Fifty Icebreaker Discussion Starters

One especially effective way to introduce a Sabbath School lesson discussion is also a valuable way to draw class members into a more closely knit fellowship. Here are 50 discussion starters that will get your class to share their feelings with one another. Some of them will necessitate more vulnerability among them; be sure not to try to discuss a topic that will make the group or any individual uncomfortable.

1. Tell the group about two persons who had a great spiritual influence on you.
2. Share one sad experience from your childhood.
3. Why do you want to go to heaven?
4. How do you plan on getting to heaven?
5. Share a spiritual high and low point in your life.
6. Share a time when you felt close to God.
7. Share a time in your life when you were sure of God’s leading.
8. Share what someone said or did recently that made you feel loved or appreciated.
9. What prayer of yours was not answered in the way you requested?
10. What do you least like about your appearance?
11. What about your personality would you like to change?
12. What do you most like about yourself?
13. Describe God using only one word.
14. List the three major reasons that you love God.
15. What makes you think God loves you?
16. In what way has God revealed His love to you this week?
17. What would you like to do for God if you were not limited by lack of time, talent, or money?
18. What most concerned you this week?
19. What brought you the most joy this week?
20. When did you last cry? Why?
21. To what prayer did you recently receive an answer?
22. To you, what are the three greatest benefits of knowing Jesus?
23. What is the most painful change Jesus has asked you to make?
24. If you had to be an animal, which one would you be? Why?
25. What person living today would you like to know better? Why?
26. What do like about spring?
27. What do you like about summer?
28. What do you like about autumn?
29. What do you like about winter?
30. What season of the year best describes your life right now? Why?
31. Which is your least favorite day of the week? Why?
32. What sport do you most enjoy? Why?
33. If you knew a 7.5 earthquake were coming in ten minutes, what would you do?
34. Excluding Jesus, who is your favorite biblical character? Why?
35. What three things do you like most about Sabbath?
36. What would you be if you had to change your profession or occupation?
37. To what person did you feel closest as a child?
38. Of the fruits of the Spirit (i.e., love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control), which do you least manifest?
39. Of the fruits of the Spirit (i.e., love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control), which do you most manifest?
40. To whom did you last express appreciation? For it?
41. To what person would you like to say thank-you?
42. Whom did you last hug? Why?
43. What teacher have you most admired? Why?
44. What minister do you most appreciate? Why?
45. What was it that last caused you to be angry or upset?
46. What color would you use to describe yourself? Why?
47. If you could live the words of one sentence, what sentence would you choose?
48. What would you buy if you could afford it?
49. What is the first question you want to ask Jesus when you’re in heaven
50. Tell about one of the most meaningful gifts you have ever received.

© 2006 General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists