Verse 1-2: We live in a world where we get to pick and choose sources of information that cater to our beliefs and viewpoint of the world. On one hand, we get to connect and form communities around people with similar beliefs and viewpoints, plus not all information that is out there is true or beneficial. On the other, we can become quite insular, not to mention we can easily steer toward errant thoughts or beliefs in our closed communities. How does a Christian navigate what to read/believe in this information age, where conspiracies and lies are given equal credence and accessibility as truth? What does a wise person do?

Proverbs 13:20: Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.

How could Jewish leaders in Jesus’ time become convinced that the best course of action to deal with Jesus is crucifixion? How can religious leaders, people who study, memorize, and teach scripture, be led to commit suicide?

Verse 3-10: Have you ever been in a situation where you said or did something you shouldn’t have, but you couldn’t take it back? How did you get into that situation?

Why do you think Judas tried to give the money back?

Why wouldn’t the priests and elders take the money back? They are the ones that gave the money to Judas. How could they believe that the money was being put to good use the night before and consider it blood money the next morning?

Everyone’s money tells a story. If your money could talk, what would your money say about you? What kind of story do you want your money to tell?

Proverbs 15:27: Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household, but he who hates bribes will live.

Verse 11-14: The internet is amazing in its ability to allow anyone with a connection to find an audience to say most anything they want. Do you think everyone ought to have the right to say whatever they want whenever they want? Are there any limits to free speech?
What does a wise person do with the technology that allows them to get an audience for whatever they want to say?

Proverbs 17:28: Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.

Why did Jesus stay silent in front of the governor? Jesus consistently used his words (along with his actions) to speak the truth about who he was and what the will of the Father is during his ministry. Why would he choose at this critical time to stay silent?

Verse 15-23: What do you think of the power to pardon someone? Is it good/bad to give various government leaders the ability to pardon someone? Can you abuse the ability to pardon people?

The governor pulled Barabbas as the candidate for pardon in order to force the crowd to make a lopsided choice to pardon Jesus instead of a notorious criminal. Yet the crowd chose Barabbas. How amazing it is that Jesus would choose to take the due penalty for a hardened criminal upon himself. Why do you think the crowd chose Barabbas? The logical choice was clearly to pardon Jesus.

Do you think that Christians should choose leaders based upon their character? Is it situational (does it matter if it’s for a teacher, church elder, corporate supervisor, government official)?

Is there a correlation between character and how well someone leads? Can you lead well without good character?

What are character flaws that we tend to highlights or ignore in others?

Martin Luther King Jr. stated, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” How do we rightly judge someone’s character? What are the ways in which the world judges people today?

Proverbs 6:16-19: There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and the one who sows discord among brothers.

Verse 24-26: If Pilate knew what the right thing to do was, why do you think he didn’t release Jesus? Do you think that Pilate is innocent of what happened to Jesus because he washed his hands of the decision and did what the will of the crowd was?

When you have really hard decisions to make, what process do you go through to make them? What are some bad ways to make decisions?

Proverbs 11:14: Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.

Verse 27-44: Have you ever been made fun of? Have you ever made fun of others? Why do people mock others?

How should Christians talk to and about those with whom they don’t agree?

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭29:8‬: “Scoffers set a city aflame, but the wise turn away wrath.”

Verse 45-56: Have you ever felt abandoned by your family or a family member? How did you deal with that?

In what way did God forsake his son? Does this make God an imperfect father?

Have you ever allowed your kids to suffer through something to allow them to learn something? Did it work?

What is the significance of the miracles that occurred around Jesus’ death?

Verse 57-61: Have you ever spent time planning for your funeral? What do you want to have happened at your funeral?

Why do we spend so much time, money, and energy on dealing with dead people? They aren’t around to care. Why do all cultures have funerals? What should be different about a Christian funeral?

Verse 62-66: Do you have any concerns about any particular conspiracies? Why do you think people get wrapped up in conspiracy theories in the first place?

Why were the Pharisees so concerned about Jesus’ body?