Foster the Family
Discussion Questions

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* 1. Contact Information

Name

Email Address

Chapter One: What did I do to my life?

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* 2. The costs of being a foster parent are high, but are ultimately outweighed by the benefits. Explain in your own words why “the cost is worth it.”

Chapter Two: Jesus Loves the Little Children and Their Families

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* 3. When thinking about your future as a foster parent, do you think loving children’s biological families will come easily for you? Why or why not?

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* 4. In the moments it is hard to love your children’s biological families, what truth will you cling to?

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* 5. What are some practical ways you can come alongside families of kids in your home?

Chapter Three: Do Not Be Afraid When Everything is Scary

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* 6. There are parts of foster care that are down right scary. In these moments what truths are helpful to remember?

Chapter Four: I Don’t Even Know How to Pray Anymore

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* 7. What is best gift we can give children in foster care?

Chapter Five: Out of Control

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* 8. When do you find it especially difficult to relinquish control and trust God?

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* 9. How is it comforting to know that we’re not in control- but God is?

Chapter Six: Too Attached

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* 10. Why is it important for us to get “too attached” to children in foster care?

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* 11. Are you often tempted to daydream, judge, or worry? Why are these particularly dangerous patterns in foster care?

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* 12. What does the Bible say about your children’s parents?

Chapter Seven: My Foster Child’s Enemy is My Enemy

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* 13. What would it look like for you to love your kiddos’ biological families with the biblical definition of love? What if they are difficult to love?

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* 14. Why does it matter how we think about, talk about, and act toward our children’s parents?

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* 15. Does treating our enemies with love mean we are endorsing their sin, or sweeping their bad behavior under the rug? Why or why not?

Chapter 8: God Is in the Wait

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* 16. How have you seen God use waiting to grow your faith or your character?

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* 17. What practical steps can you take to make the most of seasons of waiting in foster care?

Chapter 9: I thought My Love Would Be Enough

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* 18. Did you come into foster care expecting your love to be enough?

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* 19. In practical terms, what does it look like to parent through both a trauma lens and a gospel lens?

Chapter 10: What Do You Have That You Did Not Receive

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* 20. What gifts have you been given by God that make it possible for you to be a foster parent?

Chapter 11: But What about My Kids? (If you currently have kids, please answer the following question)

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* 21. How will you protect and prioritize your family, while also drawing them into the mission of foster care?

Chapter 12: I Don’t Want to Hand Her Over Today

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* 22. Why do visits matter?

Chapter 13: Self Care Isn’t Selfish

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* 23. How does your understanding and practice of self- care need to change moving forward?

Chapter 14: Social Workers and Therapists and Lawyers- Oh My!

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* 24. You’re entering a broken system, full of broken people (yourself included). How can you remind yourself that each worker is a person- made and loved by God?

Chapter 15: Foster Caring Community

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* 25. Do you have the community you need around you in your current season? If not, what can you do to pursue it?

Chapter 16: A Small- Time County Judge

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* 26. How can you balance advocating for your child with submitting to the authorities God has placed over you?

Chapter 17: Foster Care is Heartbreak

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* 27. How have you handled grief in the past? What do you anticipate will be most helpful as you grieve the loss of a child in foster care?

Chapter 18: Spectator Signs for the Race

Foster the FamilyDiscussion Questions

Question Title

* 1. Contact Information

Question Title

* 2. The costs of being a foster parent are high, but are ultimately outweighed by the benefits. Explain in your own words why “the cost is worth it.”

Question Title

* 3. When thinking about your future as a foster parent, do you think loving children’s biological families will come easily for you? Why or why not?

Question Title

* 4. In the moments it is hard to love your children’s biological families, what truth will you cling to?

Question Title

* 5. What are some practical ways you can come alongside families of kids in your home?

Question Title

* 6. There are parts of foster care that are down right scary. In these moments what truths are helpful to remember?

Question Title

* 7. What is best gift we can give children in foster care?

Question Title

* 8. When do you find it especially difficult to relinquish control and trust God?

Question Title

* 9. How is it comforting to know that we’re not in control- but God is?

Question Title

* 10. Why is it important for us to get “too attached” to children in foster care?

Question Title

* 11. Are you often tempted to daydream, judge, or worry? Why are these particularly dangerous patterns in foster care?

Question Title

* 12. What does the Bible say about your children’s parents?

Question Title

* 13. What would it look like for you to love your kiddos’ biological families with the biblical definition of love? What if they are difficult to love?

Question Title

* 14. Why does it matter how we think about, talk about, and act toward our children’s parents?

Question Title

* 15. Does treating our enemies with love mean we are endorsing their sin, or sweeping their bad behavior under the rug? Why or why not?

Question Title

* 16. How have you seen God use waiting to grow your faith or your character?

Question Title

* 17. What practical steps can you take to make the most of seasons of waiting in foster care?

Question Title

* 18. Did you come into foster care expecting your love to be enough?

Question Title

* 19. In practical terms, what does it look like to parent through both a trauma lens and a gospel lens?

Question Title

* 20. What gifts have you been given by God that make it possible for you to be a foster parent?

Question Title

* 21. How will you protect and prioritize your family, while also drawing them into the mission of foster care?

Question Title

* 22. Why do visits matter?

Question Title

* 23. How does your understanding and practice of self- care need to change moving forward?

Question Title

* 24. You’re entering a broken system, full of broken people (yourself included). How can you remind yourself that each worker is a person- made and loved by God?

Question Title

* 25. Do you have the community you need around you in your current season? If not, what can you do to pursue it?

Question Title

* 26. How can you balance advocating for your child with submitting to the authorities God has placed over you?

Question Title

* 27. How have you handled grief in the past? What do you anticipate will be most helpful as you grieve the loss of a child in foster care?

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* 28. How does your perspective change when you remember that all earthly things- both good and bad- are temporary and will one day pass away?

Foster the Family
Discussion Questions