We all load our suitcases for life with what the world promises will make us wise—predictions, solutions, human answers—yet when Revelation calls for wisdom to understand the beast, itR17;s asking something far more unsettling: whose wisdom are we actually following?
The decorations come down, the calendar turns, and Christmas recedes into memory—but Matthew 2 insists thereR17;s something that doesnR17;t go out of season. And if the Gospel doesnR17;t go out of season, are we keeping ourselves focused on where it is pointing us?
We forget so quickly—and when we forget what God has done, we start to feel alone. ThatR17;s exactly why, in Numbers 9, God tells Israel itR17;s time to keep the Passover: not because the exodus needs to happen again, but because his people need to taste his faithfulness again.
ThereR17;s a blind man sitting by the road outside Jericho in Luke 18, and the crowd wants him to be quiet—heR17;s an embarrassment, a distraction from something more important. He cries out anyway: “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.̶1; Whatever it is that makes you feel like the person everyone else wants to go away, this passage is for you.
We can be full of hope and still put that hope in plans, forecasts, and outcomes that never arrive. When disappointment turns us into expert worriers—or convinces us that life will only get worse—weR17;re reminded to look to our true hope and the Power behind it.
Clear words can still sail right past us when they arenR17;t the news we want. In Luke 18, Jesus tells the Twelve exactly whatR17;s about to happen to Him, yet they were just like us: they didnR17;t want to hear.
Most of us are quicker to panic over a dying phone battery than over a dying spiritual one—we coast along, confident weR17;re fine, while the indicator drops lower than weR17;d ever admit. As Jesus calls a written-off man in Jericho, He challenges all of us on this: “Do we know how much we need Him?̶1;
God works through ordinary people facing extraordinary pain. Hannah, a barren woman in a hostile household, pours out her anguish before the Lord rather than seeking revenge or retreating and He answers. He still does.
Rather than seeking to be known as impressive or indispensable, Christians are called to be known as servants of Jesus. Every person is made in the image of God, and the only credential that truly matters on our “resume̶1; before Him is knowing Him.
FaithTree at the Movies explores deep questions about faith through the discussion of notable films. Each of our events features a special guest theologian or theologians who chooses a film and helps us to explore that film's content in a Gospel oriented light. We begin each night with an opening interview of our presenter, followed by a screening of that evening's film, and an open Q&A time to discuss the topics raised by the film and presenter.
The films are open to the community and admission is free.