Suggested discussion group questions for Valerie’s Verdict by Hallee Bridgeman.

When asking ourselves how important the truth is to our Creator, we can look to the reason Jesus said he was born. In the book of John 18:37, Jesus explains that for this reason He was born and for this reason He came into the world. The reason? To testify to the truth.

In bringing those He ministered to into an understanding of the truth, Our Lord used fiction in the form of parables to illustrate very real truths. In the same way, we can minister to one another by the use of fictional characters and situations to help us to reach logical, valid, cogent, and very sound conclusions about our real lives here on earth.

While the characters and situations in The Dixon Brothers Series are fictional, I pray that these extended parables can help readers come to a better understanding of truth. Please prayerfully consider the questions that follow, consult scripture, and pray upon your conclusions. May the Lord of the universe richly bless you.

Uncle Buddy intentionally moved his niece Valerie away from the Dixon home so she could have “more diversity” in her life. In reality, he moved her away from the only family she ever knew and deposited her into a completely unknown environment.

1. Do you think Buddy’s actions were fair for Valerie and for the Dixon brothers?

2. Do you think that disruption spurred Valerie to escape Atlanta after high school?

Acts 17:26 says: “And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth….”

3. Because all have common ancestors in first Adam then in Noah, is it right to make decisions based on skin pigmentation or socio-economic status?

4. Phillip worried Buddy might have some personal issues with Brad and Valerie’s relationship. Do you think those issues are founded?

5. Women in the bathroom distinguished Valerie by her skin color in a derogatory manner. People often flippantly gossip like that. Have you ever been compelled to correct them? What kind of outcome has resulted from taking a stance?

Valerie suffers from a severe form of Post-Traumatic Stress. It brings about an obsessive-compulsiveness with her environment and causes her to experience irrational fear.

6. Do you think the anger against her attacker she held onto compounded the symptoms?

7. Do you think allowing God back into her life would ease those symptoms?

8. What kind of tools would a relationship with God give her to combat those symptoms?

Brad knows his brother, Jon, is hurting, but he doesn’t know how to help him.

9. Do you think it is more helpful to push Jon for answers, or is loving him and ignoring the indicators of his pain (i.e., anger, heavy drinking, etc.) the better method to help him?

10. As the President of Dixon Brothers, Brad has taken on the mantle of leadership even among his brothers. Jon resents that, which becomes a barrier between the two. What steps can Brad take to further remove that barrier?

Tyrone indicates that he has accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior and has become a new creature in Christ.

11. Do you believe someone can really drastically change from such an evil abuser into a loving brother in Christ?

12. In the letter, Tyrone says that he is praying that one day Valerie will forgive him. As an act of faith, he is offering to remain in prison so that she will feel safer. Valerie has a very adverse reaction to this. Do you think she ought to forgive him?

13. Valerie is angry because Brad agrees that forgiveness should come. Despite his own initial anger toward Tyrone, Brad cites Biblical examples to help explain why he feels Tyrone is worthy of forgiveness. Do you think he has a valid point?

14. In confiding her personal story with Valerie, Madison reveals that she actually married the man who once abused her. Do you think her husband truly changed inside?