One Question a Day: A Family Lent Practice for the Dinner Table

In my house, we spend a lot of time talking about, planning for, and celebrating Christmas. We put up decorations early and take them down late. We read stories and watch movies about baby Jesus. It’s Joy to the World for weeks on end.

But Lent and Easter? Well, honestly, I was stuck on how to create the same level of anticipation until an argument at dinner changed my thinking.

Our kids were fighting about something small (as kids do), and I asked a simple question about forgiveness. That one question turned into an impromptu conversation about mercy and grace. And afterwards, I realized that I had been overcomplicating what practicing Lent as a family could look like.

Maybe you are, too.

What if Lent became less about giving something up and more about drawing our families closer to Jesus—and to each other—through simple, intentional conversations, one question at a time? Here are 30 questions to help you get started.

How to Use These Questions about Lent

One of the things I love about this practice is that it works with the routines most families already have. Choose one question per day during Lent and ask it over dinner, in the car, or at bedtime. You can pair it with a Lent Prayer, too.

There’s no need to force deep answers. Let everyone respond however they want. Some days you might have some pretty amazing conversations. And other days, well, you might get a shrug or an “I dunno.”

Feel free to adapt the questions. Younger kids might need simpler phrasing or concrete examples from their day. Tweens and teens can elaborate or share stories. You model the way by answering, too! However you choose to use these questions for Lent, you’re creating space for your family to think about Jesus, talk about Him, and follow Him in your home.

10 Questions About Love and Sacrifice

Lent is a time to slow down and reflect on Jesus’ ultimate act of love. These questions help your family notice how God’s love shows up through others and practice the kind of sacrificial love Jesus modeled.

1. Who made you feel special today? Who smiled at you, helped you, or did something nice for you?

2. Can you think of a time when you were kind to someone even when you didn’t really want to be? Why were you?

3. What’s something you gave up to put someone else’s needs first? Maybe you gave up your turn, shared your favorite snack, or let someone else choose the game.

4. When has someone given up something to help you?

5. Who in your life do you think is easy to love? Can you think of someone who is more difficult?

6. Is there someone at school (or work) who seems lonely? What’s one nice thing you could do for her or him?

7. What’s one way you could show Jesus’ kind of love tomorrow? Maybe checking on someone who’s upset, helping without being asked, or being extra patient?

8. Can you love someone even if you don’t like them? What would that look like?

9. How can we show love with our words when we’re frustrated or tired?

10. How does our home feel different when we’re loving toward each other versus when we aren’t getting along?

10 Questions About Forgiveness

During Lent, we remember that Jesus forgave us while we were still sinners. These questions help your family talk about what it means to forgive others the way Jesus forgave us.

1. Tell me about a time when you messed up and someone forgave you easily. Did you feel relieved? Surprised? Did it change how you felt about that person?

2. When someone apologizes to you, is it easy to forgive them right away, or do you need some time? What makes forgiveness easier or harder for you?

3. How do you feel when you hold onto anger for a while? Does staying mad make you feel better or worse?

4. When you make a mistake, does God still love you? What do you think God feels about you?

5. When something feels really unfair, what helps you forgive? Does talking about it help? Do you need space and time to think about it first?

6. Why do you think Jesus talks about forgiveness so much? What does forgiveness do for us?

7. Can you remember a time when forgiving someone actually made you feel better?

8. What happens when you say sorry, but the other person stays mad?

9. In our family, what’s one way we can practice being more forgiving this week?

10. During Lent, how can remembering Jesus’ forgiveness help us treat each other differently?

10 Questions About Hope and Easter

The heaviness of Lent leads us to the joy of Easter and the empty tomb. These questions help your family talk about hope, perseverance, and the joy of knowing Jesus conquered death for us.

1. What’s something you’re really looking forward to right now?

2. Easter is when we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection. Why do you think He did that for us?

3. If you could ask God to help you with one thing right now, what would it be?

4. When you’re having a bad day, what helps you feel better? How could Jesus help you on those days?

5. What’s one thing that’s better this week than it was last week? Maybe you figured something out, or a problem got solved, or you feel better about something.

6. Why do you think the Bible talks so much about hope? Why does God want us to have hope?

7. Who could use some encouragement right now? How can you help cheer them up this week?

8. Is there something that worries you right now? How does knowing Jesus is alive help with that worry?

9. How does knowing Jesus is alive give you hope when something feels hard, scary, or sad?

10. What’s one way we can celebrate Easter (not just with candy or baskets), but with our words or actions?

By the way, you don’t need to have your faith all figured out spiritually to guide your family through Lent. In fact, wondering out loud together might be exactly what your family needs. These questions create space for honest conversations where everyone (including you) can wrestle, question, and experience simple moments with Jesus together.