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Movie Based Bible Studies / Discussion Guides

  • Spider-Man 3 (also via CTI)


    The greatest battle lies within.


    The first two Spider-Man films established Peter Parker and his super-heroic alter ego as a popular and profitable theatrical draw: Spidey is loveably unstoppable and Peter Parker is the nice boy everybody wants to see get the girl.

    But Spider-Man 3 cuts those silky threads of comfortable niceness, dumping Peter Parker and Spider-Man into a dark place where evil infects the heart and vengeance slakes its thirst.

    This guide will help you discuss some of the spiritual themes of Spider-Man 3.

  • The Lord of the Rings (trilogy) (also via CTI)


    We must decide what to do with the time we are given.


    The Lord of the Rings trilogy, consisting of The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King, is a moral fantasy pitting good against evil in a world where wizards are the stewards of mankind, ents shepherd forests, dwarfs mine mountains, elves preserve beauty, and orcs, trolls, and uruk-hai serve a dark master. The three-part epic shows darkness battling light, evil struggling against good, pride fighting with humility, and despair wrestling with hope.

    This study guide will help you discuss some of the deeper themes of the movie. What does this film say about the struggle for virtue, the temptations of power, the providence of God, and the ennobling power of story?

  • The Matrix (trilogy) (also via CTI)


    “Free your mind.”


    The Matrix trilogy has been hailed as a triumph in filmmaking, breaking ground for both technical achievements and for weaving a rich tapestry of philosophy, religion, and pop culture with mass-market appeal. The films raise challenging moral and philosophical questions — all while captivating audiences with thrilling battles of good versus evil, man versus machine, and creator versus the created.

    What do these films say about the nature of self-knowledge, faith, love, reality, free will, and destiny? This discussion guide will help you examine these issues and discuss the movie from a biblical perspective.

  • Spider-Man I and II (also via CTI)


    “With great power comes great responsibility.”


    Spider-Man currently holds the Guinness Book of World Records award for the largest single-day box-office earnings ($43.6 million for its first Saturday opening) and is currently the fifth highest-grossing film in U.S. history ($403.7 million), which paved the way for an even more critically acclaimed sequel, Spider-Man 2.

    This study will look at both Spider-Man movies, explore what it means to be a hero, note how choices shape our character, and examine the responsibilities that come with the gift of power.

  • The Shawshank Redemption (also via CTI)


    “Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.”


    The Shawshank Redemption was nominated for seven Academy Awards and has become one of the best-selling videos of all time. Shawshank is an emotional and cathartic exploration of the best and the worst of the human spirit. Its message of hope and perseverance in adversity captivates and inspires while teaching important moral truths.

    This discussion guide will help you discuss the movie from a biblical perspective as you reflect on the themes of hope, endurance, freedom, and peace.

  • The Ladykillers (also via CTI)


    A dark comedy about character, justice, and the good life.


    The Ladykillers is a dark comedy set in sleepy Saucier, Mississippi, deep in the Bible Belt, where the forces of good and evil meet. The villainous professor Goldthwait Dorr masterminds a riverboat casino heist, and the pious widow Marva Munson unwittingly plays host and foil to the con artist and his dimwitted henchmen. It’s a contest between evil and virtue, with neither the winner nor the loser ever glimpsing the greater drama.

    This study guide will help you discuss the deeper themes of the movie. What does this film say about how God intervenes in our lives? How does it portray the church and Christian worship? What impact do our habits of thought and lifestyle have on our character? How do we find true joy? And how is justice delivered in this world?

Sermon Illustrations

Grad School Papers

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