1. The story opens with the Patient learning he has less than a year to live. He wonders, What kind of God would listen to a man who had spent his whole life denying that God existed? What answer would you give?

2. If you were asked to defend your faith on a less-extreme version of this show, would you do it? Why or why not? Why do you think Judge Finney decided to do it?

3. Why has reality television become so popular in the last decade? Discuss some current shows. What are some positive and negative aspects?

4. Is Judge Finney a good defendant of the Christian faith? Why or why not? What did you admire about him, if anything? What could he have done differently?

5. Why does Judge Finney do yoga with the Swami? Have you ever done something out of your comfort zone in order to share your faith with someone?

6. Dr. Ando explains the Buddhist principles of nonattachment—even to the point of abandoning one’s family—in chapter 27. He uses Jesus’ words from Luke 14:26 to draw a comparison between his faith and Christianity. Read that verse and discuss what you think Jesus meant when He said that. What else does the Bible say about fellowship and loving others?

7. In chapter 40, Judge Finney observes Kareem as he goes through his morning prayer ritual. Finney thinks, The monotony of it must surely make the prayer time lose its zeal. What benefits are there to discipline in one’s spiritual walk? What are potential drawbacks?

8. What do you think about expert scientist Dr. Fetaya’s claim that “given enough time, science tends to explain the most baffling things”? How would you respond to that? What does Hebrews 11:1 tell you?

9. Do you agree with the Patient’s belief that “the real test of any faith is how well its adherents can deal with facing death”? Why or why not?

10. What was it about Judge Finney that impacted Nikki Moreno the most? Is there a Judge Finney in your life? Could you be a Judge Finney in the life of someone close to you?

11. What did you think of the author’s presentation of other world religions? Did anything surprise you?

12. Were you surprised when the identities of the Patient and the Assassin and others involved in the secret plot were revealed? What do you think of their motives and actions throughout the story?