After sharing Bible stories with children, one of my favorite ways to engage with the story is through wondering questions. Wondering questions don’t always have answers and aren’t really questions, but invitations to engage with scripture.

I wonder what animal God created first…
I wonder what manna tasted like…
I wonder what the rocky soil could be…
I wonder what part of the story was most important…
I wonder where you see yourself in this story…

Wondering questions create space for minds to wander and listen for the Holy Spirit. Freed from the bounds of “right” answers, we find space to marvel (and wrestle) with the Bible.

The Gospel of Luke opens with wondering and questions. Zechariah questions the angel Gabriel when he learns that Elizabeth is going to have a son. Later, Gabriel visits Mary who “was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this must be” (Luke 1:29, NIV). She continues to question Gabriel before accepting God’s call and is filled with wonder at all God has done. The Bible is full of stories where God’s people wonder, and the Christmas story is no exception.

In class, wondering questions always end with the leader inviting the group to share their wonderings. “I wonder what you wonder about…” The responses always catch me by surprise and challenge me to think in new ways.

As we journey through Advent, where can we make room to wonder? Who can we wonder with? How can we share our wonderings with God?

I wonder how Mary felt about being a mom…
I wonder if Joseph worried about providing for his family…
I wonder how Mary and Joseph found hope…
I wonder how God shared the good news of Jesus’ birth…
I wonder what you wonder this Advent…

– Faith Kemmler