Spiderman II – Everybody Loves A Hero

Main Point of Discussion: We need a hero

The Movie Clip: “Everybody Loves A Hero”

When most of us think of the word “hero,” we might think of Superman or Spiderman. Or we might think of a person who has achieved some great feat like saving lives or conquering a huge opposition. But in most of our minds the word “hero” wouldn’t describe us.

In the movie Spiderman II, Aunt May gives a little speech about heroes. This speech is a great launching point for a discussion about how God can use the most unlikely person.

Introducing the Clip:
Most of you have probably seen the Spiderman films. The scene I’m going to show you is from the second Spiderman film. A boy named Henry is helping Aunt May pack up some boxes to move from her home. Peter and Aunt May just had a serious talk and Aunt May told Peter how much she loved him. As the scene continues, we’re going to see them talk about the importance of a hero. Let’s take a peek.

Scene Script:

BEGIN CLIP AT 1 hour 22 minutes and 30 seconds. (in Chapter 35: Start in the middle of Peter and Aunt May’s hug.)

(KEY DIALOGUE)
Henry: You take Spider-Man’s pictures, right?

Peter: I used to.

Henry: Where is he?

Aunt May: Henry and I agree. We don’t see his picture in the paper anymore.

Peter: He…uh…quit.

Henry: Why?

Peter: Wanted to try other things.

Henry: He’ll be back, right?

Peter: I don’t know.

Aunt May: You’ll never guess who he wants to be: Spider-Man.

Peter: Why?

Aunt May: He knows a hero when he sees one. Too few characters out there, flying around like that saving old girls like me. And Lord knows, kids like Henry need a hero—courageous, self-sacrificing people setting examples for all of us. Everybody loves a hero. People line up for them…cheer them…scream their names. And years later, they’ll tell how they stood in the rain for hours just to get a glimpse of the one who taught them to hold on a second longer. I believe there’s a hero in all of us…that keeps us honest…gives us strength…makes us noble…and finally allows us to die with pride, even though sometimes we have to be steady and give up the thing we want the most – even our dreams. Spider-Man did that for Henry and he wonders where he’s gone. He needs him.

(Aunt May continues packing, asking Peter to help lift a desk. He pauses, taking in all she said.)

Transitional Statement:
In this clip, Aunt May describes a hero. Everyone loves a hero.

But what is a true hero? Let’s take a look.

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. AROUND THE CIRCLE: Before we get started, let’s go around the circle and each share… if you could have one “superpower” for a day, what superpower would you want?
2. AROUND THE CIRCLE: In the clip, Aunt May tells Peter, “Everybody loves a hero.” We all had heroes (people we admired or looked up to) when we were growing up; who was your hero? What about them made you admire and look-up to them?
3. ASK A FEW: If you had to choose a real hero today—someone that you look up to—who would you choose? What qualities or characteristics did that person have that helped you choose them?
4. ASK A FEW: Would any of your friends (or even better, your family) choose you as a hero… or would anyone describe you as a hero? Why or why not?

Chances are, not many of us here consider ourselves heroes. Maybe that’s because we don’t see our potential.

In Joshua 2 we find a story of an unlikely hero. The people of Israel were getting ready to storm Jericho and take it over, so they sent two spies ahead of them to discover what they would need to do to take the land. The spies snuck into the town and ended up at the house of Rahab—a prostitute.

Read the following passage:


Joshua 2:3-4;15-16 (NIV)
“So the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab: ‘Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, because they have come to spy out the whole land.’ But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them… she let them down by a rope through the window, for the house she lived in was part of the city wall. Now she had said to them, ‘Go to the hills so the pursuers will not find you. Hide yourselves there three days until they return, and then go on your way.’”


5. ASK A FEW: Rahab was a hero because she saved the lives of these spies. If we read the rest of this story out of the Bible, we’ll see that her courage to do what was right for God eventually led to the saving of her life and the lives of all of her family. What do you think about God using a prostitute to achieve His purpose and save these spies?
6. ASK A FEW: Would you have chosen a despised or sinful person as a part of your plan if you were God in this situation? Why or why not?
7. ASK A FEW: Most of us would never have given a first-thought to the idea of using a prostitute to save the life of anyone, much less a second-thought—but God did. What do you think that means for your life, the things you have done in your past, and how God views you? In other words, do you think your past disqualifies you from being used by God? Explain.

Rahab’s past was filled with things we could not even imagine—yet God chose to use her, not to just save the spies, but to be a part of saving you and me. Her life not only turned around for God’s sake, but she went on to be a part of Jesus’ family line listed in Matthew 1. She turned her life around and God used her to bring his own Son into this world.

8. ASK A FEW: Think BIG…how do you think God could use you if you were to give your life fully over to Him and accept His forgiveness?
9. AROUND THE CIRCLE: God’s forgiveness and grace was big enough for Rahab, and it’s big enough for you. What’s holding you back from the BIG plans that God has for you?

Maybe you need to take a step of faith tonight. In our small groups, some of us have identified the barrier that has been blocking us from giving our life over to God. God is willing to remove that barrier if we just let Him. The question is, “Are you ready to give that up to Him, and trust God with your entire life?” If the answer is “yes,” then now is the time.

Close in Prayer

(Spiderman Discussion Write up by Jamie Locklin)