1. Noah felt he let down his sister when he couldn’t protect her from their father. Have you ever felt as though you’ve disappointed someone? What has helped you get through it?
2. Cara made a mistake when she was a teenager that she is still paying for. Although the Lord has forgiven her, she still has to face the consequences of her actions. When have you made a mistake and had to deal with the consequences? How did you seek forgiveness?
3. Because he knew what it was like to be separated from his sibling, Noah was determined to keep Adam’s family together. In order to do that, he had to step forward and do something he felt unequipped to handle—be a parent. What experiences have you been forced to handle when you didn’t have the right expertise? Who or what did you rely on for help?
4. Who was your favorite character? What about this character appealed to you?
5. Shame is a powerful emotion. Cara couldn’t get over the shame of what she had done as a teenager. It was what drove her away from Noah. How can your faith help you through feeling ashamed?
6. Family Ever After is partly a story of abandonment. Noah was abandoned by his mother and father. Adam, Rusty and Lindsay were abandoned by their father. How does a person work her way through the feelings generated when a loved one abandons her? How can the Lord help? What Bible verses can a person read to help cope with the situation?
7. What is your favorite scene in the book? Why?
8. Cara helps Noah discover the importance of the Lord in his life. Have you helped someone find his way to the Lord? How did you do it?
9. People in the town judged Cara. I used the verse from John. “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” We often find ourselves judging someone, sometimes unjustly. How can we avoid doing that? Are there other verses to help us with judging people?
10. Noah thought if he could avoid having a committed relationship, he wouldn’t be hurt or disappointed. He never wanted to risk his heart again…but life is full of risks. What risks have you taken? Were the risks worth the rewards?
11. It was important for Noah to remain in control of his life. As a child, he’d felt as if his life was out of his control. When have you felt your life was like that? Have you turned to the Lord and given control over to Him? What Bible verses help you deal with this situation?
12. I picked the verse from Psalm 37:39 (“But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: He is their strength in the time of trouble.”) as the one at the beginning of Family Ever After. Why do you think I chose that verse? Is the Lord the first one you turn to when you have a problem? What does finding strength in the Lord during troubled times have to do with this story?