Best Practices for Turning Sunday School Lessons into Real Conversations

If you teach an adult Sunday School class, you’ve probably felt this tension.

You have solid material.A good passage.Helpful commentary.

And yet . . . the class still feels more like a presentation than a conversation.

People listen. They follow along. But they don’t always engage.

The issue usually isn’t the curriculum.

It’s how the lesson is delivered.

Let’s walk through a few best practices that can help you turn any Sunday School lesson into a more discussion-driven experience.

1. Don’t Try to Cover Everything

Most printed lessons give you more than you can realistically use in one session.

When you try to cover it all:

• you talk more

• the group listens more

• discussion gets squeezed out

Instead:

• choose one or two key ideas

• build your discussion around those

Depth almost always produces more engagement than coverage.

2. Turn Key Teaching Points into Questions

Many lessons are built around clear teaching statements.

For example:

• “Jesus demonstrates compassion for outsiders”

That’s a great truth - but it doesn’t invite discussion on its own.

Try reframing it:

• “Where do you see Jesus showing compassion in this passage?”

• “Why do you think that mattered in that moment?”

• “Where do we see this kind of situation today?”

The content stays the same. The delivery changes everything.

3. Use the Passage as the Anchor

Discussion works best when it stays rooted in Scripture.

If conversation drifts too far:

• people lose confidence

• the discussion feels less grounded

You can keep things anchored by asking:

• “Where do you see that in the text?”

• “Which verse stands out to you?”

This keeps the Bible - not opinions - at the center.

4. Build a Simple Flow into Your Lesson for

Strong discussions don’t happen by accident.

They usually follow a simple movement:

• observation

• understanding

• application

You don’t need to announce it - but you can guide it.

For example:

• “What stands out here?”

• “What does that tell us about God?”

• “How might this shape our week?”

That progression helps people know how to participate.

5. Resist the Urge to Answer Every Question

This is one of the hardest habits to break.

When a question is asked, it’s natural to want to:

• clarify

• expand

• make sure it’s accurate

But when the teacher answers too quickly, discussion fades.

Instead:

• let responses build

• allow different perspectives

• step in only when needed

Your role shifts from explainer to guide.

6. Use Questions to Involve More People

In many classes, the same few people tend to respond.

You can gently widen participation by asking:

• “What do the rest of you think?”

• “Has anyone seen this play out differently?”

Even a simple invitation can bring new voices into the conversation.

7. Start Small - You Don’t Have to use every Best Practice for Turning Sunday School Lessons into Real Conversations at once

If your class is used to lecture, a sudden shift can feel awkward.

You don’t need to overhaul everything.

Start with:

• one or two well-placed questions

• one moment where you wait longer

• one opportunity to follow up

Over time, the culture begins to shift.

What If You’re Using a Structured Curriculum Like Explore the Bible or Bible Studies for Life?

This is where many teachers feel stuck when trying to implement these Best Practices for Turning Sunday School Lessons into Real Conversations.

You want to stay aligned with the lesson. You don’t want to go off track.

But you also want more discussion.

The good news is - you don’t have to choose.

You can:

• follow the same passage

• stay aligned with the lesson

• and still lead a discussion-driven class

The key is having questions that are already built around that structure.

That’s one of the reasons I created Steve’s Bible Questions.

Click for pdf samples.

Each worksheet is designed to:

• align with the same passages you’re teaching

• follow a natural discussion flow

• help you move from lecture to conversation

Without adding more prep to your week.

A Simple Next Step

If you’d like to move your class toward more discussion, try this:

• Take one key point from your lesson

• Turn it into a question

• Ask it - and wait

Then follow up with: “Why do you think that?”

That one shift can begin to change the tone of your class.

Because in the end . . .

People don’t just grow by hearing truth.

They grow by engaging with it.

Don't use Lifeway?

Writing your own lessons?

This checklist will help you write better questions:

Click to download the checklist.