The Gospels • Set 23
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 rises from the dead, turns grief into hope, opens hearts to understand the Scriptures, brings peace to fearful disciples, and calls His followers to believe and bear witness.
As you read, watch how the empty tomb overturns despair, the risen Jesus meets Mary in her grief, walks with confused disciples, reveals Himself through the Scriptures, speaks peace to fearful followers, invites honest faith, and restores hope through His living presence.
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 faith and 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 thank God that Jesus is risen and alive.
Share PETS observations and applications from the week’s readings.
Work through selected discussion questions together.
Use Heart Check questions for honest accountability, encouragement, and faith.
Share prayer requests and close by celebrating the hope of the resurrection.
Leader Tips
- You do not need to answer every question.
- Allow room for honest questions, grief, confusion, and doubt.
- Keep the discussion centered on the risen Jesus rather than only on the empty tomb.
- Help the group see how Scripture explains the meaning of Christ’s death and resurrection.
- Lead the group toward worship, hope, peace, faith, and witness.
This Set’s Readings
- Matthew 27:57–28:15 — Jesus Is Buried, the Tomb Is Found Empty, and the Resurrection Is Opposed
- John 20:1–18 — The Risen Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
- Luke 24:13–35 — Jesus Walks with the Disciples on the Road to Emmaus
- John 20:19–31 — Jesus Brings Peace and Meets Thomas in His Doubt
- John 21:1–14 — Jesus Meets His Disciples by the Sea
The Gospels • Set 23
Small Group Discussion Questions
Icebreaker
- Have you ever received news that completely changed the way you looked at a difficult situation? What happened?
Digging Into the Text
- Why is Jesus’ burial important to the truth of His death and resurrection?
- What details in Matthew 28 point to the resurrection being a real event rather than merely a symbolic story?
- The religious leaders tried to explain away the empty tomb. Why do people sometimes reject evidence because of what accepting it would require them to believe or change?
- Mary Magdalene came to the tomb grieving. What changed when Jesus called her by name?
- Why do you think Mary did not recognize Jesus immediately?
- How did Mary’s encounter with the risen Jesus transform her from a grieving follower into a joyful witness?
- The disciples on the road to Emmaus knew many facts about Jesus but misunderstood what had happened. What does this teach us about the difference between knowing biblical events and understanding their meaning?
- Why did Jesus explain the Scriptures before revealing His identity to the Emmaus disciples?
- What does the Emmaus account teach us about reading the Old Testament in light of Christ’s suffering, resurrection, and glory?
- The disciples said their hearts burned within them as Jesus opened the Scriptures. What can cause our hearts to grow cold toward Christ, and what helps rekindle them?
- When Jesus appeared to His disciples behind locked doors, His first words were, “Peace be with you.” Why was peace exactly what they needed?
- How does the resurrection change the way Christians face fear, guilt, grief, suffering, uncertainty, and death?
- Thomas wanted evidence before believing. What do you appreciate about the way Jesus responded to his doubts?
- What is the difference between honest questions that seek truth and hardened unbelief that refuses truth?
- Jesus said, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” What does this mean for believers today?
- According to John 20:30–31, why did John record the signs Jesus performed?
- In John 21, why is it significant that Jesus met His disciples during an ordinary night of work and prepared breakfast for them?
- What does the miraculous catch of fish teach us about depending on Jesus rather than our own strength, plans, or experience?
- Looking across all five readings, what stands out most about the way the risen Jesus meets different people in grief, confusion, fear, doubt, and disappointment?
Leader Note
The resurrection is not merely the happy ending of the Gospel story. It is the foundation of the Christian faith. Because Jesus rose, His claims are true, His sacrifice was accepted, sin and death have been defeated, and eternal life is available to everyone who believes in Him.
Notice how personally the risen Jesus meets His followers. He calls Mary by name. He patiently teaches discouraged disciples. He speaks peace to fearful followers. He graciously meets Thomas in his questions. He provides breakfast for tired fishermen.
The risen Christ still meets people exactly where they are—but He never leaves them there. He transforms grief into hope, confusion into understanding, fear into peace, doubt into faith, and followers into witnesses.
Love God
- Which truth about the resurrection strengthened or challenged your faith most this week?
- Where do you most need Jesus to replace grief, fear, confusion, disappointment, or doubt with His hope and peace?
- How does knowing Jesus is alive change the way you worship, pray, obey, and face the future?
Connect with Others
- Who around you needs the hope and peace that only the risen Christ can give?
- How can you respond patiently and graciously to someone who is grieving, confused, fearful, or wrestling with honest doubt?
- How can this group help one another recognize the presence and work of Jesus in ordinary life?
Serve Others
- The risen Jesus met His disciples’ practical needs by preparing breakfast. What simple act of kindness or care could you offer someone this week?
- Who might need you to walk patiently beside them, as Jesus walked with the disciples on the road to Emmaus?
Share the Gospel
- Mary said, “I have seen the Lord.” What can we learn from the simplicity and confidence of her witness?
- If someone asked why the resurrection matters, how would you explain it?
- Who is one person you can intentionally pray for and tell that Jesus is alive and offers life in His name?
Closing Challenge
Jesus rises from the dead, turns grief into hope, opens hearts to understand the Scriptures, brings peace to fearful disciples, and calls His followers to believe and bear witness.
Mary came to the tomb grieving and left proclaiming that she had seen the Lord. The Emmaus disciples began the day confused and ended it running to tell others. Fearful followers received peace. Thomas moved from doubt to worship. Tired disciples found Jesus waiting beside the sea.
The tomb is empty. Death has been defeated. Hope is alive. Jesus is present. His followers are no longer defined by fear, failure, or sorrow, but by His victory.
Because Jesus lives, how is He calling you to move from grief to hope, confusion to understanding, fear to peace, doubt to faith, or silence to witness?
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 deeper faith in the risen Jesus and a life shaped by His hope, peace, and mission.
Love God
- How has your time in God’s Word and prayer been this week?
- What did these readings reveal to you about the risen Jesus?
- Have grief, disappointment, fear, or doubt made it difficult for you to recognize Christ’s presence?
- Are you living as though Jesus is truly alive, present, victorious, and worthy of trust?
Connect with Others
- Have your relationships reflected the patience, peace, hope, and compassion of Jesus this week?
- Is there anyone you need to encourage, comfort, forgive, reconcile with, or walk beside?
- Have you listened graciously to someone who is struggling with grief, confusion, fear, or doubt?
Serve Others
- How have you offered practical care, encouragement, hospitality, or hope to someone this week?
- Have busyness, discouragement, fear, or self-focus kept you from noticing someone who needs Christlike care?
Share the Gospel
- Did you have an opportunity to tell someone that Jesus is alive and offers life in His name?
- If so, what happened?
- If not, who is one person you can intentionally pray for and move toward with resurrection hope?
Honest Accountability
- What grief, fear, disappointment, unbelief, temptation, or hidden struggle has been most difficult this week?
- Is there any area where you know the truth about Jesus but are struggling to trust or obey Him?
- What is one specific way this group can pray for you today?
Leader Reminder: Keep pointing the group toward the living presence of Jesus. The resurrection is not only something that happened in the past; it changes how believers live today. Because Jesus is alive, grief does not have the final word, fear does not have to control us, doubt can be brought into the light, Scripture can be understood through Christ, and every believer is sent to bear witness.
Continue studying: Return to The Gospels Set 23 Study Resources
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