Gateway at the Movies
Gateway At The Movies
This series will develop Biblical themes that are found in familiar and not so familiar movies. Clips from the movies will be used to introduce and illustrate the points of the message.
June 27 The Spitfire Grill: Healing Out of Brokenness
The Spitfire Grill is a “film about hope and redemption coming out of brokenness and shame: trees thought to be worthless become a medicinal source; a missing son comes to reconciliation with a lamenting mother; a neglected wife discovers her worth; an empty church becomes filled, and a hollow, lifeless town makes a new friend. All because a cigarette-smoking, stringy haired ex-con went looking for a new start.” The story takes place in Gilead, Maine and includes the hymn There is A Balm In Gilead. (“There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole, there is a balm in Gilead to heal the weary soul.”) The Biblical town of Gilead was a place of healing, and the reference is to Jesus, who provides spiritual healing for broken people. The message will show how Jesus accomplishes this.
July 11 Mr. Holland’s Opus: Finding Significance in Life
Mr. Holland’s Opus is about the dream of most people, to create an “opus - a life defining work, a tower of Babel that makes its mark and says ‘I was here.’” The theme of the movie is that meaning in life comes through sacrifice and faithfulness rather than individual dream pursuit. Mr. Holland’s opus was the influence he had on the lives of his students. They were his “opus.” This message will develop that theme in finding our significance in life through finding God’s will and being faithful to accomplish it, especially as it touches the lives of others.
July 18 Simon Birch: Life Has a Purpose
Simon Birch tells the story of Joe and Simon's heart-warming journey of friendship. Simon Birch was born with a condition that makes him much smaller than all the other kids in town. Now, due to his condition, Simon thinks God made him this way for a reason and highly believes in God. Together, Joe and Simon go on a journey of trust and friendship to find the answers to many things. Their friendship is put to the test when some unfortunate events happen.
July 24 Dead Man Walking: Redemption and Responsibility
Dead Man Walking is “a modern version of Jesus offering salvation to the man hanging on the cross next to him.” It is a movie about redemption. It struggles with the issue of “deserving” to be redeemed and the need to acknowledge personal responsibility for one’s actions. This message will develop these themes and bring them down to a personal level, showing that none of us is deserving of God’s grace and none of us can experience God’s redemption unless we accept personal responsibility for our own sins.
