Easy Icebreakers for Small Groups

For small groups within churches, the aim of ice breakers is to make any guests feel welcomed and also to learn something more about each other.

For some church home groups this is a great way to get people to relax and wind down before the evening really starts.  Get a few coffees brewed, hand round a plate of biscuits, open with the icebreaker and then see how the evening progresses.

Icebreakers can be as deep or without meaning as you wish - the aim, however, is that everyone in the group has to contribute or share something about themselves - thus involving even the most reticent participant.  It can also help individuals to wind down from their stressful and busy days and

At best, it can help to create a relaxed and open environment that enables you to move on to more meaningful discussions, study of the Word and worship.

Here's a few suggestions for questions that you can ask

  1. What is the best quality of your best friend
  2. If you were given a million dollars what would you spend it on
  3. What is the hardest thing you've ever done
  4. What is the best gift you've ever received
  5. If you could talk to one person from history, who would it be and why
  6. What is the most memorable activity that you did with your family when you were a child?
  7. Name three things that you are thankful for right now
  8. If you could travel to just one place in the world, where would it be and why?
  9. What is the one thing that you enjoy most in your spare time
  10. What words would you like on your gravestone
  11. Who was your childhood hero and why
  12. If there was a fire in your home and you could rescue three items, what would they be and why
  13. If you could be a WWW Gladiator, what would you call yourself
  14. If you could use a time machine to travel anywhere in time, where would you go and why?
  15. What is your favorite comic book character and why
  16. When did Jesus become more than just a (swear) word to you?
  17. What would you most like people to notice about you
  18. If you could meet one well known person, who would it be?
  19. What were your best and worst moments of the previous week (don't forget to make time for prayer for these later in the evening)
  20. If you weren't here today, what would you be doing that you're glad you don't have to?
  21. What is your favorite food or meal?

If you're making up your own questions - do try and ensure that they are open-ended, so that each person's answer is neither right nor wrong, but that they are the expert on their own thoughts and feelings.

Don't feel that you've got to stick rigorously to what you've planned for the welcome and icebreaker - if something develops, why not try and move with that.

If you have any additions or suggestions to this list, please contact us below.