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.
- Deborah Anne had dreamed of a singing career all of her life.
How did she evidence a sense of calling in her dream? A God-given
dream does not mean there is no human preparation involved. Think
about a dream that God has placed in your heart. How are you
preparing yourself for that dream to become a reality. Read Genesis 37:6-7 and Proverbs 16:3.
- When Triage first approached Deborah Anne about singing backup
for Lavelle, should she have considered it further? Did it seem
that she automatically assumed that the opportunity was from
the Lord? Have you ever had an experience that made you feel
as though you mistook Satan answering your prayer before the
Lord had a chance to get around to it? Read Matthew 4:1-10.
- Imagine how difficult it must have been for Elijah to withhold
his reservations about the direction in which Deborah Anne's
career seemed to be headed. Did he do the right thing by not
vocalizing his objections? Read Proverbs 17:27 and Ecclesiastes 3:1,7.
- Deborah Anne's relationship with Triage began as a friendship
that only later blossomed into romance. What qualities and behaviors
did Triage exhibit to demonstrate his readiness to be a husband?
Read Matthew 6:14-15. Ruth 2:1˜3:11.
- How does the way that Deborah Anne entered into a career as
a professional singer demonstrate that God's plans for us are
not necessarily the plans that we have made for ourselves or
that others have made for us? Read Genesis 45:1-8; Genesis 50:20 and Isaiah 55:8-9 .
- How did Deborah Anne demonstrate her willingness to go wherever
God was leading her? How did her behavior with the group show
that she sought to find the Lord at every turn of her career?
Read Genesis 12:1-3; Genesis 13:5-11; Genesis 22:1-3 and Hebrews 11:6,8,17-19.
- Beyond her relationship with her parents, what incidents in
Deborah Anne's life demonstrate that she comes from a loving
support system of family and friends? Recall some of the other
persons in her life and how they showed support and concern for
her. Read Ruth 1:16-18; Ruth 3:1 and Luke 1:39-43 and 2 Timothy 1:5. How did her solid support
system help her through the demands of a professional singing
career?
- Deborah Anne's dream became real for her as she sat in the
studio for her first day of rehearsal. She acknowledged her dream
and promptly thanked God for it. When the Lord fulfills the desires
of our hearts, how should we respond? Read Genesis 12:7; Exodus 15:19-32; Luke 1:67-79.
- Deborah Anne had longed to be a professional singer, but the
physical and mental demands began to wear on her. Still, she
did not give up. Have you ever been tempted to believe that a
dream was not divinely inspired simply because the going got
a little rough? Read 2 Kings 4:13-28 and Exodus 5:22. What should we do when the road
to achieving our dreams gets a little bumpy? Read Habakkuk 3:17-18.
- Consider the cycle that moves us away from the Lord: (1) We
may get too busy to pray; (2) Bible study tapers off; (3) church
attendance declines; (4) we begin to accept certain worldly ways
into our lifestyle. Read Luke 11-14. What steps/actions did Deborah
Anne incorporate into her lifestyle once she moved to Los Angeles
to insure that she maintained her relationship with the Lord?
Read Genesis 8:18-20; Matthew 6:14-15.; Exodus 23:33; Joshua 22:5; and Psalm 119:165.
- What was a major sign that Deborah Anne would be working with
people who did not share her beliefs and values? Read Joshua 24:15. How do you cope with situations
that require you to work with unchurched or unsaved persons?
Read Psalm 40:8; Psalm 119:29..
- In what ways was Deborah able to impact the persons she encountered
in pursuit of a singing career? Read Acts 5:15. Consider Triage, Vianca, Emerald,
Lavelle, Phoebe.
- What do you believe sparked Deborah Anne's interest in having
a friend like Phoebe? What does the friendship of these opposites
indicate about friendships between godly persons and worldly
persons? Read Luke 7:36-48; Luke 19:5-10.
- What does Deborah Anne's influence on those persons reveal
about the power of being a living testimony for the Lord? Read Mark 1:44 and John 4:28-29.
- If Deborah Anne had accepted the condominium from Triage,
do you believe she might have been tempted to have sex with him
out of gratitude? How do you think her response to Triage's offer
affected him? Read Ruth 3:11 and Proverbs 31:10-11.
- Deborah Anne was willing to hold out for the kind of solo
career she believed God wanted her to have. Read Genesis 32:24-30. What does her decision,
as well as her actions in the days following, reveal about how
believers should deal with a calling from the Lord? Read Proverbs 16:3-4
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