Forrest Gump won 6 Academy awards in 1995 including best picture and best actor for Tom Hanks. This interesting movie is the origin of the popular phrase, ?Life?s like a box of chocolates. You never know which one you?re going to get.? This entertaining story has an eerie similarity to the story presented in the book of Hosea. We will explore this story as it pertains to the passionate, pursuant love of God. As a missional movement, our call is to be like God and be equally pursuant of loving relationships with others.

Selma tells the story of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his leadership in Alabama as they fought for equal rights in a segregated south. This movie has come to us during a difficult time in our society when discussions about race tend to get swallowed up in politics and innuendo. As Christ followers, we have an obligation to walk in the direction of justice that might be unpopular and dangerous. Walking in the direction of justice was the ardent and prophetic call of Micah, and the mantle carried by Jesus in his ministry. Thus, as followers of Jesus in mission, walking in the way of justice becomes our responsibility.

This story was written by Victor Hugo and found international success as a long playing musical written by Andrew Lloyd Weber. There are also movie adaptations of the novel, most recently in 2012, starring Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway. The backdrop of this story is the French revolution, but at the forefront is a hero who has been redeemed and seeks to offer redemption to those he loves and to his enemies. How does a missional church multiply redemption?

This colorful movie continues to be a family favorite. While it would seem that it is simply a movie about an overabundance of sweets, underneath it is a story of one man's imagination to be significant in the lives of others. This quest can be compromised when one is overtaken in self-indulgent behavior. Our missional calling is one that is driven by the imagination of God who calls us to be a blessing to the world.

More and more we are taking note of the spiritual overtones portrayed in popular music and movies. In this sermon series, we will explore some spiritual themes in four movies. Hopefully this jump starts a more keen awareness of how God speaks through various forms including the theater. Also, we won?t lose sight of our missional calling and how these themes help us to understand our mission in God?s kingdom.