The Gospels • Set 20
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 prepares to give His life, serves His disciples with humble love, strengthens them for failure and sorrow, and promises His presence, peace, and the help of the Holy Spirit.
As you read, watch how Jesus prepares for the Passover, washes His disciples’ feet, establishes the Lord’s Supper, warns Peter about his coming failure, comforts troubled hearts, reveals Himself as the way to the Father, and promises the Holy Spirit to remain with His people.
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 passages 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 22:1–13 — Jesus Prepares for the Passover
- John 13:1–20 — Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet
- Matthew 26:20–35 — The Lord’s Supper, Betrayal, and Peter’s Coming Denial
- John 14:1–14 — Jesus Is the Way, the Truth, and the Life
- John 14:15–31 — Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit and Gives His Peace
The Gospels • Set 20
Small Group Discussion Questions
Icebreaker
- Tell about someone who served you in a way you did not expect. How did that act of service affect you?
Digging Into the Text
- Jesus deliberately prepared for the Passover even as Judas and the religious leaders moved toward betrayal. What does this reveal about Jesus’ purpose and control over the events leading to the cross?
- Why do you think Jesus washed His disciples’ feet instead of merely telling them to serve one another?
- Peter initially resisted having his feet washed. Why can receiving grace and allowing others to serve us sometimes be difficult?
- What does Jesus’ willingness to wash the feet of disciples who would soon abandon, deny, and betray Him reveal about His love?
- When Jesus established the Lord’s Supper, what did the bread and cup represent? Why is remembering His sacrifice important for His followers?
- Jesus knew Judas would betray Him and Peter would deny Him. How did He respond differently to each man, and what does this teach us?
- Peter confidently claimed that he would never fall. Why can spiritual overconfidence be dangerous?
- In John 14, Jesus tells His disciples not to let their hearts be troubled. What reasons does He give them for hope and confidence?
- Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” What does this statement reveal about His identity and the way people come to the Father?
- What does Jesus promise the Holy Spirit will do for His followers?
- Jesus connects loving Him with obeying His commands. Why is obedience an important expression of genuine love for Christ?
- How is the peace Jesus gives different from the temporary peace the world offers?
- Across these readings, what seems to concern Jesus most as He prepares His disciples for His departure?
Leader Note
These chapters reveal the heart of Jesus during the final hours before the cross. Knowing that betrayal, denial, suffering, and death were approaching, Jesus focused on serving, teaching, comforting, preparing, and loving His disciples. He washed their feet, gave them the Lord’s Supper, warned them honestly, comforted their troubled hearts, and promised that they would not be left alone.
Help your group see the movement of these passages: Jesus serves them, gives Himself for them, prepares them for failure, comforts them in sorrow, and promises His continuing presence through the Holy Spirit. Discipleship begins by receiving Christ’s love and grace, then learning to extend that same humble, sacrificial love to others.
Love God
- What truth about Jesus’ love, sacrifice, patience, or promised presence strengthened your faith this week?
- What area of your life feels troubled, uncertain, or fearful? How do Jesus’ promises in John 14 speak into that situation?
- How is Jesus inviting you to depend more fully on the Holy Spirit rather than your own strength?
Connect with Others
- Jesus loved and served His disciples even though He knew their weaknesses. How can His example shape the way you respond to the weaknesses of others?
- Is there someone who needs encouragement, comfort, forgiveness, or patient love from you this week?
- How can this group better reflect Jesus’ servant-hearted love toward one another?
Serve Others
- What ordinary, lowly, or unnoticed act of service might Jesus be calling you to embrace this week?
- Has pride, comfort, busyness, or desire for recognition kept you from serving someone faithfully?
Share the Gospel
- Jesus said He is the way, the truth, and the life. How should this truth shape both the urgency and compassion with which we share the gospel?
- Who is one person you can intentionally pray for and point toward the hope, peace, and salvation found in Jesus?
Closing Challenge
Jesus prepares to give His life, serves His disciples with humble love, strengthens them for failure and sorrow, and promises His presence, peace, and the help of the Holy Spirit.
As the cross draws near, Jesus remains focused on His disciples. He serves them, gives Himself for them, warns them honestly, comforts their fears, and assures them that they will never be left alone.
The same Jesus still serves, strengthens, forgives, comforts, and remains with His people through the Holy Spirit.
Where is Jesus inviting you to receive His love, trust His presence, and depend on His Spirit instead of your own strength this week?
Small Group Accountability
Weekly Heart Check
How to Use These Questions
These questions are designed to move the conversation beyond information and into transformation. Answer honestly, listen well, pray for one another, and remember that the goal is not perfection, but growing together as disciples who receive Jesus’ love, follow His example, trust His promises, and depend on the Holy Spirit.
Love God
- How has your time in God’s Word and prayer been this week?
- What did these readings reveal to you about Jesus?
- Have worry, fear, disappointment, or uncertainty weakened your trust in Christ?
- Have you depended on the Holy Spirit, or have you mostly relied on your own strength?
Connect with Others
- Have your relationships reflected humility, patience, grace, and sacrificial love this week?
- Is there anyone you need to forgive, encourage, reconcile with, or comfort?
- Have you allowed others to serve, support, or speak honestly into your life?
Serve Others
- How have you intentionally served someone this week?
- Have pride, selfishness, busyness, discomfort, or desire for recognition prevented you from serving like Jesus?
Share the Gospel
- Did you have an opportunity to point someone toward Jesus this week?
- If so, what happened?
- If not, who is one person you can intentionally pray for and move toward with the hope of Christ?
Honest Accountability
- What fear, temptation, pride, disappointment, self-reliance, or hidden struggle has been most difficult this week?
- Is there anything you have been trying to handle on your own instead of entrusting to Christ?
- How can this group specifically pray for you today?
Leader Reminder: Keep directing the conversation back to the heart of Jesus. He serves, sacrifices, warns, comforts, forgives, and promises His abiding presence. Encourage the group to receive His love before trying to reproduce it, then follow His example through humble service, faithful obedience, trust in His promises, and dependence on the Holy Spirit.
Continue studying: Return to The Gospels Set 20 Study Resources
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