Making the Best of a Bad Decision
Erwin W. Lutzer

Introduction: So You’ve Made a Bad Decision . . .

1. Do you agree that “the sum of our lives equals the sum of our decisions”? Why or why not?

2. “This is ultimately a book of hope.” What did you find in the introduction that gives you hope as you begin to read this book?

Chapter 1: The Worst Decision Ever Made

1. What is the worst decision you’ve ever made? What were the consequences of that decision? Describe how you’ve seen God “make the best” of your bad decision. (If you haven’t yet seen redemption, do you believe God can still make something good from your mess?)

2. Which do you think is more accurate: “people change only when they see the light” or “people change only when they feel the heat”? Why are we so reluctant to admit the truth about ourselves? Explain your answer.

3. Imagine what your life would be like without shame. Discuss both the positive and negative aspects of shame in our fallen world.

4. Why do you think John Milton calls Adam and Eve’s sin “the fortunate fall”? Explain why you agree or disagree with him.

5. What hope does Romans 5:20-21 give us when it comes to our sin?

Chapter 2: When You’ve Chosen Second Best

1. Like the pregnant young woman described in this chapter, have you ever felt as if you were in a situation you couldn’t get out of? What happened in your situation?

2. What is the difference between fearing success and planning to fail? When do they become one and the same?

3. Sometimes we knowingly take a wrong fork on the road of life; at other times, we just find ourselves there without being aware of any wrong decision we’ve made. Why can we have confidence that God stands ready to help us regardless of how we got into the predicament we’re in?

4. What is the “one right choice” we can always make?

5.  How did God redeem and bless the Israelites after they chose “second best”? What can we learn from their story?

6. Describe a time in your life when your foolish decision “unveiled God’s finest moment.”

 

 

Making the Best of a Bad Decision
Erwin W. Lutzer

Chapter 3: When You’ve Married Trouble

1. What is the difference between a promise and a vow?

2. Why is marriage the most sacred of all vows?

3. What was the author’s advice to the couple who got married in secret at the beginning of the chapter? Explain why you agree or disagree with him.

4. What foolish vow did Joshua make in the Bible? How did God make the best of it?

5. What five myths are people prone to believe when they want out of their marriage? Comment on one or two of them and explain other ways we rationalize what we want to do.

6. Do you agree that “faithfulness is much more important than happiness”? Why or why not?

7. What is the author’s basic rule for responding to unhappy relationships? How would following this rule make a difference in your relationships?

8. What three things must happen for true reconciliation to take place? (See page 63.)

Chapter 4: When You’ve Crossed a Moral Boundary

1. How is King David’s downward spiral consistent with the familiar pattern followed by many who have fallen into sexual sin?

2. What steps can you take, or have you taken, to avoid temptation in your life?

3. In the long run, a seemingly easier path may turn out to be the more difficult one. How is this true in David’s story? How about in your own life?

4. Give examples of people you have known who have tried to cover their sin. How were they discovered and what lessons can we learn from their experience?

5. Where is grace and redemption found in David’s story? How about in your own life?

 

Making the Best of a Bad Decision
Erwin W. Lutzer

Chapter 5: When You’ve Made a Bad Financial Decision

1. Have you ever been in a situation like the ones experienced by the two men at the beginning of this chapter? What bad financial decision have you come to regret? If you wish, feel free to share why you made this decision and what you learned from the experience.

2. What kind of attitude will lay a foundation for recovery and restoration when you are dealing with financial issues? What can you do to foster this kind of attitude?

3. What are most foolish financial decisions based on? Explain.

4. Why is money such a sensitive subject? Do you agree with the author’s answer? Explain.

5. Explain how “only adversity can expose our false loves and keep us from hidden idolatry” (see page 97). How have you found this true in your own life?

6. What steps does the author recommend in order to recover from a bad financial decision?

7. What does being free from the love of money look like, according to the Bible? What does it look like in your life?

Chapter 6: When You’re in the Wrong Vocation

1. Have you, like Jed, ever felt trapped in your work environment? Explain.

2. How does Moses’ story fit in with this chapter’s theme?

3. What questions can we ask ourselves to test our attitude about work? How can we tell when our attitude begins to change for the better?

4. What radically new perspective on work did the apostle Paul introduce in the New Testament? Do you think it is realistic? Why or why not? What steps do we need to take to apply these principles to everyday living?

5. Who do you think of when you hear the word persever­ance? What examples of perseverance do you see in your own life?

6. For the next week, pray the following prayer each morning before you get out of bed: “Lord, glorify yourself today at my expense.” Observe how God answers your prayer.

7. When is our faith most precious in God’s sight? Why?

Making the Best of a Bad Decision
Erwin W. Lutzer

Chapter 7: When You’ve Hurt Others

1. Discuss what you think Susan should do in her difficult situation?

2. For Zacchaeus, repentance was costly. From your own experience, how have forgiveness and reconciliation come with a price?

3. How can we make the best of the pain we’ve caused others? Which step do you think is the most difficult? Why?

4. When confessing to others, what one word should we never use? Why?

5. Read Psalm 51. What can we learn from David’s example of repentance?

6. Why are forgiveness and reconciliation worth the cost of personal humility and honesty?

7. In practical terms, how can you become a healer to all who need grace?

Chapter 8: How to Make Wise Decisions

1. What prevailing lies in our culture do many people believe that lead them into making bad decisions? What does the Bible say about these issues?

2. Which “Don’t” in this chapter do you struggle with the most? Why? What can you do to make a positive change?

3. “Whenever you can, trade success for significance.” What would that trade-off look like in your life?

4. What does the author say about seeking “signs” from the Lord? Do you agree with him? Why or why not?

5. God works all things together for the ultimate good of those who love him. What examples of this have you seen in your life? What good has come out of the sin and disappointment in your life?

6. What is the most important lesson about forgiveness you have learned that you would like to pass on to others, particularly to young people?

Chapter 9: The Worst Decision You Could Possibly Make

1. Can you see yourself in the story of the wealthy man? What was Jesus’s point in telling this story?

2. What is the biggest mistake anyone could ever make?

3. Which of the promises to ponder on pages 177–178 stand out the most to you? Why?

Notes