Suggested discussion group questions for Courting Calla 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.

Calla and Ian both believe that God orchestrated the mix-up in the flower delivery that brought them together.

1) Do you think that God actually plays such an active part in our lives so as to arrange people to meet in such a way?

2) Can you think of a time when that happened to you—a time when you’re certain God had a hand in it?

Calla prayed for God to release her from the debt in which her stepmother had maliciously placed her. The end result was that Calla was arrested on the suspicion of passing $10,000 worth of bad checks. It caused a spiral that, despite the terrible moments, ended up freeing her from the debt—which was an answer to prayer.

3) Romans 8:28 says, For God works together for good all things for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Do you think that this is an example of God working together for good all things as they pertained to Calla?

4) Or, do you think that God answered Calla’s prayer by orchestrating her arrest?

Ian believes that if Calla had been honest with him at any time during the brief beginning of their relationship, he would have supported her.

5) Given an idea of Ian’s personality, do you think he would have supported her, or was he speaking in hindsight?

6) Do you think Ian’s faith was strong enough to believe that if God had indeed brought them together, he should have supported her and therefore would have?

Calla asked Ian to give her time to get to know the “real” Calla before she would be free to pursue a relationship with him.

7) What do you think her real motivation was?

8) Do you think this was fair to Ian considering he’d come so far to show her how much he cared?

9) Do you think that Calla’s decision showed a lack of her own faith in trusting God’s answers to her prayers?

Calla did not file charges against her stepmother and instead subjected herself to tens of thousands of dollars of debt that SHE chose to pay off.

10) What do you think you would do in the event that a family member stole your identity?

11) Do you think that filing charges would have been the right thing to do right away, or should Calla have given her stepmother a chance to stop what she was doing and pay her back?

12) Do you consider the theft of the identity of a family member a crime, or an inconvenience? Would you consider the relationship with the family member more important than justice?