Aim 

The idea behind this is to simply get everyone to be involved at the beginning of your time together. This can take a number of forms but is often a simple exercise or each person answering a question in turn. 

If using a game, make sure everyone can participate and is enabled to communicate with the rest of the group.  

For example you might put several household items on a tray and ask everyone to take one, and then ask each person to say why they chose the one they did. 

If you are using a question, choose one that suits the stage the group is at: 

Stage 1. Getting to know you 

If the group has not been together long then you need something that is not too penetrating, will be straight forward for people to answer and not alienate them. In these early stages of the group’s life use questions that encourage personal history to be shared. This shared history builds community. 

For example you might ask what did you most enjoy as a child and why? Or where did you live between the ages of 7 and 10 years old? It is surprising what you discover about each other as you go round the group and answer these simple questions. 

Stage 2. Going deeper 

This level of question should just move the group on a little and encourage a slightly deeper level of sharing.  

For example when did you last do something for the first time and what was it? 

Stage 3. Questions with a challenge 

As the group becomes established, you can ask deeper questions involving faith in God or other areas of a more intimate nature. Here are some good ones for this stage: What area of your life is God speaking to you about at the moment? 

It is often helpful to choose a question that connects with the theme or passage that the group will be looking at in the word section. If your focus is on trust, you may want to ask a question about when you had to put your trust in someone or in God? 

1. It is a good idea to answer the question yourself first. This does a number of things: it enables others to be thinking while you are answering, it also demonstrates what sort of answer you are looking for. Questions can be answered on several levels, so you can show to what depth you want the group to participate. 
2. Go round the group, in order, from the person on your left or right, thanking them in turn as they answer and moving onto the next person. This creates safety for the group and ensures you don’t miss anyone. 
3. Don’t make you question or game too complicated – you can’t spend half the evening doing it. 
4. Keep your own answer on track, and fairly short, or you will give everyone else permission to take as long as you did. 
5. If you are struggling for a question look at www.celluk.org.uk where you can order a pack of Icebreaker Playing Cards.

For more resources from Cell UK visit https://celluk.org.uk/