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Movie Clip Discussion Starter
Forgiving Those Who Hurt Us
Small Group Discussion Questions
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Movie Clip Discussion Starter
Forgiving Those Who Hurt Us
Jesus taught on forgiveness throughout the New Testament. What is a good example today of “love your enemies?”
Video is a powerful medium- the following is a video clip that greatly illustrates “love your enemies.”
Babe: Pig in the City
Many of us remember the talking pig Babe (I remember years ago trying to explain to my wife why I had rented a movie titled “Babe!”). Well, Babe: Pig in the City, while not half as good as the first film, had a great example of “love your enemies.”
About 45 minutes into the film we see some monkeys take Babe out on the town. Babe wanted to find some sheep and the monkeys convince him that there are sheep behind the fence marked “BEWARE OF DOG!” Babe finds a doberman and a pit bull chained up and biting mad! As Babe runs away, the dogs break free and chase after him. The chase scene is quite entertaining as Babe manages to get away from the doberman and the pit bull continues the chase, dragging things behind, with the chain still latched to his collar.
The chase ends as Babe jumps off a small bridge into the water and the pit bull gets tangled in the chain. The dog is dangling off the bridge by the chain until the chain slowly slips and the dog starts to drown. Babe, now safe, watches the struggling animal. Moved with compassion for the animal that had just been chasing him, Babe jumps into the water and saves the pit bull.
Babe’s brave feat earned him the respect of all the animals. In the next scene, Babe, again showing mercy, distributed food to all the hungry street animals gathered around.
Small Group Discussion Questions:
1. What do you think Babe thought of the pit bull the whole time he was being chased by it? (He didn’t like it very much)
2. Why did Babe have mercy on it? What benefit was there in doing this?
3. What benefit is there to getting revenge instead?
4. Share a situation where you had an opportunity to show an enemy kindness.
Read the following passages: (you can give different groups different passages and have them summarize them at the end for the other groups)
Matthew 5:7
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Matthew 5:23-24
“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.
Matthew 6:14-15
For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Matthew 18:21-35
unforgiving servant story ending with . . . “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”
Mark 11:25
And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
Luke 17:3-4
So watch yourselves. “If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.”
Col. 3:12-14
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
James 2:12-13
Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!
https://thesource4ym.com/videoclips
Jonathan McKee
Jonathan McKee is the author of over twenty books including the brand new The Guy's Guide to FOUR BATTLES Every Young Man Must Face; The Teen’s Guide to Social Media & Mobile Devices; If I Had a Parenting Do Over; and the Amazon Best Seller - The Guy's Guide to God, Girls and the Phone in Your Pocket. He speaks to parents and leaders worldwide, all while providing free resources for youth workers on TheSource4YM.com. Jonathan, his wife Lori, and their three kids live in California.