Tag: Christian Movie Review

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Sharing God’s Story with Disney’s Frozen – Sacrifice

Today’s post is from the Sharing God’s Story with Disney’s Frozen bible study.

This movie based bible study uses Disney’s Frozen and therefore contains spoilers.

Be sure to check out our Frozen page for more ways to share God’s story with Disney’s Frozen.

Early in Frozen we are told that,

Only an act of true love can thaw a frozen heart.

This is a very powerful – and biblical – idea.

Our frozen hearts separate us from God. But God demonstrates His love for us by chasing us down.

Our hearts are frozen because we are under a curse. But like in Frozen, there is someone who can break that curse and thaw our hearts!

Anna chased after Elsa like God chased after Adam and Eve and chases after us!

This is because Anna loved Elsa like God loves us.

Knowing this, and knowing that Anna is the one that loved Elsa so much that she went looking for her, what role might Anna play in Elsa’s redemption?

But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

Not only did Anna go out and find Elsa but she demonstrated her (agape) love for Elsa by sacrificing herself to save her.

Anna demonstrated her love for Elsa by dying for her, by dying in her place.

Anna, who did nothing wrong, died to save Elsa.

Anna certainly did not deserve to die. She didn’t freeze the kingdom. She didn’t leave her sister, her home, and her kingdom.

She didn’t do anything wrong. Elsa did.

But Anna died.

Why?

Because she loved Elsa the way Jesus loves us.

Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself. Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, but about the interests of others as well. Philippines 2:3-8

This very much describes Anna!

If she had stayed in Arendelle then SHE would have been the queen! But instead of looking out for herself (selfish ambition) or her position (becoming Queen) she humbled herself and went out to find – and save – Elsa.

You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had, who though he existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing in human nature. He humbled himself, by becoming obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross!

She had the same attitude towards Elsa that Christ has towards us. She left her glory (her kingdom where she would have become the queen) and went out looking for Elsa so that she could save her.

And in the same way that Christ humbled himself to the point of death, so did Anna! As we already stated Anna humbled herself to the point of death so that she could save Elsa.

In this Reel Parable, we are Elsa, separated because of our actions and in need of help Anna is Jesus, the one who sacrificed himself so we can have eternal life.

Why did Anna save Elsa?

Did Anna deserve to die?

Why was this an act of “true love?”

How was this act of true love (agape) different from a simple “true love’s (Eros) kiss?” What’s the difference between the two?

If you are not a Christian, what actions separate you from God?

If you are a Christian, what actions negatively affect your relationship with God?

Who deserves to be punished for those sins?

Why would Jesus take the punishment – die for – your actions?

Why would Jesus love you that much?

Have you confessed those actions (and your sinfulness in general) to God?

Remember 2 Peter 3:9 and I John 1:9:

The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some regard slowness, but is being patient toward you, because he does not wish for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

You are not getting away with anything. You may not have been caught yet, but you are not off the hook. Someday you will give an account for your sins.  Some of you may feel that you are doing that now (sin does, after all, affect relationships) and some of you may feel like you are getting away with something.  Please know that God will make all of us give an account.

God is patient so that you will repent.

Justice will be served. Please, I beg you, don’t take God’s patience as a sign that you are getting away with it. God’s patience towards you is so that you will repent – turn from your sins and turn towards God – and “get right” with God.

The goal is not to “get away” with it, the goal is to “get right” with God. Repent while God is still showing His patience.

That’s where the confession comes in for both Christians and non-Christians.

But if we confess our sins, he (God) is faithful and righteous, forgiving us our sins and cleansing us from all unrighteousness. (I John 1:9)

In the same way that an “I’m sorry” can restore a broken human relationship, an “I’m sorry” can also restore a broken relationship with God.

If you are not a Christian then this is an act of faith; Repent (turn from your sin and turn towards God) and confess your sins to Him.

As Christian, we will still sin. Although our sins have been forgiven (justice already served!) they can still negatively affect our relationship with God. Some people will say it like this; sin breaks our fellowship with God. We don’t lose our salvation, but we can break our fellowship with God.

And because God knows that we will still sin this applies to Christians also. We need to restore that fellowship by confessing our sins. This is our “I’m sorry” to God.

[Tweet “Remember, Anna loved Elsa the way that Jesus loves us.”]

When Elsa was out of fellowship with Anna, Anna chased her down.

God has done the same for us.

Notice also that Elsa apologizes to Anna, the one whom she has sinned against.

We need to do the same with God. We need to apologize (repent and confess) for our sins so that we can restore our relationship (fellowship).

Like this? Be sure to head on over to Amazon and check out Sharing God’s Story with Disney’s Frozen!

Sharing is caring! Would you please share this post? I truly appreciate it.

Also, here are some free downloads to help you share God’s story with Disney’s Frozen!

SharingGodsStorywithFrozen (Frozen and the “Romans Road”)

SharingGodsStorywithDisneysFrozenandtheWordlessBook (Frozen and the Wordless Book)

Get my free e-book, How to See God’s Story in Movies. This free download will help you share God’s story with your kids and students by showing you how to see God’s story in movies.

Not only will this guarantee that you get the latest Reel Parables posts, but you will also get my most popular downloads, including “How to Time Travel.”

And be sure to check out my About page for more info on what I do around here at Reel Parables.

Until next time, God bless.

Simon L Smith

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Sharing God’s Story with Disney’s Frozen – Hide and Seek

Today’s post is from the Sharing God’s Story with Disney’s Frozen bible study.

This movie based bible study uses Disney’s Frozen and therefore contains spoilers.

Be sure to check out our Frozen page for more ways to share God’s story with Disney’s Frozen.

Kid Note: Did you play hide and seek with your kids? If not then now would be a great time! Remember to tell them how much you love them when you find them!

[Tweet “Why we are just like Elsa from Disney’s Frozen.”]

Because we are cursed, our frozen hearts negatively affect our relationships with others and with God. This leads us to run away – separate ourselves  –  from others, including God. But even though we are separated from God, we are valuable to Him, we are important to Him, and He still loves us!

We have already established that in this Reel Parable that Elsa is the prodigal sister and fits nicely with Jesus’ other Lost parables along with the lost coin, the lost sheep, and the lost son.

Like the Prodigal Elsa ran away. But like the Prodigal someone was looking for her also.

So who went looking for Elsa?

In Jesus’ Lost parables the woman, the shepherd, and the father all represent God (and I would say Jesus specifically) and His desire to find us like He “found” Adam and Eve when they were hiding in the garden.

Why did the woman search for the coin? Why did the shepherd search for the sheep? Because the coin and the sheep were valuable to and meant something to the woman and the shepherd.

Why was the father out looking for his son? Because the father loved the son.

So why did Anna chase after Elsa? Because she loved her. Regardless of what Elsa did Anna still loved her!

Anna loved Elsa the way God loves us!

But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

Why was God looking for Adam and Eve in the garden? Did He really not know where they were? No, of course not. Their actions (sin) affected that relationship. Because of their actions, they were hiding (separated) from Him. But regardless of their actions, regardless of their sin, God still loved them, went looking for them, and made a way for their relationship to be restored. Simply put, because God still loved Adam and Eve.

While Elsa was still in her rebellion and separated from Anna, Anna demonstrated her love for Else and went looking for her to save her.

While we were sinners, separated from Him, God demonstrated His love for us. He loved us before we ever loved Him. He loved us when we were still hiding from Him.

This kind of love becomes our example.

We love because he (God) loved us first. (I John 4:19)

We love others because God loves us.

And we should love others the way God loved us, sacrificially.

In the bible, there are three specific types of love: Philia, Eros, and Agape.

  • Philia – This is brotherly or friendly love and where we get words like Philadelphia (the city of brotherly love). This is the love between Kristoff and Sven, best friends.
  • Eros – As you can probably tell, this is erotic, or romantic love. This is the romantic/physical love between a husband and wife. This is the love between Anna and Elsa’s parents and poked fun at with Anna and Hans.
  • Agape – Agape love is sacrificial or unconditional love. This is how God loves us. This is the love that hurts because the one you love may not always love you back. This is the love that Anna shows when she dies for Elsa.

While philia and eros are usually easy ways to love, agape love is a hard way to love.

As the movie starts Anna loves Elsa with philia love, a sisterly love that was, to some degree, conditional. When Else stopped replying Anna stopped knocking and stopped asking if she wanted to build a snowman. Philia love may stop knocking and asking.

But agape love does not stop.

When Anna seeks after Else she is showing agape love. A love that is sacrificial and unconditional.

Knowing this, and knowing that Anna is the one that loved Elsa so much that she went looking for her, what role might Anna play in Elsa’s redemption?

Why did Anna chase after Elsa?

What was her plan? What was she going to do?

Why did she put herself in danger?

Why did she leave Arendelle?

What did Elsa expect to do after she ran away?

Why did Elsa leave Anna?

How did that make Anna feel?

What was Elsa afraid of?

Would you have run away like Elsa?

Would you have chased Elsa like Anna did?

So, did you play hide and seek with your kids? If not what are you waiting for? And remember, when you find them, tell them how much you love them!

Like this? Be sure to head on over to Amazon and check out Sharing God’s Story with Disney’s Frozen!

Sharing is caring! Would you please share this post? I truly appreciate it.

Also, here are some free downloads to help you share God’s story with Disney’s Frozen!

SharingGodsStorywithFrozen (Frozen and the “Romans Road”)

SharingGodsStorywithDisneysFrozenandtheWordlessBook (Frozen and the Wordless Book)

Get my free e-book, How to See God’s Story in Movies. This free download will help you share God’s story with your kids and students by showing you how to see God’s story in movies.

Not only will this guarantee that you get the latest Reel Parables posts, but you will also get my most popular downloads, including “How to Time Travel.”

And be sure to check out my About page for more info on what I do around here at Reel Parables.

Until next time, God bless.

Simon L Smith

Posted on

Sharing God’s Story with Disney’s Frozen – The Prodigal Sister

Today’s post is from the Sharing God’s Story with Disney’s Frozen bible study.

This movie based bible study uses Disney’s Frozen and therefore contains spoilers.

Be sure to check out our Frozen page for more ways to share God’s story with Disney’s Frozen.

Our hearts are frozen (broken) because we are all under a curse. This curse affects our relationships with each other and with God.

Our frozen hearts result in broken and lost relationships.

In Luke 15 Jesus tells three stories or parables; one of a lost coin, one of a lost sheep and one of a lost son. In a lot of ways, Frozen is another one of these lost parables, this time it’s the story of the lost sister.

Because of fear Elsa flees from her family, her home, and her kingdom (she is the queen after all!), much like the prodigal son left his family and home.

While Elsa and the Prodigal Son left for a different reason they both left because they thought they knew what was best. Their frozen hearts affected their relationships.

The Prodigal Son left to pursue his own desires and to do what he wanted to do, but so did Elsa.

Elsa was afraid. She was afraid of her powers and she was afraid of hurting Anna. Because of this fear she left the only family she had left and set up a new kingdom just for her.

But like the other “lost” parables someone was looking for her.

Read Luke 15.

Who searched for the lost coin? Why did they search for the lost coin?

Who searched for the lost sheep? Why did they search for the lost sheep?

Who searched for the lost son? (While his father was not out looking for him, he did let him go, and he was looking for his return! Notice that the father saw him while he was still a long way from home! His father WAS looking for him and was eagerly waiting for him to return.) Why did they search for the lost son?

Who searched for Elsa? Why did they search for Else?

Discussion or Contemplation Questions:

Why did she leave Arendelle?

What did Elsa expect to do after she ran away?

Why did Elsa leave Anna?

How did that make Anna feel?

What was Elsa afraid of?

Would you have run away like Elsa?

Would you have chased Elsa like Anna did?

How do you know that the coin was valuable to the woman?

How do you know the sheep was important to the shepherd?

How do you know the father loved the son?

How do you know that Anna loved Else?

Remember, we too are separated from God. Like the coin, the sheep, the son and Elsa, we are lost.

Even though we are lost, how do we know that God loves us?

But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

Just like with the woman, the shepherd, the father and Anna, we know that we are valuable, special, and loved by God because HE came looking for us!

If you are doing this Reel Parables Movie based bible study with your kids, now would be a good time to play hide and seek! When you find them let them know how much you love them!

No kid can hear it enough…

Like this? Be sure to head on over to Amazon and check out Sharing God’s Story with Disney’s Frozen!

Sharing is caring! Would you please share this post? I truly appreciate it.

Also, here are some free downloads to help you share God’s story with Disney’s Frozen!

SharingGodsStorywithFrozen (Frozen and the “Romans Road”)

SharingGodsStorywithDisneysFrozenandtheWordlessBook (Frozen and the Wordless Book)

Get my free e-book, How to See God’s Story in Movies. This free download will help you share God’s story with your kids and students by showing you how to see God’s story in movies.

Not only will this guarantee that you get the latest Reel Parables posts, but you will also get my most popular downloads, including “How to Time Travel.”

And be sure to check out my About page for more info on what I do around here at Reel Parables.

Until next time, God bless.

Simon L Smith

Posted on

Sharing God’s Story with Disney’s Frozen – Caught in a Curse

Today’s post is  from the Sharing God’s Story with Disney’s Frozen bible study.

This movie based bible study uses Disney’s Frozen and therefore contains spoilers.

Be sure to check out our Frozen page for more ways to share God’s story with Disney’s Frozen.

Review: Our hearts are frozen; scared, selfish and evil.

The reason we have frozen hearts is that all of us, like Arendelle, are under a curse.

So then, just as sin entered the world through one man and death through sin, and so death spread to all people because all sinned. Romans 5:12

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23

Why is Arendelle under a curse?

What is the curse?

Who caused the curse?

Who is affected by the curse?

Can those affected free themselves from the curse on their own?

What are we told is the only thing that can “cure the curse? (Think back to when Anna and Elsa were young.)

Arendelle is under a curse. Even though the curse was caused by one person (Elsa), everyone in Arendelle was affected. In a fit of anger and fear Elsa uses her powers and unleashes a curse over the entire kingdom. Because of Elsa’s actions, the entire kingdom is frozen. Boats are stuck in the frozen waters and visitors are now trapped and unable to leave. Because of Elsa’s actions, the entire kingdom is frozen, and everyone is affected.

The same is true for us.

Because of the actions of one man, Adam, we too are also all under a curse.

So then, just as sin entered the world through one man and death through sin, and so death spread to all people because all sinned. Romans 5:12

Disney’s Frozen is an excellent parable of the biblical curse. And let’s be honest, the curse is a hard thing to discuss.

Read Genesis chapter 3.

Because Adam disobeyed God, the whole world was cursed; first the serpent, then Eve, and finally Adam, which also affected the entire world.

First God cursed the serpent (Genesis 3:14-15). As you read these verses look for hints of hope.

The Lord God said to the serpent,

Because you have done this, cursed are you above all the wild beasts and all the living creatures of the field! On your belly you will crawl and dust you will eat all the days of your life. And I will put hostility between you and the woman and between your offspring and her offspring; her offspring will attack your head, and you will attack her offspring’s heel.

Did you see it? Did you see the dramatic foreshadowing? Right in the middle of the curse, there was hope!

Eve’s offspring, the Son of Man, will attack (some translations say crush) the serpent’s head!

Someday Jesus, the Son of Man, will ultimately defeat the serpent.

Even in the curse, there is hope!

The same is true in Disney’s Frozen. When Anna is first injured we are told that ”Only an act of true love can thaw a frozen heart.” Even in the pain, there is a promise.

After God cursed (punished) the serpent God punished Eve. In addition to increased pain in childbirth, there will now be tension in her relationship with Adam.

A lot has been written on this topic and I am sure we won’t all agree. So I will simply state this; sin negatively affects personal relationships.

sin negatively affects personal relationships.

Regardless of what you think this part of Eve’s curse means I think we can all agree that sin affects relationships. Not just with others, but also with God.

Now Adam’s curse is the one most like the one in Disney’s Frozen. With Adam, the whole world was changed (just like all of Arendelle was changed).

Genesis 3:17-19:

Cursed is the ground thanks to you; in painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, but you will eat the grain of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat food until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you will return.

With Adam’s sin came the world as we know it, not the world as it was or as it should be, or as it will be. Just like in Frozen.

[Tweet “Because of Elsa’s actions, all of Arendelle was cursed (turned into a frozen wasteland.)”]

Always winter but never Christmas.

Because of Elsa’s actions, the whole kingdom was changed. Just like with Adam. Because of Adam’s actions, the whole world changed.

While all of this is tragic, Adam’s actions changed the world in at least one more way.

Romans 5:12:

So then, just as sin entered the world through one man and death through sin, and so death spread to all people because all sinned.

Adam’s actions introduced sin to the world. And this world has never been the same.

(If you are doing this Reel Parables movie bible study with kids, ask them to recall something that they think is tragic and will never forget. For example, the death of a pet or a loved one, the first time a friend hurt them on purpose, etc. These are easy ways to show them that the world is cursed, bad, evil, broken, etc.)

Because of Elsa’s actions, she was separated from her sister and then from the entire kingdom. And notice that this separation affected everyone. The merchants were trapped in Arendelle and separated from their homes/loved ones. Anna was separated from her sister, the only family she had left.

This is just like Adam. Because of Adam’s actions, he was separated from God. And because of Adam’s actions, we too are separated from God.

Because Adam sinned, we all sin.

And remember, sin affects relationships.

It affected Elsa and Anna’s relationship.

It affected Adam and God’s relationship.

It affected Adam and Eve’s relationship.

And it affects our relationships even today.

Not only with each other but also with God.

But like with Elsa, we too can return to God and be restored to Him.

Like this? Be sure to head on over to Amazon and check out Sharing God’s Story with Disney’s Frozen!

Sharing is caring! Would you please share this post? I truly appreciate it.

Also, here are some free downloads to help you share God’s story with Disney’s Frozen!

SharingGodsStorywithFrozen (Frozen and the “Romans Road”)

SharingGodsStorywithDisneysFrozenandtheWordlessBook (Frozen and the Wordless Book)

Get my free e-book, How to See God’s Story in Movies. This free download will help you share God’s story with your kids and students by showing you how to see God’s story in movies.

Not only will this guarantee that you get the latest Reel Parables posts, but you will also get my most popular downloads, including “How to Time Travel.”

And be sure to check out my About page for more info on what I do around here at Reel Parables.

Until next time, God bless.

Simon L Smith

Posted on

Sharing God’s Story with Disney’s Frozen – Beware the Frozen Heart

This post is  from the Sharing God’s Story with Disney’s Frozen bible study.

This movie based bible study uses Disney’s Frozen and therefore contains spoilers.

Be sure to check out our Frozen page for more ways to share God’s story with Disney’s Frozen.

“The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; Who can understand it?” Jeremiah 17:9 (NASB)

Guard your heart with all vigilance, for from it are the sources of life. (Proverbs 4:23 NET)

Disney’s Frozen opens with a song, Frozen Heart, which warns us to beware of the frozen heart. Later we are told that “the heart is not easily changed.”

This is a very perceptive observation for anyone to make, much less a “Disney Princess movie.” But Frozen is far more than just a Disney Princess movie. Frozen is a Reel Parable; a movie that teaches part of God’s story.

The story’s foundation is the frozen heart; a heart that is scared, selfish and evil, and not so easily changed.

And so it is with our own story.

“The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; Who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9, NASB)

“For as he things in his heart, so is he.” (Proverbs 23:7a, NKJV)

“For from within, out of the human heart, comes evil ideas, sexual immorality, theft, murder.” (Mark 7:21)

Our hearts need help.

But just like in Frozen our hearts are not easily changed.

Examine your own life or the lives of your friends and family. Regardless of how “picture perfect” our lives look on the outside (image), you and I know how our lives look on the inside (integrity). Often what we see on the inside is not as attractive as what we see on the outside.

[Tweet “We all have frozen hearts that are not easily changed.”]

We all have broken hearts. Or, as Disney’s Frozen would say, we all have frozen hearts. Malcolm Muggeridge once said that “the depravity of man (think frozen heart) is at once the most empirically verifiable reality but at the same time the most intellectually resisted fact.”

Like Elsa and Anna’s parents, our hearts want to protect our reputation, our kingdom, and our children. Sometimes to the point where we will do very foolish things.

Like Elsa, our hearts want to hide our flaws (or at least what we see as flaws). We end up hiding from and withdrawing from our families, our friends and from the whole world. We eventually hide from those who love us, and the God who loves us the most. Like Adam and Eve, we do our best to hide from the God who loves, even though He already knows everything about us. Even the things we try to hide.

Like Anna, our hearts give up hope and stop knocking. We are so hopeless that we stop asking if someone wants to build a snowman.

Like Kristoff, our hearts get caught up in our own day-to-day needs. We get so wrapped up in our own junk that we don’t see how we can help others.

Like Hans our hearts want for – long for – that which is not ours. This wanting leads to lying, cheating, and stealing. If left unchecked this longing may even lead to killing.

And like Olaf, our hearts desire the very things that will hurt us the most.

As the movie unfolds do your best to examine each of the character’s hearts.

  • What does Else want and what is she afraid of?
  • What does Anna long for and want more than anything else?
  • What about Kristoff and Hans? What do they each desire? And what are they willing to do to get it?
  • And don’t forget Olaf! What does he want and what could getting it mean for him?

And what about you?

  • What does your heart reveal about you?
  • What do you desire? What do you want? What do you long for? What do you lust after?
  • What sins, worries, regrets hide deep inside your heart?
  • What hides in your heart that only you and God can see?
  • Or put this way, how is your image and integrity at odds?

For now, just confess (agree with God about our sin) what you find in your heart. Don’t be shy. God already knows what you hide in there, so be honest. Be honest with yourself and with God and remember I John 1:8-9

If we say we do not bear the guilt of sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous, forgiving us our sins and cleansing us from all unrighteousness.

We will see how this is possible shortly. Until then remember what is said when Anna is first injured, ”Only an act of true love can thaw a frozen heart.”

Like this? Be sure to head on over to Amazon and check out Sharing God’s Story with Disney’s Frozen!

Sharing is caring! Would you please share this post? I truly appreciate it.

Also, here are some free downloads to help you share God’s story with Disney’s Frozen!

SharingGodsStorywithFrozen (Frozen and the “Romans Road”)

SharingGodsStorywithDisneysFrozenandtheWordlessBook (Frozen and the Wordless Book)

Get my free e-book, How to See God’s Story in Movies. This free download will help you share God’s story with your kids and students by showing you how to see God’s story in movies.

Not only will this guarantee that you get the latest Reel Parables posts, but you will also get my most popular downloads, including “How to Time Travel.”

And be sure to check out my About page for more info on what I do around here at Reel Parables.

Until next time, God bless.

Simon L Smith