Brother Andrew: God’s Secret Agent Unit These reading comprehension questions are for Brother Andrew: God’s Secret Agent, by Janet and Geoff Benge. Initial Essay: Personal Courage We see in Brother Andrew’s biography how he showed bravery to fight the Nazi’s. Think about the importance of courage in your life. Select one of the prompts from the following three. Write a three paragraph. 1. What’s your personal definition of courage? Have there been times in your life when you’ve needed to be courageous? Write about one of those times: what was the situation, and what did you do? 2. Is there someone in your life who you would characterize as courageous? If so, in what ways? Write about what, in this person’s courage and demeanor, you admire. Then write about the ways in which you, also, exhibit these same qualities, or you wish you could exhibit them more. 3. Describe an area of your life in which you wish you were more courageous? What is it, and how would you benefit? Memory Verses (due 5/7): “Awake and strengthen what remains and is on the point of death.” Revelations 3: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?” Luke 9: 23-25 Questions for Brother Andrew Write in complete sentences on notebook paper. Answer thoroughly. Some answers may require a paragraph. Turn in the day after you do them. Ch 1-2 What was Andrew’s attitude toward religion during his childhood? List specific events or occurrences to support your answer. Chapter 3 What changes did the Nazi invasion bring to village life? Which rule would you have found most difficult to follow? Which rule upset Andrew’s family the most? Chapter 4 What were the Nazis doing to Jews in Holland? What acts of resistance did Andrew do? How did he feel about his resistance? Locate Holland on map. Chapter 5 1. At the end of WWII, Andrew had to make a decision about what to do with himself. Read back over the paragraphs detailing his decision-making process. What criteria did he think about in making his decision? What did his parents think about his decision? 2. How do you make decisions? 3. Before he leaves for the military, Andrew’s mother gives him a Bible. What is his attitude toward God at this point? Chapter 5-6 How did Andrew feel about killing people during his time in the military? How did he deal with his feelings? Did this help? What does Andrew think about God at this point? Chapter 7 1. The Franciscan nuns did all their chores, even disagreeable duties, with a smile and a song on their lips. How did the nun explain why to Andrew? What do you think about their attitude? How can you apply that to your life? Give specific examples. 2. Describe Andrew’s attitude toward God at this point. How did the nun (with the monkey story) and Thile try to encourage him? What was Andrew holding on to? Why was he resistant to the things of God? Chapter 8 Describe what happened at the revival (at the beginning of the chapter). How did Andrew begin to change? What did he finally let go of? Who understood his experience? What happened at the second revival in the chapter? What was Andrew’s reaction? Chapter 9 Why did Andrew have to put a halt to his desire to become a missionary? Chapter 11 1. What was the Iron Curtain? Who made the term famous? Why was travel there difficult? For whom was it most dangerous? Why did Communists not want religion in their countries? 2. What was Andrew’s strategy for spreading the gospel in Poland? 3. Andrew saw two sides to Warsaw during his visit. Describe them. 4. What was the call of God that Andrew received at the end of the chapter? Locate Poland on a map. Chapter 12 Locate Czechoslovakia on a map. 1. How did the pastor describe religious freedom in Czechoslovakia? What was it like to be a Christian in Czechoslovakia? What restrictions did the pastor have? What was the symbol of the church in Czechoslovakia? 2. What happened as a result of Andrew wandering off? Chapter 13 1. What happened in Hungary in the spring of 1956? Locate Hungary and Austria on a map. Locate Yugoslavia, W Germany, E Germany. 2. How were people in the refugee camps impacted by Bible classes? 3. What were the rules for entering Yugoslavia? What did Andrew risk entering Yugoslavia? Chapter 14 1. What happened to some of the people who attended Andrew’s meetings in Yugoslavia? 2. How did the Hungarian government treat pastors? Chapter 15 1. What was East Germany’s strategy for fighting Christianity? (p 175) Why was this effective? 2. What was Andrew’s response to running afoul of the authorities in Yugoslavia (p 177)? 3. How close was he to the Bulgarian border when he was caught on his next trip to Yugoslavia? What was his response to the difficulties of getting to Bulgaria (p 183)? 4. How did the Romanian government control the church? What was the result? Chapter 16 1. What call had Hans sensed when he was in the sixth grade? What was his response to that call? How did he begin preparing years ahead to do God’s work? What does this say to you? Locate Russia and the Ukraine on a map. 2. What happened to the man from Siberia who spoke with Andrew and Hans? What did people risk in Russia if they distributed Bibles? Chapter 17-18 1. What happened to Brother Andrew once he arrived in America? How did his message differ from the group that brought him there? Locate Hong Kong and China on a map. 2. What was the state of the church in China? Describe the two types of churches. What was the response of the government to churches? Who began to work with Brother Andrew? What did people in China do about the lack of Bibles? Describe Project Pearl. 3. When people approached Andrew to help in his ministry, what would he ask them to do? p 203 Why do you think he did that? 4. Describe the state of the church in Cuba. Closing Questions/Personal Reflection 1. If you could have a conversation with Brother Andrew, what questions would you ask? What would you like to talk about? 2. What part of his story or the other stories of the persecuted church had the most impact on you? Challenge: Let’s examine Brother Andrew’s Core Values. #1 We are a part of the Body of Christ. How can you strengthen the Body of Christ? How can you encourage the Body of Christ that you belong to? How can you “be there” in your local church so God can use you? #2 Where there is a need, that’s where Jesus meets it. Are there any needs in your local church that you can meet? Can you encourage elderly members or children? Can you thank the adults in leadership and show your appreciation? What other ideas do you have? #3 We must be people of the Bible. Can you commit to read your Bible every day during this unit? #4 We must be people of prayer. How can you be a person of prayer? #5 We live and Work by Faith. What role does faith play in your life? #6 We are devoted to Christ and His Commission. How can you share your faith with the world? #7 We are motivated solely for the glory of God. Are you motivated to seek God’s glory in your life? What hinders you from seeking God?
