Ever opened a small group to expect a lively conversation about the week’s passage only to be met with blank stares and shaky “umms”? You’re not alone. Facilitating rich dialogue when no one has done the reading feels like trying to start a campfire with wet wood—but it’s possible. These small group discussion tips will help you shepherd the conversation forward without shaming anyone, building trust and engagement even when people come unprepared.
Small Group Discussion Tips
Most folks don’t skip the reading because they hate Scripture (usually). They skip it because life is messy, busy, and distracting. Some show up hoping the group will read together. Others expect to be fed insight. Either way, your role isn’t to scold but to shepherd. The goal isn’t perfect preparation. It’s faithful engagement with God and one another.
RELATED: Avoid the “Spiritual Growth” Trap
Set a Tone of Grace and Expectation
Start the group by gently affirming that the Bible is central, but that each person’s spiritual journey matters more than a checkbox. Say something like, “We’re here to wrestle with this text together, whether anyone’s read it yet or we read it now as a family.” That signals grace and intention.
Here’s a practical way to do it:
• Begin with a Scripture reading out loud together as a group.
• Ask a simple reflective question like, “What jumped out at you in that passage?”
• If no one has an answer, read again with a focused prompt (“listen for encouragement,” “listen for conviction”).
Small Group Discussion Tips That Invite Everyone In
Forget sermon review questions. Good questions invite conversation without requiring prior homework.
Try openers like these:
• What surprised you most in the passage?
• If Jesus were sitting here, what might He ask you?
• How does this text challenge or comfort you today?
These kinds of questions don’t require memorization or prep. They invite people to connect with the text based on what God is doing in their lives right now.
You can borrow from proven frameworks like the Disciple Making Movement questions:
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What does the passage say?
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How would you rephrase it in your own words?
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What will you do in response this week?
Those help people engage the Bible in the moment instead of feeling like they blew it by not reading ahead.
Read Together, Don’t Quiz
People freeze when they think they’re being tested. So don’t ask questions like “What chapter is this?” or “What did you read?” Instead, circle up and read part of the passage together and use simple reflection prompts like:
• “What phrase stands out to you?”
• “What might God be saying to someone feeling discouraged? To someone celebrating?”
Reading together as a group relieves the pressure to prepare and models how to engage Scripture as a community.
