Through Gates of Splendor by Elisabeth Elliot
Week 5: Chapters 6–7 — 'Palm Beach'
Read Chapters 6 and 7 of Through Gates of Splendor. Key Scripture: John 12:24-25; Psalm 116:15.
Previewing Week 5 of Through Gates of Splendor
Read 3 of 7 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 14-week guide when you’re ready.
The men locate a sandbar on the Curaray River they nickname 'Palm Beach' and make the decision to land. These chapters pulse with a mixture of excitement, careful planning, and an undercurrent of danger that neither the men nor the reader can shake.
Discussion Questions
7 questions1.The men called the sandbar 'Palm Beach' with an almost boyish sense of humor and adventure. How does the presence of lightness and joy in these chapters affect you as a reader? What does it tell you about how these men carried their calling?
2.The decision to land was made deliberately and collectively. How did the five men's different perspectives and temperaments strengthen their decision-making? What does this suggest about the importance of community in discerning God's will?
3.The men built a treehouse and established camp at Palm Beach, waiting for the Huaorani to come to them. What do you make of this posture — going to the edge of another person's world and then waiting, rather than pressing in further? Where might God be asking you to wait at the edge of something rather than forcing your way in?