7 TIPS FOR LEADING AN EFFECTIVE DISCUSSION:
1. Guiding a Discussion
Set the tone (safe/caring environment)
Help people stay focused
Try to get everyone involved
Avoid letting one person dominate the time
Call on people who haven’t talked yet
Jumpstart the discussion by sharing first
PRO TIP: For fidgety or disruptive groups, try using a soft ball to pass around. (Example: Only the person holding the ball can talk)
2. Active Listening
Give people your full attention
Make eye contact
Nod, smile, agree, or affirm with body language
Make the person feel understood
Listen for underlying issues
PRO TIP: Focus on that person and not on what you want to say next.
3. Asking Good Questions
What was the High Point & Low Point of your week?
Does anyone else want to comment on that?
What else do you think about that?
What exactly do you mean?
Can you say more about how that makes you feel?
Why do you think that?
PRO TIP: Try to avoid yes/no questions.
4. Encouraging & Relating
Can anyone relate to what so & so said?
Has anyone ever felt that way before?
Yeah, that makes sense.
Wow, that’s hard.
That really stinks, I’m sorry.
Hang in there. You’re not alone.
PRO TIP: Share something relevant from your life.
5. Applying the Bible to Life
How can we apply what we just learned?
What is something specific you can do?
What does the Bible say about that?
How can we live that out?
PRO TIP: Offer a “Here’s how I applied it” example.
6. Accountability
How did things go last week?
What happened with that situation?
Are you doing ok with…?
Did you follow through with …?
Do you still need help with …?
PRO TIP: Follow up from previous discussions. If the issue is more private, ask about it 1-on-1.
7. Praying for One Another
Encourage community and split up prayer requests between students
Each person could pray for someone or for themselves
Say a closing prayer for the whole group
Encourage students to pray for group members during the week
Pray for teenagers to follow God, live out their faith, and impact their world
Ask the Holy Spirit to lead, guide, shape, and transform students’ lives
PRO TIP: Have students write 1 prayer request on an index card. Then collect them and hand them back out to other students in the group to pray for that person during the week.
BONUS ROUND:
BONUS TIP: Discipleship and small group discussions always go better with FOOD! Provide a cool snack for each of your groups to make it more fun.
BONUS TIP: Delegate different roles to students and invite them to help lead the small group time by giving them 1 section to lead (encouragement, divide up the application questions, prayer, etc).
Author: Larry Ely • Posted: Mar 2026
A shared resource from www.amplifyministries.org
* Portions adapted from “The Student Leadership Training Manual” by McLuen & Wysong- Youth Specialties
