1. Best/Worst: Have each person share their best and worst moments from the previous week in one sentence for best and one for worst. This icebreaker is an easy one to use at first and gives you good feedback concerning their life at the moment. Some veteran groups do this several times a year… the answers become more honest as you go.
2. Tell us the weirdest thing about yourself: It can be a strange food you like, a place you lived, a job you once had, a habit, anything really. This helps members get to know one another.
3. You Write the Question: Give each person a 3x5 card. You pick the topic and let them write the questions. For example, you choose “friendship” as a topic, and they each write out a question for anyone in the group to answer about friendship. For example, “What do you value most in a friend?” or, “Who was your best friend growing up and why?” Then pile all the cards face down in the middle of the group and let people draw. Topic ideas: jobs, life goals, funny stories, hobbies, family, fears, dating issues, significant relationships, relationship with God, etc.
4. House on Fire: Ask, “Your house is on fire, and everyone is safe. You have 30 seconds to run through the house and collect three or four articles you want to save. What would you grab? Why?” After everyone has done this, the group can discuss what they learned about the things they value.
5. Heroes: Ask each member to name three people, past or present, they admire. Why? Or, ask them if they could interview anyone in history, who would that be and why? What one or two questions would you want to ask?
6. How would you change the world?: This will engage people’s imaginations and help them share their passion. Ask the question, “How would you use $1 million to change the world?” After everyone has had a chance to share, ask the same question about $100 and then about $1,000.
7. Random Facts: Give everyone a piece of paper or 3x5 card. Have them all write something about themselves others may not know. Collect all the cards, then read the fact aloud and have group members try to guess who wrote the fact.
8. This week on Facebook: Instead of treating the smartphones in everyone’s hand as a distraction, use them to get people talking. Ask everyone to pull out their smartphone and find their latest favorite picture, video or story on their social network of choice. (It doesn’t have to be theirs. It might be a friend or family member’s.) Have everyone share why it piques their interest.
9. The Envelope, Please!: Group members list 10 facts about themselves on a piece of paper and then put them in an envelope. The group leader reads the facts aloud, one by one, as other group members guess the person’s identity.
10. People BINGO: Create bingo cards with characteristics like “played a varsity sport” or “has at least three siblings” or “has never left Texas” in each square. Everyone mingles and asks each other questions attempting to get a BINGO.
Light/Quick Questions:
1. What is the story behind the time you went the longest without sleep?
2. What is a quirky or unusual fear that you have?
3. What’s something in your house you want to get rid of but can’t? (Please no naming your spouse or children!)
4. What is the biggest way you’ve changed since you were a child? In what way are you still the same?
5. If you are at the zoo, what animal do you enjoy watching most and why?
6. Have you ever bought something matching with someone or were forced by a family member to wear matching outfits?
7. What was your best/worst surprise of all time?
8. What is one of your biggest pet peeves?
9. What was your first vehicle?
10. As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up and why?
11. If you could eat only one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
12. What has been your favorite road trip or vacation?
13. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be and why?
14. What’s your best memory from Church Unlimited?
15. If you could get one celebrity to join this group, who would it be and why?
16. If you could be any movie character, who would it be and why?
17. If you could relive one year of your life again, which year and what would excite you about reliving it?
18. If you could own and operate any company or organization on earth, what would it be and what would you do with it?
19. Describe the best birthday you have ever had.
20. In three words, describe the best person you have ever worked for.
21. What was your favorite childhood toy?
22. If you could get back one piece of clothing and have it always be in style, what would it be?
23. If you could take the entire group on an all-expenses paid trip to anywhere on earth for one week, where would you go and what would you do?
24. What’s the worst physical injury you have ever endured?
25. Do you prefer salty or sweet snacks? What is your favorite?
