A hymn discussion for a small group

One hymn gives a small group something specific to read and discuss together. Set aside 20–30 minutes, choose two questions, and leave time for a second reading at the end.

This is a flexible gathering outline from Heritage Press. It uses Pat Dys’s “I Believe,” on printed page 3 of Heritage Hymns, and can be adapted for a group meeting in a home or church. Read the hymn closely, listen to one another, and consider how its words express Christian belief.

Prepare before people arrive

Read “I Believe” in the book sample, then read it aloud once. The hymn has four stanzas and suggests “Brethren We Have Met to Worship,” with the tune name Holy Manna printed below. Decide in advance whether you will sing. If you need help finding the melody, use the tune guide during preparation.

Choose a reader who is comfortable reading aloud and invite them ahead of time. Arrange for everyone to see the words in their books. If your plans involve copied handouts, projected lyrics, or a recording, contact Heritage Press about permissions and describe the intended use before making those materials.

Choose two discussion questions from the list below. Reread the hymn so that you can bring the conversation back to the whole hymn. Note any unfamiliar wording you want to ask your church’s pastor or worship leader about beforehand.

Read and listen: 5 minutes

Tell the group which hymn you have chosen and how long you expect to spend together. Invite everyone to listen for a repeated phrase or a change in subject. Let people know that they are welcome to listen without speaking or singing.

Ask the reader to read the entire hymn at an unhurried pace. Leave a short silence afterward. Then ask each person who wishes to answer to name one thing they noticed. Keep this first round brief, without asking anyone to explain a personal experience.

Discuss two questions: 10–15 minutes

Choose from these questions about “I Believe”:

• What does the repeated “I believe” do? Compare hearing that phrase alone with hearing it return across the hymn. How would it sound when several people read or sing it together?
• What does the second stanza say about Christ? Trace its sequence from Christ’s suffering through his resurrection and ascension. Where does the stanza end, and how does that ending connect with the opening of the next stanza?
• What changes when the third stanza speaks of the church? Notice the movement from an individual confession to people from different tribes and nations. How does that affect your reading of the title?
• Why return to the opening confession at the end? Read the opening and closing lines again. What subjects has the hymn brought before you between those two moments?

Ask participants to point to the words that prompted their answer. Give a quieter person time to respond without calling on them unexpectedly. When a question about Christian belief needs more attention, write it down and agree who will help the group return to it.

For a 20-minute meeting, spend about ten minutes here and use only two questions. With half an hour available, allow another five minutes for conversation and five for singing.

Return to the words and close: 5–10 minutes

Read the hymn again, or sing it if you prepared the melody. Invite the group to notice whether a line sounds different after the conversation.

Close with a short prayer in your own words, responding to one of the truths the group has considered. Before people leave, name any question you agreed to revisit. If someone wants to continue with the hymn on their own, reading a hymn slowly gives them a quieter pace for the next reading.