Practicing What You Preach by Vanessa Griggs
By APOOO • Jun 30th, 2009 • Category: Discussion Guide •
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Practicing What You Preach by Vanessa Griggs
Discussion Questions
1. Melissa Anderson admitted to having problems saying no. What are your thoughts when it comes to things like that?
2. Do you believe Nae-nae was a true friend? Why or why not?
3. What were your views when it came to Marcus Peeples? Did those views change?
4. Discuss Melissa and Marcus’s first date as well as the Bible study lesson they attended.
5. What were your thoughts regarding Melissa’s reason for not dating Marcus?
6. Gayle Cane’s visit with her cousin Angela Gabriel brought with it quite a few revelations of secrets. Talk about those and what happened subsequently.
7. What were your thoughts about Sasha Peeples?
8. Discuss Marcus and Sasha’s relationship, both their younger and later years.
9. What did you think of Marcus’s interaction with his daughter Aaliyah?
10. What are your views when it comes to the social issues touched upon in this novel?
11. Discuss Angela’s meeting with Arletha Brown and the things that transpired later.
12. Do you believe Sasha was right to treat Marcus the way she did? Why or why not?
13. Discuss the teachings that address divorce. What were your views before? Did your views change? If so, why?
14. Marcus spoke about the spirit of Jezebel. Discuss your thoughts regarding Jezebel.
15. Marcus gave money to Sasha to purchase a piano. How did you feel about what happened, and her subsequent actions?
16. What are your feelings when it comes to child support payments? Do you believe if one doesn’t pay that he or she shouldn’t be able to see their child until that debt is paid?
17. What were your thoughts when it came to Tiffany and Darius Connors? Do you believe Melissa overstepped boundaries? Why or why not? What would you have done?
18. Discuss Arletha and her final revelation.
19. At the end, do you believe Marcus made the right decision? Why or why not?
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Below are some of my responses:
Melissa Anderson admitted to having problems saying no. What are your thoughts when it comes to things like that? I used to have the same problem and it caused me unnecessary stress. I no longer have a problem telling a person no now. If I can’t do something, I let the person know.
Discuss Melissa and Marcus’s first date as well as the Bible study lesson they attended.
I thought it was a great first date. She wanted to see if it would scare him away and was surprised herself when he not only enjoyed it, but was a minister himself.
What were your thoughts regarding Melissa’s reason for not dating Marcus?
I couldn’t relate to her reasoning. She would date men with kids, but not those who were divorced. She was on a quest to live holy and by doing so, she misinterpreted the scripture.
Gayle Cane’s visit with her cousin Angela Gabriel brought with it quite a few revelations of secrets. Talk about those and what happened subsequently.
Angela was upset and happy to learn her grandmother could possibly be living nearby. She never gave up hope and in the end, the truth came out–she found her grandmother.
What were your thoughts about Sasha Peeples?
I thought she was selfish and she realized it a little too late. I am glad she did accept Christ in the end.
What did you think of Marcus’s interaction with his daughter Aaliyah?
He was a good dad. I thought it was admirable for him to take an active role in his child’s life.
Do you believe Sasha was right to treat Marcus the way she did? Why or why not?
No, I don’t. She was selfish. Marcus at one time loved her and did whatever he could to make their relationship work. She only seemed to be interested in him when her money got low and he got interested in another woman.
Discuss the teachings that address divorce. What were your views before? Did your views change? If so, why?
I’ve had this discussion reference divorce so the information shared in the book wasn’t new to me.
Discuss Arletha and her final revelation.
Arletha had lived a hard life and tried so hard to forget her past, but she really hadn’t let the past go–that’s why she seemed so angry.
At the end, do you believe Marcus made the right decision? Why or why not?
Asking Melissa to marry him was a good decision. Sasha would not have made him happy. As soon as he told her no to a major purchase, they would be arguing. Sasha was more in love with his finances than with the man himself. Melissa loved “the man.”
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