Later this summer I am going to do a movie sermon series that will search for teachable moments in movies that have come out in the last year or so.
I have been racking my brain trying to come up with teachable moments in movies I have seen this year. Thus far some ideas I have are to use some of the following.
Movies I have some idea of how to use
The Dark Knight
Wall-E
Gran Torino
Seven Pounds
Madagascar 2
Iron Man
Movies I haven’t seen but seem like they may have moments
Slumdog Millionare
Yes Man
Frost/Nixon
Do you have any suggestions of movies and or teachable moments from any of the movies I have listed. This is your chance to shape worship! I need movies that are out on video so that I can actually show a clip. I would love the help.
June 16, 2009 at 10:52 am
Cars – focuses on not being all about fame and money but helping others and respect
June 16, 2009 at 12:44 pm
Anything more recent?
June 16, 2009 at 8:46 pm
Greg – if you have the time to listen, Mars Hill Seattle does a whole deal on film and theology. You could look through and see if anything catches you. http://www.marshillchurch.org/media/cinemagogue/the-incredible-hulk
June 16, 2009 at 1:18 pm
Rachel Getting Married- former drug/alcohol addict dealing with negative experiences (while under the influence) that directly affected her family. Acceptance, forgiveness, regret, all rolled into a couple of hours. Definitely not a feel good movie, but you could probably pull something out of it. You do have a knack for it! Also, Anne Hathaway totally earned her oscar nom.
June 16, 2009 at 3:57 pm
Soloist
June 16, 2009 at 4:09 pm
That one may not be available on DVD…how about The Dutchess…you could be brave and speak about the role of women in leadership.
June 16, 2009 at 5:03 pm
Anything recent as in late 2007 to now might eliminate me from knowing what is out or relevant. I think in that time frame I’ve been to the theatre three times. Sorry, Greg. The life of the seminary student is like landing on the Press Your Lucky Whammy, every time you think you have cash for a movie none seems to be around.
June 16, 2009 at 9:31 pm
Nothing good is out on video. Recall how most Americans hadn’t seen a single best picture nominee lat year. It wasn’t a really good year for flicks.
June 17, 2009 at 4:57 am
The Wrestler (very raw) about living in the past and not accepting your place in life. I think one of the final scenes is the winner for a church movie clip.
TROPIC THUNDER!!!- Playing a role, being who you are supposed to be. Robert Downey, Jr.\’s character is every one of us! (Come on Greg, you should have got that one!)
Hamlet 2… maybe… I think you could pull it off.
I am Legend- What do you mean by recent…
Frozen River- Most of the films last year were pretty raw. This has some themes of communal dependence, trust, redemption.
June 17, 2009 at 10:41 am
Haven’t seen the wrestler yet, but it is hard for me to resist.
I cannot in good conscious even talk about Tropic Thunder in church.
Haven’t seen Hamlet 2, but it is in the Netflix Queue
Good suggestions thanks.
I checked through Gran Turino and Yes Man yesterday for usable material. There are great ideas in Gran Turino, but no scenes without cussing that can be used. Yes Man has some very usable sermon pieces. As a matter of fact I could do a whole sermon series just on Jim Carrey films, that would be easy.
Here would be my list.
Ace Ventura Pet Detective – Finding our purpose
The Mask – Putting on Christ and becoming something greater than ourselves
Bruce Almighty – Missing God all around us
Liar Liar – The consequences of our sin
Yes Man – Opening up ourselves to the call of God
That would be a series I could do some preaching with
June 17, 2009 at 1:44 pm
Would that be called The Faith of Jim Carrey?