Want to Build Connection in Your Community Group: Try the Hot Seat

Each day in Fall Camp, Clemson Head Football Coach Dabo Swinney gathers his team. He asks each player to take a turn on the stage in front of the entire team and be on the hot seat. He says that doing this breeds vulnerability and vulnerability creates love. Love is what is going to fuel a guy to do one more rep in the weight room, one more pass in practice, or push that much harder on 4th and Goal.

I have adopted the same idea for a Cru community group. If we can get the people in our group to know each other, we can take a step toward the kind of community that changes campus and the world.

The Hot Seat is a key to doing this. Simply ask one person to answer these 15 questions in front of your community group each week. It’s probably best to start with your leaders first and then go to the other people in the group.

Here are 3 different volumes I have used over the years. Freel free to adapt them and make them your own.

VOL. ONE

1. Tell us about your family

2. Mountains or Beach

3. Worst Song on your phone

4. Would you rather…

   1. Fight 100 duck-sized horses?

   2. 1 horse-sized duck?

5. What is a defining moment in your life

6. You have three days and an unlimited budget, what do you do?

7. Biggest Fear

8. Who is your hero?

9. If you were on a deserted island the rest of your life and you can bring 3 things...

10. Mix it up at a party or stay on the edge?

11. Favorite Emoji (and Demonstrate it)

12. Favorite Movie

13. If you could have any superpower…

14. What’s the hardest thing you have worked through?

15. What is one thing you wish everyone understood about you?

VOL. TWO

1. Tell us about your hometown.

2. You have to do a Karaoke night, what's going to be your song?

3. Would you rather be locked in a room that is constantly dark for a week or a room that is constantly bright for a week?

4. What has been a defining moment in your life?

5. Finish the sentence..."It was really embarrassing when..."

6. Who is someone that has impacted your life?

7. Favorite TV Show?

8. You can pick 3 people and you can go anywhere and do anything for one weekend, what do you do?

9. What are your strengths?

10. What is a weakness?

11. What is a favorite memory from childhood?

12. What's your go-to social media/internet splurge?

13. The Hands-down Absolute best GIF is...

14. Do you prefer larger groups, small groups, or 1 on 1?

15. What are 3 things you want to be true about you when you are 80?

VOL THREE

1. Tell us about yourself

2. What is something that everyone else loves, that you find overrated?

3. If you can be any fictional character from TV, Movies, or Books that fits your personality, who and why?

4. Proudest Moment

5. Most embarrassing moment

6. Stuck in a constantly Light or dark room for a week?

7. Favorite emoji and demonstrate it

8. Vacation spot with any 3 people?

9. What was a turning point in your life

10. Whataburger or In and Out?

11. Worst song on your phone now?

12. What is one strength and one weakness?

13. Would you rather…

    • Fight 100 duck-sized horses?

    • 1 horse-sized duck?

14. Are you introverted or extroverted?

15. Who is someone that hasn't impacted your life?