Discussion and Lesson Starters

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Contents
Alphabetical list of every
idea in this book.....9
A Primer on Leading
Discussions.....15
35 Creative Ways to
Start a Discussion
or Lesson on Any Topic
Groupers..... 23
No-Risk Discussion..... 24
Tape Talk..... 24
Textimony Service..... 24
Yarn-Sharing Experience..... 24
Mystery Gifts..... 25
Mystery Guest..... 25
Relay Discussion..... 25
Spotlight Meeting..... 26
Wishing Well..... 26
Curing Discussion
Dominators..... 26
Human Continuum..... 26
Legos Game..... 27
Straw Pictures..... 27
Study Bubble..... 27
Truth or Dare..... 27
Talk It Over..... 28
Phobia Month..... 30
Hangman Lessons..... 30
Lights On, Lights Off..... 30
Word Pictures..... 30
Crisis Response..... 31
Rug Discussion..... 31
Spiritual Adventureland..... 33
Sitcom Discussion..... 33
Triangular Teaching..... 34
Fish Bowl..... 34
On the Spot..... 34
Video Intros..... 35
Chutes and Ladders..... 35
How Do You Feel?..... 36
Kids on Campus..... 36
Name That Sin!..... 36
Stump the Speaker..... 37
This Bothers Me..... 38
Discussion and Lesson
Starters, by Topic
Apologetics
Christianity Questionnaire..... 41
Attitude
All Tied Up..... 41
Body of Christ
Hanging from the Vine..... 43
Yellow Brick Road..... 43
Body Puzzle..... 44
Dependence Meal..... 44
Jigsaw Puzzle Object Lesson..... 44
Body Life Game..... 44
Football Stadium..... 45
Misfi t..... 46
Community..... 46
My World..... 46
Co-Operative Play
Car Relay..... 47
Simulated Planning
Meeting..... 47
Parable of the Plants..... 48
Corinthians, Candles,
and Cooperation..... 48
The Reciprocal Commands..... 50
Appendices, Unite!..... 51
Christian Life and Christianity
My Life, Christ’s Home..... 51
Signs of the Times..... 52
What Is a Christian?..... 52
What Kind of
Christian Are You?..... 52
ABC Christianity..... 54
Church, local
Typical Sunday
in Church Photo..... 54
The Life-Saving Station..... 54
Phoenix Game..... 56
Ideal Church..... 56
Values in the Church..... 56
The Man from Ick..... 56
Civil disobedience
Black Arm Bands..... 60
Cliques
Fellowship Game..... 60
Cliques..... 62
Skits about Cliques..... 62
Cliques and Loners..... 63
The Cools and the Nerds..... 64
Your Majesty..... 65
Community (see Body of Christ)
Counseling
Saying the Right Thing..... 65
Role Reversal..... 66
How Can I Help?..... 66
Dating
Dating Data..... 68
Dating Round Robin..... 68
Dating Quizzes..... 68
Disabilities
Persons with Disabilities..... 68
Hands..... 73
Understanding Persons
with Disabilities..... 73
Imagine..... 74
Discernment
The Real Thing..... 74
Friend or Foe..... 74
Truth or Deception..... 76
Faith
Let’s Pretend..... 76
Word Game..... 77
The Gospel
According to Me..... 77
Role Bowl..... 77
Routine and Humdrum..... 77
Unfair..... 77
The Crutch Walkers..... 80
Faith Inventory..... 80
Picture Testimonies..... 80
Family
Family Crossword..... 83
Perfect Pair..... 83
Faith Sculpting..... 83
Family Choices..... 85
6
Dear Amy Letters..... 85
Parent Opinions..... 85
Parent Blunders,
Teen Goofs..... 85
How to Raise Your Parents..... 89
Parent-Teen Eye-Opener..... 89
The Parenting Game..... 91
Fear
Rotating Fear..... 91
Freedom
Freedom for All..... 91
Realizing Our Need
for God..... 92
Future
Future World..... 92
Future Fantasy..... 92
Looking Ahead
to High School..... 93
Tabloid Prophecies..... 93
Gazing into the Future..... 93
Fantasy Reunion..... 94
Gambling
Win, Lose, or No!..... 94
Godhead (Father, Son,
Holy Spirit)
Modern Day Jesus..... 95
Name That Jesus..... 95
Describe the Counselor..... 96
Matthew One..... 96
Your God Is Too Small..... 96
Invent..... 98
Long-Distance Role Play..... 98
Creation, God, and You..... 98
God Is Like…..... 99
Graven Images..... 99
Attribute Ads..... 101
Canned Illustration..... 101
Egg in a Bottle..... 101
To Tell the
(Holy Spirit) Truth..... 102
Heaven
Heavenly Trip..... 102
Holy Spirit (see Godhead)
Humility
Lamed Vovnik
Convention..... 104
Individuality (see Self-image)
Jesus (see God)
Judging others
Lethal Labels..... 104
Legalism
New Rules..... 105
Legalism Stroll..... 106
Marri