Category Archives: Discussion Questions

Good discussion questions are typically somewhat open-ended and debatable, but are also specific enough to promote a focused exchange of ideas on a specific thought.

What the Bible Says about Mothers

God, who created moms, has a very high regard for motherhood. He even compares His love for His children to the nursing mother’s love for her own child. As Christians, we are called to reverence our moms and to honor them accordingly. “Success as a family, as a society depends not on what happens at the White House, but on what happens inside your house.” Barbara Bush, 1990.

What does the Bible teach about Mothers?

 

  • It has been said, “The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world.” Read Proverbs 14:1 and discuss the influence of mothers.
    What influence has your mother played in your own life?
  • In Proverbs 31:10-12, it says “A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.”
    How she your mother blessed you by being the woman described in this passage.
  • Proverbs 31:26-31 says “She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: Many woman do noble things, but you surpass them all.” Charm is deceptive , and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.”
    What are some precious instructions for life you learned from your mother?
  • “As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.” (Isaiah 66:13)
    In what ways has the comfort of your mother taught you about the comfort of God?
  • In what ways is a mother described in these verses: Exodus 2:1-10; 2 Kings 4:19-37; Luke 7:12-15; Luke 2:51
    How has your mother shown these qualities?
  • Read Proverbs 31:10-31, Matthew 6:24-34, Titus 2:4-5, 1 Peter 3:1-4
    What does the Word of God say about working mothers at home and working mothers at work? When is working a complement to motherhood, and when does it crowd it out because of materialism?
  • How does God feel about single mothers and how does He help them? How can we help, encourage, and comfort single mothers who are struggling? 
    (See Exodus 22:22-24, Deuteronomy 10:18, 14:29, 24:19-21, 26:12, Ruth 4:10, Psalm 16:7-11, 68:5, 146:9, Proverbs 15:25, Isaiah 1:17, 41:10, 53:3-6, Jeremiah 29:11-13, Mark 12:42-43, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4)
  • What word do we find for moms & dads as parents in Proverbs 13:24 and Proverbs 29:15-17?
    Why is this significant?
  • Read Galatians 4:4-7, Ephesians 1:15-20, 3:14-21
    In what ways are we blessed, who belong to Him who was born of a woman? 
  • Based on what we have learned, What is our responsibility toward our moms? 
    (See Exodus 20:12, Leviticus 19:3, Proverbs 1:7-8; Ephesians 6:2; Deuteronomy 21:18,19; Genesis 32:11; John 19:25-27)


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David and Saul

Bible Passage : I Samuel 24:1-31:13; 26:8-9, 21-25
Focus: Authority

Questions for discussion
1. Should God’s anointed be treated different from other men? Are they subject to the same judgment as others? What should our response be to those God has placed in positions of authority over us?

  • Parents
  • A husband/ wife
  • Pastors
  • Church leaders
  • Police
  • employer
  • Politicians
  • School teacher
  • Sunday School teacher

2. What authorities in your life do you have a difficult time submitting to? Why?

3. How should we respond when the actions and decisions of those in authority over us seem unjust?

4. Are you as content in your life as David seems to be, to simply let God accomplish his own will, in his own way, in his own timing?

5. What areas do you find difficult leaving them up to God?

6. What excuses could David have used to justify his killing of Saul?

7. We often try to get around rules and are impatient and try to make God’s will come true by our own efforts. What do David’s actions indicate in this regard?

8. Why do you think David showed respect for authority EVEN THOUGH that authority (Saul) was acting in a manner that was WRONG?

9. What can we learn from David’s response to authority in dealing with those who have authority over us?

10. David apologizes to Abigail and Saul apologizes to David? Analyze the similarities and differences between their apologies.

11. Is revenge sweet or bitter? Explain?

12. Which of the quotes below is David most likely to agree with and which ones Saul is most likely to agree with:

  • “Revenge is a dish best served cold” -Khan- Star Trek: Wrath of Khan
  • “Do unto others then split”
  • “Do unto others BEFORE they do unto you.”
  • “Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot” Dt 19:21
  • “However rich or powerful a man may be, it is the height of folly to make personal enemies; for one unguarded moment may yield to you the revenge of the most despicable of mankind.” – Lyttleton
  • “Observe thyself as thy greatest enemy would do, so shalt thou be thy greatest friend.” – Jeremy Taylor
  • “If we could read the secret history of our enemies, we should find in each man’s sorrow and suffering enough to disarm all hostility.” -Longfellow
  • “In taking revenge a man is but equal to his enemy, but in passing it over he is superior” – Bacon.

13. What lessons can we learn from David’s interaction with Saul for responding to those in authority over us?

Questions Making the Rounds

Description
Using this active activity to discuss questions with random partners before a group discussion. It works best with issues that will have a variety of perspectives or where everyone might have a different answer.

Materials
None

Setup

  1. Divide the participants into two groups.
  2. The first group lines up in a circle facing outward.
  3. The second group then forms a circle facing inward, matching up with someone on the inside circle. (In the case of an uneven number of participants, one person may be without a partner.)

 

What to do

  1. Call out a question for discussion among the pairs.
  2. After a few minutes, call out “rotate” for the outer circle to rotate one person to the right.
  3. After getting a few perspectives, change the question.
  4. Then discuss the questions as a group.

 

Variation
Use icebreaker questions like those found in Favourites

The Christmas Story: The Birth of Jesus

The Birth of Christ
(Matthew 1:18-2:12; Luke 2:1-40)

Use these discussion questions for the various events in the Christmas Story related to the birth of Christ.

  • How do you think Mary and Joseph felt about traveling and her pregnancy?
  • How would you feel after walking 70 miles?
  • Who was in control of the events leading to Jesus’ birth-God or Caesar?
  • What does the census tell us about God’s timing and control of world events?
  • How did God use Caesar’s census to fulfill Old Testament prophecy?
  • Has anything ever happened to you that you later understood to be in God’s plan?
  • With no room in the inn, what do you think Mary and Joseph might have felt?
  • Do you think someone might have made room if they had known more about the child Mary was carrying?
  • In what ways do we make room for Jesus? Have there been times in your own life when you failed to make room for him?
  • What can we learn about Mary and Joseph from the events related to the Census and the Birth?
  • Why do you think God arranged these circumstances in this way?
  • Have there been times in your own life, when you knew God’s plans, but circumstances seemed to be in conflict with that plan?

 

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The Christmas Story: The Wisemen (Magi)

Magi (Wise Men)
(Matthew 2:1-18)

Use these discussion questions for the various events in the Christmas Story related to the Wise men.

  • Why was Jesus important to the Wise men?
  • Since they were not even Jews, why do you think the wise men left everything to search for Jesus?
  • What were the possible meanings for the gifts brought by the Magi?
  • How did the wise men respond when they found Jesus? What is our response when we find Jesus?
  • What kind of king do you think Herod was?
  • Why was Herod so threatened by a baby? What was it that he feared if Jesus were allowed to his place in history?
  • What fears do you have if Jesus were to fulfill his place in your life?
  • If God had not spoken to the Magi in a dream, what could have happened to Jesus?
  • What are some lessons, truths, attitudes, and responses can we learn from the Wise men? Herod?

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The Christmas Story: Shepherds

Shepherds
(Luke 2:8-10)

Use these discussion questions for the various events in the Christmas Story related to the Shepherds.

  • What did it feel like to be a shepherd? Angel? A character in the manger scene?
  • Why did the angels appear to the shepherds and not someone else? How does this relate to Mary’s song?
  • Could the shepherds have chosen to accept or decline the angel’s invitation? What did they choose to do?
  • How long do you think it took them to decide?
  • Why do you think it was important to them to see the Baby Jesus first hand?
  • Why did the shepherds drop everything to go find out about some baby? Why were they so excited?
  • What does this “baby” mean to them?
  • What does this “baby” mean to us?
  • Why was the birth of Christ Good News?
  • What are some lessons, truths, attitudes, and responses can we learn from the shepherds?

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The Christmas Story – Joseph

Joseph
(Matthew 1:18-14, 2:13-15; Luke 2:1-7)

Use these discussion questions for the various events in the Christmas Story related to Joseph.

  • How would you feel if you had been in Joseph’s shoes? What would you say to family, friends, and co-workers?
  • What two options did Joseph consider? If a young unmarried man in today’s culture received word that his girlfriend was pregnant, what options might he consider? What was God’s option for Joseph?
  • What can we learn about righteousness and faith from Joseph?
  • What are some lessons, truths, attitudes, and responses can we learn from Joseph?

 

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The Christmas Story – Mary, Mother of Jesus

Mary, Mother of Jesus
(Matthew 1:18, Luke 1:26-56, 2:1-19)

Use these discussion questions for the various events in the Christmas Story related to Mary.

  • How did God’s Words to Mary compare with those given to Elizabeth and Zechariah?
  • What was Mary’s response?
  • How does Mary’s response compare to that of other characters in the Christmas story?
  • What things were revealed to Mary? Why do you think these things were revealed to her? How would these things affect her life?
  • What feelings might she have had upon hearing these things? What fears, doubts and expectations might she have?
  • How do you think Mary felt about giving birth to the promised Messiah?
  • Considering the time and the culture in which Mary lived, do you think that Mary felt she was special enough to be used by God?
  • Do you think she truly understood everything?
  • Her response was from the position that she was God’s servant. If you responded to God in the same way, what is he asking you to do? “I am the Lord’s servant. Therefore, I will…”
  • Why do you think God chose Mary?
  • How do you think Mary felt upon hearing Elizabeth’s greeting?
  • What are some things that Mary’s song reveal about her? What are some of the themes? What does it say about her view of God? What does it say about God’s plans? How does this song compare with that of Zechariah?
  • What was Mary’s response at the end to all the events of Christmas?
  • What are some lessons, truths, attitudes, and responses can we learn from Mary?

 

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The Christmas Story – Zechariah and Elizabeth

Use these discussion questions for the various events in the Christmas Story.

Zechariah and Elizabeth (Luke 1:5-25)

  • What do we know about Zechariah and Elizabeth?
  • How are they related to Mary?
  • How do you think they felt to have been unable to have children for so long? Was their response justified?
  • What are some things of God that you have doubted in your own life?
  • Why do you think God took away Zechariah’s ability to speak?
  • What was John’s mission to be? How do you think his parents felt after learning of a son and what he would do?
  • In what ways might Zechariah’s and Elizabeth’s wishes for a child and what he would become have differed from what God wanted for their child?
  • How do you think their lives changed after knowing they would have a son?
  • How do you think they felt when he was actually born? What fears, doubts, expectations might they have had?
  • What are some things that Zechariah’s song reveal about him?
  • What are some of the themes? What does it say about his view of God? What does it say about God’s plans?
  • What are some lessons, truths, attitudes, and responses can we learn from Elizabeth and Zechariah?

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Favorite?

These discussion questions make great icebreakers to allow people to get to know each other a little better.

DO YOU Have other discussion questions using the word ‘favorite”? Please add at least ONE as a comment so we can increase this list together!

  • Do you have a favorite painting or drawing? What makes it special to you?
  • Growing up, what was your favorite comic strip?
  • Growing up, what was your favorite fairy tale or children’s story?
  • What are your favorite television shows? How frequently do you watch them?
  • What is one of your favorite quotes? Why is it special to you?
  • What is your all-time favorite movie, and how many times have you seen it?
  • What is your favorite bumper sticker or t-shirt slogan?
  • What is your favorite poem or saying? Why is it your favorite?
  • What is your favorite style of music?
  • What was your favorite subject in school? Why?
  • What’s one of your favorite birthday memories?
  • What’s one of your favorite questions to ask? What’s your favorite question to answer?
  • What’s one of your least favorite things to do? Why?
  • What’s the name of your favorite magazine? What do you like most about it?
  • What’s your all-time favorite band?
  • What’s your all-time favorite meal, and how often do you enjoy it?
  • What’s your favorite aroma or fragrance?
  • What’s your favorite beverage?
  • What’s your favorite Bible verse and why?
  • What’s your favorite board game? Do you usually win?
  • What’s your favorite color? Why?
  • What’s your favorite fast-food restaurant and how often do you go there?
  • What’s your favorite genre of literature?
  • What’s your favorite kind of candy?
  • What’s your favorite picnic memory?
  • What’s your favorite place to go when you want to be alone? Why?
  • What’s your favorite room in your home? Why?
  • What’s your favorite spectator sport, and how often do you watch it?
  • What’s your favorite subject to discuss? Why?
  • Where’s your favorite place to take out-of-town guests?
  • Who was your favorite teacher growing up, and what did you like most about him or her?
  • Who’s your favorite comedian?
  • Who’s your favorite talk show host?

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Spiritual Armor – Ephesians 6

A. The Belt of Truth

The first step in preparation for battle was for men to gird their loins. Men in ancient times wore long, loose robes. These robes were difficult to run in and could hinder a person fighting in battle. Because of this, men would pull the robes up and tie them about their wastes with a belt. From this belt they would also attach other battle gear. The belt of truth is that on which our other equipment rests. The scabbard for a sword and the breastplate are both attached to the belt.

  • Why is truth so important in spiritual battle?
  • What are some of the worlds lies about life? Satan’s lies?
  • How can untruths (lies) hinder us in spiritual battle?

B. The Breastplate of Righteousness

The breastplate guards your heart (See Psalm 119:11). Our basic defence against evil is obedience to the will of God as revealed in the Bible. Wrong actions and thoughts are weak spots through which Satan can shoot his flaming arrows. (see also Proverbs 4:23: It is important for the Christian to guide his mind and his heart. Why? They determine our actions. You might discuss ways to guard our heart and mind.)

  • Why is righteousness important in spiritual battle?
  • What are some weak spots in your breastplate (i.e. areas that you are vulnerable to spiritual attack)?

C. The Shoes of the Gospel of Peace

Bad shoes can really have an impact on you in the battle. If you have ever run for any distance with a bad pair of shoes you understand the difference good shoes can make. The gospel is one of peace—peace between God and man. Because of the peace we have with God we are able to fight our battles. (see also Romans 10:13-15)

  • Do you have peace with God? Why or why not?
  • How can peace with God help you to be a better soldier in battle?

D. The Shield of Faith

The shield Paul mentions is not a small round shield, but the shield common in his time. It measured about 2 1/2 feet across and about 4 feet tall. It was made of leather, often soaked in water so that it could protect against flaming arrows. Faith is trust in God. The root of most sin is a lack of trust that God can or will meet your needs. Because we do not trust God, we try to meet our own needs, in ways that are harmful to us. God created us and knows us best so he is best able to meet our needs. Faith thus becomes our protection against harm.

  • Why is faith so important in spiritual battle? How does it protect us from attacks?
  • What are some areas in which you have a hard time trusting God?

E. The Helmet of Salvation

The head is the most vital area of a soldier. Often as a soldier looked above his shield his head was vulnerable. With Christ as your savior, you are no longer vulnerable.

  • Are you wearing the helmet of salvation? If so, when were you saved? If not, why not?
  • How does a person become saved?

F. The Sword of the Spirit

The “sword of the Spirit” is the only offensive weapon listed. It is the only weapon adequate for spiritual battle. Only through God’s Word can we fight our battles. (See Psalm 119:11 and Hebrews 4:12) Whenever a soldier goes to battle, he takes his weapons with him. Christians are often involved in spiritual battle, yet we often leave our “swords” at home. We fail to practice using our swords and then don’t even take them to battle. Memorizing scripture helps us to have our swords available at all time. Christ was always prepared for battle and armed with the “sword.” (see Matthew 4)

  • Why is the Bible important in spiritual battle?
  • Do you practice using your “sword” of the Spirit?
  • Do you keep your scripture knowledge sharp or do you let it rust?
  • Do you carry your sword with you to battle?
  • Do you memorize scripture?

Spiritual Battle Discussion Questions

What best describes my current situation in spiritual battle? Explain your answer.

  • In basic training
  • In the mess hall
  • Running from the battle
  • Running to the battle
  • In communication with Headquarters
  • In the latrine
  • Dedicated to my mission
  • A prisoner of war (P.O.W.)
  • Camouflaged
  • Absent without leave (A.W.O.L.)
  • A M.A.S.H. unit
  • Wounded
  • On the front lines
  • Obeying my orders
  • Ready to help other soldiers
  • Practicing my drills daily
  • Military observer
  • Sitting Duck
  • Covert Operations

My biggest problems in spiritual battles are: (Explain your answer)

  1. I forget my equipment
  2. I run away from battles
  3. I doubt my enlistment into the army of God
  4. Enemy distractions
  5. Fatigue (I’m tired)
  6. I lose communication with the Commander
  7. I don’t know my training manual
  8. Family road blocks
  9. The enemy takes me prisoner to sin
  10. I lose focus in the battle
  11. I fail to trust the commander
  12. Sneak attacks on my faith
  13. Sabataged friendships
  14. I worry about what others will think
  15. Enlisting God’s help
  16. False intelligence
  17. Lack of courage
  18. Too many battles at one time
  19. Fear
  20. Other?_________________________

Questions for Youth

  • Who are your heroes?
  • Name one person in the church you look up to or respect and why?
  • Name one peer you look up to and why?
  • What spiritual question do you find most puzzling?
  • If you could change one thing in the church or about the church what would you change?
  • What was your most meaningful spiritual moment? Why?
  • What is your biggest struggle as a Christian?
  • When? Where? How did you accept Christ?
  • Have you been baptized? Why or why not?
  • What is your greatest strength as a Christian?
  • What is your greatest weakness as a Christian?
  • What part of the Christian walk do you find most difficult for you to do?
  • What types of people do you have the most difficulty relating to?
  • What is your parent’s most common complaint about you?
  • What is your most common complaint about your parent?

Father’s Day Discussion

  1. Why is Father’s Day celebrated? Why is such a day good/beneficial?
  2. How old was your father when he got married? At what age do most men in our country get married?
  3. In our culture, what are a father’s duties to his children? to his wife? to his parents? to his community?
  4. What does your father do?
  5. What are your father’s hobbies?
  6. What makes a good father?
  7. What makes a bad father?
  8. What is your favorite memory of your father?
  9. What do you like best about your father?
  10. How can you show your love for your father?
  11. How can you show your father you appreciate him?

Variation
“My Father is the best Because… ”
Each student is given one minute to give as many reasons as possible why his or her father is the best father in the world.

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We Doubt It

question.jpgMaterials
Form two teams to play

Activity
1. Each person one a team is given a chance to tell the opposing team something about his / herself. They may choose to say something that is true or something that is false. For example, someone could say, “My favorite food is my mom’s fried chicken” or “I went to the school swimming meet on Friday night.”
2. The other team will try to guess if the person is telling the truth. If they think he/she is lying, they’ll say, “We doubt it.” If they think he / she is telling the truth, they’ll say, “We believe you.”
3. If the person sharing the info fools the opposing team, his/her team gets a point. If the other team guesses correctly, it gets a point.
4. Alternate teams until each person has had a chance to tell something about themselves.
5. Tally the score, and declare a winner.

Debrief
* What was it like to try to guess if someone was telling the truth?
* How is this similar to real life situations?

Read the story John 20:24-31 then ask:
* How is this game like trying to decide whether to believe what Jesus says? How is it different?
* What are some things that you have doubted in the Bible? About God?
* What are some of your doubts?
* Are doubts good or bad?

Application
Doubting Thomas exemplifies an honest seeker that asks for solid evidence before belief. Jesus did not reject his questioning, instead He met his questions head-on and provided the evidence Thomas needed to believe. We see in scripture that God does not reject honest and sincere seeking after the truth. If some obstruction occurs in our trust and relationship with God that impedes progress, then God does give us room to ask questions. The issue that remains is how do we go about seeking after the truth.

Tic Tac Toe Chairs

tictac.jpgPreparation
1. Arrange nine people into a 3 X 3 grid of chairs.
2. Prepare a series of questions related to your topic. Give the questions to the nine people in advance.
3. Divide the rest of the group into two teams. Designate one team as X and the other as O.
4. Large printed X and O for each of the nine people sitting in the tic-tac-toe grid
Game Play
1. The team chooses a square
2. A moderator, Game Host, asks the next question to the person in the desired square.
3. This person may answer the question truthfully or create an answer that sounds truthful i.e. bluff. (The people in the squares are provided correct answers to factual questions, but are not obligated to use them)
4) The team member decides to agree or disagree with the answer given. The team must then correctly decide whether it is a bluff or the person is giving the correct answer to get control of that square. Team members may not talk to each other and must take turns.
5) If the team member’s decision is correct s/he receives the team’s X or O in the square. If incorrect the opponent teams X or O is placed into the square.
6) Teams alternate
7) First team to get tic – tac – toe is the winner of this round.

Have enough questions for multiple rounds. Team that wins the most rounds is the voerall winner.

Questions with Purpose

Things to consider when creating questions for Discussion

The best teachers:
1) have the greatest knowledge of the material,
2) have the strongest feelings concerning its importance, and
3) are the ones who are most consistently applying it to their lives.

By influencing thinking and feelings towards issues and Biblical Teaching you have a long-lasting impact on actions. You can directly influence actions, but it will be only temporary unless you also influence thinking and feelings.

You should have questions that fall into EACH of the THREE of the following areas:

1. To know – an appeal to intellect, knowledge
* What do you want them to understand more clearly? (This is usually as far as most groups get, but the next two elements are equally important.)

2. To feel – an appeal to emotion
* How do you want the group to feel? Challenged? Loved? Secure? Excited? This personalizes the input. They can study the cold facts and achieve the “knowledge” goal. But it takes the Holy Spirit using your effective introduction and the kinds of questions you ask to make them personally feel the truth as applied to them. Only when the heart is added to the thinking does real lasting change take place.

3. To do – an appeal for action
* What do you want them to specifically do as a result of this time? You motivate them to accomlish this goal through the conclusion and application time. This is the weakest part of most lessons. Often the application is either not planned or pushed out due to lack of time.

The best test of the effectiveness of your teaching is not what you do, but what your students do as a result of your teaching and how they apply the knowledge gained.

Elijah Mentors Elisha

Scripture
2 Kings 1:1-4:44

Summary
Elijah mentored Elisha as both were used by God to carry his words to the Israelites.

Questions

1. Who are the mentors in your life? Who are your role models, the people you look up to? Do you have spiritual mentors? If so, who? Are you a mentor to other youth?

2. Some of you received your faith through your parents. Do you feel somewhat like Elisha following in Elijah’s footsteps? What expectations are placed on you because of your parent’s faith? What feelings do you have as a result of these expectations?

3. What needs do you have as a youth living for God? What are your struggles in defending the faith as Elijah and Elisha did? How can the story of Elisha help you in dealing with needs, expectations, and struggles in living for God?

4. In what ways was Elisha confirmed and encouraged in his call to ministry by his mentor? How can you discover your own call to ministry? What confirmations do you seek in living for God? What would it take for God to convince you to stand up for God in your school?

5. What were the things that Elisha gained as he was mentored by Elijah? What lessons did he learn? What things were most important to his own call and ministry?

6. Elisha and Elijah had many visible signs that God was with them. Name some of them. What visible signs have you seen that God is with you?

7. What lessons can we learn from the story of Elijah and Elisha about mentoring? About standing up for God? About being God’s spokesman? About answering God’s call in our lives?