Small Group Discussion Guide

"Walking With Us: Seeing Jesus on the Road"

Based on Luke 24:13–35 | Road Trip Series, Week 4

A Note to Facilitators Welcome, and thank you for leading your group this week! You don't need to be a biblical expert to guide a great discussion — your job is simply to create space for honest conversation and let the Holy Spirit do the rest. This guide is designed to be flexible. Feel free to skip questions that don't fit your group, linger on ones that spark great discussion, and adapt the language to feel natural for you. Estimated times are suggestions, not rules. Most importantly, enjoy the journey with your group.

OVERVIEW

In this week's message — the fourth installment of the Road Trip series — Pastor Drew walked us through the story of two disciples traveling the seven-mile road from Jerusalem to Emmaus on the day of the Resurrection (Luke 24:13–35). Though Jesus himself joined them on the walk, their grief and disappointment kept them from recognizing him. The sermon reminded us that Jesus doesn't wait for us to have it all figured out before he shows up — he meets us right in the middle of our confusion, our grief, and our unanswered questions. Through three key ideas — that disappointment can blind us, that Jesus walks with us in our confusion, and that he reveals himself along the journey — we were invited to open our eyes to the ways Jesus is already walking beside us, even right now.

ICEBREAKER

(5–10 minutes)

Before diving into the sermon content, start with this lighter question to help everyone settle in and get comfortable talking.

"Tell us about a time you were completely convinced you were right about something — and then realized you had totally missed what was actually going on. It can be funny, embarrassing, or just ordinary life!"

(Pastor Drew shared his own story about the shared calendar mix-up — feel free to reference that to get people laughing and talking.)

SCRIPTURE READING

(5 minutes)

Have someone read the passage aloud, or divide it among two or three readers. Encourage the group to listen as if hearing it for the first time.

Luke 24:13–35 (ESV)

"That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, 'What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?' And they stood still, looking sad.

Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, 'Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?' And he said to them, 'What things?' And they said to him, 'Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.'

And he said to them, 'O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?' And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, but they urged him strongly, saying, 'Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.' So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight.

They said to each other, 'Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?' And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, 'The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!' Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread."

A Little Context: This story takes place on the very first Easter Sunday — the same day Jesus rose from the dead. Cleopas and his companion were followers of Jesus, but not part of the original twelve disciples. The village of Emmaus was about a seven-mile walk from Jerusalem — likely several hours on foot. These two were heading home in the aftermath of what felt like total devastation. They didn't yet know that the resurrection was real, even though the women had already reported it that morning.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

(30–45 minutes)

Work through these questions at your group's pace. You don't need to cover every question — choose the ones that feel most alive for your group. Questions are arranged to move from observation to personal application.

THEME 1: Disappointment Can Blind Us

(Questions 1–3)

1. When you read the words "we had hoped" in verse 21, what strikes you about those three words? What do you think Cleopas and his companion were feeling in that moment?

[Leader Tip] This is a great opening question because almost everyone can relate to dashed hopes. Give people a moment to sit with the weight of those words before moving on. You might ask: "What's the tone behind 'we had hoped'? Is it sadness? Anger? Confusion? All three?"

2. Pastor Drew said, "If anxiety is spiritual amnesia, then disappointment is spiritual blindness — it doesn't just make us forget the past, it makes us unable to see the present." What do you think he meant by that? Have you ever experienced a time when disappointment made it harder to see what God was doing?

[Leader Tip] This is a more personal question, so give people space to share at whatever level they're comfortable. You don't need to push for deep vulnerability right away — even general examples ("a season when I felt like God was far away") are valuable. Normalize that this is a very human experience.

3. The two disciples had a specific picture of what they expected Jesus to do — save Israel from Roman occupation. When that didn't happen the way they expected, they couldn't recognize the even greater thing Jesus had done. Can you think of a time when God answered a prayer or worked in your life in a way that was different from what you expected — and it turned out to be better, or at least different in a meaningful way?

THEME 2: Jesus Walks With Us in the Midst of Confusion

(Questions 4–5)

4. Notice that Jesus didn't wait for the disciples to have their questions resolved before he joined them. He stepped into the middle of an unfinished, messy conversation. What does that tell us about the kind of God Jesus is? How does that challenge or encourage you personally?

[Leader Tip] Listen for the difference between people who find this deeply comforting and those who might push back ("But why doesn't he just make things clearer?"). Both responses are valid and worth exploring. You might follow up with: "Is it easier for you to believe that Jesus is present when things are going well, or when things are hard? Why?"

5. For seven miles, Jesus walked with these disciples and explained the scriptures to them — and they still didn't recognize him. Pastor Drew described this as being "at the top of the mountain without realizing you've gotten there yet." What do you think kept them from recognizing Jesus? And what kinds of things keep us from recognizing Jesus when he's near?

THEME 3: Jesus Reveals Himself Along the Journey

(Questions 6–8)

6. The disciples' eyes were opened in a surprisingly ordinary moment — sitting at a table, sharing a meal, watching someone break bread. Why do you think Jesus chose that moment to reveal himself? What does it say about where and how Jesus tends to show up in our lives?

[Leader Tip] Pastor Drew mentioned that the bread-breaking wasn't just a reference to the Last Supper — it was a reminder of every meal they'd ever shared with Jesus. You might invite the group to think about ordinary moments in their own lives that have felt unexpectedly sacred. This question can open up some beautiful, personal sharing.

7. After their eyes were opened, the disciples said, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road?" (v. 32). Have you ever experienced a moment — maybe in worship, in a conversation, in prayer, or in an ordinary day — where your heart "burned" and you sensed something significant was happening, even if you couldn't fully explain it? What was that like?

8. As soon as the disciples recognized Jesus, he disappeared — and they immediately got up and made the seven-mile journey back to Jerusalem to tell the others. They didn't wait until morning. They went right away. What does their response tell us about what happens when we truly encounter Jesus? What does that kind of urgency look like in our own lives today?

THEME 4: Community and Shared Stories

(Questions 9–10)

9. Pastor Drew said that when the disciples returned to Jerusalem, they found the others already sharing their own stories of encountering Jesus. He said, "Church is not just about showing up on Sunday morning... it's about being part of community and sharing the things that God has done in your life." What role does Christian community play in helping you see and recognize Jesus at work? How has someone else's story ever helped you see God more clearly in your own life?

[Leader Tip] This is a great moment to invite people to actually share a brief story of how God has been at work in their lives recently — not just talk about the concept. You might model this yourself with a short example. If the group is quiet, try: "Even something small counts. Has anyone noticed something this week that felt like God showing up?"

10. One of the sermon's closing challenges was this: "When your heart begins burning, it's a pretty good idea to start sharing." What makes it hard to share what God is doing in your life with others? And what might help you become someone who shares those stories more freely?

PERSONAL APPLICATION

(10–15 minutes)

These questions are designed for quieter, more personal reflection. You can invite people to share with the whole group, with a partner, or simply journal silently for a few minutes before closing.

1. If you're honest with yourself, what is one area of your life right now where you find yourself saying, "I had hoped..."? How might disappointment in that area be affecting your ability to see God at work?

2. Looking back over the last few months or years, can you trace a "road" where, in hindsight, you can see that Jesus was walking with you — even when you didn't recognize it at the time? What markers along that road stand out to you now?

3. Pastor Drew asked: "Is Jesus the functional center of your life?" — not just someone you like or admire, but the one you are fully committed to and oriented around. How would you honestly answer that question today? What would it look like for Jesus to be more fully at the center?

✏️ THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE

Choose one (or more) of the following:

• Notice and name it. Pay attention this week to moments when your heart "burns" — in worship, in conversation, in creation, in an unexpected kindness. Write it down. Don't let it pass unnoticed.

• Share a story. Find one person this week — a friend, family member, or someone from your group — and tell them about a time you've seen God show up in your life. It doesn't have to be dramatic. Small stories matter.

• Sit with your disappointment. If there's something weighing on you, take time to bring it honestly to God in prayer. Tell him about your "we had hoped" — and ask him to help you see where he is already at work.

• Come to the table. If you've been going through life feeling distant from God or from community, consider this an invitation to show up — to Sunday Summer Nights, to this small group, to worship. Jesus meets us in ordinary, gathered moments.

PRAYER FOCUS

(5–10 minutes)

Close your time together in prayer. You can use these prompts to guide your prayer time, invite individuals to pray aloud, or have one person pray on behalf of the group.

Suggested Prayer Topics:

• For open eyes — Ask God to remove the blinders that disappointment, grief, or unmet expectations may have placed on your vision, and to help each person in your group see where Jesus is already walking with them.

• For those in hard seasons — Pray specifically for anyone in your group or church family who is in a painful "Emmaus road" moment right now — carrying grief, confusion, or lost hope. Pray that Jesus would draw near to them.

• For the congregation's specific needs — The sermon mentioned several people by name who are facing serious health challenges. Lift up those in your church who are ill, recovering, or facing uncertain circumstances. (Feel free to name specific individuals your group is aware of and comfortable praying for.)

• For the mission trip team — Pray for those currently serving in Brownsville, Texas and Mexico — for safety, fruitful ministry, and that God would use their presence to spark curiosity and open hearts in the communities they're serving.

• For courage to share — Ask God to give each person in your group the courage to share their stories of encountering Jesus — in community, with friends and family, and with those who are still on their way to knowing him.

Suggested Closing Prayer: "Lord Jesus, thank you that you don't wait for us to have it all figured out before you show up. You meet us on the road — in our grief, our confusion, our disappointment, and our ordinary moments. Open our eyes this week to see you walking beside us. Give us burning hearts, and the courage to share what we see. Amen."

OPTIONAL DEEP DIVE

(For groups wanting to go further — great for a second session or for individuals who want to study more)

Deep Dive 1: The Whole Bible Points to Jesus When Jesus walked with the disciples on the Emmaus road, he "beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself" (v. 27). Explore a few of these Old Testament "signposts" to Jesus:

• Isaiah 53:3–6 — The suffering servant
• Psalm 22:1, 14–18 — A psalm that foreshadows the crucifixion in striking detail
• Genesis 22:1–14 — Abraham and Isaac as a picture of sacrifice and provision

Discussion question: What does it mean to you that the entire Bible is, in some sense, a story leading to Jesus? How does that change the way you read the Old Testament?

Deep Dive 2: "Close" vs. "In" The prayer leader referenced a passage from the book Do Not Be True to Yourself about the scribe in Mark 12 who was "not far from the kingdom of God" (Mark 12:34). Read that exchange in Mark 12:28–34.

Discussion question: What's the difference between admiring Jesus, being a fan of Jesus, and fully surrendering to Jesus as Lord? Where do you see yourself in that spectrum — and what might the next step look like for you?

Deep Dive 3: Presence Before Clarity Pastor Drew made the observation that in our faith journey, "presence comes before clarity" — that Jesus shows up before we fully understand what's happening.

Read John 20:24–29 (Thomas's encounter with the risen Jesus) alongside the Emmaus story.

Discussion question: Both Thomas and the Emmaus disciples needed a personal encounter with Jesus to move from doubt to faith. What does this suggest about how faith actually grows? Is faith primarily about having the right information, or is something else required? What has your own experience taught you?

RELATED SCRIPTURES FOR FURTHER EXPLORATION

QUICK REFERENCE CARD FOR FACILITATORS

If you're running short on time, prioritize questions 2, 7, and 9 — they capture the heart of the sermon and tend to generate the most meaningful conversation.

If your group is quiet or new, start with question 1 and the icebreaker, and don't rush. Sometimes the most important thing a small group does is simply create a safe space for people to show up and be known.

If your group wants to go deeper, use the Deep Dive questions or spend more time on the Personal Application section.

This guide was prepared for Grace Community Fellowship small groups. Permission granted for local church use.