Directed by: Bryan Singer
Written by: David Hayter
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen
Rated: PG-13
About the film:
A mutant named Magneto builds a machine that will expedite the mutation process in humans because he believes that mankind will be more amenable to mutant rights and less fearful if everyone would evolve at the same time. A small band of mutants led by Professor X set out to stop him.
Movie Quote:
“Mankind has always feared what it doesn’t understand.”
Magneto (Ian McKellen) in X-Men (2000)
Bible Quote:
“He said to his disciples, ‘Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?’”
Mark 4:40 (NIV)
Commentary:
Magneto may be misguided in his actions but he is cognizant of an important truth. Man does tend to fear the unknown.
If fear is born of ignorance, the solution to fear is obvious. Knowledge, which leads to understanding, empowers us. It fuels us with the strength and confidence we need to prevail over the temptation to fear.
There is no greater knowledge available to acquire than the knowledge of God. The more we know of Him, His love for us, and His desire for our lives, the less reason we’ll have to fear.
In the quoted scripture, the word “faith” can also be translated to read “believing.” We can grow fearful when we fail to believe God’s promises. And we cannot truly believe what we do not understand. To strengthen our believing requires that we grow in our knowledge of God’s Word.
“Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” Romans 10:17 (NIV)
Questions to consider while watching the film:
1. What are some examples where God must instruct someone to “fear not” or “have no fear” before He can tell them what they need to hear?
2. Scriptures say that the antidote to fear is love. Why is that true?
Michael Elliott
www.screensermon.blogspot.com
Showing posts with label FEAR. Show all posts
Showing posts with label FEAR. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
POINT BREAK (1991)
Directed by: Kathryn Bigelow
Written by: W. Peter Iliff
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Starring: Patrick Swayze, Keanu Reeves, Gary Busey
Rated: R
About the film:
A young FBI agent infiltrates a gang of bank robbers who seem to enjoy the emotional rush that comes from engaging in daredevil activities. In order to get to the bottom of what is happening, he has to climb to the top of the gang’s machismo actions.
Movie Quote:
“Fear causes hesitation and hesitation will cause your worst fears to come true.”
Bohdi (Patrick Swayze) in Point Break (1991)
Bible Quote:
“For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.”
Job 3:25 (KJV)
Commentary:
Fear continues to be the instrument by which most men are defeated. And yet, for a believing man or woman, it is the most irrational state of mind one could possibly adopt. A quick search shows us that God’s Word commands us well over 60 times to “fear not.”
Whenever we fear something, we are in essence telling God that we pay more respect to that which we fear than we do to God who continually tells us that we need not fear. The reason fear defeats us is because it is a form of believing. In the spiritual world, believing has power… even the negative believing which manifests itself as fear.
To drive fear out of our lives, we must replace it with something stronger – Trust. We must build an absolute assurance in our minds that the promises of God are true. By so doing, we can turn our believing around to something which has a positive impact. Trusting or believing God leads to hope and is fueled by love which we are promised will eradicate fear.
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” 1 John 4:18 (KJV)
Questions to consider while watching the film:
1. How does fear aid or inhibit success as seen in the context of this film?
2. How does love cast out fear? What properties does love contain that cannot co-exist with fear?
Michael Elliott
www.screensermon.blogspot.com
Written by: W. Peter Iliff
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Starring: Patrick Swayze, Keanu Reeves, Gary Busey
Rated: R
About the film:
A young FBI agent infiltrates a gang of bank robbers who seem to enjoy the emotional rush that comes from engaging in daredevil activities. In order to get to the bottom of what is happening, he has to climb to the top of the gang’s machismo actions.
Movie Quote:
“Fear causes hesitation and hesitation will cause your worst fears to come true.”
Bohdi (Patrick Swayze) in Point Break (1991)
Bible Quote:
“For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.”
Job 3:25 (KJV)
Commentary:
Fear continues to be the instrument by which most men are defeated. And yet, for a believing man or woman, it is the most irrational state of mind one could possibly adopt. A quick search shows us that God’s Word commands us well over 60 times to “fear not.”
Whenever we fear something, we are in essence telling God that we pay more respect to that which we fear than we do to God who continually tells us that we need not fear. The reason fear defeats us is because it is a form of believing. In the spiritual world, believing has power… even the negative believing which manifests itself as fear.
To drive fear out of our lives, we must replace it with something stronger – Trust. We must build an absolute assurance in our minds that the promises of God are true. By so doing, we can turn our believing around to something which has a positive impact. Trusting or believing God leads to hope and is fueled by love which we are promised will eradicate fear.
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” 1 John 4:18 (KJV)
Questions to consider while watching the film:
1. How does fear aid or inhibit success as seen in the context of this film?
2. How does love cast out fear? What properties does love contain that cannot co-exist with fear?
Michael Elliott
www.screensermon.blogspot.com
Sunday, November 29, 2009
THE MISFITS (1961)
Directed by: John Huston
Written by: Arthur Miller
Studio: United Artists
Starring: Clark Gable, Marilyn Monroe, Montgomery Clift
Rated: PG
About the film:
An aging cowboy meets and falls in love with an ex-stripper and recent divorcee. When she hears of his plans to round up a herd of wild horses in order to sell them to a dog food company, she starts working against him.
Movie Quote:
“The man who’s too afraid to die is too afraid to live.”
Gay (Clark Gable) in The Misfits (1961)
Bible Quote:
“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline.”
2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV)
Commentary:
The line quoted from The Misfits is filled with ironic sadness… and truth. Having a fear of death keeps people from fully enjoying death’s only alternative – life.
Being bound by fear is like being shackled to an 800 pound gorilla. It will totally control one’s life, actions, and decisions. It can’t be out-muscled, reasoned with, or ignored. And yet many people live their lives with this oversized monkey on their backs.
What we must understand is that believing is the key to life. Fear is a form of believing. Fear is believing in reverse. If we harbor fear in our hearts for an extended period of time, the likelihood of our experiencing that which we fear is all but guaranteed.
Of all the things to fear, death is the least logical. First, it is an inevitable event. Death will come to us all, unless Jesus Christ comes before our time has arrived. Second, death no longer has dominion over us. Our Lord and Savior released us from its hold.
Jesus Christ came to earth to set us free. When we learn and believe the truth of what he accomplished for us, death loses its power over us. The shackles are removed and fear is eradicated. The monkey is gone, leaving us free to explore all of life’s possibilities.
Questions to consider while watching the film:
1. What can we do in the midst of fear to change our believing?
2. What is the meaning of the title? What is a misfit and is it a label that can be assigned to us? Why?
Michael Elliott
www.screensermon.blogspot.com
Written by: Arthur Miller
Studio: United Artists
Starring: Clark Gable, Marilyn Monroe, Montgomery Clift
Rated: PG
About the film:
An aging cowboy meets and falls in love with an ex-stripper and recent divorcee. When she hears of his plans to round up a herd of wild horses in order to sell them to a dog food company, she starts working against him.
Movie Quote:
“The man who’s too afraid to die is too afraid to live.”
Gay (Clark Gable) in The Misfits (1961)
Bible Quote:
“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline.”
2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV)
Commentary:
The line quoted from The Misfits is filled with ironic sadness… and truth. Having a fear of death keeps people from fully enjoying death’s only alternative – life.
Being bound by fear is like being shackled to an 800 pound gorilla. It will totally control one’s life, actions, and decisions. It can’t be out-muscled, reasoned with, or ignored. And yet many people live their lives with this oversized monkey on their backs.
What we must understand is that believing is the key to life. Fear is a form of believing. Fear is believing in reverse. If we harbor fear in our hearts for an extended period of time, the likelihood of our experiencing that which we fear is all but guaranteed.
Of all the things to fear, death is the least logical. First, it is an inevitable event. Death will come to us all, unless Jesus Christ comes before our time has arrived. Second, death no longer has dominion over us. Our Lord and Savior released us from its hold.
Jesus Christ came to earth to set us free. When we learn and believe the truth of what he accomplished for us, death loses its power over us. The shackles are removed and fear is eradicated. The monkey is gone, leaving us free to explore all of life’s possibilities.
Questions to consider while watching the film:
1. What can we do in the midst of fear to change our believing?
2. What is the meaning of the title? What is a misfit and is it a label that can be assigned to us? Why?
Michael Elliott
www.screensermon.blogspot.com
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