In a Bible study small group - cell group, care group, home group, or whatever you call it, icebreaker questions are great for helping everyone get to know one another. They reveal common grounds which serve as launch pads for interaction during the informal times of the group. In addition, if well chosen, the questions can also act as a prelude to the Bible study itself.

Given time and some creativity, the icebreaker questions can also be fun - or even wild and crazy - while relevant to your group and the study. I particularly like multiple choice questions with one choice being fill-in-the-blank. They allow for some fun and creative choices while still leaving it wide open for people to answer however they like.

Starting Off

Who's On First : Taking Turns

• Skip to my Lou - Go around the circle, but skip 1 person each time, yet still making sure that everyone has a chance to answer. (A variation would be to skip 2 or more people.)
• Wildfire - sort of like going around the circle, but alternating from one side of the leader to the other so that it spreads in both directions from the leader.
• Crazy Wildfire - If you have a young or particularly fun-loving group, you can try this. It's like 'wildfire', but instead of alternating between the two sides, have those two people share at the same time! I've never tried it and would love to know how it turns out!
• Appoint sucessor - Whoever shares will appoint the next one. This helps the group to learn one another's names.
• Alphabetical - go by alphabetical order of first names. This also helps the group to know one another's names.

  Variations
  Here are some variations of the alphabetical sequence:

  • Lazy Dog - go by the order of first names but in the sequence of the sentence "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog." Again, this also helps the group to learn one another's names.
  • Reverse - instead of going from a to z, go backwards.
  • 3rd letter - go by the 3rd letter of first names alphabetically.
  • Length - go by the length of your full name (i.e. total number of letters).
• Birthday - go by birth month and day. This also lets people know one another's birthdays, but not the age just in case some people are allergic to that! A variation would be to just go by the day of month of everyone's birthday.
• Birthday sum - This is a variation of the last one. Here you go by the sum of birth month and day. For example if you are born on Jan 1, then your number is 1 + 1 = 2. This gets people guessing one another's birthdays. A variation would be to add the last two digits of the year as well. This actually makes it very interesting because someone born on Jun 9, 1980 has the same number as someone born on Apr 1, 1990 (95)!

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Tic Talk Tic Talk : Time Limit

Bible Passage Related Questions - for Luke gospel

• Luke 1:1-25
  
  1. If an angel of the Lord appears to you and says that one of your elderly relatives will be pregnant with child, what will you do?
     1. I'll pull on his nose to see if it's my friend wearing a mask to pull a prank on me.
     2. I'll post a selfie of me and him on FB to prove to everyone I was visited by an angel.
     3. I'll say, "I want one too!"
     4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  2. What event or experience have you committed to writing so that you can clearly recall later? Why?
• Luke 2:1-20
  
  1. If you want to make a very special announcement, what would you do?
  2. Tell of a time when you were introduced that was memorable? What made it memorable?
• Luke 2:21-40
  
  1. If God were to reveal to you that you would win the lottery before you died, what would you think/do?
     1. I'll think that I would not get to enjoy it because I would either get robbed or die of a heart attack.
     2. I'll start planning how to spend it.
     3. I'll start spending the money now.
     4. I'll march up to my boss and say ....
     5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  2. Something you waited or have waited for a long time?
• Luke 3:1-20
  
  1. If you must eat an insect, which one would you prefer and how you'd like it prepared? Why?
  2. What was one change you have undergone since you became a Christian?
• Luke 4:14-30
  
  1. Share about this: "All eyes were on me..."
  2. What violence or attempted violence have you witnessed and how did it affect you?
• Luke 5:1-11
  
  1. Share about a time when you stayed up all night working on something.
  2. If you have to move to somewhere far away, what will you miss the most?

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Bible Passage Related Questions - for Philippians

• Phil 1 +-
  
  • A1. A good memory of fellowship or a sense of community that I have had was when . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  • A2. I joined this group because . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . and I wish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  ---

  • B1. A memorable pet and why.
  • B2. If you are ever evicted or for whatever reason have no place to stay for 3 months, which friend would do whatever he/she needs to help you?
• Phil 2:1-18 +-
  
  1. A place I've been that made me realize how small we are:
     1. Grand Canyon
     2. K2
     3. The moon
     4. My head
     5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  2. I think a difficult act of humility is to . . .
• Phil 2:19-30 +-
  
  1. If I need to send someone to pick up my asthma inhaler, I will/will not send this 'person' (please also give reason):
     1. Bug's Bunny
     2. Cookie Monster
     3. Mr. Bean
     4. Eeyore
     5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  2. Someone whom I will call a true servant of Christ is . . .
• Phil 3 +-
  
  1. If you were to tell your daughter who to watch out for, what would you say?
     1. 007
     2. Trust your instincts.
     3. Don't Trust your instincts!
     4. Watch out for people being friendly for no reason.
     5. Don't trust anyone who says 'trust me' with a twitch in his eyes.
     6. Stay away from manipulative people unless you (i.e. your daughter) have proven more devious.
     7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  2. Without naming names, share about a time when you were taken in.
• Phil 4:1-9 +-
  
  1. Share about the person you admired when you were growing up - fictional or in real life.
  2. Share about a Christian role model that you look up to.
• Phil 4:10-23 +-
  
  1. I've heard that people who suddenly get a lot of money would . . . . . . . . and that's why I . . . . . . . .
  2. Share about a time when you were very short on funds.

Random Topical Questions

Here are just some random question pairs on various topics. Is this useful? Please share with others.

• Fight or Flight
  
  1. If on a one-hour flight, you have identified the passenger next to you on the plane to be the culprit of the fowl air (i.e. He/she's the one who keeps passing gas), how would you handle the situation?
     1. I'll light a match.
     2. I'll lock myself in the toilet until the flight is over.
     3. I'll pray for Jesus to come back soon.
     4. I'll compete.
     5. I'll ask for a parachute.
     6. I'll drug that person and then lock him/her in the toilet.
     7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  2. Between peace and truth in a relationship, what would you choose and why?
• Wrong Number
  
  1. After you've had a few prank calls, you get a phone call and the person on the other end claims to be an astronaut calling from the International Space Station. What would you do? trivia +
     x

     In 2015, astronaut Tim Peake made a phone call from the International Space Station and said, 'Hello, is this planet Earth?' But he had dialed a wrong number!
     1. Tell him/her he/she's a true space cadet and to take a hike on Mars.
     2. Hang up without saying a thing. Then get the 45 Magnum out and check all the doors and windows.
     3. Ask him/her to switch to a video call to prove it.
     4. Get all your social media ready to post the entirety of the call.
     5. I wouldn't have answered the phone in the first place.
     6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  2. Share about one time you called someone and didn't realize you had the wrong number until after saying something not for his/her ears.
• Waiting
  
  1. Which do you usually eat first, what you like least or most? Why?
  2. Share about something you are waiting for.
• Mysteries
  
  1. When you read fiction, do you like to read the ending first? Why or why not?
  2. Share about a mystery you wish you knew.
• Stuck
  
  1. If you have to be stuck in an elevator, which 2 people do you want to be stuck with and why?
  2. Share about a time when you felt trapped.
• Windfall
  
  1. What would you do if you have a windfall day of having classes or work cancelled?
  2. Share about one thing you got free-of-charge that you have enjoyed the most.
• Requirements
  
  1. What requirement or restriction do you think should be imposed or done away with and why?
  2. What one non-negotiable would you put on your requirements list in choosing a mate - other than being a Christian?

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Making a Group for Fellowship

Other than the icebreakers, here are other things to note in order to create an environment conducive to fellowshipping.

• Physical environment - the surroundings and atmosphere affect how people feel. If it feels warm and safe, people are more open to share. So if possible, avoid having the group sit in straight high-back chairs. Sofas and couches are much better. If it is clean, then some can sit on the floor. The room size should not be too big for the group either.
• Food - it's not about feeding people, even though sometimes it is. Food gives people a good excuse to linger, even those who are more introverted. Sharing a meal together is great, but even if snacks can be provided, or have people take turns bringing them, they serve a great purpose. Besides, those who are good at baking and cooking can serve others using their gift, and be complimented on their skills and service.
• Group Size