Discussion Questions for Following the Sparrows

If you haven’t yet read Following the Sparrows, you won’t want to read the discussion questions, as they give away some elements of the story. If you’ve read the book, however, these questions are a great way to dive deeper, either as a small group or for individual growth.

Discussion Questions

  1. Early in the book, Kathryn said she doesn’t deserve to be someone’s mom. Why does she feel this way? Have you ever felt like you didn’t deserve good things in your life?
  1. When Adam meets Kathryn, he hears a voice in his head telling him to pray for her. Have you ever sensed God was telling you to do something? Did you listen to the voice? Why or why not? If you listened to God’s prompting, what happened next?
  1. When Anne told Kathryn all she had was a gift from God, Kathryn didn’t want to hear it. Do you believe everything you have is a gift from God? Why or why not?
  1. When Kathryn picks up Robert’s Bible for the first time, she remembers Mark saying the Bible would speak to you if you were willing to listen. How can the Bible speak to you? Can you give an example of a time the Bible spoke to your heart?
  1. Mark tells Adam not to be romantically involved with Kathryn because she isn’t a believer. Why is it important for Christians only to date/marry other Christians?
  1. After Adam forgives Gina, he tells Mark how much better he feels. Later, Kathryn feels the same way when she forgives her father. Why is forgiveness so important? Is there anyone in your life you need to forgive?
  1. Kathryn has had people praying for her for years. Why does she finally feel ready to open up her heart to God the night the sparrow hits her window? Is there anyone that you have been praying for so long that you are tempted to give up?
  1. Mac believed you couldn’t be a “real man” and be a Christian because of things his father said. Have you found yourself believing lies because someone influential in your life believed them?
  1. Kathryn is forgiven by God, but still feels like she needs to “make up” for what she did. Is God’s forgiveness conditional on anything that we do? Why or why not?
  1. Both Kathryn and Adam learned, through very different circumstances, that trying to live life in their own strength was not the way to find peace. Do you have anything in your life that you need to give up to God? Do you trust Him enough to follow the path He has for you?

Suggested answers to use as a guide for personal reflection or small-group discussion:

  1. Kathryn believes she is a bad person because she synthesized drugs that ended up on the street. She feels responsible for contributing to the drug problem in the country. She feels like she has bad judgement. She also compares herself to Anne, whom she considers to be the perfect mom, and feels she could never measure up.
  1. Answers will vary.
  1. Answers will vary. Some verses to support the fact that all we have is a gift from God follow:

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. 1 Corinthians 12:4-6    For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. Romans 12:3 And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills—Exodus 31:3

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

  1. One way you can find answers in the Bible is to use a concordance – a list of topics, usually found in the back of the Bible. Ask God to teach you through His word, and then look at verses related to what you need answers for – anger, fear, forgiveness, etc. Hebrews 4:12 says “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
  1. 2 Corinthians 6:14 says “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?” Kathryn and Robert are a perfect example of the strain involved when a believer and a non-believer are married. Kathryn constantly felt she could never measure up to Robert, always felt there was something missing in their marriage. The believer and the non-believer serve two different masters. Either the believer will spend less time in prayer, Bible study, church attendance, etc, or the non-believer will resent all the time the believer spends on Christian pursuits.
  1. God commands us to forgive others. Matthew 6: 14-15 says “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Colossians 3:13 says “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Forgiveness is letting go of bitterness and anger, and allows you to feel free.
  1. Kathryn has been chasing after things in life that have left her empty. The night the sparrow hits the window, she realizes how empty her life is without her job and a romantic relationship. She finally understands that the only way to fill the emptiness in her life and her heart is to come to God.
  1. Answers will vary.
  1. Christ’s death and resurrection have paid the price for all sins – past, present, and future. Nothing we do can add to that or take away from that. Our forgiveness is freely given when we ask. There may be consequences to our sins that we need to deal with, but not in order to earn forgiveness.
  1. Answers will vary.