Small Group Discussion Guide

Book Club Series | Week 1

Famous Failures: Finding Hope and a Second Chance

Based on the message by John Maxwell

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A Note to Facilitators Welcome, and thank you for leading your group this week! This guide is designed to help you facilitate a meaningful conversation — you don't need to have all the answers. Your job is simply to create a safe space where people can be honest, ask questions, and grow together. Feel free to skip questions that don't fit your group, or linger longer on ones that spark great conversation. The goal isn't to get through every question — it's to help your group connect with God and each other.

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OVERVIEW

In this opening message of the Book Club series, leadership author and pastor John Maxwell walked us through what he calls "Famous Failures" — men and women in the Bible who fell short but experienced powerful, divine comebacks. Drawing from the stories of Jonah and Peter, and from his own life experiences, Maxwell reminded us that failure is not final. God specializes in second chances, and no matter where we've been or what we've done, hope is available to everyone through Jesus Christ.

Core Truth: Failure is always a moment — it is never a person.

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BEFORE YOUR GROUP MEETS

Suggested Reading: Jonah 3:1–3 and John 21:15–17

Pray for your group — ask God to create an atmosphere of honesty, grace, and genuine connection. Ask Him to help each person feel safe enough to be real about their struggles.

Gather materials: Bibles or Bible app, pens/paper for personal reflection, and this guide.

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SECTION 1: ICEBREAKER

(5–10 minutes)

Start here to warm up the group and get everyone talking before diving into deeper content. There are no wrong answers — this is just meant to be fun and get people comfortable.

Choose one of the following:

Option A (Lighthearted):

"What's a skill, hobby, or task you tried for the first time and failed at spectacularly — and what did you learn from it?"

Option B (Reflective):

"Think of a book, movie, or story where a character made a big mistake but eventually found their way back. What made their comeback story compelling to you?"

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[Leader Tip] Go first! Sharing your own lighthearted failure story immediately gives others permission to be open. Keep it fun and brief — the goal is laughter and connection, not depth yet. If the group is quiet, try prompting with: "Anyone learn to cook something that went terribly wrong? Or try a sport you had no business attempting?"

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SECTION 2: SCRIPTURE READING

(5 minutes)

Read these passages aloud together before moving into discussion. You can ask a volunteer to read, or read them yourself. Don't rush — let the words land.

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Passage 1 — Jonah's Second Chance

"Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: 'Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.' Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh." — Jonah 3:1–3a (NIV)

Brief Context: Jonah was a prophet who ran from God's assignment — sailing in the opposite direction, ending up in the belly of a large fish, and hitting rock bottom. These verses mark the moment God gave him another chance. Remarkably, the text simply says Jonah obeyed. No lengthy explanation — just a fresh start.

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Passage 2 — Peter's Restoration

"When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?' 'Yes, Lord,' he said, 'you know that I love you.' Jesus said, 'Feed my lambs.' Again Jesus said, 'Simon son of John, do you love me?' He answered, 'Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.' Jesus said, 'Take care of my sheep.' The third time he said to him, 'Simon son of John, do you love me?' Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, 'Do you love me?' He said, 'Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.' Jesus said, 'Feed my sheep.'" — John 21:15–17 (NIV)

Brief Context: This conversation happens after Peter had denied knowing Jesus three times — on the night Jesus was arrested. Now, after the resurrection, Jesus finds Peter by the lake, where Peter has gone back to fishing. Jesus doesn't lecture him. He doesn't list Peter's failures. He simply meets him where he is and restores him.

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Additional Passage (Optional — for reference during discussion)

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." — Romans 3:23–24 (NIV)

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SECTION 3: DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

(30–45 minutes)

Work through as many of these questions as time allows. They're organized to move from lighter and observational to deeper and more personal. You don't need to cover all of them — follow the energy of your group.

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THEME A: Talking Honestly About Failure

(Observational — start here to ease in)

Question 1

"John Maxwell opened by saying, 'Everybody fails — no one really enjoys it, but when people talk openly and honestly about their failure, there's a connection.' Why do you think honesty about failure creates connection between people? What makes it so hard to talk about failure in the first place?"

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[Leader Tip] This question is designed to open the door to vulnerability without requiring it yet. People may give intellectual answers at first — that's okay. Affirm responses and build toward more personal sharing. If the group is quiet, try: "Is there a difference between how we talk about failure publicly versus what we actually think privately?"

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Question 2

"Maxwell listed several well-known Bible characters who failed — including David, Sarah, Zacchaeus, Gideon, and Eve. Which of those surprised you most to hear described as a 'famous failure'? What does it mean to you that the Bible includes so many flawed, messy people?"

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THEME B: Jonah — God's Second Chances

(Interpretive and Personal)

Question 3

"Maxwell highlighted twelve words from Jonah 3:1 — 'Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time.' What does it tell us about God's character that He came back to Jonah after Jonah had run in the opposite direction? What does that mean for us when we feel like we've blown it?"

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Question 4

"Maxwell described three things a 'second chance' means: the first time was lost, grace is needed, and we can make a better choice. Which of those three resonates most with you right now, and why?"

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[Leader Tip] This is a turning point question — it invites personal sharing. Give people a moment to think before anyone responds. You might say: "Take just a second to think about that before we share." Silence is okay here — don't rush to fill it. Some people may share something vulnerable, so be ready to respond with grace, not advice.

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Question 5

"John Wooden told Maxwell: 'There's a choice you have to make in everything you do — keep in mind that in the end, the choice you make makes you.' How have you seen this play out in your own life? Can you think of a time when a choice — good or bad — shaped who you became?"

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THEME C: Peter — Finding Hope After Failure

(Deeper Application)

Question 6

"Maxwell identified three reasons Peter failed: he placed himself spiritually above others, he thought he knew himself better than Jesus did, and he overestimated his own strength. Which of those three tendencies do you most identify with, and why?"

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[Leader Tip] This is one of the most personally revealing questions in the guide. Some people may feel uncomfortable identifying with Peter's pride. Normalize it gently: "Maxwell said he saw himself in all three of these — I think most of us probably do." This isn't about shame; it's about honest self-awareness.

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Question 7

"After Peter's denial, he went back to fishing — essentially walking away from everything Jesus had called him to. Maxwell said, 'When you lose hope and want to be alone, Jesus will come looking for you.' When have you experienced God pursuing you during a season when you had pulled away or given up?"

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Question 8

"In John 21, Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves him — and eventually meets Peter at his own level, using Peter's word for love rather than the higher word Jesus had originally used. What does it mean to you that Jesus came down to where Peter was instead of demanding Peter rise to where Jesus was?"

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[Leader Tip] This question touches on the nature of grace and may be particularly meaningful to people who feel like they can never measure up spiritually. If the group goes quiet, you might add: "Is there a difference between what we think God expects of us and what Jesus actually demonstrates here?"

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THEME D: Getting a Return on Failure

(Synthesis and Application)

Question 9

"Maxwell shared a conversation with a billionaire who said he wouldn't erase any of his failures because: (1) erasing failures would erase the lessons learned, and (2) he developed his character in the valley, climbing out of the ditch. Do you agree with that perspective? Is there a failure in your past that — looking back — you can see produced something valuable in you?"

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Question 10

"Maxwell closed with this thought: 'Though you cannot go back and make a brand new start, you can make a brand new start today and have a brand new end.' What would it look like for you to make a brand new start in one area of your life this week? What's one step in that direction?"

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SECTION 4: PERSONAL APPLICATION

(10–15 minutes)

These questions are for quieter, more reflective sharing. You might invite people to take 2–3 minutes to write their answers privately before sharing with the group. Not everyone needs to share — make that clear.

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Reflection 1

"Is there an area of your life right now where you feel like you've failed — or where you've been carrying shame or regret? What would it mean to believe that God is offering you a second chance in that area?"

Reflection 2

"Peter went back to what was familiar (fishing) when he lost hope. What do you tend to retreat to when you're discouraged or feel like you've failed? How does that habit help or hurt you?"

Reflection 3

"Maxwell said that Satan's strategy (drawing from C.S. Lewis) is to get Christians preoccupied with their failures — because from there, the battle is won. Where have you let failure become a preoccupation rather than a lesson? How might God want to shift your focus?"

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✅ THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE

Choose one (or more) that fits where you are right now:

Option 1 — For the Honest: Write down one failure you've been carrying. Next to it, write what you've learned from it and what character it may have built in you. Then ask God to help you see it the way He does.

Option 2 — For the Hopeful: Reach out this week to someone who gave you a second chance — a friend, mentor, family member, or colleague — and thank them. Let them know what their grace meant to you.

Option 3 — For the Brave: Is there a relationship or area of your life where you've been "going back to fishing" — retreating from what God called you to? Take one small step back toward it this week. It doesn't have to be big. Just one step.

Option 4 — For the Seeker: If you're still figuring out what you believe about God and grace, read the full story of Peter's restoration this week — John 21:1–19. Notice how Jesus interacts with Peter and ask yourself: What does this tell me about the kind of God Jesus is?

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SECTION 5: PRAYER FOCUS

(5–10 minutes)

Close your time together in prayer. Below are suggested prayer topics — you can pray through them as a group, ask for prayer requests first, or invite a few people to pray briefly.

Suggested Prayer Topics:

• Grace: Thank God for the grace He extends to us — grace we didn't earn and don't deserve.
• Second Chances: Pray for courage to receive the second chances God is offering in specific areas of life.
• Hope: Ask God to restore hope to anyone in the group who has been feeling like Peter — defeated, distant, or ready to give up.
• Honesty: Pray for the group to be a community where people feel safe being real about their failures and struggles.
• This Week's Challenge: Pray that God would help each person take one meaningful step forward this week.

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[Leader Tip — Closing Prayer] If your group isn't comfortable praying out loud, you can close in prayer yourself. Try to reference something specific that came up in your discussion — it shows you were listening and helps the prayer feel personal and connected to your time together. You might also consider ending with a moment of silence before saying "Amen," giving people space to bring their private struggles to God.

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Suggested Closing Prayer: Father, thank you that you are a God of second chances. Thank you that you came looking for Peter, that you came back to Jonah, and that you come looking for us. Help us to stop being defined by our failures and to start being shaped by your grace. Give us courage to be honest with you and with each other. And remind us this week that failure is a moment — not a person. In Jesus' name, Amen.

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SECTION 6: OPTIONAL DEEP DIVE

(For groups with extra time or those wanting to go further)

These questions are for groups that want to explore the theological and biblical content more deeply. They work well for groups with mature believers or those who enjoy digging into Scripture.

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Deep Dive 1 — Grace vs. Works

"Maxwell told a humorous story about a man trying to earn his way into heaven with good deeds — only to discover that 'by the grace of God' was worth 900 points. Read Ephesians 2:8–9: 'For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast.' Why is it so tempting to believe we can earn our way with God? What does it do to our relationship with Him when we try?"

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Deep Dive 2 — The Two Words for Love

"Maxwell explained that in John 21, Jesus uses the Greek word 'agape' (unconditional, divine love) when asking Peter if he loves Him, but Peter responds with 'phileo' (brotherly love). Eventually, Jesus meets Peter at his level and uses 'phileo' as well. What does this tell us about how God relates to us in our weakness? How does this change the way you think about your own relationship with God when you feel like you can't measure up?"

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Deep Dive 3 — The Charcoal Fire

"Maxwell briefly mentioned that charcoal fires appear only twice in the Gospels: once when Peter warmed himself while denying Jesus (John 18:18), and again when Jesus made breakfast for the disciples after the resurrection (John 21:9). What do you think the significance of that detail is? Why might John have included it? What does it say about how Jesus handles our moments of failure — that He meets us in the very place where we fell?"

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SUPPLEMENTAL RESOURCES

For Further Reading:

• Failing Forward by John Maxwell
• How to Get a Return on Failure by John Maxwell (the book featured in this series)
• The full story of Jonah: Jonah 1–4 (a short, powerful read — only 4 chapters!)
• The full story of Peter's denial and restoration: John 18:15–27 and John 21:1–19

Related Scriptures to Explore This Week:

• Romans 8:28 — God works all things for good
• Lamentations 3:22–23 — His mercies are new every morning
• Psalm 103:10–12 — He does not treat us as our sins deserve
• 2 Corinthians 12:9 — His power is made perfect in weakness

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QUICK REFERENCE: GUIDE AT A GLANCE

Section	Content	Time
Icebreaker	Opening question to warm up the group	5–10 min
Scripture Reading	Jonah 3:1–3a and John 21:15–17	5 min
Discussion Questions	10 questions organized by theme	30–45 min
Personal Application	3 reflective questions + This Week's Challenge	10–15 min
Prayer Focus	Suggested prayer topics and closing prayer	5–10 min
Optional Deep Dive	3 bonus questions for deeper exploration	Additional
Total		55–85 min

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This guide was prepared for Life Groups at Life Church based on the message "Famous Failures" from the Book Club series. For questions about Life Groups or to find or start a group, visit life.church.

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One Last Word for Facilitators: The most important thing you can do today isn't ask the perfect question — it's create a space where people feel genuinely seen, heard, and accepted. John Maxwell reminded us that Jesus didn't wait for Peter to clean himself up and come back. He went to the lake and found him. Your group is a place where people can be found. Thank you for making that possible.