by Mata Elliott
11. Rave admits to herself that sex has become a drug for her. Does learning about her past experiences with sex (e.g., incest, rape, molestation) make it easier for you to sympathize with her and care about her? Why or why not?
12. Cassidy had Dunbar; Trevor had Kendall. Both struggled to accept the presence of the other’s “friend” in their married life together. Is it possible for a married person to have a friend of the opposite sex without negatively affecting the marriage? Why or why not? How do you handle your spouse’s (or boyfriend’s or girlfriend’s) friendships with a person of the opposite sex?
13. What was your response to Clement’s advice about sex at the bachelor party? How do you apply Ephesians 5:28 to sexual intimacy? What experience have you had with power in a man’s hands—for good or for evil?
14. Oliver Toby advises Cassidy that while some memories are just that and safely left in the past, other memories can’t remain secret—because they can’t be handled alone. How do you discern when you can safely put a memory to rest versus bringing it into the light?
15. Do you agree or disagree with this statement—and why? “Cassidy had turned him away. So if her husband turned to Kendall, there was no one to blame but herself.”
16. Cassidy accepts pastoral counseling from Clement and Vivaca but strongly resists therapy. Why? What experience do you have with counseling or therapy? Were they Christian or non-Christian, positive or negative? Do you believe that seeking therapy (even from a nonbeliever) is beneficial? Why or why not?
17. What would you advise young women like Cassidy and Rave, who found themselves pregnant and without a supportive marriage partner? What options are available to such a woman? What seems good for her—and/or best for the child?
18. Second families—whether created through remarriage, foster care, or adoption—present complex politics, tensions, insecurities, and other challenges, for spouses and children alike. What experience do you have with such families? How have you navigated the challenges, and what sources of help have been available?
19. How has Cassidy’s inability to love herself obstructed her abilities in other areas (e.g., marriage, parenting, ministry)? How does Cassidy’s example shed new light on Jesus’ selection of “Love your neighbor as yourself” as the second greatest commandment?
