|
Book Title: Like Sheep Gone Astray
by Leslie J. Sherrod
Reading Group Questions
The following list of questions is designed to enhance a group or individual's
thinking about or discussing some of the issues we hope you will consider after reading this book. This is designed as a starting point only and is not meant to limit the discussion.
- Anthony’s sermon on Sunday seemed to preach as much to his
own spirit as it did 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 church-goer are you?
What do Scriptures such as Romans 12:1-2 and Hebrews 10:24-25 suggest
about the kind of church-goer 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 worshipers
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, “Whom 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)?
- Repeatedly, Anthony asks questions like, “How did I end up
in this place? How could this happen 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 Samsonite
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 speech
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 in a category marked “suspect and/or corrupt.” What
do the two groups have in common that makes them vulnerable to corruption?
How do scriptural catalogues 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
GLORY GIRLS™
January 2007
Book Selection
Leslie J. Sherrod
|
