These are the questions only. The questions marked with an * have handouts which you can print for your group. Some have Bible study suggestions. You can get to them easily with the hyperlink on the chapter number.
You don't have to try to do all these questions when you lead your group in "A Novel Approach to Discipleship." The reason I included so many is that I hope you'll want to use Seasons of Change with another group somewhere down the road. If you do, you can pick a whole new set of questions to explore!
If you have any questions or comments about "A Novel Approach," please email me at cheryl@cherylokimoto.com.
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*On the bottom of page 8, Steve tell’s God: ”... if you don’t mind, I don’t feel like being thankful right now.” What do you think about that statement? Does God “mind” when we aren’t thankful? Does he understand? What does the Bible say about that?
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On page 14, Heather thinks about the unfairness of Steve making a huge amount of money to play a game that has no lasting significance while her father had to work as a prison chaplain without any pay. What do you think of the unfairness of that? Is "fairness" ever promised in the Bible? Can you find anything that mentions it? How should Christians deal with unfairness in the world around us? What about in our own lives? |
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*On page 15, Heather tells Steve that her dad said “that you were using your God-given talents in a mission field of your own.” Can something as secular as football be a mission field? Why or why not? Can you give any real life examples to support your opinion? Can you find Bible verses that address your opinion? (Also look at Heather's comments in chapter 4 on pages 29-30.)
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Chapter 3 |
On page 21, Heather makes a playful comment about her car not being junk, just previously abused. That comment hits a tender spot in Steve because he was an abused child. We already know that Steve's been living a Christian life for a long time and even giving his testimony. Do you think he should be healed by this time? How long does it take to heal from abuse? Do you think there's ever a time you are completely free of the past? What does the Bible say about emotional healing and when we are functionally "new" (free of our past as opposed to being forgiven and a new creation)? |
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On page 26, Steve gets a feeling that "There was something God want to do here." Do you think that really happens to believers, or is it something made up for the story? Is there biblical evidence that God has done such things in the past? If he has, should we expect him to do things like that now? Why or why not? What do you base your answer on? |
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On pages 28-29, Heather talks about how strangers would talk to her about her heroism and how she and her father were both media sensations. It bothered Heather. Do you think that making people out to be heroes and invading their life is the right thing to do? Is the cruelty of invading someone's privacy balanced by the encouragement it gives to other people? As Christians, to you think it is right to address total strangers with such familiarity? Why or why not? Can you find anything in the Bible that gives us a right to privacy? |
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*On page 29, Heather talks about Christians voicing their opinions about healing. What do you think about what she says? Do you think God does miraculous healings today? Do you think lack of healing says something about the person who isn’t healed? What does the Bible say? Don’t just look for verses that support your opinion. Remember to read the verses in context. Some verses that seem to be about healing might not really be.
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*On page 33, Steve is talking to Heather’s brothers about his feelings regarding his father’s death. Do you think children actually feel like that sometimes? How can we identify misplaced guilt? What does the Bible say about our responsibility for other people and their actions? Give specific references. |
Chapter 6 |
On page 36, we find out that Gloria scolded Steve for not having a regular church in Hawaii where he now lives for as much as five months out of the year. Is she right in what she says? Do you have a church you belong to? What does the Bible say about regularly fellowshiping with other believers? |
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On page 39, Steve is caught up in the joy of his fellow worshippers. Do you think this kind of joy is legitimate? Does it last? Can we really be brought to a place of greater joy in God through "contagious" joy? What does the Bible say about joy and worship? |
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*On page 51, Steve asks Heather if she’s mad at God. Can we be mad at God? Why or why not? Can you think of any biblical examples of people who were mad at God? Can you find any Bible passages that address this? |
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On page 52, Steve talks about the day he stopped asking God to stop the beatings from his father and instead asked God to be glorified. Do you think the results were a "boyish fantasy" as Steve suggests some might think? Is peace more important than an end to suffering? What does the Bible say about it? |
| Chapter 8 |
*On page 53, the pastor says that sometimes we can “be so religious that we lose our focus on God.” Do you agree with him? Can we be too religious? What might that look like? Find Bible verses that answer the question. |
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*On pages 64-65, Heather talks to Steve about love and romance. What do you think about what she says? Can situations lead us to an “untrue” love? Do you have any personal experience in understanding how love changes after marriage? Can you find Bible passages that address love and romance? |
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On page 66, Heather talks to Steve about the probability that she can’t have children. He talks about his fears that he’ll be a father like his was. What do you think about this level of personal revelation at this stage of their relationship? What do you think about Steve’s conclusion? Should having “issues” keep us from relationships or can we trust God to change us in the relationship? What does the Bible say about it? |
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*On page 74, Heather asks Pete: “Are you a trying-to-do-God’s-will Christian or one who’s satisfied just having salvation?” Do you understand what Heather is asking Pete? Have you ever thought that salvation was all there was to being a Christian? What does being a “trying-to-do-God’s-will Christian” look like? Does the Bible tell us that there is something other than eternal life involved in our salvation? What does it say about salvation’s impact on our lives? What does the Bible tell us about how we learn to truly live like Christians?
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*On pages 79-82, Steve takes Heather on her first ever motorcycle ride. He tells her that when she trusts him “not to crash and burn” with her, they will leave Hawaii Kai for the much riskier ride out toward Makapuu Point. As they finally cross over the shoulder of Hanauma, Heather feels joy. How hard is it to release your fears and trust – in God, in others, in yourself? Have you ever experienced joy like Heather feels when she finally loses her fear? Do you have fears you are still holding onto? What does the Bible say about fear? |
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*In this chapter and in 15, (pages 84 and 101), Heather expresses her concerns about temptation to her brothers, Greg and Luke. How important is it for Christians to think about temptation? When do we start guarding against it? What areas other than sex are places where we face temptation? Find Bible verses that teach us about temptation and how to defeat it. |
Chapter 13 |
On page 92, Steve briefly talks about his sister Jenni and his suspicion about the abuse she suffered at the hand of their father. Greg changes the subject pretty quickly. Do you think that was a wise move on Greg's part? Do you think they should have discussed the issue more thoroughly? Why or why not? What does the Bible say about it? According to the Bible, is there a time to pass on such discussions? |
Chapter 14 |
On pages 99-100, Luke talks to Heather about falling in love. Do you think he's right? Do you think falling in love is the same for everyone? The bible never talks about the idea of falling in love, but can you find any biblical support for any of the things Luke says? |
Chapter 15 |
On page 105, Steve casually mentions that he'd never had a birthday party. Everyone is shocked and Steve is suddenly aware of how different his family life was from the Shepherds. Do you think things like parties are important? Are they only important to children? What does God say about parties in the bible? Can you find evidence that we should have joyful celebrations that might almost seem excessive to some people? |
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*On page 111, Heather talks about the raw talent she received from the Lord and the need to develop it. Do you have talents that you’ve never developed? What does the story of Samson in Judges 13-16 teach about God-given gifts and the need to nurture them?
What are you going to do about using your talents for the Lord? |
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*On page 121, Steve tells Heather “I realized I had trained for football all my life, way before I ever had a chance at the pros, and I decided to train for family life too, even before I had a chance to get one.” Why did Steve feel the need to get counseling for his family life? Do you think it’s okay for a Christian to get counseling? Do you think it’s ever necessary for a Christian to get counseling? What does the Bible say about counseling? Does the Holy Spirit as our Counselor cancel out our need for other counselors?
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*On page 127, Steve tells Eddie that if you want to do things God’s way, you shouldn’t kiss before you’re already committed to marry. Do you agree with him? Why or why not?
Can you find Bible verses to support your opinion? Is there anything in the Bible that specifically teaches us about pre-marital relations?
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On page 130, Steve observes that he and Heather are "a sorry couple of heroes." Heather reminds Steve that God works through our weaknesses too. Do you ever feel like your weaknesses disqualify you from ministry? Find the passages where the epistles talk about God using our weakness. What conditions do you find for God to be able to use us through our weaknesses? |
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On pages 132-133, Heather talks about hyperbole. She gives the example of Jesus saying to not let your left hand know what your right was doing. Can you find that passage? Can you find other places where the Bible uses hyperbole? Hyperbole was a common literary device in ancient literature. How might that affect your understanding of some of the Bible, especially prophecy? |
Chapter 20 |
Earlier in the book, Heather expressed her concerns about romantic settings manufacturing feelings of love. In this chapter, it seems as if God has created a romantic situation for them, especially when they dance together on page 139. Do you think God will give us nudges sometimes? Have you ever experienced nudges like that? Can you find any evidence in the Bible that God will set people up to go in a direction he wants them to go? |
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*On pages 146-147, Heather talks about Steve’s concern that he won’t be a good father and her own worries that she can’t have children. Nalani tells her that she can’t know for sure that things will work out but she can trust God. Do you have personal experience with trusting God for something as big as Heather’s concerns? What does the Bible say about trusting God? What are some of the promises he’s given us that could apply to the situation in this story? (Warning: Be sure you keep verses in their context. Don’t read something into them that isn’t actually there.) |
Chapter 22 |
On page 151, for the first time Luke and Greg realize Heather is very insecure. Steve had mentioned it in the last chapter and had told them they should have been making sure Heather didn't believe the lies she was told. Do you think family is supposed to support and encourage each other? Or are siblings supposed to "knock you down a peg or two"? What does the Bible say about family relationships? Can you find any examples of sibling relationships in the Bible, both good and bad? |
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*Nalani and the Shepherd siblings write a song for Mother’s Day (pp. 162-3). What do you feel when you read this song? Can you find biblical examples of mothers, both good and bad? What makes them good? Can you find a biblical example of a bad mother who changed and her children were changed also? What hope does the bible give you for your mothering (or grandmothering) skills?
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Chapter 24 |
On page 170, Heather and Steve declare their love for each other, but they don't make a formal declaration of courtship or engagement though they both acknowledge their intent to get married. Do you think this is okay? Should they wait to declare this kind of romantic love until they can make a formal committment? Can you fnd any biblical advice that might apply to love and romance, engagement and marriage? |
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*Steve and Heather’s relationship has gone long distance. They often talk on the phone. Look at the different ways they share with each other. Why might they share in such different ways? Can you relate to either of them? What does the Bible say our relationships? Is it okay to keep our pain and fears secret or should we share them with people we are in relationships with? |
Chapter 26 |
On pages 188-189, Steve uses the power of his position and fame to influence Robert's and Tim's coaches to let them play. Do you think he should have? Was he helping or manipulating? Can you find any biblical support for what Steve did? Should he have just prayed about it and left it up to the Lord? |
Chapter 27 |
On page 195, Steve realizes how much it will effect Heather if he takes her away to Chicago, but he also knows he can't not ask her to marry him and become part of the life he lives. Do you think the concern about her leaving her family is ligitimate? Do you think it could cause problems in their marriage? Do you know anyone who's experienced something similar? Did it cause problems in their marriage? What does the Bible say about those kinds of losses? |
Chapter 28 |
Heather really gets into football! We see it once again on page 200 when she rages at the ref about what she's sure is a bad call. Do you think it's okay for a Christian to be that excited about football? Why or why not? How could you tell if it was an unhealthy obsession? Can you find biblical advice about our enjoyment of secular pursuits? |
Chapter 29 |
On page 207, Heather tells Jenni that God weeps with the little girls who suffer as Jenni did. Do you believe that? Do you wonder why God doesn't stop those little girls from being hurt? What possible good could ever come from such suffering? What does the New Testament tell us about suffering? Who has suffered more than anyone else ever has? What good does the Bible tell us comes from suffering? |
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On page 209, Heather agrees to keep Jenni's secret. Do you think she's right to do so? Do you think she should have told Steve then? Find evidence in the Bible to answer those questions. |
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*Heather gives Steve a Mizpah. She says, “It’s a statement that God is a witness to our commitment to each other, that neither of us will break it because it’s made before him.” (Page 217.) Do you think it was right for Heather to give Steve the Mizpah? Read the story of Laban and Jacob. (It starts in Genesis 27.) What is the significance of the Mizpah at the end of the story? Does it seem appropriate for a romantic commitment? Does this change your mind about whether it's right or wrong for Heather to give Steve the Mizpah? |
Chapter 31 |
On page 219, Moose growls a warning and Heather sees something out of place. She quickly assesses the situation and acts heroically. Heather is a military veteran, but she was a mechanic, not a well-trained combat soldier. Her heroic actions are more a spiritual response than a result of training. Do you think God will indeed empower people to act like that? Find some stories in the Bible that show God working heroic miracles through ordinary people. Why do you think it is that we see so few miracles like that anymore? Should we? Is God still willing to work them?
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Chapter 32 |
When Steve finally arrives at the hospital, he reacts in anger to the situation. His anger springs from other emotions. What are those other emotion? Do you think anger is often used as a front for other emotions? Is there a godly anger? If so, what does it look like? See what the Bible says about anger. Can you find any examples of righteous anger in the Bible? Based on your understanding of what the Bible says about anger, how could Steve have handled the situation better? |
Chapter 33 |
On page 229, we find out about the school shooter. They don't normally survive the incident. What kind of punishment do you think is appropriate for Neil Pittman? Do you think the Shepherds should help him? Do you think Pittman can eventually be healed and reenter society? Find biblical evidence to support your case. |
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On pages 230-231, Greg prays for a woman who can help him understand his sister's heartbreak. Beth Harrison comes in late and ends up sitting next to him. Though they've been in Bible college together for more than a year now, they've never had a personal conversation, but they do now and Greg's obviously attracted to Beth. Do you think God answers prayers like that? Does God play matchmaker? Do you have any personal experiences like that or know anyone who does? What does the Bible say about God's involvement in our lives? |
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*On pages 235-236, Jenni’s pastor preaches about being thankful “for” and being thankful “in”? Do you understand what he’s talking about? Do you agree with him? He refers to Romans 8:28 on page 235. Read the verse in its context. Is he using the verse appropriately? On page 236, the pastor talks about the crucifixion but doesn’t specifically name which gospel he refers to. Find and read the accounts of the crucifixion in the four gospels. Does what the pastor says line up with those accounts? How can you verify the information that isn’t in these accounts, like “we cannot begin to understand how devastating Jesus’ crucifixion was for his followers because we don’t understand the religion and culture that Jesus lived in”? What about the pastor’s statement that what Jesus actually did “far exceeded the expectations they’d had before the crucifixion”?
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On page 242, Jenni tells Steve that only God can keep his loved ones "safe." She says "There are no guarantees in life, except that God will be glorified.... Be thankful for Heather and love her with all you have for every day you're given, even if it's just one more day." Do you understand and accept what Jenni said? Does your life reflect that, or do you contstantly worry about things you have no control over? What guarantees does the Bible give us? Don't just look for the popular "promises." Read them in context and make sure they really promise what you think they do. |
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*On page 250, Gloria talks to Heather about the season of fire that God is using to refine her. Do you remember some difficult times in your life that you can now see God used to refine your character? What does the Bible say about God refining us, developing our character? What are some of the ways the Bible says God develops our character? What are some of the ways the Bible says God changes us? What are some things that the Bible says can interfere with developing godly character? |
Chapter 36 |
On page 252, Heather expresses her fear that she's going to mess up again. Greg "comforts" her with "Oh Boss, your life is so messed up now, does it matter if you mess it up more?" Do you think there's wisdom in what Greg says? Do you sometimes find yourself so worried about messing things up that you mess them up by not acting? Can you find biblical evidence that even when you mess up, God's still going to work things out? |
Chapter 37 |
On page 260, Heather tells Steve that if she'd known what it was going to cost her, she might not have stopped Pittman. Have you ever had similar feelings? Do you understand why sometimes God doesn't always show us the "cost" of our actions? What is the "cost" that God does tell us to consider? How does that differ from having to react to a situation like Heather did? |
Chapter 38 |
On pages 265-266, Steve, Heather and Greg talk about how to keep virginity in a culture that seems to go out of the way to provide sexual temptation. Have you ever had similar conversations? What are some reasons to keep virginity that you've heard? Do you think the best reason is because it's what God wants? See what you can find in the Bible about sexual purity. What are the biblical reasons for sexual purity? |
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*On page 273, Heather talks to the Colonel about receiving the Medal of Honor. He says we don’t always get what we deserve, “either for the good we have done or for the bad.” He tells her to take her focus off of herself. Have you ever received some kind of honor that you didn’t feel worthy of? Have you ever received scoldings for something you didn’t do? How might God be glorified in situations like that? What does the Bible say about how our lives can bring God glory? Can you find any Bible verses that support the Colonel’s wisdom? (Starting with the fifth paragraph and going down through Heather’s reply: “When opportunities arise, ....”) Can you find an example in the Bible of someone who glorified God even though they hadn’t set out to do so?
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Chapter 40 |
On page 282, Steve and Greg talk about family heritage. Do you think that family heritage is important? What about cultural? What if your heritage isn't very positive? Family and cultural heritage are easy to find in the Old Testament, but what about the New? Using some of the OT passages, try to find cross-references in the New Testament? Is family and cultural heritage as important in the NT as in the OT? Should it ever be more important than Christian heritage? |
Chapter 41 |
Heather goes to the Championship Game without her family. She has good reasons to not join her family, but she definitely lies by omission in not telling them that she's going. Do you think she was wrong to do that? Do we owe others 100% honesty? Do we have the right to make decisions for ourselves that we don’t share with others? When is it a bad thing to make decisions that we hide from our family? Can you find anything in the Bible that addresses our rights to make choices for ourselves and our responsibility to include others in our decisions? |
Chapter 42 |
On page 294, Heather says she understands better why Steve reacted so badly when he saw her in the hospital. Steve doesn't deny that her feelings that day were similar, though much briefer than when he'd been trying to get to her to find out how she was. He confesses to the difference, "I had plenty of time to give up my fear and to trust in the Lord." Our immediate reactions are very hard to control but we don't have to entertain them. Do you remember a time that you gave in to an immediate reaction that you should have let go? Have you held onto something that was hurtful to you and others? How hard is it to give up those feelings and trust in the Lord? What does the Bible say about trusting in God? Do you have any experiences that back give you reason to believe that you really can trust God? |
