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Peanut Butter Falcon
weekend in review
This week we look at the movie Peanut Butter Falcon. We follow the developing friendships between Zak, a young man with Down Syndrome; Tyler, who becomes Zak’s traveling companion and coach; and Eleanor, Zak’s caretaker from the nursing home he escapes from. Gene emphasizes that God has made every person to be unique, including people with special needs like Zak. In this church, we not only celebrate and embrace that truth, but we are committed to showing families that God loves their child with special needs and has a plan for their life. We see that Zak has purpose and dreams, and we smile at the beauty of friendship as the characters help and care for each other.
WARM UP
Begin with some conversation, checking in on how people are doing. You can talk about whatever you’d like, but here are potential questions to get the conversation going.
What experiences have you had interacting with special needs kids or adults?
When you were a kid, did you ever think about running away from home?
DISCUSS
Select a few questions from the list below to guide your discussion time.
What moment in the film did you find the most powerful or inspiring? Why?
Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-27. This section uses the imagery of a physical body—something we can all understand—telling us God has placed each of us in the Body of Christ as it has pleased him, that we each have a function, we all are needed, and that we are to see ourselves and each other in this light. How does knowing this affect your thoughts about yourself? About others in your life? What sometimes gets in the way of our keeping this attitude in mind?
Read Ephesians 2:19. Have you ever been in a situation where you felt as if you didn’t belong? How does that relate to Zak’s situation in the movie? Have you experienced any of the emotions that he conveyed?
As you think about the Body of Christ, where do you find yourself? How can you show others around you that they also are unique and belong to the body of believers?
When it comes to interacting with people around you who are different from you, do you find this to be intimidating? What can you do to reach out to those individuals to communicate they are seen, included, and appreciated?
Read Ecclesiastes 4:9-10. Friends help each other. Share an experience of when a friend gave you needed aid. Who helped you get started as a follower of Jesus? Did they “wreck the roof” in some way for you? Tell the story to the group.
application
Who is someone who has helped you up when you’ve fallen down at some point in your life? We encourage you to reach out to thank that person for coming alongside you when you needed it the most. How can you do this for someone else in your life?
Who comes to mind that you could invite to Eastside this next weekend or to your small group next week? How can you help “wreck the roof” for them?
WRAP UP & PRAYER
Share prayer requests and spend time praying for each other.
Lord, thank you for our friends here in this small group. Thank you for bringing this group into each of our lives. As we leave today, help each of as we look out for unexpected friends while we go about our week. Open our eyes to those around us who need us to wreck the roof and remove any barrier on their behalf. Thank you, Lord for loving each of us, just as we are. Even when we find ourselves weary and burdened, you give us rest. Thank you, Lord! Amen.