... but you will. Try this icebreaker to get your group members talking about the gifts God's given each of them. Use this to introduce Bible passages including 1 Corinthians 12; Romans 12:4-8, or Ephesians 4:1-16.

You'll need: Cookie dough, cookie cutters, cookie tray, rollers, oven, latex gloves (optional). If you're willing to put in the extra time, prepare some cookie dough before your group meets. Otherwise, simply use store-bought cookie dough. Also, it's important to have a diverse assortment of cookie cutters for participants to use.

Begin your small group by having everyone gather in the kitchen. Have group members wash their hands, and then gather around a clean work surface. (You may want each person to wear a pair of latex gloves.) Allow each person to grab enough cookie dough to begin making a handful of cookies each. As your group is cutting out cookies, ask:

• What are some specific ways that God has uniquely created you? How have, or haven't, you always appreciated those unique things about yourself?
• Why would the world be a much less interesting place if God had used "cookie cutters" to create each person? Give specific examples.
• Why is diversity so important in the body of Christ?

Once your cookies are made, place them in the oven and bake until ready to eat. You may need to go several rounds, so consider asking your host to oversee this. Enjoy your cookies together as a group at the end of your time together, once the cookies have cooled. Be sure to share each other's unique creations.

Here's another variation: Instead of providing all of the cookie dough and cookie cutters, you could also ask group members to bring supplies. Also, if your group is made up of parents with kids at home, bake enough cookies so each person can take some home to their kids; ask them to use it as an opportunity to talk about how God has uniquely created each of us and how they value their children's individualities.

Rob Cunningham is a freelance writer and editor from Sacramento, California, who oversees the small-group ministry at Mountain View Church in Roseville, California.