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
Matthew 17:14-21 NIV
After failing to cast a demon out of a young boy, the disciples waited until they were alone with Jesus before asking, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” They could have protected their pride, blamed the situation, or moved on. Instead, they chose curiosity over defensiveness. Their willingness to ask turned a public failure into a private classroom, and Jesus used that moment to teach them about faith, dependence, and prayer.
3. Peter: Curiosity Expands Our Perspective
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
Matthew 18:21-22 NIV
Peter approached Jesus with what he thought was a generous question: “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” He came looking for a limit, but Jesus gave him an entirely new vision. What began as a question about counting offenses became one of Scripture’s greatest lessons on forgiveness. The right question doesn’t just lead to information; it opens the door for transformation.
How many people have been robbed of insight because they were too afraid to inquire?
May that not be true of us.
So here’s to asking more dumb questions.
What I Read:
The Coaching Habit by Michael Bungay Stanier
I first picked up The Coaching Habit while pursuing my coaching certifications. It taught me that curiosity isn't just a personality trait; it's a skill that can be developed through better questions. Whether you're leading a team, raising children, or simply trying to grow as a person, this book will help you cultivate the kind of curiosity we’ve been talking about.
What I’m Listening To:
I've been listening to a lot of podcasts lately, not primarily for the content but to study the craft. I'm committed to what I jokingly call the "Frankenstein approach" to learning: taking a little from many people, synthesizing it, and developing a style that's authentically my own.
What KS Is Up To:
This past Sunday, we continued our summer series, KS at the Movies, which is our attempt to copy Jesus’ illustrative genius by using movies as modern-day parables.
The Week 5 message was based on the movie Creed III. I’ll post a link to our church’s podcast, which is now on Substack as well, so you can check out the recap.
Week 6 is based on Annie, where we'll explore how faith fuels the future.