How to Share Your Faith Using Spider-Man 3
Spidey is back, leading the pack of summer blockbuster sequels!! Loaded with all the special effects a $250 million+ budget can buy...Spider-Man 3 thrills and chills. True to form, Peter Parker/Spiderman battles multiple villains. But as the plot unfolds, it becomes clear that his toughest foe is his prideful self - and he puts all that he loves at risk when he follows the allure of revenge.
Lessons involving pride never come easy, and Peter Parker's wild, vengeful dissent into his 'dark side', induced by a mysterious alien substance, is no exception.
"Revenge is like a poison. It can take us over and before you know it, it can turn you into something ugly,"
Peter's Aunt May warns him at one point. Yet Peter succumbs to his pride and the evil within, hurting those he loves most in the process.
If we're honest, we've all been in that kind of place - battling unsuccessfully against our own sinful attitudes or actions, knowing they fall short of God's standards and will damage our relationship with God and others. Even the super-Christian Apostle Paul struggled with his sin nature, describing his inner battle this way:
...Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time. It happens so regularly that it's predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God's commands, but it's pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge. I've tried everything and nothing helps. I'm at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn't that the real question? The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different. (Romans 7:20-25, The Message)
The Bible makes it clear that evil lies within every human heart when it tells us
"all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).
But the Good News is that Jesus died and rose again and that our sins could be forgiven and our relationship with God restored. Thankfully because of Jesus' sacrifice, when we will fall short and 'miss the mark', forgiveness and a restored relationship with God are within our reach.
Spiritual themes abound in Spider-Man 3 - the battle with the evil that lies within, the need for forgiveness, the giving and forgiving nature of genuine love, sacrifice, and redemption. These themes can help you bring God up naturally in your conversations with friends, so jump in! Here are some ideas to get you started:
- How did you feel as you watched Peter fall victim to bitterness and revenge? Ask your friends what they do when anger and bitterness creep into their lives. Share from your experience how God has worked in this area of your life.
- Like Peter, does your pride ever get in the way of doing what you know is right? How do you handle it?
- Peter wrestles with the eye-opening reality that he is not all superhero purity and goodness, and that the criminals he battles are not all evil and darkness. Talk about how the Bible teaches that evil lurks inside every human heart. For help discussing this, check out the 'O - Our sins separate us from God' part of the GOSPEL Journey.
- Mary Jane assures Peter at one point in the movie, "Everyone needs help." Ask your friends where they turn when they need help. Share how your relationship with God is a source of help and strength to you.
So as the Spidey buzz escalates, take the opportunity to turn the conversation to God-talk! Take the leap!
