As a small group leader, you want meaningful conversations—but have you ever felt stuck, wondering how to get your group talking about the Bible in a real, impactful way? You’re not alone.
Sometimes, discussions start strong but quickly fizzle out after the icebreaker question. Other times, people hesitate to speak because they’re unsure what to say. The good news? You don’t have to have all the answers—you just need the right questions.
Thoughtful, open-ended questions can turn a stilted conversation into an engaged discussion, helping people process Scripture, share their insights, and grow together in faith. If you’re looking for simple but powerful ways to guide your small group into deeper territory, these seven Bible study questions can help.
7 Helpful Questions for Bible Study Discussion
These seven open-ended questions are for anyone who wants to help their small group Bible study dig deeper into Scripture. I hope these discussion questions lead your group to meaningful conversations and stronger connections that fuel the spiritual journeys of everyone in your group!
1. What stands out to you in this Bible passage?
This is a great question to ask as you get started because it’s often pretty easy to answer.
It’s an approachable question that doesn’t require a deep knowledge of Scripture—it’s simply asking people to share what they notice. Your group might bring up a word or phrase, a particularly memorable part of a Bible story, or an impactful quote.
Regardless of what everyone shares, the answers to this question will give your group a foundational understanding of where everyone is coming from before diving into deeper conversations.
2. What’s especially surprising, odd, or confusing about what we’ve read?
The Bible contains some weird stories, so it’s likely that, sooner or later, your group will run into something odd.
This question invites people to talk about details that might otherwise be overlooked or sped through. Even seemingly “normal” passages can contain details that might stick out as surprising, odd, or confusing.
It might feel intimidating to jump into a question like this. You might worry about confusing your small group. Or you might be concerned that you won’t be able to answer everyone’s Bible questions.
Those are valid concerns, but don’t let them stop you. No one has all the answers, and it can be healthy to share and discuss big questions or spiritual doubts together. Sometimes, the best answer to a Bible question is an honest, “Let’s explore that together.”
3. How do you feel challenged or encouraged by what we’ve read?
Sometimes, the Bible can step on our toes. In His famous Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said things like, “Blessed are the poor in spirit …” and “Blessed are those who mourn …” These statements, included in the Beatitudes, can feel challenging, especially when people are in a place of grief or mourning. But Jesus went on to say, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven,” and “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
Don’t be afraid to ask hard questions.
Throughout the Bible, there are verses that can convict us and verses that can encourage us—and we need both. Don’t be afraid to ask hard questions. Why? Because there’s likely someone else in your Bible study group who is having those same thoughts and feelings.
4. What does this passage tell you about God’s character?
Pastor Craig Groeschel says that the main character in any story of the Bible is God. Even when He isn’t mentioned by name or specifically talked about, He is still the focus of both the Old Testament and New Testament.
So when you’re reading the Bible with your small group, consider what each passage teaches you about God’s character. Your group might consider using additional tools, like BibleProject, to gain more context and insight into what you’re reading—and God’s role in it.
5. How could you apply what we’ve read to your everyday life?
One of the most important parts of reading the Bible is learning about God’s heart and character, so we can more accurately share His goodness with the world around us.
When we start reading the Bible, our focus is often on knowledge and understanding. We want to know what the Bible says—and we should! However, as we grow in our faith, we discover that a life of faith leads to others-focused action. So talk with your small group about how you can apply what you’ve read to your life.
Your group might choose next steps like confessing sin, shifting an old belief, asking for prayer, practicing generosity, or finding a way to serve their local church or community.
6. Who in your life might need to hear this message?
Sometimes, what God teaches us isn’t just for us—it’s meant to be shared. When we ask this question, we’re shifting our focus outward, looking for ways to encourage, challenge, or comfort someone else.
Maybe a member of your small group has a friend who’s struggling with the very thing you just read about or a family member who needs a reminder of God’s love. This question will help them see Scripture as more than personal inspiration, but also a way to bring hope and truth into the lives of the people around them.
Maybe someone in your group might realize they need to send an encouraging text or share their story with a coworker. Maybe your whole group will decide to pray for someone who needs to experience God’s peace. However it plays out, this simple question will challenge your group to take what they’re learning and turn it into action.
7. What do you still have questions or doubts about, and how could we find answers together?
The Bible can leave us with lots of questions, even after we’ve talked to others about them. It might be helpful for your small group to continue talking about the questions you’ve raised and even discussing how you could look for answers together.
You might even keep the small group discussion going throughout the week through a group chat, sharing what you’ve researched, new questions you have, or a fresh perspective.
Just remember: One of the wonderful things about the Bible is that we don’t have to understand all of it in order to grow our relationship with God.
Seek Deeper Connection
As you use these Bible study questions with your small group, remember that the goal is to start a conversation. If someone brings up an interesting perspective or the discussion is going well, don’t feel the pressure to pivot back to these questions. Instead, consider how you can facilitate the conversation so everyone gets to share their perspectives, with the goal of finding greater understanding together.
Often, the best Bible study questions aren’t found in a list online. Instead, great questions come from leaders who listen to their small group and the Holy Spirit, who gives them the right questions to ask at the right time.
If you’re leading a small group Bible study, know that God’s with you. You don’t have to know all the answers. Instead, simply listen to, love, and serve your group faithfully and continue to trust God’s guidance.