Wonderfalls Bible Study Week 7

Episode 7- Barrel Bear

Proverbs 17:9

Whoever would foster love covers over an offense,
    but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.

2 Corinthians 10:12-18

We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. ¹³ We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the sphere of service God himself has assigned to us, a sphere that also includes you. ¹⁴ We are not going too far in our boasting, as would be the case if we had not come to you, for we did get as far as you with the gospel of Christ. ¹⁵ Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others. Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand, ¹⁶ so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you. For we do not want to boast about work already done in someone else’s territory. ¹⁷ But, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” ¹⁸ For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

1 Peter 3:20-22

to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, ²¹ and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, ²² who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.

Ecclesiastes 9:12

 Moreover, no one knows when their hour will come:

As fish are caught in a cruel net,
    or birds are taken in a snare,
so people are trapped by evil times
    that fall unexpectedly upon them.

Proverbs 11:6

The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
    but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.

Reflect on the Bible passages in light of the episode.

Do you think Alex really cares about Jaye’s success?

Reflect on this quote: “most really successful people are on a solid career track by your age.”

Do you believe Alex really ‘covers’ for Jaye? Why or why not?

Is it ever okay to make an employee look like they are better at their job than they are? Why or 

why not?

Do you think the Proverbs passage rightly comes to bear on this question? Why or why not?

Do you agree Eric that the messages he receives are not really his anymore?

Can a Christian escape guilt by looking at themselves as a new person from what they were before? 

Why or why not?

Reflect on this quote: “Marriage is not the institution it used to be.”

What do you think of ‘hometown pride’?

Reflect on this quote: “You just did that one little thing, and it got you out of here.”

What ‘one thing’ happened to those who followed Christ and how did it get them ‘moving’ out from where they started? Where do we see evidence of this kind of movement in the 2 Corinthians 

passage?

What does Millie say about her ‘family’?

Why does she miss signing autographs so much?

How does Paul try to disavow this kind of concern in the 2 Corinthians passage?

Do you think Paul succeeds in disavowing it? Why or why not?

Why doesn’t Mahandra buy that Jaye is just trying to be nice?

What do you think of Jaye’s explanation?

How does the arrival of Vivian complicate Jaye’s newest message, ‘give it back to her’?

What complications does Paul face in living out the message given to him, in the 2 Corinthians 

passage?

Reflect on this quote: “She’s just trying to tear down a legend.”

Why does Paul think the other apostles and workers for Christ get involved in this business?

What would it be like to have someone steal your thunder like Millie did?

What do you think of Millie’s claim that she contributed more than Vivian did?

Why does Paul say he doesn’t take credit for the work of others?

Why does Millie’s lying bother Jaye so much?

Why doesn’t bother Mahandra?

What does Jaye say about who Millie is?

Reflect on this quote: “She’s protecting the legend for future generations.”

Reflect on this quote: “She decided what she wanted to be and damn the facts…you can’t get more 

American than that.”

Why is Mahandra proud of Eric?

Reflect on this quote: “You are new baptized in enchanted waters.”

What does Peter say about baptism and how it changes us? What do you think of this?

Why is Vivian so unwilling to stand up for herself publically? What has happened to her as a 

person?

Is Jaye an Nihilist? Why or why not?

What does Vivian say that finally gets to Millie and why does it get to her?

What is Vivian seeking from going over the falls?

How is this similar to baptism?

Why is Mahandra supportive of this?

Reflect on this quote: “Its destiny, I was never meant to get out of here.”

How does Jaye argue to Vivian that she needs to care more about what has happened to her?

What question does Jaye struggle over as she tries to get her car out of the mud?

Reflect on this quote: “you’re never going to get your car out of this metaphor in time.”

What do Proverbs and Ecclesiastes say about being ‘trapped’?

What is Proverbs’ solution to being ‘trapped’?

How does Ecclesiastes bring this solution into question?

Which passage is Jaye living out and why?

What do you think of Millie’s plan to ‘make it right’?

Reflect on this quote: “it’s not too late…it’s never too late to change things.”

Why do you think the writers had Millie die?

Why does Mahandra blame Jaye for her madness? What do you think of this?

What do you think of Jaye ‘coming clean’ to Mahandra?

Why doesn’t Mahandra believe her?

What do you think of the way the group deals with the Vivian/Millie situation?

What did “give it back to her” end up meaning?

What did you think of the words said around Millie’s ‘funeral’ at the Falls?