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God at the Movies 2018

Black Panther

June 10, 2018 • Ed Noble

*Message Podcast only. Video messages are not available for this series* Message Summary: Black Panther is more than a super hero movie. It explores the tension of what “serving God” and redemptive activity in our world looks like for us as Christ followers. There are three impulses historically that have been the response of the people of the CHURCH to a culture: to completely separate ourselves, to use violence to bring the kingdom of God, and to bring the kingdom of God to earth following the lead of Jesus. There are two messages of the Kingdom that we need to connect with if we’re to move in this third way. The first is to own our origin story laid out in Genesis. The second is to recognize that there is only one true and good King, the Lord Jesus Messiah. We bring His kingdom as we engage-even risk- and take our calling seriously. Series: Movies have a way of communicating unlike any other art form. In them, we find powerful stories of the human experience—an experience marked by intersection with the divine. Whether filmmakers know it or not, God’s fingerprints can be found all over their stories. We’ll take some of the most popular films from the last year and look at how we can find God at the movies.

Darkest Hour

June 17, 2018 • Ed Noble

Message Summary: The story of Winston Churchill parallels that of the Biblical Esther. Both were raised up by God to take their people through crucial moments. As we move through our own dark hours, we need to realize that our self-talk can weaken or strengthen us. We must also realize that as we keep moving, our faith will increase because God will show up. We come to know that God can repurpose our past- even our failures. A community of Christ followers can serve to call out greatness and our destiny from us. Take a moment to reflect three questions to ask ourselves as we consider the way through our darkest hours. Series: Movies have a way of communicating unlike any other art form. In them, we find powerful stories of the human experience—an experience marked by intersection with the divine. Whether filmmakers know it or not, God’s fingerprints can be found all over their stories. We’ll take some of the most popular films from the last year and look at how we can find God at the movies. *Message Podcast only. Video messages are not available for this series*

Wonder

June 24, 2018 • Jason Denison

Message Summary: Auggie Pittman is anything but ordinary, especially because of the way he looks. In our current culture, we focus on the seen rather than on the unseen. But what if we saw ourselves, and others, from a soul-depth perspective? God created us in love and to be seen. A community of Christ followers can demonstrate grace and empathy as we learn to truly see each other. Series: Movies have a way of communicating unlike any other art form. In them, we find powerful stories of the human experience—an experience marked by intersection with the divine. Whether filmmakers know it or not, God’s fingerprints can be found all over their stories. We’ll take some of the most popular films from the last year and look at how we can find God at the movies. *Message Podcast only. Video messages are not available for this series*

All the Money in the World

July 1, 2018 • Ed Noble

Message Summary: We succumb to greed when we “ultimatize” the wrong things in life. The actual “good life” is accessed as we get insight into Jesus’ teaching and this movie actually depicts a life that displays the opposite of His teaching. We learn that our “theology” determines our deepest sense of identity and determines the rails our lives run on. As we gain wisdom, we know what’s truly valuable and how to live. Trying to find security in the material doesn’t work. And finally, we learn, that sin is a failure of worship. We can avoid becoming fools as we worship God, tithe and experience His grace and mercy. Series: Movies have a way of communicating unlike any other art form. In them, we find powerful stories of the human experience—an experience marked by intersection with the divine. Whether filmmakers know it or not, God’s fingerprints can be found all over their stories. We’ll take some of the most popular films from the last year and look at how we can find God at the movies. *Message Podcast only. Video messages are not available for this series*

The Greatest Showman

July 8, 2018 • Ed Noble

Message Summary: The movie gives us a picture or an allegory of a “celebration of humanity” through a new kind of humanity made possible by Jesus. We often design a world that traps us in a life that is less than the one God envisions for us. We need a new vision. If we want to move toward humanity 2.0, we must be aware and healed of the hole in our souls. The temptation to go back to the old way of life will often come when we are at an advantage. We must be aware and avoid it. It won’t be easy so we must keep our eyes on the JOY that is God’s endgame for us. God starts us on our way to humanity 2.0 as we embrace imago dei, as we give God full responsibility to bring beauty through our lives and to redeem the broken part of us. Series: Movies have a way of communicating unlike any other art form. In them, we find powerful stories of the human experience—an experience marked by intersection with the divine. Whether filmmakers know it or not, God’s fingerprints can be found all over their stories. We’ll take some of the most popular films from the last year and look at how we can find God at the movies. *Message Podcast only. Video messages are not available for this series*