Spiritual Growth Small Group Questions: How to Move Beyond “Nice” Discussions

Adult Sunday School teachers and church leaders know the tension: you want your group to grow spiritually, not just fill an hour. Your people are tired, distracted, and often over-scheduled—but they still show up hoping something will change. The question is: are your discussions actually helping anyone grow, or just keeping them politely engaged?

Recent research from the Barna Institute notes that three in four U.S. adults say

Adult Bible Discussion Changes Lives.

they want to grow spiritually. (Barna Group link) At the same time, Lifeway Research found that many churches say discipleship is a priority, but lack a clear plan for it. (Lifeway Research link) That gap is exactly where your small group questions can either stall out—or start real transformation.

Why “spiritual growth small group questions” matter so much

Bible study groups are one of the most powerful tools your church has for spiritual growth and community. Lifeway Research describes Bible study groups as a key engine for spiritual growth, serving, and faith-sharing. But that potential doesn’t automatically turn on just because you meet in a classroom and open a quarterly.

The difference often comes down to:

• What you ask

• How you ask it

• What you expect those questions to lead to

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Barna has pointed out that many Christians still see their spiritual lives as private, which can blunt the impact of groups. Your questions can gently challenge that privacy and invite people into shared, accountable growth.

The core concept: questions that aim at movement, not just talk

Think of your small group questions as on-ramps for obedience rather than prompts for interesting commentary. Content questions are necessary, but they’re not enough. Spiritual growth small group questions intentionally move people along a simple curve:

Text → Understanding → Reflection → Commitment → Action

By the end of a good session, people should be able to say something like, “Because of what we saw in this passage today, I plan to…” even if the action is small.

Here’s a simple checklist you can use as you craft or choose questions:

1. Start with clarity about the target. What kind of growth are you aiming at this week—trust, repentance, obedience, hope, love, boldness?

2. Tie questions closely to Scripture. Let people point to verses, phrases, and patterns in the text instead of drifting into opinions.

3. Push gently from “what” to “why” to “now what.” A balanced set of questions includes all three layers.

4. Invite appropriate vulnerability, not oversharing. Ask for specific examples, but give people options (past week, past year, someone they know, etc.).

5. End with a concrete, do-able next step.Help the group name one action, practice, or prayer focus they can carry into the week.

   
   

A contrast example: same passage, two very different outcomes

Imagine you’re teaching on Philippians 4:4-9.

Version A – content-heavy, growth-light

• What does “rejoice in the Lord always” mean?

• What are some things that cause anxiety?

• How does Paul say we should pray?

• What is “the peace of God”?

These are fine questions. People will talk. But most will leave with information, not transformation.

Version B – spiritual growth small group questions

• When you read vs. 6-7, what part is most difficult for you to practice this week? Why?

• Think of a recent situation where anxiety won the day. How might vs. 6-7 have changed your response?

• In vs. 8, which type of thought listed is most missing from your mental diet lately? What could you add or remove this week to obey this verse?

• What is one specific worry you’re willing to let this group pray about today—and how will you know God is giving you peace in it?

Same text, same time frame—but the second set invites heart exposure, community support, and practical follow-through.

Four categories of questions that fuel spiritual growth

As you build your next lesson, aim for a mix of these:

1. Identity questions

   • “According to this passage, how does God see us?”

   • “What identity shift is this text inviting you to embrace?”

2. Story questions

   • “Where do you see your own story in this passage?”

   • “When have you experienced something similar to what this verse describes?”

3. Tension questions

   • “What part of this teaching pushes against your usual instincts?”

   • “If we took this verse seriously, what would have to change in our church?”

4. Next-step questions

   • “What is one small, concrete step of obedience that fits your week ahead?”

   • “What would it look like to practice this with your family or workplace?”

The goal isn’t to ask more questions, but to ask better ones.

What recent research is telling us about groups

A recent Lifeway study on groups found that groups tend to change slowly over time, and patterns—good or bad—tend to stick. (Lifeway Research link)  Another Lifeway report highlights spiritual growth and Bible engagement as top components of discipleship that churches say they value, even while many lack clear metrics or intentional pathways.

Other research from Barna points out that spiritually “growth-minded” people are more likely to seek out discipleship relationships and report vibrant spiritual growth.Wikipedia Your questions can cultivate that growth mindset by normalizing language like:

• “Where have you seen God growing you lately?”

• “What’s one area where you know you need change?”

• “Who is walking with you in this struggle?”

  
  

What if you don’t have time to write fresh questions every week?

If you’re like most Discipleship Pastors, Ministers of Education, or volunteer teachers, you probably read all of this and thought, “Yes, absolutely… but when am I supposed to write those kinds of questions?”

You’re juggling:

• Curriculum planning

• Teacher recruitment and care

• Church-wide discipleship events

• Your own preaching/teaching load

• Family and personal responsibilities

You could build a fresh set of spiritual growth small group questions from scratch every week—but you probably won’t, at least not consistently.

That’s where a resource like Steve’s Bible Questions can quietly save your sanity. Instead of starting with a blank page, you start with:

• Carefully crafted, passage-specific questions already aligned with spiritual growth

• Built-in application and reflection prompts

• A structure that makes it easy for tired teachers to lead deep, focused discussion without over-prep

You still shape the lesson for your context. You still shepherd your people personally. But you’re not reinventing the wheel every Saturday night.

A simple next step for your ministry

Here’s a practical way to respond to this week’s post:

1. Take the text you’re teaching next Sunday.

2. Write (or revise) just three questions:

   • One identity question

   • One tension question

   • One next-step question

3. Use them toward the end of your lesson, and listen for the difference in the room.

Over time, those kinds of questions can help your group move from “We talked about a good lesson” to “God is changing us through His Word.”

Discussion Worksheets for both Lifeway Curriculums: Explorations and Life Lessons

And if you want a steady stream of ready-made, spiritually focused questions so

your teachers spend less time staring at a blank page and more time shepherding people, that’s exactly what Steve’s Bible Questions is built to provide.