by Katy Kauffman @KatyKauffman28

I wanted to see what they would say. In the small groups I’ve been a part of, I wanted to hear how the group members would discuss the topics and verses in the Bible studies we were using. Sharing our stories and insights gave us a sense of unity, of comradery. We were tackling a topic together, sharing about our own struggles and God’s faithfulness. The discussion and fellowship kept me coming back again and again. 

Some of the most powerful and unifying fellowship I’ve experienced has been in small group Bible study. God’s Word unites us in truth, just as it unites us in His love. 

When you write Bible studies, don’t forget to make your questions group-friendly. Questions for personal reflection are great for those who use the Bible study on their own. But questions for group discussion multiply the potential of your audience and enhance the takeaway for those who attend. Often these two kinds of questions can be blended to appeal to both audiences. 

So how can we create questions that aren’t too simple for group discussion or too complex? How can we stir up our readers to share with others how God has been there for them and what He has taught them? Here are some ideas. 

4 Tips for Creating Group-Friendly Questions

Draw out your readers’ personal connection with the topic by asking, “Have you ever …?”

Have you ever been paralyzed by fear? Have you ever felt overwhelmed with the burdens of loved ones? Have you ever adjusted your perspective about a trial and that made all the difference in your attitudes?

Whatever your topic is, ask readers if they have ever experienced that or felt that way, and allow group members to share from the heart. Hearing other people’s struggles may help someone in the group to feel like they are not alone in their struggles. 

Avoid simple yes/no answers by asking readers what they think about some aspect of your topic or Bible passage. 

Why do you think the apostle Paul was so willing to call himself a bondservant of Christ? Why do you think it’s easy for teenagers to stop going to church once they leave home? Why do you think Satan likes to use “busyness” as a tool against believers?

Asking questions like these invites your readers to share their perspectives and opinions. In a small group, this can generate plenty of discussion, and a group leader may have to rein it in. But as iron sharpens iron, varying viewpoints can enhance our understanding or provide a new perspective. We can see challenges and victories through another person’s eyes. 

Ask questions about cross-references so group members can share their own insights and application. 

If I was writing about Philippians 4:13, in which Paul relies on Christ for his strength, I might use 2 Corinthians 12:9 as a cross-reference. In this verse (NKJV), Jesus reassured Paul that His strength was “made perfect in weakness” because His grace is sufficient for us. In the discussion questions at the end of my chapter, I might say, “According to 2 Corinthians 12:9, Jesus gives us His grace which is sufficient for every situation. How have you found strength in His grace?”

Ask questions about cross-references to your main passage to generate some more application. I’ve always enjoyed hearing group members build on what the others say and gaining even more insights about Bible verses and topics. In the group’s book, I often write down application that is shared, along with the initials of the person who said it. It’s a joy to thumb through the pages of a book and see what I have recorded from the discussions.  

Create an “umbrella” question under which you can list verses to look up and discuss. 

Sometimes I find more cross-references than I include in the prose of my book. If you have found verses you love but can’t talk about because of word count, create a question to introduce them, and ask readers to write down something when they look up each verse.

For example, if I continued to write about strength in Christ, I could ask a question like this—“In the following verses, what do we need God’s strength to do?”—and I could list four or five references. Group members could take turns reading the verses (something I’ve found they love to do) and search for God’s “mission” for us in each verse. These answers would serve as a motivation to depend on Christ for strength, and it would show how to use the strength He gives. 

What kinds of questions do you like to include in your Bible studies, Christian living books, or devotions? Which of the ideas above would you want to use more? Tell us in the comments, and God bless you as you stir others to treasure His Word and discuss it together.

Katy Kauffman is an award-winning author, an editor of Refresh Bible Study Magazine, and a co-founder of Lighthouse Bible Studies. She loves connecting with writers and working alongside them in compilations, such as Feed Your Soul with the Word of God, Collection 1 which is a 2020 Selah Awards finalist. She recently started The Lighthouse Connection, a monthly writers’ newsletter including writing tips, inspiration to write, and news of submission opportunities.

In addition to online magazines, Katy’s writing can be found at CBN.com, thoughts-about-God.com, and three blogs on writing. She loves to spend time with family and friends, take acrylic painting classes online, and do yard work in the morning sun. Connect with her at her blog, Winning the Victory, and on Facebook and Twitter.