12-Week Study & Discussion Guide

This Present Darkness

by Frank E. Peretti·96 discussion questions

Lead your group with the discussion already prepared: a reading plan, thoughtful questions, and printable handouts for everyone.

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Week 1 — FreeRead the opening chapters of This Present Darkness (the arrival of Hank Busch in Ashton and the early scenes establishing Marshall Hogan, Bernice Kreuger, and the town). Key Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-18; Daniel 10:12-14.

Discussion question your group will work through:

1.Peretti opens the novel by immediately introducing two parallel worlds — the human, visible world of Ashton and the unseen spiritual realm. What is your initial reaction to seeing angels and demons depicted as physical beings engaged in real combat? Does it feel biblically grounded, fanciful, or somewhere in between?

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About This Study Guide

At a glance: this is a 12-week study and discussion guide for This Present Darkness by Frank E. Peretti, with 96 questions organized by reading assignment. Week 1 is free to read, with no card required.

Frank Peretti's This Present Darkness is a landmark work of Christian fiction that pulls back the veil on the unseen spiritual realm operating all around us. Set in the small college town of Ashton, the novel weaves together two parallel storylines: one follows reporter Bernice Kreuger and newspaper editor Marshall Hogan as they investigate a mysterious conspiracy reaching into the highest levels of the town's institutions, and the other follows beleaguered pastor Hank Busch as he fights to keep his small congregation alive. Beneath both storylines, Peretti dramatizes the apostle Paul's declaration in Ephesians 6:12 — that our true struggle is not against people and politics, but against "the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness." The novel's central thesis is that prayer is not a passive spiritual exercise but an act of cosmic warfare: every intercession strengthens the angels, every compromise weakens them, and the fate of an entire community hangs in the balance.

This study guide is designed for small groups or individual readers who want to move beyond the story and wrestle with its deeper spiritual and theological implications. The guide follows the novel's major narrative movements week by week. The suggested rhythm is simple: read the assigned section before your group meets, spend a few minutes journaling your personal reactions, then work through the discussion questions together. Some questions are factual (to make sure you caught what Peretti is actually showing), some are personal (to help you see your own life in the story), and some are theological (to connect the novel's themes to Scripture and the gospel). You don't need a seminary degree — just a Bible, an honest heart, and a willingness to be challenged.

By the end of this study, you will have a richer understanding of spiritual warfare as the Bible describes it, a deeper sense of the power and necessity of prayer, a more discerning eye toward cultural and spiritual deception, and — most importantly — a renewed awe at the fact that God's angels are encamped around those who fear Him. This Present Darkness has sold over two million copies because it does what the best fiction always does: it tells the truth in a way that cold doctrine alone cannot. May this guide help you hear that truth more clearly.

Week 1: Introduction — Setting the Stage in Ashton

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Read the opening chapters of This Present Darkness (the arrival of Hank Busch in Ashton and the early scenes establishing Marshall Hogan, Bernice Kreuger, and the town). Key Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-18; Daniel 10:12-14.

Before diving into the plot, take a moment to consider: what assumptions do you already carry about the spiritual world — and about how visible or invisible that world really is?

1.Peretti opens the novel by immediately introducing two parallel worlds — the human, visible world of Ashton and the unseen spiritual realm. What is your initial reaction to seeing angels and demons depicted as physical beings engaged in real combat? Does it feel biblically grounded, fanciful, or somewhere in between?

2.Hank Busch arrives in Ashton as a young, idealistic pastor and quickly finds that the congregation is small, skeptical, and resistant. What pressures does he face right from the start, and what do those pressures reveal about the spiritual climate of the town?

3.Marshall Hogan is portrayed as a skeptical, hard-nosed journalist — not a church-going believer. Why do you think Peretti chose a secular investigator as one of his two main human protagonists? What does this choice say about how God works in the world?

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All 12 weeks, 96 questions, closing prayers, and printable weekly handouts — plus the full PDF — so your prep is reading it over, not writing it from scratch.

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Week 1 sample · first 3 questions

Group handout: This Present Darkness

Week 1 sample · first 3 questions. Scroll to read the sample.

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12-Week Schedule

  1. Week 1Introduction — Setting the Stage in Ashton8 questions
  2. Week 2The Conspiracy Deepens — Rafar, the Strongman, and the New Age Network8 questions
  3. Week 3Hank Under Fire — The Cost of Standing8 questions
  4. Week 4Marshall Hogan — The Reluctant Investigator8 questions
  5. Week 5The Power of Prayer — Angels Strengthened, Demons Weakened8 questions
  6. Week 6Spiritual Deception — The New Age and the Seduction of Half-Truths8 questions
  7. Week 7The Battle Intensifies — Principalities, Powers, and the Armor of God8 questions
  8. Week 8Human Courage and Divine Sovereignty — When the Story Seems to Be Losing8 questions
  9. Week 9Sandy's Rescue and the Reality of Spiritual Bondage8 questions
  10. Week 10The Climax — Light Breaks, Darkness Breaks8 questions
  11. Week 11Aftermath and Implications — Living in the Light of the Unseen8 questions
  12. Week 12Review & Reflection — Looking Back Across the Whole Story8 questions

Week 2: The Conspiracy Deepens — Rafar, the Strongman, and the New Age Network

All 8 questions →

Read the sections introducing the demonic hierarchy over Ashton, the New Age influences at Ashton College, and the Omni corporation's connections. Key Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-3; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5; Acts 19:11-20.

1.Peretti introduces Rafar, the demonic 'Prince of Persia' figure over Ashton, as a powerful territorial spirit. He is ancient, arrogant, and deeply territorial. What does Scripture actually say about demonic territorial powers? Read Daniel 10:12-14 and Ephesians 6:12 again. How much latitude do you think Christians should give to the idea of territorial spirits?

+ 7 more questions in the full guide

Week 3: Hank Under Fire — The Cost of Standing

All 8 questions →

Read the sections focusing on Hank Busch's escalating opposition from the town, the college administration, and from within his own congregation. Key Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:1-5; 1 Peter 5:6-11; John 15:18-21.

1.Hank faces opposition from the town authorities, social pressure from community leaders, and spiritual attack in the form of discouragement and doubt. Which of these forms of opposition do you think is most difficult to withstand, and why?

+ 7 more questions in the full guide

Week 4: Marshall Hogan — The Reluctant Investigator

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Read the sections following Marshall's deepening investigation — his growing suspicion of the Omni network, his conversations with Bernice, and his early, reluctant encounters with Hank and the church community. Key Scripture: Romans 1:19-21; Acts 17:26-28; Proverbs 25:2.

1.Marshall is described as a tough, self-reliant journalist who has built his life on evidence and instinct. What is appealing about his character? What are his blind spots? How do his strengths as an investigator both help and hinder him in understanding what is really happening in Ashton?

+ 7 more questions in the full guide

Week 5: The Power of Prayer — Angels Strengthened, Demons Weakened

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Read the sections depicting the intercessory prayer meetings at Hank's church and their direct, visible effects on the angelic battle. Key Scripture: Daniel 10:12-14; James 5:13-18; Luke 18:1-8; Revelation 8:3-4.

1.Peretti's most striking and controversial creative decision is depicting prayer as having immediate, mechanical-seeming effects on angelic strength — when the church prays, the angels grow stronger and can advance; when prayer wanes, they are forced to retreat. What is your reaction to this depiction? Is it a helpful dramatization of a biblical truth, a dangerous oversimplification, or something in between?

+ 7 more questions in the full guide

Week 6: Spiritual Deception — The New Age and the Seduction of Half-Truths

All 8 questions →

Read the sections detailing Juleen Langstrat's network, the spiritual practices at the college (visualization, channeling, universal consciousness), and Sandy Hogan's entanglement. Key Scripture: 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; Colossians 2:8; 1 John 4:1-3; Galatians 1:6-9.

1.Juleen Langstrat is presented as a sophisticated, intelligent, even charismatic figure — a counselor and spiritual guide who genuinely seems to help people. Peretti makes clear that she is demonically used, but he does not portray her as a crude villain. Why is this nuanced portrayal important? What does it tell us about how deception actually works?

+ 7 more questions in the full guide

Week 7: The Battle Intensifies — Principalities, Powers, and the Armor of God

All 8 questions →

Read the sections depicting the escalating supernatural conflict over Ashton — the demonic strategy sessions, the angelic reinforcements, and the direct confrontations in the spiritual realm. Key Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-18; Romans 8:37-39; Colossians 2:13-15.

1.Ephesians 6:10-18 lists six pieces of the 'armor of God' — the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit. As you read the spiritual battle scenes, which pieces of armor do you see the angelic warriors relying on most directly? Which pieces seem most relevant to the human struggles depicted in the novel?

+ 7 more questions in the full guide

Week 8: Human Courage and Divine Sovereignty — When the Story Seems to Be Losing

All 8 questions →

Read the sections depicting the lowest point for both Marshall and Hank — mounting losses, escalating opposition, apparent failure — before the tide begins to turn. Key Scripture: Psalm 46; Romans 8:28; Habakkuk 3:17-19; 2 Chronicles 20:1-22.

1.Both Hank and Marshall reach a point in the novel where the situation appears hopeless — the conspiracy has gained the upper hand, key allies have been neutralized, and the enemy seems to be winning. Have you ever been in a season of life where the spiritual situation around you felt similarly desperate? What was that like?

+ 7 more questions in the full guide

Week 9: Sandy's Rescue and the Reality of Spiritual Bondage

All 8 questions →

Read the sections dealing with Sandy Hogan's deeper entanglement in the New Age network and the efforts to reach and rescue her. Key Scripture: Luke 15:11-32; John 8:31-36; Galatians 5:1; 2 Timothy 2:24-26.

1.By this point in the novel, Sandy's entanglement has become a form of spiritual bondage — she genuinely cannot see the deception she is in and resists help from those who love her most. How does Peretti depict the relationship between demonic influence and human freedom? Is Sandy responsible for her choices? Is she a victim? How do both things stay true simultaneously?

+ 7 more questions in the full guide

Week 10: The Climax — Light Breaks, Darkness Breaks

All 8 questions →

Read the climactic chapters: the convergence of the human and spiritual storylines, the final confrontation with Rafar, and the defeat of the demonic stronghold over Ashton. Key Scripture: Colossians 2:13-15; Revelation 12:10-11; Luke 10:17-20.

1.The climax of the novel brings together the two narrative threads that have been running in parallel throughout — the human investigation and the angelic battle — as both reach their decisive moments simultaneously. What is the narrative and theological effect of this convergence? What is Peretti saying about the relationship between events in the visible world and events in the invisible one?

+ 7 more questions in the full guide

Week 11: Aftermath and Implications — Living in the Light of the Unseen

All 8 questions →

Read the concluding chapters and resolution of This Present Darkness. Key Scripture: Ephesians 5:15-17; 1 Peter 1:13-16; Romans 13:11-14; Hebrews 12:1-3.

1.As the novel resolves, which character's journey has moved you most — Hank's perseverance, Marshall's conversion, Bernice's courage, Sandy's rescue? Why that character? What do they represent for you personally?

+ 7 more questions in the full guide

Week 12: Review & Reflection — Looking Back Across the Whole Story

All 8 questions →

No new reading this week. Review your notes and journal entries from the previous weeks. Key Scripture: Ephesians 6:10-18 (read in full as a closing meditation).

1.Looking back over the entire novel and the weeks of discussion, which chapter, theme, or character had the most significant impact on you? Why that one? What specific image, scene, or idea from that section stays with you most vividly?

+ 7 more questions in the full guide
Book Club QuestionsMore by Frank E. PerettiPrayer & Spiritual WarfareBiography & MemoirFor Small GroupsFor Book ClubsFree Question GeneratorMake a reading schedule for this book

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About the This Present Darkness guide

How many weeks is the This Present Darkness study guide?

This study guide covers This Present Darkness in 12 weeks, with week-by-week discussion questions, reading references, and closing prayers for each session.

How many discussion questions are included?

The complete guide includes 96 discussion questions across 12 weeks — an average of 8 questions per week, designed for group conversation.

Can I use this guide for a book club?

Yes — the questions are written for group discussion and work well for small groups, book clubs, church studies, and couples reading together.

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