Emptied & Humbled: Frozen – Glory

This is part of Emptied & Humbled, a movie based Lenten devotional. The whole devotional can be found here.

Lent is about glory! The choices, the sacrifice, and the death all lead to the glory. That’s right, glory comes as the result of the choices, the sacrifice, and the death.

As a result God exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow – in heaven and on earth and under the earth – and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11, emphasis mine)

As a result of Jesus’ emptying and humbling, God the Father exalted him, all for the Father’s glory.

Suffering is first, glory is second. The glory is the result, the reward.

We see the same in Frozen with Anna’s resurrection, Arendelle’s restoration, and Anna’s and Elsa’s reunion.

Anna Lives!

We hear early in Frozen that only an act of true love can thaw a frozen heart. First, we think that this true love is Hans, then Kristoff. But in the end, it is Anna who shows an act of true love. In the end, we see that “true love” is far more than just a romantic love. Instead, true love is a sacrificial love.

It is this act of true love – it is this sacrifice – that can thaw a frozen heart.

The last breath, because of her sacrifice, turns into the breath of life.

Just like with Jesus, death has been defeated! Anna lives!

Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? (I Corinthians 15:55)

Because Jesus lives, we can live also!

Arendelle Restored

Remember, the world of Arendelle was cursed with a never-ending Winter. Because of Elsa’s actions, the world was cursed.

But because of Anna’s sacrifice, the world was restored back to its original creation! The once frozen land is thawed and restored to its natural beauty.

For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also came through a man. For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. (I Corinthians 15:21-22)

We look forward to the same.

But, according to his promise, we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness truly resides. (2 Peter 3:13)

Someday God will fix this broken world. This world that is so wrong will be made right. We look forward to the new heaven and the new earth.

Do you want to build a snowman?

When they were little, all Anna wanted was to play with Elsa. Anna kept asking Elsa, who had locked herself away if she wanted to build a snowman. Anna gets her happy ending. Anna gets her glory.

After Arendelle is restored, Anna and Elsa are reunited. Anna gets her sister back.

While the resurrection of the dead and the restoration of the world are things we look forward to in the future, reconciled relationships are part of the glory we can experience today!

Just like Anna and Elsa were reconciled, you, too, can reconcile with others.

Is there someone in your life with whom you want – or need – to reconcile?

Remember, the glory – that reconciliation – comes at a cost. Maybe it’s just making the first move, making the first call. Maybe it is confessing sin and asking for forgiveness. Maybe its forgiving someone who has hurt you.

As Philippians 2 and Frozen show us, the glory (the reconciliation) comes as a result of the sacrifice.

Today I leave you with a charge instead of a question.

Move first.

Make the call.

Send the text.

Did you know I wrote a whole devotional based on Frozen? You can check out Sharing God’s Story with Disney’s Frozen over at Amazon. Also, here are two free downloads that help share God’s story with Frozen. The first one applies Frozen to the Wordless Book. The second illustrates the “Romans Road” using the storyline of Frozen. Just right-click, “save as” and enjoy!

SharingGodsStorywithFrozen SharingGodsStorywithDisneysFrozenandtheWordlessBook

This is part of Emptied & Humbled, a movie based Lenten devotional. The whole devotional can be found here.

[Tweet “Check out Emptied & Humbled, a movie based Lenten devotional.”]

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

December 9, 2015February 15, 2018

Sharing God’s Story with Disney’s Frozen – True Love’s Kiss

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.

Be honest. When you heard that “only an act of true love can thaw a frozen heart,” you figured some young handsome prince would come in and save the day, didn’t you? Yeah, I did too. That is what Disney does, right?

But as Disney’s Frozen unfolds we see that an act of true love is actually a sacrificial act (Agape), and not simply a romantic act (Eros).

No one has greater love than this – that one lays down his life for his friends. (John 15:13)

Frozen is not the first time that Disney has played with this idea of true love.

Have you seen Disney’s version of the Jungle Book? (Spoilers!)

Thinking that Baloo the Bear had sacrificed himself to save Mowgli, Bagheera says, “Now, now. I know how you feel. But you must remember, Mowgli: ‘Greater love hath no one than he who lays down his life for his friend.’ ”

True love is a sacrificial love.

This is the way that Baloo loved Mowgli.

This is the way Anna loved Elsa.

This is the way that God loves you.

This is the way we are to love others, for this is true love.

But, as Disney’s Frozen also shows, it is not the only kind of love. Both Philia and Eros are also important and good. They should both, however, be informed by and developed from Agape love. Both Philia and Eros should grow out of, and be defined by, Agape love.

Philia Love

Disney’s Frozen is about two princesses, Elsa and Anna. These two sisters share a strong sisterly – familial – love. These two sisters share Philia love.

It is this love that moves the story forward.

Elsa, out of fear of hurting the sister she loves so much, locks herself in her room. This love actually drives her away when she is older. Afraid of hurting Anna, Elsa decides to simply run away from her. Anna, who misses the sister she loves so much, chases after her when she runs away.

But Philia love is not enough. Philia love should build upon Agape love. Agape love – unconditional love – is what causes Anna to chase after her sister. It is the love that will eventually lead her to sacrifice herself to save Elsa.

Philia love – brotherly/sisterly love – should build upon unconditional love.

Eros Love

Yes, love is also romantic. Disney’s Frozen has a lot of fun with this in the relationship between Anna and Hans. How many times did we hear someone say, “You can’t marry someone you just met!”?

Romantic love is not bad. It is actually amazing in its proper place and time. How many times does the Song of Solomon remind us, “Do not arouse or awaken love until it pleases!”

Romantic love does have a time.

Romantic love does have a place.

But romantic love is not the only or most important, kind of love. As we have seen, there is a love deeper and stronger than romantic love.

This is unconditional love. This is the way Anna loved Elsa. This is the way that Kristoff eventually loves Anna. This is the way that God loves us.

While not the point of Disney’s Frozen, we do see the sacrificial side of romantic love. When Kristoff finally realizes that he loves Anna and that Anna loves him, he sets off to save her with “true love’s kiss,” regardless of the dangerous situation into which he puts himself.

[Tweet “Frozen reminds us that true love is a love that thinks of others as greater than oneself.”]

When it comes to love – Philia love, Eros love and Agape love – remember the “golden rule.”

Treat others in the same way that you would want them to treat you. (Luke 6:31)

Whom do you love?

Do you love someone with Philia love? A best friend? A mother, a father, a brother, a sister or a child? A co-worker? A classmate? Do you treat them the way you want them to treat you? Do you love them unconditionally? Do you put their needs before your own?

Do you love someone with Eros love? A spouse? A boyfriend? A girlfriend? A finance? Do you treat them the way you want them to treat you? Do you love them unconditionally? Do you put their needs before your own?

Write down the name of someone you love with Philia love or Eros love. Pray for and look for ways that you can love them unconditionally over the next week. Write down and list the ways you can love them and then do it. Afterward, be sure to mark it off of the list you made. Love does. Go and do.

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

August 25, 2015

How to See God’s Story in Movies (Part 2)

(This is part 2 of a 3 part series. Parts 1 & 3 are here: How to see God’s Story in Movies Part 1 & How to see God’s Story in Movies Part 3)

This is part 2 of my attempt to answer the most common question I get about Reel Parables, “How do you do it?”

Part 1 was all about seeing a pattern.

There is a corrupt world, usually with a counterfeit king or ruler.
There is typically an outside – and dual natured – hero (savior) who is not a part of the corrupt world.
The Hero will almost always sacrifice something, often his/her life.
If the hero dies, he/she will often be resurrected or reborn. If the hero does not die, the world is often restored to its former glory. Also, relationships are restored and reunited.
This resurrection/restoration usually leads to community (restored relationships) and a calling.

In part 2 we will see how this pattern shows itself in a “Lost Parables.”

Jesus and the Lost Parables

In Luke 15 Jesus told three Lost Parables; one about a lost sheep, one about a lost coin, and another about two lost sons.

In each of these stories we get to see what Jesus is like.

The shepherd went looking for one lost sheep, even though he had 99 others. Why? Because that one sheep was important to him. We are that important to Jesus. Jesus loves you the same way.

The woman went looking for one coin, even though she has 9 others. Why? Because that one coin was valuable to her. You are that valuable to Jesus. Jesus loves you the same way.

Finally, a father had two sons. While both wanted the father’s blessing/wealth, neither wanted the father. One got his inheritance early, ran away, and blew it. The other stayed, had access to all the father’s blessings, but ignored it.

Both sons had issues, not just the proverbial “Prodigal Son.” The father loved – and longed for – both sons.

In each of these stories we see Jesus’ character.

Jesus loves and cares for us the way the shepherd loved and cared for the one lost sheep.
Jesus finds us valuable in the same way that the woman found the one lost coin valuable.
Jesus longs to be with – and share His blessing – with us, just like the father wanted to give his blessing on his two sons.

Adam and Eve and the Lost Parable

This story – God looking for what was lost – goes all the way back to the beginning, all the way back to Genesis.

Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God moving about in the orchard at the breezy time of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the orchard. But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” The man replied, “I heard you moving about in the orchard, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.” (Genesis 3:8-10)

Adam and Eve had sinned.

Adam and Eve were ashamed.

Adam and Eve tried to hide from God.

But God went looking for them. Yea, I know God knew where they were. But He was calling out to them, “Where are you?” They were lost and God went out to find them.

You and Me and the Lost Parable

These three lost parables retell our story. Like the sheep, like the coin, and like the children (sons), we too are lost.

But your sinful acts have alienated you from your God;your sins have caused him to reject you and not listen to your prayers. Isaiah 59:2

Because of our sins we are separated from God. Me. You. Your parents. Your kids. Everyone.

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)

But just like the shepherd searched for the sheep, just like the old woman searched for the coin, and just like the father was looking out for his son, Jesus chases after us.

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

Yes, while we were still sinners – and therefore lost (separated from God) – Jesus demonstrated His love for us by dying for us.

Jesus died for us while we were sinners.

Jesus died for us while we were still lost.

Jesus died for us while we were separated from God.

Hollywood and the Lost Parable

FYI – Hollywood can’t stop remaking and retelling the Lost Parable.

Finding Nemo

Nemo is literally “caught up in his sin.” He disobeys his dad, Marlin, and is caught by a diver with a net. How do you know Marlin still loves Nemo, even though he disobeyed? Because he went looking for him!

Finding Nemo is the parable of the lost fish.

The next time you watch Finding Nemo with your kids remind them that they are like Nemo and lost because of their sin. But also remind them that Jesus loves them the way Marlin loved Nemo! And just like Marlin went looking for Nemo, because he loved him, Jesus is looking for them (and died to save them)!

Frozen

Elsa, ashamed and afraid of her own actions, runs away. She is the lost sister. But Anna, the sister she left behind, loves her and went out looking for her lost sister.

In this story we are Elsa, the lost ones, and Anna is the Christ character. She even died to save Else like Jesus died to save us.

And just like Jesus rose from the dead, so did Anna!

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

Jesus loves us the way Anna loved Else.

The next time you watch Frozen with your kids remind them that they are like Elsa and lost because of their actions. But also remind them that Jesus loves them the way Anna loved Else. Not only did she go out looking for Elsa, but she died to save her. Just like Jesus died for us.

Saving Private Ryan

Not all Hollywood Lost Parables are for kids. Saving Private Ryan is a Lost Parable for adults.

Private Ryan is lost at war and a group of soldiers are sent to find him.

Like Jesus did for us, these men sacrificed their own lives to save Private Ryan.

Yes, Jesus demonstrated His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, He died for us!

Yes, the Lost Parables are powerful. We get them. We understand them. They move us.

Why? Because the Lost Parable is our story.

Be on the look out for this type of Reel Parable.

Someone is lost, usually due to their actions (sins).
Someone, the hero and Christ-figure, will chase them and try to find them.
This hero will usually sacrifice something to save them, usually their life.
That sacrifice usually leads to resurrection or restoration or reunion.

You can share God’s story the next time you see this Lost Parable in a movie!

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. (Luke 19:10)

I know this is a lot, so In addition to the worksheets above, I have also combined all three parts into one free e-book, How to Share God’s Story with 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 our new Start Here and About pages!

Until next time, God bless.

Simon L Smith

July 23, 2015February 16, 2018

The 3 Best Movies for Sharing God’s Story with Kids

Kids love a good story. And you know what? They should!

Even God likes stories.

When God chose to reveal Himself to us in the Bible He did it with story. A huge chunk of the Bible is story (narrative). Jesus also loved story. Specifically, Jesus often taught and preached with stories, we call them parables. (Hence the name of this site, Reel Parables!) There is something about a good story that we just get. That is why using movies to share God’s story is such a good idea. We love stories and they often teach us about God and His story. So, without further ado, here are the best three movies for sharing God’s story with younger kids.

(Be sure to also check out the 3 best movies for sharing God’s story with teens. and the 3 best movies for sharing God’s story with adults.)

Frozen

No, I can’t just let it go! (See what I did there?) Frozen is a great movie with which to share God’s story.

Frozen tells us the gospel story. And is a great way to share that good news with kids!

Also, this past Lent we looked at Disney’s Frozen in the context of being emptied and humbled (Philippians 2). We went a bit deeper than usual, but this is a great complimentary read for the parents, teachers, and pastors:

Emptied & Humbled – Disney’s Frozen:

Finally, we also have two free infographics that outline how to share God’s story with Disney’s Frozen:

Free Sharing God’s Story with Disney’s Frozen Infographics

Free Sharing God’s Story with Disney’s Frozen and the Wordless Book

Wreck-it Ralph

Much like with Frozen, Wreck-it Ralph shows us the gospel story. There is a fallen world with a fake ruler. There is an outside savior (Ralph) who is willing to sacrifice himself to save Sugar Rush. There is the restoration – the resurrection – of the world (of Sugar Rush), specifically with Vanellope, who ends up being a Princess – the daughter of the REAL king. Just like those of us who are Christians, we’ve been adopted into God’s family and are fellow heirs with Christ!

As we did with Frozen, we went a little deeper with Wreck-it Ralph over Lent. Again, this may be a bit deep for kids but makes for a great devotional for parents, teachers, and pastors.

Emptied & Humbled – Wreck-it Ralph:

Finding Nemo

Finding Nemo is a great Reel Parable to follow Jesus’ Lost Parables; The lost sheep, the lost coin, the lost sons, and Finding Nemo.

Nemo is “lost” because he disobeyed his father. Marlin said not to go past a certain point. Nemo rebelled and disobeyed and was literally caught (in a net!) in his sin.

But even though Nemo sinned, his father still loved him and went looking for him, just like the shepherd, just like the woman, and just like the prodigal son’s father.

That is our story too. Because of our sin, we are separated from God, but God comes looking for us also.

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

God did not wait for us to come to Him. While we are sinners – and lost from Him – Jesus died for us.

God pursues us!

Just like Marlin pursued Nemo.

It is an easy story and a great way to show kids that God loves them, even when they sin. Just like Marlin still loved Nemo after he sinned.

We also have something a bit deeper for you parents and teachers and pastors.

Emptied & Humbled – Finding Nemo

Honorable Mention – The Classic Jungle Book

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WS2dDDsrIwk

No one has greater love than this – that one lays down his life for his friends. (John 15:13)

(Drops mic and walks away….)

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 our new Start Here and About pages!

Until next time, God bless.

Simon L Smith

January 5, 2015

Be Your Kid’s Spiritual Hero

Every story has a hero.

The Matrix has Neo. Lord of the Rings has Frodo. Star Wars has Luke Skywalker. Frozen has, well, no spoilers… yet. Your kids have you.

Every hero has a goal.

As parents, our goal is to see our kids grow in wisdom, in stature, and in favor with God and man (Luke 2:52).

We want to teach our kids about God and His Word.

We want to help our kids understand God’s Story and we want to help our kids understand their place in God’s Story.

Simply put, we want to disciple our kids.

Every hero has a struggle.

The goal is easy enough – disciple our kids. So what’s the problem?

Sometimes this is easier said than done.

Sometimes our kids would rather watch TV or a movie.

Sometimes our kids are more interested in entertainment than they are education.

Sometimes they simply check out at the mention of a well-known Bible story.

Sometimes they just want to watch Frozen for the 100th time.

Sometimes they want to build a snowman!

Every hero has a mentor.

Neo has Morpheus. Frodo has Gandalf. Luke Skywalker has Obi-Wan. You have me.

Let me help you share God’s Story with your kids! Let me be your Morpheus. Let me be your Gandalf. Let me be your Obi-Wan.

Every hero takes action!

Like Jesus often did, I will show you how to share God’s Word with a story.

Like Paul, we can use our culture to share God’s Story. (Acts 17:16-34)

Sharing God’s Story with Disney’s Frozen is a movie-based Bible study that uses a movie your kids already love to teach them about the most important story, God’s Story.

Why? Because Frozen tells a very biblical story.

Arendelle is under a curse because of one person’s actions.

Only an act of true love can lift the curse.

In Frozen, this act of true love ends up being sacrificial love.

The story ends with a sacrificial death and a resurrection!

Yes, Disney’s Frozen can teach us God’s Story!

Download your copy of Sharing God’s Story with Disney’s Frozen today!

Together we can share God’s Story with Disney’s Frozen.

You – and your kids – will not be disappointed.
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 our new Start Here and About pages!

Until next time, God bless.

Simon L Smith

July 10, 2014February 15, 2018

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

July 8, 2014February 15, 2018

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

July 1, 2014February 15, 2018

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

June 26, 2014February 15, 2018

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