Discussion Generators

Some leaders dominate their groups and are largely responsible for every word spoken. They fill all the available time, leaving no room for discussion. Imagine the difference if they would purposefully encourage discussion and create an environment where it can flourish! Here are a few ideas for helping you become a discussion generating leader:

• Ask open-ended questions. Some questions slam the door on discussion—especially if they can be answered with a yes or no or a pat response. You get the expected answer, and then your group members sit there with a "what's next?" expression on their faces. A great question, however, unlocks the door to meaningful dialogue and interaction. It digs beneath the surface of superficial thinking. On a test, it would be an essay question as opposed to fill-in the blank. Practice your discussion questions on yourself. Do they beckon new discoveries?

Good questions also keep your discussion going. "Why do you think that?" "How do we know this is true?" "In what ways have you experienced this in your own life?" "What does this have to say to you, in the world you live in?" "What things do you find hard to accept about this?" "What difference would it make if this were not true?" With questions such as these, even pat answers open doors to deeper understanding.

• Play devil's advocate. Shake things up by arguing for the opposing view. State your case and challenge your group to prove you wrong. Christians often associate almost exclusively with those who agree with them. Awaken your group members' minds and deepen their beliefs by challenging their thinking in an environment where they can test their wings when the stakes aren't so high.

• Prime the pump. Get personal. Risk sharing a relevant experience from your own life—a struggle, victory, failure, piece of personal history. Others in the group will become more confident to open up if the leader is willing to drop the image of perfection and be honest. Let people know that this a safe environment in which to share from the heart.

• Cover the bases. When a topic or passage is open to more than one interpretation, explain various dominant viewpoints. Your group will appreciate this a lot more than if you present your view as the only one in existence. State the options, but feel free to explain why you hold to the interpretation that you do. Then encourage discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of the competing viewpoints.

Article from the Discipleship Journal
Written by John Green