Reading Guide 1
- Anthony's sermon on Sunday seemed to preach as
much to his own spirit as to the congregation. Have you
ever spoken words to someone else that proved to be a
Word to you as well? If you had that opportunity now,
what Scripture text would you be "preaching"?
- Terri doesn't comprehend Anthony and others at Second
Baptist Church who are seemingly obsessed with Jesus and
the Bible. "They don't understand that there's more to life
than religion," she complains. She thinks they're fanatical;
someone else might call them faithful. What do you think?
What kind of churchgoer are you? What do Scriptures such
as Romans 12: 1-2 and Hebrews 10:24-25 suggest about the
kind of churchgoer we should be?
- Pastor Green prays for Anthony, saying, "Do what
you've got to do to make things right, whatever it takes."
Does that prayer inspire you? Encourage or challenge you?
Or terrify you? Why?
- Throughout this novel, characters deal with the issue of
wealth and the power, status, and stumbling blocks that
are associated with money. In Chapter 2, Pastor Green
speaks about spiritual status and blessings in relationship
to material blessings. What do you think about his spin on
a "prosperity gospel"? How does it relate to Jesus' attitudes
about money (e.g., Luke 18:18-27)?
- "Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great
treasure and trouble therewith" (Proverbs 15:16). What
has been your experience with the principle laid out in
this proverb (which Anthony recalls was one of his Aunt
Rosa's favorites)?
- Being mindful of his own desperate need for a second
chance, Eric gives that chance to Nikki. There's another
expression related to second chances: "Fool me once,
shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me." How do you
know when the generosity of a second chance may result
in a "fool me twice"? Do you offer a second chance based
on faith or reason or some combination of both? Why?
How does our willingness to trust people reflect our trust
in God?
- Terri compares her pursuit of peace, esteem, and status
through wealth, success, and possession with the peace evident
in the worshippers at Second Baptist. Do you have
peace? If so, what is its source? If not, where have you
sought it-in the past and now? What does Scripture say
about the source of true and lasting peace? (See John
14:27; 16:32-33; Romans 5:1; 15:17; Colossians 3:15.)
- In answer to his own question "Who do I trust?" Anthony
remembers the words of Proverbs 3:5. Whom do
you trust? Why? What is the evidence of your trust? What
does it look like to place your trust in God?
- Sister Porter offers counsel to Terri about her faltering
marriage with Anthony by quoting Ephesians 5:21-33,
and noting that even Paul called the marriage relationship
a mystery (v. 32). How have you experienced mystery in a
relationship-with a spouse or with Christ? Is that mysterious
element a source of celebration or frustration to you?
Why? How might you work to remove the frustrating aspects
and retain the celebratory ones?
- Eric faces an all-too-common dilemma: the church
and its people have let him down. At first, it seemed they
just didn't follow through on their promises, which would
be disappointing enough. But then it becomes clear that
they have believed a false report and judged him harshly
on that basis. How do you respond when other Christians
let you down? How does the relationship about Paul and
John Mark offer counsel or encouragement (see Acts
15:36-41; 2 Timothy 4:11)?
- Anthony repeatedly asks such questions as "How did I
end up in this place? Why is this happening to me?"
When have you asked such questions about your life situation?
What answers did you find? How were those answers
key to ensuring you didn't repeat your mistakes?
- Anthony is tempted to "overlook" the extra money in
his pension; he can easily justify doing so! But his spirit is
uneasy. Why? How do you handle financial "windfalls"
from a bank error in your favor or incorrect (excessive)
change from a cashier or other mundane sources? Why
should God care about such little amounts of money? (See
Proverbs 16:11; 20:23; Micah 6:11; Luke 16:10.)
- Anthony finds inspiration and motivation in Judges
16. Read it yourself. What does the story of Samson say to
you in whatever challenging situation you may be facing?
How might you be called to claim a Samson-like victory
in that circumstance?
- Ironically, both Anthony (in his fraudulent actions)
and Terri (in her adulterous desires) are saved by exposure.
How is such exposure an answer to Pastor Green's
prayer? In what way(s) has God allowed exposure of your
sin to save you from perpetuating that transgression-or
worse?
- Anthony gradually discerns that his financial issues
are the product of a generational curse, handed down from
his biological father. What experience do you have with
generational curses? What does Exodus 34:5-7 seem to say
about them?
- "Terri laid aside every conviction she held about independence,
self-determination, and standing on her own
two feet. . . . She wanted nothing more than to find a
place to rest her hurting heart and head." It isn't necessarily
a bad or wrong thing to do or desire-but it can be
dangerous if we don't choose our "resting place" wisely.
When have you felt that way, and what resting place did
you choose? (See Matthew 11:28-29; Hebrews 4:9-10.)
- Eric had carefully prepared a speech for city council,
but when the moment came, he balled it up, tossed it
aside, and spoke from his heart. Scripture says that the
Spirit will give us words to speak when our own fail (Mark
13:11; Romans 8:26). When have you experienced such
inspired speech? Where does human preparation leave off
and the Holy Spirit take over?
- In this story, as in real life, preachers and politicians
are often lumped together in a category marked "suspect
and/or corrupt." What do the two groups have in common
that make them vulnerable to corruption? How do scriptural
catalogs of leadership qualities (e.g., 2 Timothy
3:1-13) offer counsel and caution to those in leadership-
both in the church and in the world?
