The Shack–Reader’s Guide
May 27, 2009
Chapters 1-5 – for Band of Brothers, June 1st session.
(Adapted from Papa’s Ponderings)
Chapter 1 - A Confluence of Paths
- Could God actually send a person a letter?
- What is your favorite name for God?
- Mack told Nan “I’m sure God knows what he is doing” even though Mack did not personally believe it. Do you ever try to encourage people with things about God you do not believe? For instance? How does this help them? What does it do to you?
Chapter 2 – The Gathering Dark
- Mack’s companion was the “Great Sadness”. What is your companion?
- How does your companion effect you?
Chapter 3 – The Tipping Point
- How much of what we view as God comes from our relationship with our earthly fathers?
- How was Mack alone yet not alone?
Chapter 4 – The Great Sadness
- Why did Mack embrace a stoic and unfeeling faith?
- Why did Mack feel guilty about the occasional moment of laughter or joy?
- How long should a tragedy rob a person of Joy?
- Why would Mack even consider the letter could possibly have come from God?
- Has God stopped all overt communication with man since the completion of scripture?
- Is it true that “nobody wants God in a Box, just in a book”? Where can a person keep God?
- Read the last paragraph of pg 66. How much of it do you identify with? What question would you ask God right now if you could?
Chapter 5 – Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner
- If God were to speak to you in some way, would people be skeptical? How could you prove it was God who spoke or acted?
- Could God send a note? What could he positively not do to communicate with his child? Why?
- Why did Mack link what happened to Missy with judgment for what he had done to his own father? Does God do that?
- What does God look like to Mack? Does everyone have their own favorite mental picture of God?
- Since Mack is essentially angry with God, why does Mack pray to him at all? Is this kind of praying beneficial? Does it show at least a shred of faith and hope?
- What exactly is Mack accusing God of when he complained “you’ve never been around when I needed you, not when I was a little boy, not when I lost Missy”.
- Mack sensed a pattern of rejection from God all his life. Was God rejecting him? Have you ever sensed a similar pattern of rejection in your life?
- Mack was in some ways comfortable with the great sadness. Why did he accept it as a friend, painful as it was?
- Mack declares he is “done God…I can’t do this anymore. If God wanted him, God would have to come find him”. Who was really looking for who?
- Why would God let Mack quit looking before He found Him? Can anyone really run away from God?
- What was your initial reaction to Papa as a black nanny? Did you ever get comfortable with the image? Why or why not?
- Does God really let us do things on “your terms and time”? How long does it take before God becomes impatient with us?
- What was your reaction to the depiction of the Holy Spirit in Sarayu? Did it change? Why?
- What was your reaction to the depiction of Jesus. Did it change? Why?
- Mack asked which one of you is God. “I AM”, all three said in unison. How can that be? Does the relationship of the trinity become clearer as the story unfolds? How does it compliment or contradict scripture?
If you enjoyed this post, be sure to read the rest from this author. Marc is a local writer, musician, and physician. He is a regular contributor to ConneXions and has written reviews for Spectrum: Adventist Forum. He loves words and music, windsurfing, and going on adventures with Janine and the kids.(Read more from this author) 
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