69 — Wisdom from the Pews
A weekly blog of Creative Ideas for Leading Worship
Wisdom from the Pews
Short Small Group Discussions in Church
One of the quiet myths of Sunday worship is that insight flows in only one direction – from pulpit to pew. Yet every congregation carries decades of lived theology in its seats. Faith tested by grief. Questions sharpened by doubt. Hope shaped by daily living. What if, just for a few minutes, we made space for that wisdom to surface?
This simple activity invites the congregation to engage actively with the day’s Scripture readings – and with one another – before the sermon begins. It gently communicates an important theological message: the Spirit is not confined to the pulpit.
After the readings have been read from the lectern, invite people to turn towards those around them and huddle into small, informal groups. Some will need to shuffle closer. Encourage anyone who seems hesitant to join the nearest cluster.
Offer one to three open-ended questions drawn from the readings. Project them on the screen at the front of the church or include them in the printed order of service.
For example:
- In the parable of the Prodigal Son from Luke 15:11–32, imagine the present but unnamed mother in the household. How might she have experienced her son’s return? What tensions or hopes might she have carried?
- In Genesis 2:15–17 and 3:1–7, what happens if we reframe the so-called “Fall” as a necessary awakening into moral awareness? How does that change how you see yourself and your relationship with God?
- In John 3:1–17, when Jesus tells Nicodemus he must be born anew, what old frameworks or rules might you need to release in order to grow spiritually?
Invite each group to choose one question and discuss it for five minutes. Tell them the key here is imagination and reflection rather than correct interpretation. Let them know you will give a one-minute warning. Walk among the groups. Listen. Sit briefly on the edge of a conversation. Resist the temptation to join in. Your silence is a sign of trust.
After five minutes, allow an extra minute if the room is still buzzing. Then gather everyone back and invite groups to “share what they discussed”. Avoid language about right answers or decisions. The aim is exploration, not consensus.
In a larger church, have a radio mic ready to pass to the people speaking. In a smaller space, you may not need one. Either way, listen carefully and reflect back to the whole congregation what you hear: “What Joe is naming is…” This ensures everyone can hear and affirms the speaker. Move up and down the aisle rather than leading this reporting back section from the front. Keep the atmosphere conversational.
Give each group the opportunity to share. Notice those who want to speak but need encouragement. When contributions wind down, thank the congregation for taking part.
This activity (discussions in small groups and reporting back) will take 10 to 15 minutes.
Now deliver your sermon. Plan to keep this shorter than usual. A skilful preacher will intersperse their pre-written words with insights that came out of the congregation’s discussion session. When you echo their language, you embody a radical claim: what people think matters here.
Wisdom doesn’t only rest with the preacher. It’s present in the pews too.
Ngā mihi
Philip