The Gospels • Set 21
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 calls His disciples to abide in Him, love one another, remain faithful through opposition, depend on the Holy Spirit, and live with courage because He has overcome the world.
As you read, watch how Jesus describes Himself as the true vine, commands His followers to love sacrificially, prepares them for hatred and persecution, explains the work of the Holy Spirit, promises joy beyond sorrow, and prays for their protection, holiness, unity, and mission.
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
- John 15:1–17 — Abiding in the True Vine and Loving One Another
- John 15:18–16:4 — Remaining Faithful When the World Opposes Christ
- John 16:5–15 — The Work of the Holy Spirit
- John 16:16–33 — Sorrow Turned to Joy and Courage in Christ’s Victory
- John 17:1–26 — Jesus Prays for His Disciples and All Future Believers
The Gospels • Set 21
Small Group Discussion Questions
Icebreaker
- What is one habit, relationship, or routine that helps you stay spiritually grounded when life becomes difficult?
Digging Into the Text
- Jesus describes Himself as the true vine and His disciples as branches. What does this picture teach us about dependence on Christ?
- What does it practically mean to abide in Jesus and allow His words to remain in us?
- Jesus says that branches are pruned so they can become more fruitful. How might God use correction, hardship, or surrender to produce greater spiritual fruit?
- Jesus says His disciples can do nothing apart from Him. Why are self-reliance and spiritual busyness poor substitutes for abiding?
- What kind of fruit should become visible in the life of someone who remains closely connected to Christ?
- Jesus commands His followers to love one another as He has loved them. What makes His love different from ordinary human affection?
- Why does Jesus prepare His disciples to expect hatred, rejection, and persecution from the world?
- How can believers remain faithful without becoming fearful, bitter, defensive, or withdrawn when they face opposition?
- What does Jesus say the Holy Spirit will do in relation to the world, the truth, and the glory of Christ?
- Why is it important that the Holy Spirit glorifies Jesus rather than drawing attention away from Him?
- Jesus tells His disciples that their sorrow will turn to joy. How does the resurrection change the way Christians understand present suffering?
- Jesus says, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” How is biblical courage different from pretending that hardship is not real?
- In John 17, what does Jesus pray for His disciples concerning protection, holiness, unity, and mission?
- Why does the visible unity of believers matter to the mission of making Jesus known?
- Across these readings, how are abiding, love, endurance, the Holy Spirit, unity, and mission connected?
Leader Note
These chapters show that faithful discipleship does not begin with greater effort but with deeper dependence. Jesus does not tell His disciples to produce fruit through determination alone. He calls them to remain in Him. As they abide in Christ, His life produces love, obedience, endurance, joy, unity, and faithful witness through them.
Help your group see the progression: disciples abide in Christ, Christ produces fruit through them, love binds them together, the Spirit strengthens their witness, opposition tests their faithfulness, and unity makes Jesus visible to the world. The Christian life is not lived independently from Jesus or independently from one another.
Love God
- What truth about Jesus’ presence, victory, prayer, or relationship with His disciples encouraged you most this week?
- What has been competing with your attention, dependence, or closeness to Christ?
- What practice could help you abide more intentionally in Jesus this week?
Connect with Others
- Does your love for other believers reflect the sacrificial love Jesus describes in John 15?
- Is there division, resentment, jealousy, or unresolved conflict weakening your relationships with other believers?
- How can this group pursue deeper unity without avoiding truth, accountability, or necessary conversations?
Serve Others
- What spiritual fruit does God desire to produce through you for the good of others?
- Who might need your encouragement, presence, generosity, courage, or sacrificial love this week?
Share the Gospel
- Jesus says the Holy Spirit will testify about Him and that His disciples must also testify. What does this teach us about our role in sharing the gospel?
- Who is one person you can intentionally pray for and point toward Jesus through your words, love, courage, or unity with other believers?
Closing Challenge
Jesus calls His disciples to abide in Him, love one another, remain faithful through opposition, depend on the Holy Spirit, and live with courage because He has overcome the world.
Fruit does not come from frantic effort disconnected from Jesus. Courage does not come from denying trouble. Unity does not come from avoiding truth. Mission does not advance through human strength alone.
Jesus calls His disciples to remain in Him, receive the Spirit’s help, love one another deeply, stand faithfully under pressure, and live together as a people who make Him known.
Where is Jesus inviting you to move from self-reliance toward deeper dependence, greater love, courageous faithfulness, or visible unity 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 abide in Christ, love one another, depend on the Holy Spirit, and remain faithful in the world.
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 you been abiding in Christ, or have you been attempting to live and serve primarily through your own strength?
- Is there anything God may be pruning, correcting, or asking you to surrender so that you can become more fruitful?
Connect with Others
- Have your relationships reflected the patient, sacrificial, and faithful love of Jesus this week?
- Is there anyone you need to forgive, encourage, reconcile with, or love more intentionally?
- Have pride, resentment, competition, or unresolved conflict weakened your unity with other believers?
Serve Others
- How has the fruit of Christ’s life been expressed through your service to others this week?
- Have fear, discouragement, comfort, opposition, or self-focus kept you from serving faithfully?
Share the Gospel
- Did you have an opportunity to testify about Jesus through your words, actions, courage, or love 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, bitterness, temptation, self-reliance, discouragement, or hidden sin has been most difficult this week?
- Is there any area where opposition, pressure, or fear of people has caused you to compromise or remain silent?
- How can this group specifically pray for you today?
Leader Reminder: Keep directing the conversation back to dependence on Jesus. Lasting fruit, sacrificial love, courage under pressure, faithful witness, and genuine unity cannot be manufactured through human effort alone. Encourage the group to abide in Christ, depend on the Holy Spirit, remain anchored in the truth, and live together as a people who make Jesus visible to the world.
Continue studying: Return to The Gospels Set 21 Study Resources
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