Count of Monte Cristo

2002, PG-13, (Jim Caviezel)

Plot Outline: Action/Adventure. (Time period – 1814.) After being wronged by his alleged best friend and serving many years in prison, a man, Edmond Dantes, sets out to escape and get his revenge on him and others.

This discussion centers around Peter’s denial and God’s faithfulness to him and to us, emphasizing that God still pursues us, even when we don’t want Him. We suggest using two movie clips from The Count of Monte Cristo to spark discussion in your group. You may want to have either two dvd players (or vcrs) cued to these two scenes or simply have another leader fast forward to the second clip while you continue the discussion.

Divide into Small Groups:
Let’s go ahead and split up into our discussion groups, and then afterward we’ll come back together for a final word.

CLICK HERE for a quick training article on how to maximize your small groups using our small group format—a great resource to equip your small group leaders.

Discussion Questions:

1. ASK A FEW: Share a time when you denied knowing or being friends with someone because they embarrassed you. All older brothers and sisters relate to this!
2. ASK SOMEONE TO READ: Luke 22:54-62 – Peter’s Denial (NLT)

   So they arrested him and led him to the high priest’s residence, and Peter was following far behind. The guards lit a fire in the courtyard and sat around it, and Peter joined them there. A servant girl noticed him in the firelight and began staring at him. Finally she said, “This man was one of Jesus’ followers!” Peter denied it. “Woman,” he said, “I don’t even know the man!” After a while someone else looked at him and said, “You must be one of them!” “No, man, I’m not!” Peter replied. About an hour later someone else insisted, “This must be one of Jesus’ disciples because he is a Galilean, too.” But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you are talking about.” And as soon as he said these words, the rooster crowed. At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered that the Lord had said, “Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny me three times.” And Peter left the courtyard, crying bitterly.

(Leaders, say something like, “Peter was one of the three disciples who were around Jesus the most. He spent three years of his life with Him!”)

3. ASK A FEW: How could someone deny Jesus after being with Him so much?

Keep thinking about this as we watch a couple of scenes from The Count of Monte Cristo.

SHOW CLIP HERE:

For Scene 1 Set your counter to 0:00:00 when the Touchstone Pictures Screen logo appears (Spyglass Entertainment logo comes up just after). Fast forward to 1:05:00 (a few minutes into Scene 10 on the DVD). Set the scene up for your group:
Another prisoner – the priest – popped into Edmond’s cell and told him that he has been a prisoner for 11 years, 5 of which he spent digging the tunnel which led him to Edmond’s cell. Edmond has just held the priest on his shoulders to see the sky through the cell window.

Scene Script:

Priest: I have not seen the sky these 11 years. Thank you. Thank you, God.
Dantes: There is no talk of God in here, priest.
Priest: What about the inscription?
Dantes: It’s faded, just as God has faded from my heart.
Priest: And what has replaced it?
Dantes: Revenge.
Priest:(chuckles and hands Edmond some stone slabs) Hold these. Follow me. Perhaps your thoughts of revenge are serving God’s purpose of keeping you alive these seven years. Dantes: To what end?
Priest: Escape.

After they go through the hole to the priest’s cell, Edmond sits on a chair for the first time in his captivity and looks around at the rest of the priest’s cell…

Scene 2STARTS AT ABOUT 1:21:00 (a few minutes into Scene 13 on the DVD)
*Scene where Priest dies in Edmond’s arms. He’s given Edmond a treasure map.

Priest: When you escape, use it only for good.
Dantes: No, I will surely use it for my revenge.
Priest: Here now is your final lesson. Do not commit the crime for which you now serve the sentence. God said, “Vengeance is mine.”
Dantes: I don’t believe in God.
Priest: That doesn’t matter. He believes in you.

STOP HERE as you hear the guards approaching.

Divide into Small Groups:
Let’s go ahead and split up into our discussion groups, and then afterward we’ll come back together for a final word.

CLICK HERE for a quick training article on how to maximize your small groups using our small group format—a great resource to equip your small group leaders.

Discussion Questions:

1. ASK A FEW: Edmond Dantes felt abandoned by God in the prison. Did Peter also feel abandoned by Jesus? Explain your answer.
2. ASK A FEW: Have you ever felt abandoned by God? When and how did you handle it?
3. ASK A FEW: In what ways, like Dantes and Peter, can we deny Jesus?
4. Let’s look at John 21, after Jesus rises from the dead. He shows up on the beach where the disciples have gone back to fishing. He helps them catch fish. It’s after breakfast that Jesus confronts Peter. Let’s read vs. 15-17 (NLT):
   After breakfast Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.” “Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him. Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.” “Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said. Once more he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know I love you.” Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.”
   
   ASK SOMEONE: OK, what happened just then? Jesus didn’t chew Peter out. What did he do instead?
5. ASK A FEW: When you look back on times you may have been embarrassed by or flat out denied Jesus, are you better or worse than Peter? Then, how do you think Jesus responds to you?

WRAP-UP:
1 John 2:22-23 says:

And who is the great liar? The one who says that Jesus is not the Christ. Such people are antichrists, for they have denied the Father and the Son. Anyone who denies the Son doesn’t have the Father either.

That would be a scary thought for some people if the Bible just left it at that. But it doesn’t…it goes on to say…

But anyone who confesses the Son has the Father also. So you must remain faithful to what you have been taught from the beginning. If you do, you will continue to live in fellowship with the Son and with the father. And in this fellowship we enjoy the eternal life he promised us.

From here, you can invite unbelievers to make a commitment to Jesus as Lord and/or for believers to recommit their hearts and actions to Him. This is a great opportunity to pray with your students and encourage them in their faith.

Option:
For your closing, play Believe, Track No. 13 from For This Cause – Hillsongs 2000. (Key lines: I’m not satisfied doing it my own way / I’m not satisfied to do church and walk away.)

By Danette Matty