RAISING SHEPHERDS — WEEK 1

Small Group Discussion Guide

"Do You Love Me?" | John 21:15–17

OPENING PRAYER

Invite someone in the group to read this prayer aloud, or pray it in your own words:

Jesus, we come to this conversation the same way Peter came to that beach — not with everything figured out, but with an honest heart. Would you meet us here the way you met him? Not to rehearse our failures, but to reestablish our love. Open our eyes to see what you see, and give us the courage to answer your question honestly tonight. In your name, amen.

ICEBREAKER

Think about the most meaningful mentor, friend, or shepherd in your own life — someone who showed up for you when it really mattered. Without sharing anything too personal yet, describe them in three words.

Give everyone a chance to share their three words, then ask: What do most of those words have in common?

SCRIPTURE FOCUS

Read John 21:15–17 aloud together. If your group is comfortable with it, have someone read it slowly — with a full pause between each of the three exchanges.

"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

Quick Context Question: Before diving in, take thirty seconds — what stands out to you most when you hear this passage? Just a word or a feeling. Go around the room quickly.

MAIN DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. The sermon opened with a question that's worth sitting with here: "What did resurrection Sunday actually change about your Monday?" How would you honestly answer that right now? Is there a gap between what you celebrate on Sunday and how you actually live the rest of the week? What does that gap look like for you?

2. Jesus doesn't open this conversation by asking Peter about his plan, his readiness, or his failure. He asks one question: "Do you love Me?" Why do you think love has to come first — before assignment, before responsibility, before ministry? What happens when people try to skip that foundation and go straight to serving?

3. The sermon made a distinction that's worth exploring together: "There are people who love God but don't feel loved by Him." Have you ever lived in that tension — intellectually knowing God loves you, but emotionally feeling like He's keeping score or just tolerating you? What helped you — or what is helping you — move through that?

4. Every time Peter answered "I love you," Jesus responded with a specific assignment: feed my lambs, tend my sheep, feed my sheep. Notice what Jesus didn't say — He didn't say "then attend services" or "then agree with my theology." He said, "Take care of my people." Where in your everyday life — not just at church — do you have natural access to people who need to be cared for? Who are the people already in your field?

5. The sermon introduced a framework worth discussing: Cross → Resurrection → Mission. Dying to self. Receiving new life. Receiving an assignment. Where do you think most people get stuck in that sequence? Where have you personally gotten stuck? What does it look like to move from step two to step three in a real, practical way?

6. Pastor Scott asked the group to think about three specific people:

• One Lamb — someone new, hurting, or still learning
• One Sheep — someone growing but needing direction or accountability
• One Future Shepherd — someone you could invest in and raise up

You don't have to share names. But does anyone come to mind in any of those categories? What's one thing that's kept you from taking a step toward that person?

7. The sermon closed with this line: "If we love Jesus, we will care for what He cares about." What would it look like for this specific group — not the church in general, but the people sitting in this room right now — to actually live that out together over the next few months?

PERSONAL REFLECTION

These questions are for your own quiet time this week — in a journal, on a walk, or in a moment of prayer. You don't need to share them with the group.

• When Jesus asks you, "Do you love Me?" — what's your honest answer right now? Not the Sunday morning answer. The Tuesday afternoon answer.

• Is there an area of your life where you've been going back to fishing — retreating to what's familiar because something didn't go the way you hoped? What would it look like to let Jesus meet you on that beach?

• Who is your one? Spend a few minutes asking God to bring a specific person to mind — someone you're uniquely positioned to care for this season. Write their name down. Pray for them by name every day this week.

GROUP ACTIVITY — "The Field Map"

What you'll need: A piece of paper or a notes app for each person. About 8–10 minutes.

Instructions:

Draw a simple circle in the center of your page and write your name in it. Around that circle, draw three rings — like a target.

• Inner ring: People you already have deep relationship with — your closest community.
• Middle ring: People you see regularly but don't know deeply — coworkers, neighbors, acquaintances at church.
• Outer ring: People on the edges of your life — someone you've been meaning to reach out to, someone new, someone you've noticed is struggling.

Spend two minutes quietly filling in names across those rings. Then, as a group, share one name from your middle or outer ring — someone you feel a nudge toward — and briefly answer: What's one small, concrete thing you could do for that person this week?

Close the activity by reminding the group: Jesus didn't ask Peter to care for everyone at once. He gave him one assignment. Start with one person.

CLOSING PRAYER

Ask for one or two people to pray, or use this as a guide:

Jesus, you are still asking the same question you asked Peter on that beach. And tonight, together, we want to answer it honestly — not just with words, but with our lives and our week. Show us our one. Break our hearts for the people you care about. And raise up shepherds in this group, Lord — not because we have it all together, but because we love you.

In your name, amen.

TAKE-HOME CHALLENGE

This week, do one thing. Just one.

Reach out to the person who came to mind during your reflection time — the one you wrote down. It doesn't have to be complicated. A text. A phone call. Showing up with coffee. Asking a real question and actually waiting for the honest answer.

You don't have to have it all figured out. Peter didn't either. He just answered the question.

"Lord, you know that I love you."

That was enough to get the assignment. It's enough for you too.

Next Week: We'll go deeper into what it actually looks like to shepherd someone — practically, relationally, and spiritually. Come back. And bring somebody with you. Because that's already an act of shepherding.