SERIES TITLE
At The Movies Week 4
SERIES OVERVIEW
Bring a friend, grab some popcorn, find a seat… you’re at the movies! Each week we’ll learn how God uses characters and storylines from the big screen to inspire positive change. Journey with us through some of Hollywood’s most impactful films and experience God’s purpose for you in a fun and fresh way. Our At the Movies series is only viewable on an Eastside campus. For times and directions, please choose a location near you.
SERMON TITLE
Instant Family
Sermon Summary
Instant Family explores the themes of adoption and the importance of family. Drawing from the movie “Instant Family,” the sermon discusses various meanings of family and its biblical foundation. It highlights the impact that fostering and adoption can have on a child’s life and connects Christian adoption to the sacrificial love of God. The sermon encourages empathy, understanding, and support for foster and adoptive families while urging the congregation to actively care for the vulnerable in their communities.
WARM UP
Begin with some conversation, checking in on how people are doing. You can talk about whatever you’d like, but here are a few potential questions to get the conversation going.
If you had to adopt a character from a movie to be a part of your family, who would it be and why?
DISCUSSion
- Read Genesis 1:27-28. What does ‘family’ mean to you, and how does this definition align or differ from what was presented in the sermon?
How can you apply the principles of family presented in the sermon, such as support, comfort, direction, discipline, and unconditional love, to your own family and relationships. - Read John 3:16 and Romans 8:15-17. How does the idea of being adopted into the family of God through Jesus’ sacrifice impact your understanding of your identity and value as a believer?
In what practical ways can you remind yourself of your identity as a child of God, and let that guide your daily life? - How do the struggles faced by Lizzie, Juan, and Lita, as well as the Wagners, illustrate some of the difficulties that can come with trust and vulnerability?
Can you recall when you faced challenges in trusting others or God? How did you overcome it, or what can you learn from that experience? - Read Hebrews 4:15-16. In what ways does Jesus empathize with human struggles, and how can this encourage you to approach Him confidently?
Knowing that He empathizes with you, how can you more regularly and confidently approach Jesus with your needs and struggles?
wrap up | prayer
- Ask for prayer requests from the group.
- Pray for the understanding and application of the concept of adoption as presented in the sermon – both physical adoption of children in need, and spiritual adoption as children of God. Ask God for guidance and strength for those considering or involved in fostering or adoption.
- Pray for empathy and understanding towards the struggles and trauma of foster children and their families, asking for God’s grace as they navigate these challenges.
- Pray for the vulnerable and under-resourced in the community, asking for God’s provision and protection over them. Pray that each person would find a way to support and love those in need.