Consider these scripturally probing questions to enrich NEXT Sunday's (2.15.09) message:

The Shack Series (chapters 9): 

Sara Who? - or God, the Gardener


Day 1         In chapter 9 who is the gardener? Read John 15:1-8. Who is the gardener in this passage? 
List the things the gardener does in this passage. The "cleaning" or "clearing" of the unwanted growth is done by what? 
Notice any connections with these metaphors and 2nd Timothy 3:16-17 or Galatians 5:18-25? 
What is God grooming? What does it mean to be fruitful? Who would you identify as an example of being fruitful? 
In what ways have you experienced God as a gardener? 


Day 2         What characteristics of God stand out in the following passages: 1 Corinthians 14:33, John 3:8, John 16:5-15? 
Where do you notice these elements emerging in Mack's experience with Sarayu in chapter 9? 
Which of these characteristics do you find most interesting/intriguing? Explain


Day 3         Near the top of page 133 Sarayu comments, "Humans have a great capacity for declaring something good or evil without truly knowing." 
What does she mean by that statement? Do you agree? What of your own assumptions might that cause you to rethink? 
List a few examples. How would you describe your own record on being fooled by things that appeared good but turned out to be destructive in your own life experience?


Day 4         The middle two paragraphs on page 133 hold some interesting comments on "roots" and the way Sarayu and Mack work with them. 
Hear any deeper layers of meaning about life in these passages? Hear any resonance with the work of the Spirit described in Romans 8:26-28 or in 1st Thessalonians 4:3-8 or 2nd Thessalonians 2:13-14.


Day 5         What's Mack talking about in the middle of page 135 where he says, "I can see where that might be a problem?"
 What does Sarayu say is the corrective for this problem? What does she mean by "rights are where survivors go, so that they won't have to work out relationships" (p. 137)? 
What's the surprise at the end of this chapter? How is the way Paul describes his work with the Spirit similar to what has been depicted in this chapter (see Colossians 1:28-29)?