Ask thoughtful questions and keep conversation focused.
A meaningful discussion helps people explore Scripture, learn from one another, and consider how to follow Jesus. Your role is to guide that process with preparation, thoughtful questions, and attentive listening.
Facilitate rather than lecture
You don’t need to explain every detail or answer every question yourself. Invite people to engage with Scripture and contribute to the conversation.
Use the 20/80 principle as a guide: speak or guide about 20 percent of the time, allowing group members to contribute the other 80 percent. This is a helpful reminder, not a stopwatch.
Offer context or clarification when needed, then return the conversation to the group.
Ask questions that open conversation
Choose questions that invite people to notice, reflect, and respond. Questions beginning with “what” or “how” often create more discussion than questions with a simple yes-or-no answer.
For example:
“What stands out to you in this passage?”
“What do we learn about Jesus here?”
“What feels challenging about putting this into practice?”
Ask one question at a time and give people a moment to think. Avoid answering your own question immediately or filling every silence.
Follow up with curiosity
A thoughtful follow-up can help someone move beyond their first response. Listen to what they actually say before deciding what to ask next.
Try:
“Can you tell us more about that?”
“What in the passage leads you to that understanding?”
“How does that connect with what you’re experiencing?”
“What might that look like in everyday life?”
“Does anyone else have a thought to add?”
Use follow-up questions to understand and explore. Avoid pressing someone to share more personally than they’re comfortable with.
Keep the conversation connected to Scripture
Help your group move through three simple steps:
Observation — What does the passage say?
Notice the people, events, repeated words, and details.
Interpretation — What does it mean?
Consider the surrounding context and what the author is communicating. Invite people to explain how their understanding connects with the passage.
Application — How will we respond?
Explore what the passage means for how people think, act, relate to others, and follow Jesus.
When an interpretation seems disconnected from the text, respond with curiosity: “Let’s look at that part again. How does it fit with what’s happening around it?”
Bring a wandering discussion back into focus
Some side conversations help people connect. Others pull the group away from the purpose of the discussion.
When it’s time to redirect, acknowledge the contribution and name where you’re going:
“Thanks for sharing that. Let’s bring it back to the question.”
“That’s a bigger topic than we can give time to tonight. Let’s connect afterward.”
“I want to make sure we leave time to talk about how we’ll respond to this passage.”
You can redirect warmly and clearly without making someone feel embarrassed for contributing. I (Anna) tend to make a playful joke when we’ve wandered far off course. This usually leads to laughter and getting us back on track.
Respond calmly when tension rises
If conversation becomes argumentative, interrupt gently before it takes over.
You might say: “Let’s pause. We can ask questions and see things differently while still treating one another with respect.”
If political debate or another divisive topic pulls the group away from its purpose, remind everyone of the Group Agreement and return to the discussion.
Shepherd the room first. Follow up personally afterward when a concern needs more attention. Reach out to your coach, Network Lead or Anna for help with recurring tension or a situation you’re unsure how to handle.
Be honest when you don’t know
You don’t have to improvise an answer to a difficult question. In fact, we highly recommend you don’t.
Try: “That’s a good question, and I’m not sure. I’d like to look into it and follow up.”
You can invite observations from the passage, but avoid turning uncertainty into a guessing exercise. Ask your coach or Anna for guidance, and return to the question once you have helpful information.
Leave room for a response
Before you finish, ask: “What’s one thing you want to put into practice from this conversation?”
Allow people to respond without requiring everyone to share. Close by praying about what you’ve learned and the steps people want to take.
The goal is to help people engage with Scripture and respond to Jesus. Let that guide your choices about which questions to explore and when to move on.