Call-oriented conversation starters
What kinds of questions help a young person think about their calling?
We’ve collected several questions here (each including follow-up questions!) that you can ask the young person in your life.
These aren’t the kinds of questions to start a conversation with, but they’re useful if your conversation with a young person veers toward purpose, calling, or “what they want to do with their life.”
Get young people thinking about call:
What is the most adventurous thing you have done in your life? What did you learn from doing it?- Tell me about someone who inspires you. What qualities do you most admire in them?
- Who do you think has the coolest job? Why?
- What talents, skills, or hobbies do you have? How could you see using these in a future career?
- When does ‘flow’ happen for you? What are you doing when you become totally focused and you lose track of time?
- What did you want to be when you were little? Why do you think that appealed to you?
- Has anyone ever told you you’re good at something (even if you didn’t agree with them)? Do you think that’s true? If not, what do you think they were seeing in you instead?
- Tell me about a time when you were lost. What are some of the things that were helpful in finding your way?
- Which teacher has made the biggest difference in your life, and why?
- What scares or worries you most about the future? What is something you do to feel better when you’re anxious or scared?
- What things would you change about the world? How can you see yourself making a difference in this area?
- If you could have one super-hero quality, what would it be? How could you use that skill to make the world a better place?
Want even more?
More call discernment resources for young people:
These questions were all adapted from the Timothy Circle Trail Guide, an online call-discernment exploration that guides teens and young adults through the process of grounding themselves in God and in community to help them discern God’s overarching call for their life while creating a framework for how to discern God’s voice throughout their lives. It’s completely free, and can be found right here on our website at www.timothycircle.com/explorers/trailhead.
See a demo version of the Trail Guide
Resources for supporting young people in call discernment:
There’s also a leader guide we call our Facilitator Notes that gives adults like you all the tools you need to lead one or more teens or young adults through the Trail Guide. It gives you the background of what young people are covering in the Trail Guide, an introductory thought to start conversation, discussion questions, and a closing prayer.
Learn more about the Facilitator Notes
