The Gospels • Set 22
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 willingly submits to the Father, remains faithful through betrayal and injustice, bears the weight of human sin, and gives His life to rescue sinners.
As you read, watch how Jesus prays in anguish, surrenders to the Father’s will, responds to betrayal without retaliation, stands silently before unjust accusers, endures denial and rejection, and goes willingly to the cross for sinners.
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 ask God to help the group see the glory, suffering, and saving love of Jesus.
Share PETS observations and applications from the week’s readings.
Work through selected discussion questions together.
Use Heart Check questions for honest accountability, repentance, and encouragement.
Share prayer requests and close by thanking Jesus for the cross.
Leader Tips
- You do not need to answer every question.
- Allow time for silence, reflection, and prayer.
- Keep the discussion centered on Jesus rather than only on the failures of others.
- Avoid rushing past the suffering and crucifixion of Christ.
- Lead the group toward repentance, gratitude, worship, and faithful obedience.
This Set’s Readings
- Matthew 26:36–56 — Jesus Prays in Gethsemane and Is Arrested
- John 18:1–24 — Jesus Is Betrayed, Arrested, and Questioned
- Matthew 26:57–75 — Jesus Before the Council and Peter’s Denial
- Matthew 27:1–26 — Jesus Before Pilate and Barabbas Is Released
- Matthew 27:27–56 — Jesus Is Mocked, Crucified, and Dies
The Gospels • Set 22
Small Group Discussion Questions
Icebreaker
- What usually helps you remain faithful when doing the right thing becomes difficult or costly?
Digging Into the Text
- In Gethsemane, Jesus openly expresses deep sorrow and anguish. What does this reveal about His humanity and the weight of what He was preparing to face?
- Jesus prayed, “Not as I will, but as You will.” What is the difference between honest prayer and resistant prayer?
- What does Jesus’ surrender in Gethsemane teach us about obedience when God’s will is painful or difficult?
- The disciples repeatedly fell asleep while Jesus prayed. What warning does this give us about spiritual weakness, temptation, and the need to remain watchful?
- When Jesus was betrayed and arrested, He refused retaliation and even healed the injured servant. What does His response reveal about His character and mission?
- Jesus could have called on heavenly armies, yet He willingly submitted to arrest. Why is it important to understand that Jesus was not powerless or trapped?
- What contrasts do you see between Jesus’ courage and faithfulness and Peter’s fear, self-confidence, and denial?
- Peter failed after confidently insisting that he never would. What does his denial teach us about self-reliance and the danger of overestimating our spiritual strength?
- Jesus faced false testimony, manipulation, humiliation, and injustice. What stands out to you about the way He conducted Himself before His accusers?
- Pilate recognized that Jesus was innocent, yet still handed Him over to satisfy the crowd. What does this reveal about the danger of fearing people more than doing what is right?
- Barabbas was guilty and condemned, yet he was released while the innocent Jesus took his place. How does this picture help us understand substitution and the gospel?
- What forms of physical pain, public shame, mockery, rejection, and spiritual suffering did Jesus endure at the cross?
- Why is the cross both a display of the seriousness of sin and the greatness of God’s love?
- What does the tearing of the temple curtain communicate about what Jesus accomplished through His death?
- The centurion declared, “Truly this was the Son of God.” What evidence in the crucifixion scene may have led him to that conclusion?
- Which person in these readings do you most identify with right now—Peter, Pilate, the crowd, Barabbas, Simon of Cyrene, the centurion, the grieving women, or one of the disciples who fled? Why?
Leader Note
These passages reveal both the depth of human sin and the faithfulness of Jesus. Judas betrays Him. The disciples flee. Peter denies Him. Religious leaders manipulate justice. Pilate chooses political safety over truth. The crowd demands the release of a guilty man and the death of the innocent Son of God.
Yet Jesus remains faithful. He prays honestly, submits fully, refuses retaliation, speaks truthfully, endures injustice, and willingly gives His life. Help your group see that Jesus is not merely a victim of human cruelty. He is the obedient Son who willingly bears the judgment sinners deserve.
At the cross, the innocent One takes the place of the guilty so that guilty people can be forgiven and brought near to God.
Love God
- What truth about Jesus’ obedience, courage, holiness, or sacrificial love affected you most deeply this week?
- Where are you struggling to pray, “Not my will, but Yours be done”?
- How should the cross deepen your worship, gratitude, repentance, and trust in God?
Connect with Others
- Peter failed Jesus publicly and painfully. How should the gospel shape the way we respond to believers who fail?
- Have fear, pressure, or desire for approval caused you to remain silent, deny your convictions, or distance yourself from Jesus?
- How can this group help one another remain watchful, prayerful, and faithful when obedience becomes costly?
Serve Others
- Jesus continued showing compassion even while He was suffering. Who might God be calling you to love or serve despite your own discomfort?
- What act of costly, humble, or unnoticed service could help you reflect the character of Jesus this week?
Share the Gospel
- How would you explain the meaning of the cross to someone who does not yet understand why Jesus had to die?
- Who is one person you can intentionally pray for and tell that Jesus willingly took the place of sinners?
Closing Challenge
Jesus willingly submits to the Father, remains faithful through betrayal and injustice, bears the weight of human sin, and gives His life to rescue sinners.
The disciples slept and fled. Peter denied Him. Pilate surrendered to pressure. The crowd chose Barabbas. Yet Jesus remained faithful.
The innocent One took the place of the guilty. The King received shame. The sinless Son bore judgment. The curtain was torn, and the way to God was opened.
Where is the cross calling you to repent, surrender, trust, forgive, or follow Jesus more faithfully 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 with grace, maintain confidentiality, and pray for one another. The goal is not shame, but repentance, restoration, gratitude, and deeper faithfulness to Jesus.
Love God
- How has your time in God’s Word and prayer been this week?
- What did these readings reveal to you about Jesus?
- Is there any area where you are resisting God’s will because obedience feels difficult or costly?
- Have you intentionally taken time to remember and thank Jesus for what He endured at the cross?
Connect with Others
- Have your relationships reflected patience, grace, courage, and sacrificial love this week?
- Is there anyone you need to forgive, encourage, reconcile with, or restore gently?
- Have fear of people or desire for approval caused you to hide your faith or compromise your convictions?
Serve Others
- How have you reflected the humility and sacrificial love of Jesus through service this week?
- Have comfort, fear, busyness, bitterness, or self-protection kept you from loving someone faithfully?
Share the Gospel
- Did you have an opportunity to speak about the cross or 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 message of Christ’s saving love?
Honest Accountability
- What fear, temptation, compromise, pride, bitterness, self-reliance, or hidden sin has been most difficult this week?
- Have you denied Jesus through your words, silence, actions, priorities, or desire for approval?
- What is one specific way this group can pray for you today?
Leader Reminder: Keep pointing the group toward the faithfulness of Jesus rather than leaving them focused only on human failure. Everyone in these passages fails, compromises, flees, denies, manipulates, or condemns—but Jesus remains faithful. Lead the group toward repentance and gratitude by reminding them that the innocent Savior willingly took the place of guilty sinners and opened the way back to God.
Continue studying: Return to The Gospels Set 22 Study Resources
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