QUESTION GUIDE
What if you could deepen every relationship just by asking questions? Your entire life is a series of questions meant to open doors to meaningful relationships.
Think of them as focused, intentional, and everyday conversations with people you and God value!
fOR GETTING STARTED
- What is your all-time favorite Christmas movie?
- If you could be a character in a holiday movie, what would you be?
- If you could spend Christmas morning anywhere in the world, where would you pick?
- If you were stuck on a 6-hour Christmas road trip and you could only listen to one Christmas song, which song would you pick?
- What is your least favorite holiday snack or meal?
- If your life had background music during the month of December, what songs would be on your playlist?
Looking Back
- What is the coolest gift you ever gave to someone?
- What are three of your most memorable gifts you’ve ever received?
- What job did you want as a kid?
- Did you ever visit Santa? How long did you believe in him What did you ask him for?
- Were you ever in a Christmas play or concert? Tell us more!
- What did you love to do as a kid?
- If you could choose to stay one age forever, what age would you choose and why?
- Who made your Christmases special?
- What is your second favorite Christmas memory?
About Now
- Let’s start with the obvious: What do you want for Christmas?
- Would you rather shop for everything online or in person?
- What passion project are you working on right now?
- What passion projects have you noticed other people working on that you appreciate?
- Do you shop for Christmas all year long? Black Friday? The week of Christmas?
- What song do you have on repeat right now?
- Do you wrap everything right away or on Christmas Eve?
- How do you handle holiday stress?
- What is the weirdest or funniest tradition your family has?
- What is your favorite Christmas cookie?
- When is the “right” day to decorate for Christmas and start playing Christmas music?
- What holiday chore do you like the least?
- If you had to choose any character in “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” who is most similar to you, who would you pick? Why? (Customize the movie or book to be a favorite for the other person.)
Traditions
- What is a cherished family tradition from your childhood?
- What was your least favorite tradition in your childhood?
- What is a cherished family tradition that you have right now?
- What is a cherished family tradition that you have right now?
- Is there a Christmas story that makes you laugh?
- Do you have a favorite book to read at this time of year?
- What is your favorite Christmas carol?
- Which version or artist’s rendition of your favorite Christmas carol do you like the most?
Looking Forward
- Finish this sentence: “The perfect Christmas party would be…”
- This time next year, what do you want to remember about this holiday season?
- If you were to make all of your presents next year, what would you make?
For Going Deeper
- What was the hardest thing for you to learn about the holiday season?
- What does healthy living—inside and out—during the holidays look like for you?
- If you could see a wish come true, what would it be?
- If you were going to give ___________ any gift at all, what would it be?
- What does family time look like to you?
- Have you ever worked a seasonal job? What did you do, and what are some crazy things you remember from it?
For Evaluation
- Where was your favorite place you traveled to this year? What made it your favorite?
- Who are some of your favorite artists of the year?
- What was the best book you read this year? (The book lovers you love will make you break this down into categories: Best History, Best Fiction, Best Read-By-the-Pool.)
- What were some of the best movies you watched this year?
- Do you have a charity or cause that you support during this season?
- When you look back over the year, what was your favorite part? (It may be valuable to break this down into categories: What was your favorite part of classes? Sports? Church? Friends? Travel? Family?)
- What was the hardest part?
- What did you do well this past year?
- In what ways did God work through you this year?
- Over this past year (or semester, month, or quarter), what mistakes did you make (This is a question for yourself or someone who trusts you deeply.)
- How did you see God at work?
- How did you see others being used by God this year?
- Where did you experience God’s grace this year?
ASKING FOR A MIRACLE
- If you were to ask God to do a miracleover the holidays, what would that be?
- If you were to ask God to do a miraclenext year, what would you ask for?
This is just the beginning
Keep the conversation going! How might you include questions in your conversations this holiday? Family and friends gathering over Christmas time are the perfect opportunities to build relationships.
Asking and listening well can take every relationship deeper. Questions like these are key to discovering the God-designed uniqueness of yourself and others, cultivating intentional relationships with heartfelt, open-ended sharing, and inspiring and mentoring with the why and how behind the what.
As you wrap your holiday and your relationships in questions, may your heart of inquiry add to the festivities, and may you experience relational growth all year long!
You know others and others feel known by you through questions. When those questions come from a desire to know who the other person truly is, you enter a secure and safe relationship. The resulting answers can lead to the divine super glue which holds a relationship together.
LET’S STAY IN TOUCH
Come back to presentlyengaged.com for more Jesus-focused encouragement to live intentionally! I’m cheering for you!
—Mandy Pallock
