Look for ways to help students share those ideas that they have in common. For example, all of your students have had experiences with prayer, church attendance, hurt feelings, etc.
EXAMPLE: I asked the students to tell me what they had learned about the benefits of scripture study. Going around the room, each student told the class what they learned about the benefits of scripture study. They came up with a really fantastic list. I filled up a sheet on the easel, plus wrote sideways to add the last few ideas in.
This method allows students to testify to each other and get to know each other better. Refer to the list during your lesson -- we are all in this together. This is why we need this lesson today.
