Dealing with the "SSA"

We've all been there, haven't we? That moment in time whenever you as the leader ask a question and you get the classic "SSA", also known as the "Sunday School Answer". We all know the joke. A Sunday School teacher asks her class of 2nd graders this question: "What has a bushy tail, climbs trees, and likes to eat acorns." A boy raises his hand and the teacher calls on him to answer her question. He says, "The answer is Jesus, but it really sounds more like a squirrel to me."

Before we talk about how to respond to an SSA, what causes people in our classes to give them in the first place? There are several possible reasons for the SSA, but here are two of them.

One, there is something about being in a Bible study that causes people to give religious answers. Most people do not want to sound like a spiritual idiot, so we give an answer that others in the class will recognize as church "cw" (conventional wisdom). People nod their heads in agreement when they hear a response that rings with their conventional wisdom about the Bible. The classic answer that many people give in response to a question from the Bible often revolves around "God's will". Let's face it, no one is going to touch that answer!

But a second, and very sad reason why people give an SSA is that they don't feel safe in the group. There is a level of insecurity in all of us, and sharing something personal is too intimidating for most people. People might think less of me. So instead, we default to the SSA and opt for the safe answer. We breathe a sigh of relief as heads in the group nod approvingly at our answer, but on the inside we sometimes experience that, "if people here really knew what I think..." feeling.

So how do you cope with the Sunday School answer? Even more importantly, how do you get your people to open up so that a more honest, robust time of sharing can occur? This Sunday, when you go to teach your group, write these three words in the palm of your hand to remind you to use them.

Tell me more.

Yes, that's it. After someone gives you an SSA, just look at them and say, "That's interesting Jim, tell me more." Jim will look back, take a deep breath... and his next answer will have some depth behind it. Listen to him carefully, and then repeat back to him what you heard him say. "Jim, I heard you say... blah blah blah... did I get that right?" After Jim nods in approval, say the three magic words to Jim again. "Great Jim, tell me more!"

Jim's pump is primed! You have done three key things with Jim. First, by sharing "tell me more" the first time, you expressed interest in his answer. He feels safe going just a little deeper. Then, by repeating his answer back to him, you have given him what every person really wants when they talk... someone who will truly listen! Finally, you encouraged him even more by asking him to share further when you said, "tell me more" a second time. My experience with this process is that Jim will go even deeper. Also, other people in the class who a few just a few moments ago were sitting back in their chairs and uninvolved in the discussion are now sitting on the edge of their seat and can't wait to get into the conversation.

Now here is the bottom line. If you really want to develop that sense of community in your class, you have got to go beyond the SSA and get people to open up. It is a skill, but you can do it. Using "tell me more" is a way to bring greater depth of discussion about the Bible and about ourselves so that your class can truly function as a biblical community. You will not achieve biblical community in a class that only shares SSA's!!

By the way, I've seen this process work with 50 year olds, 15 year olds, and 5 year olds! If you are a man and married, some day when the love of your life is talking, look at her and say, "That's interesting honey, tell me more." It's better than a box of chocolates!

Comments

[Dave Evans]

In his book 7 Practices of Effective ministry, Andy Stanley challenges leaders to "figure out what is a win." Bob, you've hit the nail on the head with the SS class. SSA will not achieve a win in your class. We have to go into deeper water in order to really live in Biblical community together. A win for a teacher is not having (most) everyone show up & get through the lesson & then having the class spout back SSA! It's only when we share what God is showing us about our lives, what needs to change and what He IS changing in us that we will be living in Biblical community and winning!

[Troy Johnston]

Bob, SSA's come as a result of Sunday school members not knowing the answer the teacher is looking for and therefore they give the SSA. To avoid the SSA syndrom teachers should use more deductive learning tactics in their classroom teaching procedure. Posters on the wall, small group discovery times, etc. People in Sunday school want to be involved. It's alot more fun than just sitting there listening to a teacher lecture and then getting frustrated because you don't give the answer the "teacher is looking for," which is typically a book answer straight from the quarterly. Involvement in learning is the key to ending the SSA.

[Ken]

Bob, this may be a topic you'll discuss in another post this month. If so then ignore this and I'll pick up your thoughts at that time.

Another acronym might be SSPR - "Sunday School Prayer Request". These are prayer requests for your uncle's neighbor or a friend who is having marriage problems or whatever. It seems like the same underlying issue as the SSA and I think it creates a few problems such as:
1) No one ends up praying for each other because it's hard to get motivated to pray about a bunch of people you don't know.
2) We don't learn about each other's true needs.
3) No one wants to share personal requests because they get broadcast out to 50 people in a weekly e-mail.
4) Prayer requests basically becoming news/gossip. It's how we keep up with what's going on.

I think it is a barrier to the community you talked about in this article, just like the SSA. How do you overcome the SSPR-syndrome?

[Leo]

Ken, that's a very good point on SSPR. In SS time people have "learned" to be general and share only "harmless" prayer request. In more closed small group with a few people people (usually outside of church) tend to be more open.

Bob, great article on SSA. I think there should be a balance between letting people openly share their views and concluding with God's view from the Bible. Just last Sunday's Exploring The Bible on James 2:1-13, from favoritism we went out to discuss how to reach out to people not our kind. The SSA is we should love all the same as Jesus loves (and I believe it) but thank God we do have people expressing different opinions.

I am blessed to be on your blog subscription. Keep it up, Bro. Bob.

[joshhunt]

Here is how to deal with a SSA in two words. Just say: I disagree. Watch the attention level go way up.

Josh
www.joshhunt.com

[Felicia]

SSA's are a problem. It's the answer without thought. It skims the surface of the water without sinking to the bottom. When I first started teaching my SS class I countered every SSA with "Why?" Talk about your confused looks. I could see my ladies thinking, "But that was the right answer." And then someone else would venture an answer that would delve a little deeper. And someone else would pick up on that answer and and go deeper again. I try to never put anyone on the spot. The "Why's" were sometimes picked up by the first person to answer and sometimes by someone else in the class.

One way to stop a dialogue immediately, IMHO, is to tell a class member that they have given the wrong answer. There has to be a level of trust and respect in your class or you will have a very silent room. Which is not to say you can't disagree. Sometimes I do say I disagree. More often I will say I interpret this scripture in this way or that and give my reasons why. My ladies, on the other hand, are not shy at all about saying they disagree with me. It's all about the level of trust and respect that you build with your class members.

[Jake Livgren]

Bob I am loving this idea for your blog. I read the first couple of entries, but I've been out of town all week and just got home tonight. You may not remember me, but I went to one of your Sunday School seminars a few months ago. You might remember me, you mentioned I was the only person in the room under 50 (I was the 26 y/o guy).

Like everyone else, I hate the SSA. I'm not sure how posters encourage deeper comments, but I would like to learn if Troy would write another comment about them.

I do know that in my group I prefer your 'tell me more idea' to telling someone I disagree with them. Asking someone to go deeper and helping them unpack an idea seems more respectful to them as a person than telling them I disagree, especially in front of the whole class.

Maybe it is just my age. Disagreeing might work pretty well for older adults, but I agree with Felicia about this. No offense to Josh or anything.

[dscottp]

With all due respect to Josh, I fail to see why being intentionally disagreeable is an effective strategy for growing Sunday School or Bible study.
Continual disagreement might raise interest, but only like a train wreck raises interest. Discussion is going to go down.
It is the antithesis of creating a safe place to share thoughts and ideas.
"tell me more" is exactly what it says, an invitation to go further in discussion.
Well done Bob.