6 Elements of a Good Icebreaker Question

If you use an icebreaker question that does these six things, your question will pave the way for a good discussion around God’s Word.

By Lynn Pryor

How do you kick off your Bible study group?

“We talk about sports, family, current events, or whatever else until I feel like everyone’s there and ready to start.”

“We don’t waste time! Straight away, we open our Bibles and dig into the Scriptures.”

Group leaders may answer along either of these extremes. But there’s an approach somewhere between those two. I used to be the guy who didn’t want to waste time with “frivolities.” I realized, though, that fellowship and relationships are not frivolous to Bible study. Fellowship and relationship building are biblical, needed, and can play an integral role in your Bible study group.

When people first gather, it’s natural to want to talk and “catch up.” So, I let them, but I do it with intentionality. As the group leader, I guide the conversation. I guide it away from politics, debates, and things people might want to argue over.

I guide the conversation to be inclusive of all individuals in the group. And I use the conversation as an on-ramp into the study. But how do we get the conversation started? How do we get people to comfortably talk to each other, especially in a new group? How do we get all people engaged in the conversation, even guests?

That’s where the icebreaker question comes in.

“How do we get all people engaged in the conversation, even guests? That’s where the icebreaker question comes in.” — @lynnpryor Click To Tweet

An icebreaker question does just that: It breaks the ice. It gets people talking—and that’s the whole point. So, what makes for a good icebreaker question?

1. A question that’s easy to answer

There are some questions everyone can relate to—that everyone has an opinion or story to answer the question. For example, “What food or treat do you have a hard time resisting?” Everyone has that one food they love.

2. A question that’s non-threatening

No one is pressured to reveal too much about themselves or give an answer they’re not sure of. The question, “When has an invention or discovery blown your mind?” doesn’t necessarily require me to tell you anything personal about myself.

Looking for icebreaker questions for your group?
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3. A question that’s fun to answer

“What’s your favorite Christmas memory?” will bring to mind joyous memories—and those are stories we’re willing to share.

4. A question that often leads to a story

Many times, someone’s answer to a question piques interest, and the group wants to know more. For example, for the question, “What’s one of your favorite roads to travel?” someone might say, “The Pacific Coast Highway.” There’s a story behind that—a favorite vacation or a unique experience on that road. People like telling those stories.  

5. A question that builds relationships

As those in the group share their answers and their stories, people build connections. We find those who have a story similar to ours. We see that someone has similar tastes and interests.

“As those in the group share their answers and their stories, people build connections.” — @lynnpryor Click To Tweet

6. A question that gets people talking

That’s the whole point, isn’t it? But this moves the group beyond just an icebreaker conversation. Once they’re talking to each other around an icebreaker question, they more easily open up and engage in the conversation as you dig into God’s Word.

I could stop right here. If you use icebreaker questions that do these six things, you’ve got a good question that’s going to pave the way for a good discussion around God’s Word. But there’s one more element that moves a question from being a good icebreaker to a great icebreaker.

BONUS: A great icebreaker question leads into the Bible study

Yes, random questions will break the ice. But with intentionality, the question you use can be an easy on-ramp into the Bible study.

“Because you’ve already got them talking, they will be more open to discussing and engaging in Bible study. And that’s our goal.” — @lynnpryor Click To Tweet

Consider the questions I’ve already asked.

• “What food or treat do you have a hard time resisting?” I could wrap up the conversation by saying that while we can laugh at the temptation of chocolate cake, some temptations are far more serious. “We’re going to read about and discuss a man named Joseph. And we will see what he did when he encountered temptation in Genesis 39.” 
• “When has an invention or discovery blown your mind?” could lead into a study of creation or God’s power. 
• As a part of a study at Christmas, asking “What’s your favorite Christmas memory?” could transition to Luke 2. “We all have great memories around Christmas, but they surely pale in comparison to the memories of a group of shepherds who heard the first announcement of Jesus’s birth.” 
• By asking the question, “What’s one of your favorite roads to travel?” you could segue into talking about spiritual roads, the wide road and the narrow road Jesus mentions in Matthew 7. 

This approach does come with a challenge. Once you get people talking, the conversation takes off, and you may have a tough time transitioning the group into your Bible study. But it’s better to cut a conversation short than to have it awkwardly die out. And because you’ve already got them talking, they will be more open to discussing and engaging in Bible study. And that’s our goal.

The icebreaker question has broken the ice!

For permission to republish this article, please email Marissa Postell Sullivan.