Emptied & Humbled: Frozen – Glory

This is part of Emptied & Humbled, a movie based Lenten devotional. The whole devotional can be found here.

Lent is about glory! The choices, the sacrifice, and the death all lead to the glory. That’s right, glory comes as the result of the choices, the sacrifice, and the death.

As a result God exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow – in heaven and on earth and under the earth – and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11, emphasis mine)

As a result of Jesus’ emptying and humbling, God the Father exalted him, all for the Father’s glory.

Suffering is first, glory is second. The glory is the result, the reward.

We see the same in Frozen with Anna’s resurrection, Arendelle’s restoration, and Anna’s and Elsa’s reunion.

Anna Lives!

We hear early in Frozen that only an act of true love can thaw a frozen heart. First, we think that this true love is Hans, then Kristoff. But in the end, it is Anna who shows an act of true love. In the end, we see that “true love” is far more than just a romantic love. Instead, true love is a sacrificial love.

It is this act of true love – it is this sacrifice – that can thaw a frozen heart.

The last breath, because of her sacrifice, turns into the breath of life.

Just like with Jesus, death has been defeated! Anna lives!

Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? (I Corinthians 15:55)

Because Jesus lives, we can live also!

Arendelle Restored

Remember, the world of Arendelle was cursed with a never-ending Winter. Because of Elsa’s actions, the world was cursed.

But because of Anna’s sacrifice, the world was restored back to its original creation! The once frozen land is thawed and restored to its natural beauty.

For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also came through a man. For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. (I Corinthians 15:21-22)

We look forward to the same.

But, according to his promise, we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness truly resides. (2 Peter 3:13)

Someday God will fix this broken world. This world that is so wrong will be made right. We look forward to the new heaven and the new earth.

Do you want to build a snowman?

When they were little, all Anna wanted was to play with Elsa. Anna kept asking Elsa, who had locked herself away if she wanted to build a snowman. Anna gets her happy ending. Anna gets her glory.

After Arendelle is restored, Anna and Elsa are reunited. Anna gets her sister back.

While the resurrection of the dead and the restoration of the world are things we look forward to in the future, reconciled relationships are part of the glory we can experience today!

Just like Anna and Elsa were reconciled, you, too, can reconcile with others.

Is there someone in your life with whom you want – or need – to reconcile?

Remember, the glory – that reconciliation – comes at a cost. Maybe it’s just making the first move, making the first call. Maybe it is confessing sin and asking for forgiveness. Maybe its forgiving someone who has hurt you.

As Philippians 2 and Frozen show us, the glory (the reconciliation) comes as a result of the sacrifice.

Today I leave you with a charge instead of a question.

Move first.

Make the call.

Send the text.

Did you know I wrote a whole devotional based on Frozen? You can check out Sharing God’s Story with Disney’s Frozen over at Amazon. Also, here are two free downloads that help share God’s story with Frozen. The first one applies Frozen to the Wordless Book. The second illustrates the “Romans Road” using the storyline of Frozen. Just right-click, “save as” and enjoy!

SharingGodsStorywithFrozen SharingGodsStorywithDisneysFrozenandtheWordlessBook

This is part of Emptied & Humbled, a movie based Lenten devotional. The whole devotional can be found here.

Check out Emptied & Humbled, a movie based Lenten devotional.

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Get my free e-book, How to See God’s Story in Movies. This free download will help you share God’s story with your kids and students by showing you how to see God’s story in movies.

Not only will this guarantee that you get the latest Reel Parables posts, but you will also get my most popular downloads, including “How to Time Travel.”

And be sure to check out my About page for more info on what I do around here at Reel Parables.

Until next time, God bless.

Simon L Smith

March 30, 2017February 14, 2018

Emptied & Humbled: Frozen – Identity

This is part of Emptied & Humbled, a movie based Lenten devotional. The whole devotional can be found here.

Lent is about identity. Jesus’ death and resurrection show that he is both the Son of God and the Son of Man. In the same way, Anna’s death showed that she, and not Hans or Kristoff, was the real hero!

Frozen toys with us. First, it makes us think that Hans is Prince Charming, coming in and sweeping Anna off her feet. It even plays with the traditional Disney trope of love at first sight.

How many times did we hear someone say, “You can’t marry a man you just met.”

Frozen first makes us think that Hans, the good-looking smooth talker, is the love interest and then reluctant hero once Elsa runs away. Eventually, Hans is unmasked as the bad guy when he fails to deliver “true love’s kiss” to save Anna.

Frozen then makes us think that Kristoff is the real “true love.” (Did Disney just do a love triangle?) During the climatic ending, we see Kristoff racing back to the castle to declare his love for Anna and to save her with true love’s kiss.

But neither Hans nor Kristoff is the true hero. In an act of true love – sacrificial love – Anna intercedes to save Elsa. As Hans is about to kill with Elsa with a sword (man, I don’t remember Frozen being this dark…), Anna jumps between them to save her. Anna sacrifices herself to save Elsa.

Anna shows herself to be the real hero.

Anna is the real hero of Frozen.

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Sacrifice has a tendency to reveal who we really are. What we choose – and what we sacrifice – reveals what is important to us. This is true with money. This is true with time.

What do your choices say about you?

What does your spending say about you?

What does the way you spend your time say about you?

Who are you?

If you have trusted Jesus then part of that answer is:

I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So the life I now live in the body, I live because of the faithfulness of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)

If you are not, hit me up. I would love to introduce you to him.

SharingGodsStorywithFrozen SharingGodsStorywithDisneysFrozenandtheWordlessBook

This is part of Emptied & Humbled, a movie based Lenten devotional. The whole devotional can be found here.

Check out Emptied & Humbled, a movie based Lenten devotional.

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Get my free e-book, How to See God’s Story in Movies. This free download will help you share God’s story with your kids and students by showing you how to see God’s story in movies.

Not only will this guarantee that you get the latest Reel Parables posts, but you will also get my most popular downloads, including “How to Time Travel.”

And be sure to check out my About page for more info on what I do around here at Reel Parables.

Until next time, God bless.

Simon L Smith

March 29, 2017February 14, 2018

Emptied & Humbled: Frozen – Death

This is part of Emptied & Humbled, a movie based Lenten devotional. The whole devotional can be found here.

Lent is about death. Unlike Spider-man 2, Wreck-it-Ralph and (possibly) Guardians of the Galaxy, which hint at or imply a death, Frozen shows us that true sacrificial love often ends in death.

Of all the movies we’ve already looked at, Disney’s Frozen gives us the best Reel Parable of Philippians 2.

The whole world of Arendelle is under a curse because of the actions of one person, Elsa.

Queen Elsa, acting like the prodigal daughter, runs away from her kingdom and from her sister, Anna.

Anna, following in the footsteps of the woman who lost a coin and the shepherd who lost a sheep (the “Lost” parables), runs after her.

When Hans, the Devil-like character disguised as Prince Charming, is about to kill Elsa, Anna intercedes. In an act of true love, Anna empties herself of her own ambition and humbles herself to the point of death to save Elsa.

Frozen makes it very clear that unlike Spider-man and Ralph, Anna dies. They show her taking her last breath.

For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. (For rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person perhaps someone might possibly dare to die.) But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6-8)

Anna loved Elsa the way Christ loves us.

Elsa was helpless and “ungodly.” She is the one that caused the curse on Arendelle. She is the Queen that left her kingdom. She is the older sister who left her little sister, the only family she had left. She was, as Romans 5:8 says, a sinner.

Yet Anna died for her like Christ died for us. Why? Because Anna loved Elsa.

Anna loved Elsa the way Christ loves us.

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This Lent season, remember that Jesus loves you so much that he died for you.

SharingGodsStorywithFrozen SharingGodsStorywithDisneysFrozenandtheWordlessBook

This is part of Emptied & Humbled, a movie based Lenten devotional. The whole devotional can be found here.

Check out Emptied & Humbled, a movie based Lenten devotional.

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Get my free e-book, How to See God’s Story in Movies. This free download will help you share God’s story with your kids and students by showing you how to see God’s story in movies.

Not only will this guarantee that you get the latest Reel Parables posts, but you will also get my most popular downloads, including “How to Time Travel.”

And be sure to check out my About page for more info on what I do around here at Reel Parables.

Until next time, God bless.

Simon L Smith

March 28, 2017February 14, 2018

Emptied & Humbled: Frozen – Sacrifice

This is part of Emptied & Humbled, a movie based Lenten devotional. The whole devotional can be found here.

Lent is about sacrifice. Disney’s Frozen shows this very clearly: Anna, to save her big sister, Elsa, jumps between her and the bad guy’s sword.

This is a fantastic example of Christ’s sacrifice.

Else ignored Anna for years.

Elsa, not Anna, caused the curse on Arendelle. Anna didn’t do anything wrong,

Elsa is very much the “Prodigal Sister.” She is the one who ran away.

Anna is the one who emptied herself and humbled herself. With Elsa gone, Anna is now the Queen. But because Anna loved Elsa, she left her position to serve Elsa.

Anna did not pursue her own selfish ambition. Instead, she considered Elsa’s needs as more important than her own.

When Hans – the bad guy disguised as Prince Charming – is about to kill Elsa, it is Anna who intercedes. She literally sacrifices herself to save her sister.

After her death and resurrection/glory, Elsa asked Anna, “You sacrificed yourself for me?

Anna’s reply is God’s reply, “I love you.”

Anna loved Elsa the way Jesus loves us.

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Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through him. (John 3:14-16)

But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

Yes, Jesus loves you the way Anna loved Elsa. And Jesus sacrificed himself for you just like Anna sacrificed herself for Elsa.

The sacrifice of Lent shows us that God loves us.

So today I leave you with this reminder.

God loves you.

SharingGodsStorywithDisneysFrozenandtheWordlessBook

SharingGodsStorywithFrozen

This is part of Emptied & Humbled, a movie based Lenten devotional. The whole devotional can be found here.

Check out Emptied & Humbled, a movie based Lenten devotional.

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Get my free e-book, How to See God’s Story in Movies. This free download will help you share God’s story with your kids and students by showing you how to see God’s story in movies.

Not only will this guarantee that you get the latest Reel Parables posts, but you will also get my most popular downloads, including “How to Time Travel.”

And be sure to check out my About page for more info on what I do around here at Reel Parables.

Until next time, God bless.

Simon L Smith

March 27, 2017February 14, 2018

Emptied & Humbled: Frozen – Choice

This is part of Emptied & Humbled, a movie based Lenten devotional. The whole devotional can be found here.

As we saw in Spider-man 2, Wreck-it Ralph, and Guardians of the Galaxy, Lent is about choice. Specifically, Philippians 2 tells us that Jesus chose to empty himself and to humble himself and that we are to do the same.

We all make choices every day. That is one reason Disney’s Frozen is so awesome. Just about every single character must make a choice.

Elsa wants solitude so she does not hurt anyone and chooses to run away.

Anna, her little sister who wants her big sister’s company, chooses to run after her.

At first, Kristoff wants to work hard and keep his job. As the movie plays out, he wants Anna.

Hans, who says he loves and wants to marry Anna, really wants to kill her so he can become King!

And Olaf, sweet Olaf, wants the very thing that will hurt him, warm hugs.

Yes, everyone in Disney’s Frozen wants something. Some of these things are good, some of them are not. Regardless, each character makes a choice – based on their integrity or lack of it – to get what they want.

We’ve seen that we, too, must make choices because of our own wants, desires, and ambitions.

Philippians 2 tells us to treat others as more important than ourselves and to concern ourselves with the interests of others.

Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself. Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, but about the interests of others as well. (Philippians 2:3-4)

We all want things. We all have desires. To empty and humble ourselves is to look at others’ wants and desires as more important than our own.

What about you? What do you want? What choice must you make to get it?

What has God been working on with you this Lent season?

What is God currently asking you to choose between?

Are you currently acting selfishly? Or are you acting humbly?

Or do you, like Olaf, want something that is actually bad for you?

SharingGodsStorywithFrozen

SharingGodsStorywithDisneysFrozenandtheWordlessBook

This is part of Emptied & Humbled, a movie based Lenten devotional. The whole devotional can be found here.

Check out Emptied & Humbled, a movie based Lenten devotional.

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Get my free e-book, How to See God’s Story in Movies. This free download will help you share God’s story with your kids and students by showing you how to see God’s story in movies.

Not only will this guarantee that you get the latest Reel Parables posts, but you will also get my most popular downloads, including “How to Time Travel.”

And be sure to check out my About page for more info on what I do around here at Reel Parables.

Until next time, God bless.

Simon L Smith

January 13, 2016

The Past, Present, and Future of Reel Parables! (A look back at 2015 and what’s coming in 2016)

The Past (a look back at 2015)

Reel Parables had an awesome 2015! We reached 48 different countries and continued to support our favorite missionary. Here are the top 10 posts that made that possible!

Wreck-it Ralph and Disney’s Frozen easily take the top spots accounting for 6 of my top 10 posts.

Also, I find it funny that only part 2 of a 3 part series made the top 10!

The Present (recent changes)

Because Wreck-it Ralph and Disney’s Frozen are still so popular, I’ve redesigned our Menus and gathered all their content onto one easy-to-find and use page.

Just go to Movies and then select the movie from the drop-down menu. Going forward I will add all movies that get more than a few posts here so that they are easier to find.

I’ve also added a Categories feature to the sidebar with some of the more popular or interesting Categories. Again, the idea is to make it easier for you to find what it is you are looking for.

The Future (what’s coming in 2016)

In addition to writing more about music, I also want to post more regularly. This will look like smaller/shorter, but far more purposeful and actionable, posts.

The Reel Parables Movie Awards

2016 will also be the first year of the Reel Parables Movie Awards! Like the Golden Globes and the Oscars, we will look at the year’s best movies. Unlike those awards, we will look at them through the eyes of Reel Parables and Sharing God’s Story.

I have wanted to do this for some time and am super excited!

Reel Parables TV

Possibly the thing I am most excited about…. 2016 will also see the launch of Reel Parables TV!

I enjoyed experimenting with the podcast, but we talk about movies, and movies are visual! (Besides, I always wanted to have my own TV show, not my own radio show!)

I will use the audio to feed the podcast, for those that prefer to listen, but plan to move it to a more visual presentation. I plan to interview Christian leaders in the entertainment space, and pastors and teachers who are currently using movies in their preaching and teaching.

Oh yea, I even got my favorite Christian musician and director (STEVE TAYLOR!) to record a brief into to it.

I am beyond excited.

New Devotionals

I was a bit surprised to see Finding Nemo cracking the top 10. I guess I shouldn’t be with Finding Dory coming soon. To get us ready for Finding Dory, I am finishing up my Sharing God’s Story with Finding Nemo devotional. I will let you all know when it is available. Until then check out our Store for our other movie based devotionals.

Along with Finding Nemo, I am also working on a few more Youth Group specific items and a Super Hero Summer series. I will keep you posted.

Check out a better kind of Christian movie review over at Reel Parables

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Hey, would you please do me a favor? Would you share this with someone you think would enjoy it? And If you haven’t already, will you please like us over at Facebook (click below) and sign up for the Reel Parables email list?

Get my free e-book, How to See God’s Story in Movies. This free download will help you share God’s story with your kids and students by showing you how to see God’s story in movies.

Not only will this guarantee that you get the latest Reel Parables posts, but you will also get my most popular downloads, including “How to Time Travel.”

And be sure to check out our new Start Here and About pages!

Until next time, God bless.

Simon L Smith

Not only will this guarantee that you get the latest Reel Parables posts, but you will also get my most popular downloads, including “How to See God’s Story in Movies.”

And be sure to check out our new Start Here and About pages!

Until next time, God bless.

Simon L Smith

December 11, 2015February 15, 2018

Sharing God’s Story with Disney’s Frozen – Kristoff & Community

Today’s post is from the Sharing God’s Story with Disney’s Frozen bible study.

This movie based bible study uses Disney’s Frozen and therefore contains spoilers.

Be sure to check out our Frozen page for more ways to share God’s story with Disney’s Frozen.

Almost everything Anna does, she does in the community.

Early in Disney’s Frozen, Anna has her family. When her parents die, she still has Elsa, for a while. She longs for the gates to open so she can join the community outside her castle walls. She also had the company of Kristoff and Sven while she was searching for Elsa.

Anna loves community.

The same is true for Kristoff. Not only does he have Sven, but he also has the trolls.

Elsa, on the other hand, has no one.

She hides from Anna and eventually runs away. She leaves her kingdom, where she should be queen, to set up her own lonely kingdom. Instead of a community, Elsa pursues solitude.

We are made for community.

The triune God – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit – live in a community. Before there was anything, before Genesis 1:1, there was God and there was a community.

God told Adam that it is not good for man to be alone (Genesis 2:18). We are created for community.

The Bible assumes that we will live in a community.

And let us take thought of how to spur one another on to love and good works, not abandoning our own meetings, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and even more so because you see the day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:24-25)

We cannot spur one another on to love and good works if we are not with one another.

We cannot encourage each other if we are not with each other.

So confess your sins to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great effectiveness. (James 5:16)

We cannot confess our sins to one another if we are not with one another.

Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:2)

We cannot carry one another’s burdens if we are not with one another.

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. (Romans 12:15)

We cannot rejoice with those who rejoice or weep with those who weep if we are not with those who are rejoicing and weeping.

Treat others in the same way that you would want them to treat you. (Luke 6:31)

Back to the Golden Rule – We cannot treat others the way we want to be treated if we are not with others.

We cannot treat others the way we want to be treated if we are not with others.

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God – and the Bible – assume that we are in a community.

Are you currently in a community?

If not, do you miss community?

Do you avoid community?

If so, why do you avoid community?

One who has isolated himself seeks his own desires; he rejects all sound judgment. (Proverbs 18:1)

Do you isolate yourself? If so why?

Are you hiding something?

Remember, you cannot hide your actions (sins) from God. He sees everything. He knows everything. And he still loves you.

I would encourage you to find a good Christian/Church community if you are not already in one. You were made for community. You need to be in community.

If you are already a part of a good Christian/Church community, seek out someone who is not. Invite someone to join you in your faith community. Find an outsider on the fringe of your faith community and help them become a real part of it.

Live life with others.

More than likely you are in some sort of community. For some of us, it is related to our favorite sports team or college alma mater, a favorite movie or TV show (I’m looking at you Trekkies!), a favorite band, etc. Everyone, to some degree, is in a community. The community we need, however, is more than just like interests. We need a faith community. These other communities are great, but they should never replace our faith community.

Like this? Be sure to head on over to Amazon and check out Sharing God’s Story with Disney’s Frozen!

Sharing is caring! Would you please share this post? I truly appreciate it.

Also, here are some free downloads to help you share God’s story with Disney’s Frozen!

SharingGodsStorywithFrozen (Frozen and the “Romans Road”)

SharingGodsStorywithDisneysFrozenandtheWordlessBook (Frozen and the Wordless Book)

Get my free e-book, How to See God’s Story in Movies. This free download will help you share God’s story with your kids and students by showing you how to see God’s story in movies.

Not only will this guarantee that you get the latest Reel Parables posts, but you will also get my most popular downloads, including “How to Time Travel.”

And be sure to check out my About page for more info on what I do around here at Reel Parables.

Until next time, God bless.

Simon L Smith

December 9, 2015February 15, 2018

Sharing God’s Story with Disney’s Frozen – True Love’s Kiss

Today’s post is from the Sharing God’s Story with Disney’s Frozen bible study.

This movie based bible study uses Disney’s Frozen and therefore contains spoilers.

Be sure to check out our Frozen page for more ways to share God’s story with Disney’s Frozen.

Be honest. When you heard that “only an act of true love can thaw a frozen heart,” you figured some young handsome prince would come in and save the day, didn’t you? Yeah, I did too. That is what Disney does, right?

But as Disney’s Frozen unfolds we see that an act of true love is actually a sacrificial act (Agape), and not simply a romantic act (Eros).

No one has greater love than this – that one lays down his life for his friends. (John 15:13)

Frozen is not the first time that Disney has played with this idea of true love.

Have you seen Disney’s version of the Jungle Book? (Spoilers!)

Thinking that Baloo the Bear had sacrificed himself to save Mowgli, Bagheera says, “Now, now. I know how you feel. But you must remember, Mowgli: ‘Greater love hath no one than he who lays down his life for his friend.’ ”

True love is a sacrificial love.

This is the way that Baloo loved Mowgli.

This is the way Anna loved Elsa.

This is the way that God loves you.

This is the way we are to love others, for this is true love.

But, as Disney’s Frozen also shows, it is not the only kind of love. Both Philia and Eros are also important and good. They should both, however, be informed by and developed from Agape love. Both Philia and Eros should grow out of, and be defined by, Agape love.

Philia Love

Disney’s Frozen is about two princesses, Elsa and Anna. These two sisters share a strong sisterly – familial – love. These two sisters share Philia love.

It is this love that moves the story forward.

Elsa, out of fear of hurting the sister she loves so much, locks herself in her room. This love actually drives her away when she is older. Afraid of hurting Anna, Elsa decides to simply run away from her. Anna, who misses the sister she loves so much, chases after her when she runs away.

But Philia love is not enough. Philia love should build upon Agape love. Agape love – unconditional love – is what causes Anna to chase after her sister. It is the love that will eventually lead her to sacrifice herself to save Elsa.

Philia love – brotherly/sisterly love – should build upon unconditional love.

Eros Love

Yes, love is also romantic. Disney’s Frozen has a lot of fun with this in the relationship between Anna and Hans. How many times did we hear someone say, “You can’t marry someone you just met!”?

Romantic love is not bad. It is actually amazing in its proper place and time. How many times does the Song of Solomon remind us, “Do not arouse or awaken love until it pleases!”

Romantic love does have a time.

Romantic love does have a place.

But romantic love is not the only or most important, kind of love. As we have seen, there is a love deeper and stronger than romantic love.

This is unconditional love. This is the way Anna loved Elsa. This is the way that Kristoff eventually loves Anna. This is the way that God loves us.

While not the point of Disney’s Frozen, we do see the sacrificial side of romantic love. When Kristoff finally realizes that he loves Anna and that Anna loves him, he sets off to save her with “true love’s kiss,” regardless of the dangerous situation into which he puts himself.

Frozen reminds us that true love is a love that thinks of others as greater than oneself.

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When it comes to love – Philia love, Eros love and Agape love – remember the “golden rule.”

Treat others in the same way that you would want them to treat you. (Luke 6:31)

Whom do you love?

Do you love someone with Philia love? A best friend? A mother, a father, a brother, a sister or a child? A co-worker? A classmate? Do you treat them the way you want them to treat you? Do you love them unconditionally? Do you put their needs before your own?

Do you love someone with Eros love? A spouse? A boyfriend? A girlfriend? A finance? Do you treat them the way you want them to treat you? Do you love them unconditionally? Do you put their needs before your own?

Write down the name of someone you love with Philia love or Eros love. Pray for and look for ways that you can love them unconditionally over the next week. Write down and list the ways you can love them and then do it. Afterward, be sure to mark it off of the list you made. Love does. Go and do.

Like this? Be sure to head on over to Amazon and check out Sharing God’s Story with Disney’s Frozen!

Sharing is caring! Would you please share this post? I truly appreciate it.

Also, here are some free downloads to help you share God’s story with Disney’s Frozen!

SharingGodsStorywithFrozen (Frozen and the “Romans Road”)

SharingGodsStorywithDisneysFrozenandtheWordlessBook (Frozen and the Wordless Book)

Get my free e-book, How to See God’s Story in Movies. This free download will help you share God’s story with your kids and students by showing you how to see God’s story in movies.

Not only will this guarantee that you get the latest Reel Parables posts, but you will also get my most popular downloads, including “How to Time Travel.”

And be sure to check out my About page for more info on what I do around here at Reel Parables.

Until next time, God bless.

Simon L Smith

August 25, 2015

How to See God’s Story in Movies (Part 2)

(This is part 2 of a 3 part series. Parts 1 & 3 are here: How to see God’s Story in Movies Part 1 & How to see God’s Story in Movies Part 3)

This is part 2 of my attempt to answer the most common question I get about Reel Parables, “How do you do it?”

Part 1 was all about seeing a pattern.

There is a corrupt world, usually with a counterfeit king or ruler.
There is typically an outside – and dual natured – hero (savior) who is not a part of the corrupt world.
The Hero will almost always sacrifice something, often his/her life.
If the hero dies, he/she will often be resurrected or reborn. If the hero does not die, the world is often restored to its former glory. Also, relationships are restored and reunited.
This resurrection/restoration usually leads to community (restored relationships) and a calling.

In part 2 we will see how this pattern shows itself in a “Lost Parables.”

Jesus and the Lost Parables

In Luke 15 Jesus told three Lost Parables; one about a lost sheep, one about a lost coin, and another about two lost sons.

In each of these stories we get to see what Jesus is like.

The shepherd went looking for one lost sheep, even though he had 99 others. Why? Because that one sheep was important to him. We are that important to Jesus. Jesus loves you the same way.

The woman went looking for one coin, even though she has 9 others. Why? Because that one coin was valuable to her. You are that valuable to Jesus. Jesus loves you the same way.

Finally, a father had two sons. While both wanted the father’s blessing/wealth, neither wanted the father. One got his inheritance early, ran away, and blew it. The other stayed, had access to all the father’s blessings, but ignored it.

Both sons had issues, not just the proverbial “Prodigal Son.” The father loved – and longed for – both sons.

In each of these stories we see Jesus’ character.

Jesus loves and cares for us the way the shepherd loved and cared for the one lost sheep.
Jesus finds us valuable in the same way that the woman found the one lost coin valuable.
Jesus longs to be with – and share His blessing – with us, just like the father wanted to give his blessing on his two sons.

Adam and Eve and the Lost Parable

This story – God looking for what was lost – goes all the way back to the beginning, all the way back to Genesis.

Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God moving about in the orchard at the breezy time of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the orchard. But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” The man replied, “I heard you moving about in the orchard, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.” (Genesis 3:8-10)

Adam and Eve had sinned.

Adam and Eve were ashamed.

Adam and Eve tried to hide from God.

But God went looking for them. Yea, I know God knew where they were. But He was calling out to them, “Where are you?” They were lost and God went out to find them.

You and Me and the Lost Parable

These three lost parables retell our story. Like the sheep, like the coin, and like the children (sons), we too are lost.

But your sinful acts have alienated you from your God;your sins have caused him to reject you and not listen to your prayers. Isaiah 59:2

Because of our sins we are separated from God. Me. You. Your parents. Your kids. Everyone.

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)

But just like the shepherd searched for the sheep, just like the old woman searched for the coin, and just like the father was looking out for his son, Jesus chases after us.

But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

Yes, while we were still sinners – and therefore lost (separated from God) – Jesus demonstrated His love for us by dying for us.

Jesus died for us while we were sinners.

Jesus died for us while we were still lost.

Jesus died for us while we were separated from God.

Hollywood and the Lost Parable

FYI – Hollywood can’t stop remaking and retelling the Lost Parable.

Finding Nemo

Nemo is literally “caught up in his sin.” He disobeys his dad, Marlin, and is caught by a diver with a net. How do you know Marlin still loves Nemo, even though he disobeyed? Because he went looking for him!

Finding Nemo is the parable of the lost fish.

The next time you watch Finding Nemo with your kids remind them that they are like Nemo and lost because of their sin. But also remind them that Jesus loves them the way Marlin loved Nemo! And just like Marlin went looking for Nemo, because he loved him, Jesus is looking for them (and died to save them)!

Frozen

Elsa, ashamed and afraid of her own actions, runs away. She is the lost sister. But Anna, the sister she left behind, loves her and went out looking for her lost sister.

In this story we are Elsa, the lost ones, and Anna is the Christ character. She even died to save Else like Jesus died to save us.

And just like Jesus rose from the dead, so did Anna!

“Only an act of true love can thaw a frozen heart.”

Jesus loves us the way Anna loved Else.

The next time you watch Frozen with your kids remind them that they are like Elsa and lost because of their actions. But also remind them that Jesus loves them the way Anna loved Else. Not only did she go out looking for Elsa, but she died to save her. Just like Jesus died for us.

Saving Private Ryan

Not all Hollywood Lost Parables are for kids. Saving Private Ryan is a Lost Parable for adults.

Private Ryan is lost at war and a group of soldiers are sent to find him.

Like Jesus did for us, these men sacrificed their own lives to save Private Ryan.

Yes, Jesus demonstrated His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, He died for us!

Yes, the Lost Parables are powerful. We get them. We understand them. They move us.

Why? Because the Lost Parable is our story.

Be on the look out for this type of Reel Parable.

Someone is lost, usually due to their actions (sins).
Someone, the hero and Christ-figure, will chase them and try to find them.
This hero will usually sacrifice something to save them, usually their life.
That sacrifice usually leads to resurrection or restoration or reunion.

You can share God’s story the next time you see this Lost Parable in a movie!

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. (Luke 19:10)

I know this is a lot, so In addition to the worksheets above, I have also combined all three parts into one free e-book, How to Share God’s Story with Movies. This free download will help you share God’s story with your kids and students by showing you how to see God’s story in movies.

Not only will this guarantee that you get the latest Reel Parables posts, but you will also get my most popular downloads, including “How to Time Travel.”

And be sure to check out our new Start Here and About pages!

Until next time, God bless.

Simon L Smith

July 23, 2015February 16, 2018

The 3 Best Movies for Sharing God’s Story with Kids

Kids love a good story. And you know what? They should!

Even God likes stories.

When God chose to reveal Himself to us in the Bible He did it with story. A huge chunk of the Bible is story (narrative). Jesus also loved story. Specifically, Jesus often taught and preached with stories, we call them parables. (Hence the name of this site, Reel Parables!) There is something about a good story that we just get. That is why using movies to share God’s story is such a good idea. We love stories and they often teach us about God and His story. So, without further ado, here are the best three movies for sharing God’s story with younger kids.

(Be sure to also check out the 3 best movies for sharing God’s story with teens. and the 3 best movies for sharing God’s story with adults.)

Frozen

No, I can’t just let it go! (See what I did there?) Frozen is a great movie with which to share God’s story.

Frozen tells us the gospel story. And is a great way to share that good news with kids!

Also, this past Lent we looked at Disney’s Frozen in the context of being emptied and humbled (Philippians 2). We went a bit deeper than usual, but this is a great complimentary read for the parents, teachers, and pastors:

Emptied & Humbled – Disney’s Frozen:

Finally, we also have two free infographics that outline how to share God’s story with Disney’s Frozen:

Free Sharing God’s Story with Disney’s Frozen Infographics

Free Sharing God’s Story with Disney’s Frozen and the Wordless Book

Wreck-it Ralph

Much like with Frozen, Wreck-it Ralph shows us the gospel story. There is a fallen world with a fake ruler. There is an outside savior (Ralph) who is willing to sacrifice himself to save Sugar Rush. There is the restoration – the resurrection – of the world (of Sugar Rush), specifically with Vanellope, who ends up being a Princess – the daughter of the REAL king. Just like those of us who are Christians, we’ve been adopted into God’s family and are fellow heirs with Christ!

As we did with Frozen, we went a little deeper with Wreck-it Ralph over Lent. Again, this may be a bit deep for kids but makes for a great devotional for parents, teachers, and pastors.

Emptied & Humbled – Wreck-it Ralph:

Finding Nemo

Finding Nemo is a great Reel Parable to follow Jesus’ Lost Parables; The lost sheep, the lost coin, the lost sons, and Finding Nemo.

Nemo is “lost” because he disobeyed his father. Marlin said not to go past a certain point. Nemo rebelled and disobeyed and was literally caught (in a net!) in his sin.

But even though Nemo sinned, his father still loved him and went looking for him, just like the shepherd, just like the woman, and just like the prodigal son’s father.

That is our story too. Because of our sin, we are separated from God, but God comes looking for us also.

But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

God did not wait for us to come to Him. While we are sinners – and lost from Him – Jesus died for us.

God pursues us!

Just like Marlin pursued Nemo.

It is an easy story and a great way to show kids that God loves them, even when they sin. Just like Marlin still loved Nemo after he sinned.

We also have something a bit deeper for you parents and teachers and pastors.

Emptied & Humbled – Finding Nemo

Honorable Mention – The Classic Jungle Book

No one has greater love than this – that one lays down his life for his friends. (John 15:13)

(Drops mic and walks away….)

Get my free e-book, How to See God’s Story in Movies. This free download will help you share God’s story with your kids and students by showing you how to see God’s story in movies.

Not only will this guarantee that you get the latest Reel Parables posts, but you will also get my most popular downloads, including “How to Time Travel.”

And be sure to check out our new Start Here and About pages!

Until next time, God bless.

Simon L Smith