|
Book Title: Temptation
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.
KYLA
- What does Kyla's long-term friendship with an unsaved person like
Jasmine reveal about how believers should handle close relationships
with unbelievers? Also consider: Is it realistic to expect to have
an unbeliever as one of our closest friends? Is it advisable to cultivate
or maintain relationships with people who do not believe as we do hoping
that we may influence them to make a decision for Christ some day?
Read 2 Corinthians 6:14-15.
- Other women envied Kyla because they perceived her to have the perfect
life. Kyla longed for an opportunity to define herself beyond the roles
of wife and mother. Are feelings of longing like those Kyla confessed
to Alexis merely an expression of a Western push to "have it all" or
can such longings be divinely planted to inspire believers to accomplish
more for the sake of the Kingdom? Read Deuteronomy 5:21; Job 7:2-3; Proverbs 13:12-19.
- Given Jefferson's opinion about his wife getting a job, did Kyla's
desire for a career denote a lack of sensitivity to her husband? Read 1 Peter 3:1-6.
- How should Christian women who are able to function as full-time
homemakers interpret a sense of longing to do more than be a wife and
mother? Read Genesis 3:16.
- What, if any, warning signs did Kyla ignore concerning Jasmine's
intentions toward Jefferson? Read Matthew 10:16. Why do we sometimes ignore
warnings that a friend or loved one might betray us? Read Judges 16:6-20. How can we discern such cues
to know when they warn of imminent danger? When are we are allowing
fear and insecurity to rule? Read 1 John 4:18.
- Despite her anger and hurt, Kyla knew that she needed to turn to
God's Word for an answer. Why was it still difficult for her to forgive
Jefferson so that they could move beyond his adultery and the damage
done to their marriage? Read Hosea 14:1-2; Colossians 3:12-14.
- Kyla's discovery of Jefferson's infidelity made her afraid to trust
him again. How does Satan use fear to block us from the kind of spiritual
progress that Kyla would need to move from hurt to restoration in her
marriage. Read 2 Timothy 1:7.
- Kyla's friends, family and pastor advised her to forgive Jefferson
so the healing process could begin. Why is forgiveness such an important
factor in the healing and spiritual growth? Read Matthew 6:14-15.
PASTOR
FORD
- Kyla's pastor suggested that Kyla needed to release Jefferson from
her own judgment and focus on forgiveness and trust. How does our own
tendency to judge block us from being able to forgive? Read Luke 6:37 ; Psalm 32:1.
- Pastor Ford reminded Kyla that forgiveness is a process that sometimes
requires a lifetime of work. How can we keep forgiveness as a priority
for healthy relationships and spiritual growth? Read Luke 17:3.
JEFFERSON
- Jefferson realized all that he had jeopardized by sleeping with
Jasmine. Why do we often fail to recognize the fallacy of our actions
until we are faced with the consequences? Read Mark 8:18.
- How should Jefferson have handled Jasmine once he recognized her
blatant manipulations to seduce him and to gain entrance to his home?
Read Proverbs 6:25-26; Psalm 26:4. Why are believers sometimes deceived
into ignoring the warning bells that go off in our heads, like the
warning that Jefferson received? Read 1 Thessalonians 5:22; Proverbs 4:14-16.
- How could the enemy deceive Jefferson into seeing Jasmine as innocent?
Read John 8:44.
- Jefferson knew that he had received God's forgiveness for his infidelity.
How does the assurance of God's forgiveness help us to move forward
in repentance and healing? Read Isaiah 43:25; 1 John 1:9; Psalm 103:12.
ALEXIS
- Why do you think Alexis described Jasmine as a snake? Read Psalm 58:3-4.
- How does Alexis's commitment to the Lord regarding premarital intercourse
affirm every believer's obligation to obey God regardless of the consequences?
Read Proverbs 16:6; Acts 5:28-29 ; Hebrews 11:25.
- What kinds of steps should unmarrieds like Alexis and Brian take
to help them avoid temptations and compromising situations? Read Matthew 26:41.
BRIAN
- Brian was renewing his relationship with the Lord. Recall some of
Brian's actions and feelings that reveal a lack of spiritual growth.
How did his associations with Alexis, Jefferson, and Kyla help to strengthen
his walk? Read 1 Thessalonians 5:14; 2 Timothy 2:22; James 5:20.
- How can Brian's philosophy "If you want the lady, you've got
to go along with the lady's rules," help strengthen Christian
women to remain virtuous? Read Proverbs 31:10,30.
- Brian had made plans for Alexis and perhaps thought that he eventually
would convince her to have sex with him before marriage. Why do we
behave as though our own plans for another person can supersede God's
plans for that person? Read Proverbs 16:3,9; Jeremiah 29:11.
JASMINE
- In what ways did Jasmine set herself up for unhappiness by comparing
her life and standard of living to Kyla's? How does focusing on what
we do not have create personal unhappiness and make us more vulnerable
to temptation? Read Ecclesiastes 5:10.
- Brian grew stronger through his association with Christian friends.
Why do you think Jasmine continued in her same ways despite her exposure
to a circle of strong Christian friends? Read Jeremiah 7:24.
- Jasmine seemed to blame everyone else for her difficulties and made
others responsible for her happiness. Why do you think she refused
take responsibility for the consequences of her own choices? Read Psalm 81:11-14.
- Jasmine's web of lies and deception spiraled as she sought her prize;
Jefferson. Read Proverbs 11:22. How do people become blinded
by lies, deception, twisted logic, and distorted truths as they strive
to gain what they desire? Read Psalm 10:2-7; Proverbs 14:8.
|
