A Thousand Questions

(Willow Creek Productions 2008)
Main Point of Discussion: God truly desires to use us to help the hurting, free the captive, and bring God’s love to a lost and dying world.

The Movie Clip: A Thousand Questions

This video was produced for the 2008 Willow Creek Leadership Summit. It is a powerful combination of images, music, and content that chronicles a young filmmaker’s journey through questioning God and eventually submitting to His call to minister to the lost world. It would be especially useful as a motivation talk before a mission trip.

Introducing the Clip:
Today I want to show you a video called ‘A Thousand Questions’. As you watch it, put yourself in the place of the main character and see if you can relate to where she’s coming from- especially the questions she asks.

Show the Clip:
Available online at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiNBmNl88Pk

Transitional Statement:
This video captures so much in such a short time, but as you saw, it painted an incredible picture of the struggle many – if not most – Christians face when we see the suffering and injustice in the world, and try to harmonize that with God’s loving nature and perfect plan.

Divide into Small Groups:
Let’s go ahead and split up into our discussion groups, and then afterward we’ll come back together for a final word.

CLICK HERE for a quick training article on how to maximize your small groups using our small group format—a great resource to equip your small group leaders.

Discussion Questions:

1. AROUND THE CIRCLE: Before we begin, tell everyone your name and where you have traveled in your lifetime?


2. ASK A FEW: What, if any, injustice and suffering have you witnessed either here or abroad?


3. ASK A FEW: What feelings did you experience while watching the video?


4. ASK A FEW: Could you relate to any of the questions she asked? If so, which ones?


5. ASK A FEW: What was the connection between the tragic images and the song ‘This is My Father’s World’?


6. ASK A FEW: What conclusion did she come to with regards to God’s plan and promise to bring healing and justice to a fallen and evil world? (i.e. God wants to use us to bring about His promises)

Read the following passage:

Isaiah 6:1-8 (New Living Translation)
It was in the year King Uzziah died that I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple. Attending him were mighty seraphim, each having six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. They were calling out to each other,

“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Heaven’s Armies!

The whole earth is filled with his glory!”


Their voices shook the Temple to its foundations, and the entire building was filled with smoke.

Then I said, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.”

Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. 7 He touched my lips with it and said, “See, this coal has touched your lips. Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven.”

Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?”

I said, “Here I am. Send me.”



7. ASK SOMEONE: How does this passage relate to the video?


8. ASK A FEW: Why did Isaiah feel unworthy to be used by God?


9. ASK A FEW: Have you ever felt unworthy to be sent by God? Why or why not?


10. ASK A FEW: Why doesn’t God just take care of suffering and injustice Himself?


11. ASK A FEW: How does Jesus’ death and payment for sin impact your view of suffering in the world?


12. ASK A FEW: Why do you think the people in the video were willing to say ‘Here am I, send me’?


13. ASK A FEW: Why was Isaiah willing to be sent?


14. AROUND THE CIRCLE: Why are so many Christians unwilling to be used by God to help a lost and dying world?


15. ASK A FEW: What are the risks associated with telling God ‘Here am I, send me’?


16. ASK A FEW: What are the rewards?


17. ASK A FEW: If you told God that you wanted Him to use you, what might He change in your life?

Wrap Up:
God’s plan and desire is for each of us to tell Him, “Here am I, send me”. The problem is, we are usually afraid and wonder if God will make a mistake. When we let our fears stop us from giving our lives to God to be used by Him, we miss out on the greatest and most fulfilling life possible. The “me first” instead of “God first” mentality is the reason so many people think the Christian life is boring. But believe me, and believe God’s promise, that when you say, “Here am I, send me,” you cannot image the amazing and abundant life God will give you. It’s not the easiest, and probably not even the happiest…but it is the most joyful and rewarding! Tonight I want to give you a chance to respond to God’s question: Who will go for us?

Ask the students to close their eyes and bow their heads and picture standing before God and hearing Him ask the question “Who will go for Me?” After a few minutes, challenge them to stand and say, “Here am I, send me,” if they genuinely feel led. Let them know it is OK not to stand, but you want to give people a chance to respond. After students have stood, ask everyone to stand and close in prayer.

Close in Prayer

Written by Lane Palmer