Running a Crash-Course in Discussion-Based Teaching for Your Lead Teachers

When Time Is Short, But Expectations Are High

You’ve found your Sunday School teachers. The rosters are filling up. The new church year is around the corner. But some of your new or returning adult class leaders still need help - specifically, in how to shift from teaching content to guiding conversation.

You don’t have six weeks to train them. You don’t even have one full Sunday afternoon. So what can you do?

That’s where a crash-course in discussion-based teaching comes in. And the good news is: it doesn’t have to be complicated. With a little intentionality and the right approach, you can give your teachers the tools they need to start strong, even if they’ve never led a discussion in their life.

Why Shift the Focus to Questions?

If your teachers are mostly in lecture mode, you’re not alone. It’s the default for many well-meaning Bible teachers. But teaching by talking has limitations:

• It rarely leads to life change.

• It puts all the pressure on the teacher.

• It leaves quieter class members out of the conversation.

Discussion-based teaching, on the other hand, promotes participation, reflection, and deeper learning. It shifts the class from information transfer to spiritual transformation. The best part? It doesn’t require your teachers to become Bible experts. Just good listeners with a few strong questions in hand.

Step 1: Start with the Why

Kick off your crash-course by helping your teachers understand why a question-based approach matters. Try framing it this way:

"Jesus used questions a LOT. His questions made people think, reflect, and respond. As teachers, we can do the same. We’re not here to download facts - we’re here to invite spiritual growth."

Lead a 5-minute discussion: What kinds of class moments do we remember most - and why?

You’ll quickly find that the most memorable times come when the Spirit moves through real conversation.

Step 2: Model a Live Discussion

Instead of lecturing about discussion methods, show it. Choose a short Bible passage - something familiar like Psalm 23 or Mark 4:35-41. Ask 4 or 5 open-ended questions and let the group respond as if it were a real class.

Some examples:

• "What stands out to you in this passage today?"

• "When have you felt this kind of peace - or fear - in your own life?"

• "What does this reveal about how God works in hard times?"

Then pause and debrief: What felt different? What worked? What was hard?

This one 20-minute exercise often reshapes a teacher’s entire mindset.

Step 3: Teach the Mechanics of a Good Discussion

Now that you’ve modeled it, give them the keys to replicate it. Keep it simple:

• Ask open-ended questions (avoid yes/no).

• Wait. Silence is okay. Often people just wait for someone else to be first.

• Affirm responses. Redirect gently when needed.

• Use Scripture as the anchor. Opinions are welcome, but the Bible is the authority.

Provide a 1-page handout with sample questions. Include some deep questions about faith, like:

• "What’s something you’ve wrestled with in your walk with God?"

• "Why do you think God allows unanswered prayers?"

• "What does trusting God actually look like when life is messy?"
  

Step 4: Introduce a Weekly Planning Rhythm

One of the fears new teachers face is not knowing how to prepare. Help them establish a repeatable rhythm:

• Monday: Read the passage slowly. Pray for your class members by name.

• Tuesday: Jot down THE one big idea.

• Wednesday: Write 5 discussion questions. Or use mine. Email them to your class members with a note saying : "We're studying _____ (passage) this week, and here are some of the things we'll be discussing."

• Thursday: Review commentary or cross-references.

• Saturday: Pray through the lesson again. Pray for your class members.

Encourage them not to over-prepare. The goal is to guide - not control - the conversation.

Step 5: Equip with Ready-to-Use Tools

Give your teachers something they can use right away. A folder of pre-written discussion worksheets, sample outlines, or printable guides can take the pressure off and boost their confidence.

That’s where resources like those from StevesBibleQuestions.com come in. Every worksheet is built around discussion-based learning. They’re:

• Biblically sound

• Centered on adult learning

• Designed for real-life application

• Keyed to the scriptures you're already teaching from the Explore the Bible or Bible Studies for Life lessons.

When your teachers have tools that work, they’re more likely to teach with confidence - and come back next year.

Encourage, Pray, and Follow Up

Close your crash-course by affirming your teachers. Let them know you’re proud of them. Pray over them as a group. Then set a plan for follow-up:

• Schedule a check-in after the first month.

• Offer to sit in on a class and encourage them.

• Ask what they need more of (or less of).

This small investment of time goes a long way.

Conclusion: It’s Not About Perfection—It’s About Progress

You’re not trying to create superstar speakers. You’re building up everyday believers to guide their peers toward deeper faith.

By giving your lead teachers a crash-course in discussion-based teaching, you’re doing more than training—you’re empowering them for real ministry.

And the impact? It multiplies every single week.

Want to make this even easier? Download our free ebook: Questions-Based Bible Teaching: A Practical Guide for Adult Bible Teachers - and share it with every teacher on your roster.

Steve G.