By Brent Lacy

The difference between a discussion question that works and one that does not is specificity. “What do you think about God?” produces silence. “If you could ask God one question and get an honest answer, what would you ask?” produces conversation.

This is a free library of discussion questions organized by topic. Every question has been tested in small group settings with teenagers. They are designed to generate genuine conversation, not one-word answers.

How to Use These Questions

Pick 4-6 questions for a 20-25 minute discussion. Start with the easiest one. Save the hardest one for after the group has warmed up. Do not rush past silence. The best answers often come after a pause. Follow the rabbit trails when a student’s answer takes the conversation somewhere unexpected and genuine.

Questions About Faith and Doubt

• If you could ask God one question and get an honest answer, what would you ask?
• What is the hardest thing about being a Christian at your school?
• Have you ever doubted whether God is real? What happened?
• What is something about Christianity that you find hard to believe?
• If a friend asked you why you are a Christian, what would you say?
• What is the difference between knowing about God and actually knowing God?
• What would it take for you to stop believing in God?

Questions About Identity

• If you had to describe yourself in one word that captures your deepest sense of worth, what would it be?
• Where do you get your sense of value? What makes you feel like you matter?
• What is something about yourself that you wish other people understood?
• What is the difference between who you are at school and who you are here?
• If God described you to someone, what do you think he would say?
• What is something you are proud of that has nothing to do with achievement or performance?

Questions About Relationships

• What makes someone a good friend? What makes someone a bad friend?
• Have you ever had to end a friendship? What happened?
• What is the hardest thing about your relationship with your parents right now?
• What is something you wish adults understood about your friendships?
• How do you decide who to trust?
• What does it look like to be a Christian in your friend group?

Questions About the Future

• What is something you are looking forward to in the next year?
• What is something you are afraid of about the future?
• If you could know one thing about your future, what would you want to know?
• What do you think God wants for your life? How do you know?
• What is something you want to be true about your life when you are 30?

Questions About Hard Topics

• Why do you think God allows suffering?
• What do you think happens after you die?
• Is there such a thing as absolute truth? How do you know?
• What do you think about people who believe in a different religion?
• What is the hardest moral question you have ever faced?

Questions About the Gospel

• What do you think Jesus actually came to do?
• What is the difference between being a good person and being a Christian?
• If someone asked you to explain the gospel in 2 minutes, what would you say?
• What does it mean to trust Jesus? How is that different from just believing he existed?
• What would be different about your life if you took the gospel seriously every day?

Icebreaker Questions (Start Here)

• What is the best thing that happened to you this week?
• What is something you are really into right now?
• What is a skill you have that most people do not know about?
• What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you recently?
• If you could have dinner with anyone in history, who would it be and why?