Day With a Perfect Stranger

1. What do you see as the primary theme of A Day with a Perfect Stranger? In what ways does this theme relate to your own life? Explain. 2. What aspect of the book held the most meaning for you personally? Why? 3. What in the character of Jesus, as presented in the book, appealed to you the most? Why? 4. What would you say is the main purpose of Mattie's life before she encounters Jesus? What life purpose does Jesus invite her into? 5. Why does Mattie find her marriage unfulfilling? Can you relate in any way to the hopelessness Mattie feels about her relationship with Nick? Perhaps in your case it is a relationship, or perhaps something else. What is the hope that Jesus offers her? How does that hope relate to your situation? 6. How does Jesus use the word "religion" in the book (see page 57)? What does he say religion produces (see especially chapter 4)? In what ways has religiosity pushed you further away from real intimacy with God? 7. Jesus comments that people (men in this case) often "weren't loved for who they are but instead for how they performed" (pages 3233). Where can you find love that is unconditional, rather than based on how you perform? How could knowing you are loved that way affect your life? 8. Talk about Jesus's and Mattie's discussion of fulfillment in life. From what things have you personally sought fulfillment? How much fulfillment did these things end up providing? Explain. 9. If your life continues in its current direction, when it draws to a close, will you have been ultimately fulfilled? Why or why not? What implications does this have for decisions you may want to make? 10. On page 66, Jesus says that "true fulfillment can't be found in the created realm. Only God himself can satisfy the human heart. You were created for God. Nothing else will satisfy." What implication does this have for how you are living your life? 11. Can you relate to how Mattie describes parenthood (pages 5254)? If you are a parent, what does your love for your children tell you about God's love for you? 12. Read back through the Bible verses Jesus writes on the pad (pages 75 and 88). Based on these verses, how would you describe God's heart toward you? 13. Between you and God, who is really pursuing whom? What are the implications of the fact that you are a responder in a relationship with God, not an initiator? 14. On page 83, Jesus says, "The human heart, once distanced from God, is not easily won back to its source of life and goodness." Why do you think this is the case? What is blocking you from fully experiencing the source of true life? 15. Jesus speaks to Mattie about the importance of listening to God. To listen, one must be connected to him at the deepest level. How does Jesus indicate this connection is established (see the bottom of page 89). Have you made this permanent connection? 16. What does it take to really listen to someone? What might it take to really listen to what God wants to say to you? 17. In the book, what does Jesus mean when he talks about delighting in God (see pages 7879)? What would it look like for you to delight in God? How would it change your life if you did? 18. Think about Jesus's and Mattie's conversation about her sister Julie and suffering (pages 8184). For Julie, why will having God overshadow the pain she has experienced? In what way can God's love heal all? 19. Think about suffering that you have experienced in your life. How do the following facts affect your perspective on suffering? God himself suffered more than anyone by dying for your sins God uses your suffering to awaken your need for true intimacy with him 20. Why would having God live in her, learning to listen to God's voice, and deeply knowing God's love enable Mattie to become the person she was meant to be?Gregory, David is the author of 'Day With a Perfect Stranger ', published 2006 under ISBN 9781400072422 and ISBN 1400072425.