The Gospels • Set 16
Discussion & Heart Check Questions
Small group discussion questions and accountability tools designed to help disciples grow in their love for God, connect with others, serve others, and share the gospel.
These questions were created to accompany The Gospels Discipleship Journal, but they can also be used by any small group, discipleship group, family, or individual studying these passages.
This Set’s Big Idea
Jesus seeks the lost, welcomes repentant sinners, warns against hardened hearts, teaches faithful obedience, and calls His disciples to trust Him even in suffering and delay.
As you read, watch how Jesus celebrates the recovery of the lost, reveals the Father’s compassion, warns about the eternal consequences of unbelief, teaches forgiveness and humble service, and prepares His disciples to trust Him as He moves toward Lazarus and Bethany.
How to Use These Questions
These questions are a guide, not a script. You do not need to answer every question. The goal is to help your group engage Scripture, encourage one another, and take a clear next step of obedience.
Before meeting, encourage everyone to complete the set’s readings and record at least one observation and one application from the passage using PETS or another preferred Bible study method.
Suggested Small Group Meeting Flow
Use this as a flexible guide for a 1–1.5 hour weekly gathering. Adjust as needed for your group.
Connect, catch up, and celebrate how God worked during the week.
Pray and invite the Holy Spirit to teach through His Word.
Share PETS observations and applications from the week’s readings.
Work through selected discussion questions together.
Use Heart Check questions for honest accountability and encouragement.
Share prayer requests and close by praying for one another.
Leader Tips
- You do not need to answer every question.
- Select the questions that best fit your group.
- Keep the discussion centered on Jesus and practical obedience.
- Encourage everyone to participate, but never pressure anyone to speak.
- Leave time for accountability and prayer.
This Set’s Readings
- Luke 15:1–10 — The Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin
- Luke 15:11–32 — The Lost Son and the Compassionate Father
- Luke 16:19–31 — The Rich Man and Lazarus
- Luke 17:1–10 — Forgiveness, Faith, and Faithful Service
- John 11:1–16 — Jesus Hears About Lazarus’ Sickness
The Gospels • Set 16
Small Group Discussion Questions
Icebreaker
- Have you ever lost something important and felt great relief when it was found? What happened?
Digging Into the Text
- What do the lost sheep and lost coin teach us about God’s heart toward people who are far from Him?
- Why do you think Jesus emphasizes the joy in heaven when one sinner repents?
- In the parable of the lost son, what do the father’s actions reveal about God’s compassion and grace?
- In what ways were both the younger son and the older son lost?
- What warning does the story of the rich man and Lazarus give about wealth, compassion, Scripture, and eternity?
- In Luke 17, why does Jesus connect avoiding temptation, confronting sin, forgiving others, trusting God, and serving humbly?
- What does Jesus’ teaching about the servant reveal about obedience, entitlement, and our relationship with God?
- In John 11:1–16, Jesus loved Lazarus and his sisters, yet He did not immediately go to them. What does this teach us about trusting Jesus when His timing is difficult to understand?
- Across these readings, what do you learn about the relationship between grace, repentance, obedience, and trust?
Leader Note
This set holds together God’s seeking grace and the seriousness of our response. Jesus welcomes repentant sinners, but He also warns against self-righteousness, hardened hearts, indifference toward suffering, unforgiveness, and unbelief. Help your group see that grace does not produce careless discipleship. Grace brings us home, transforms our hearts, and teaches us to forgive, serve, obey, and trust Jesus even when we do not understand His timing.
Love God
- What truth about the Father’s compassion or Jesus’ character encouraged you most this week?
- Do you identify more closely right now with the wandering younger son, the resentful older son, or the son welcomed home? Why?
- Where do you need to trust Jesus even though His timing or purposes are difficult to understand?
Connect with Others
- Is there anyone whose repentance, restoration, or blessing you have struggled to celebrate?
- Jesus teaches His disciples to forgive repeatedly. Is there someone you need to forgive, confront lovingly, or pursue reconciliation with?
- How can this group become a place where lost, hurting, repentant, and returning people experience both truth and grace?
Serve Others
- The rich man failed to notice Lazarus suffering near his gate. Who might God be calling you to notice and serve?
- What is one practical way you can reflect the Father’s compassion toward someone who feels distant, forgotten, or overlooked?
Share the Gospel
- How do the stories of the lost sheep, lost coin, and lost son shape the way we pursue people who are far from God?
- Who is one person you can intentionally pray for, move toward, and invite to come home to the Father?
Closing Challenge
Jesus seeks the lost, welcomes repentant sinners, warns against hardened hearts, teaches faithful obedience, and calls His disciples to trust Him even in suffering and delay.
These passages invite us to receive the Father’s grace without becoming entitled, extend forgiveness without keeping score, notice those who are suffering, serve without demanding recognition, and trust Jesus when His timing does not match our expectations.
What is one step of repentance, forgiveness, compassion, obedience, or trust Jesus is calling you to take this week?
Small Group Accountability
Weekly Heart Check
How to Use These Questions
These questions are meant to help the group move beyond information and into honest discipleship. Use them with grace, humility, and confidentiality. The goal is not shame, but spiritual growth as we help one another receive God’s grace, extend forgiveness, obey faithfully, and trust Jesus together.
Love God
- How has your time in God’s Word and prayer been this week?
- What did these readings reveal to you about the heart of God?
- Is there an area where you need to repent and return to the Father?
- Are disappointment, suffering, or delay causing you to doubt Jesus’ love or timing?
Connect with Others
- Have your relationships reflected grace, forgiveness, patience, and compassion this week?
- Is there anyone you need to forgive, lovingly confront, encourage, or reconcile with?
- Have jealousy, resentment, or self-righteousness made it difficult for you to celebrate God’s grace in someone else’s life?
Serve Others
- How have you used your time, gifts, or resources to serve someone this week?
- Have comfort, wealth, busyness, pride, or indifference kept you from noticing someone in need?
Share the Gospel
- Did you intentionally pray for or move toward someone who is far from God this week?
- If so, what happened?
- If not, who is one person you can intentionally pursue with prayer, compassion, and the hope of Jesus?
Honest Accountability
- What temptation, resentment, unbelief, unforgiveness, pride, or hidden sin has been most difficult this week?
- Is there anyone you have refused to forgive or any act of obedience you have delayed?
- What is one specific way the group can pray for you today?
Leader Reminder: The goal is not merely to discuss lost people, repentance, eternity, forgiveness, or suffering. The goal is to help one another receive the Father’s grace, celebrate restoration, forgive freely, notice the hurting, serve humbly, and trust Jesus when His timing is difficult to understand.
Continue studying: Return to The Gospels Set 16 Study Resources
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