MDC 10

Ethics Examined
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Click on the study title youd like to see:
Leaders Guide: HOW TO START A CHURCH FILM FESTIVAL
Study 1: THE LADYKILLERS
Study 2: GODSEND
Study 3: HOTEL RWANDA

g Study 4: THE VILLAGE
Study 5: CHANGING LANES
Study 6: Crash
MOVIE-BASED DISCUSSION GUIDE
How to Start a Film Festival in Your Church
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Movies can be a fun and effective way to initiate spiritual discussions.
By JoHannah Reardon
I was a child of the 60s. Although I wasnt raised in the church, I had friends who had to
sneak out of the house to watch The Sound of Music in the theater. When I was 16, the
prohibition of sex, language, and violence in Hollywood was lifted. I remember how I sat in
shock watching The Graduate, crumbling my G-rated world forever.
Times have changed.

It has taken an entire generation of Christians to accept and even embrace the modern film
industry. Most of us have realized that for better or worse, the film industry is here to stay.
Out of this attitude, a new idea is emerging: Instead of spending all our time railing against
something we cannot change, why dont we use film to communicate the truth of Gods
Word to a hurting world?
A great way to do this is to hold a film festival at your church. To make this kind of festival
a success, we consulted with Bryan Zug of Harambee Church in South Seattle, Washington,
and David Taylor of Hope Chapel in Austin, Texas, who have successfully hosted film
festivals at their churches. They offer the following insights on how churches can use film
wisely and effectively.
Talk to Your Church Leadership

Although Christians today are generally far more receptive to movies than they were 50
years ago, questions remain about the validity of film in the church, and rightly so.
Individuals view the matter quite differently, from those who watch only G-rated films to
those who watch almost anything. The last thing you want to do is create a battle over this
in your church.
The place to start is with your church leadership. If you are considering having a film
festival in your church, you will want to make sure it fits in with the culture and goals of
your congregation. If you are an inner-city church full of 20-somethings, you will probably
have an easier time promoting this idea than if you are a rural church full of mostly retired
people. Carefully think through why a film festival would be a good idea and back it up with
Scripture. The church leadership will need to see that you want to use film to engage the
church in a spiritual discussion and not just as a gimmick to be edgy and contemporary. If
your church leadership is not behind the idea of a film festival, consider having a private
party in your home instead, where you invite a few friends and neighbors.
Decide on a Name and Your Goals

Come up with both a name and goals for your festival. Brainstorm names that would
attract people to your event. Depending on your target audience, Faith and Film
Weekend or Movies and Theology Night may work well. Also, think through clear-cut
goals for the event. Do you want to challenge a persons view of movies or just provide
entertainment? Do you want it to be family friendly or an adult discussion only? Do you
want to provide a gathering point for church members or use it as an outreach? Are you
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going to show the entire film or just clips of the film to discuss?
2008 CHRISTIANITY TODAY INTERNATIONAL

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Find Your Stance on Ratings

Establish some ground rules about how to deal with movie ratings. At Taylors church, they
have no age limits on who can attend. Instead, they let parents determine what they think
is best for their children to watch. Also, when he is showing a movie clip in a talk or
discussion, he always makes sure it is a PG-rated clip no matter what the rating of the
movie. Zugs church, on the other hand, relies heavily on the movies rating. For example, if
a film is R-rated, they discourage those under 17 from attending by making it clear who the
movie is for.
Prepare the Discussion Leaders

Its vital to have good discussion leaders. Those guiding the conversation need to know
how to keep it going rather than killing it. Any good discussion is dependent upon the
questions; however, you can destroy a great question by providing an answer before people
have had a chance to talk. If a leader pushes his or her ideas without allowing others to
express their points of view, the leader will not win them to his or her side but will simply
discourage them from speaking what they think.
In fact, encourage leaders to avoid giving their opinion until the end of the discussion. The
leader should be willing to let Gods Word and Spirit be the ultimate teacher. Leaders
should refrain from giving pat, simplistic answers but instead encourage people to further
study Gods Word for the truth. God is full of mystery, and we should not be too anxious to
make everything fit into our theological paradigm. As leaders, we need to allow Gods Word
to challenge our presuppositions too.
Make sure to keep the discussion on track. Allow discussion while making sure it stays on
the subject. If it wanders, gently bring it back.
Finally, communicate love, not judgment. Group members will not want to answer
questions honestly if they are ridiculed or shot down for their answers. In fact, they may
not even come back. Look for ways to show you care about the person and not just a right
answer.
Work Out the Details

Do you want to show the movie in the sanctuary or in the educational wing? Do you want
everyone sitting at tables or theater style? Will you provide refreshments? How will you
publicize the event? Are you going to provide childcare? If you are going to use it as an
outreach, do you want to provide follow-up? How much time will you allow for the
discussion? Will it be a one-night event, an entire weekend, or a regular occurrence?
You need permission to show movies, even short clips, in your church. The licensing
system works a lot like the CCLI (Christian Copyright Licensing International) license
many churches purchase to print or project song lyrics. CCLI has partnered with Motion
Picture Licensing Corporation (MPLC) to offer a service especially for churches. Church
Video Licensing International (CVLI) offers an umbrella license for an annual fee. You
can show authorized titles from MPLCs long list of big studios (including Sony, Warner
Brothers, and Disney) and from a growing list of Christian movie producers. This license
covers film showing as long as no admission fee is charged and the title is not advertised to
the general public. See below for contact information.
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Finally, you will need to choose which movies to show. CHRISTIANBIBLESTUDIES.COM

offers discussion guides on many popular movies and connects those movies to biblical

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issues like relationships, families, redemption, and overcoming difficulties. The purpose of
these guides is to help people think Christianly about what they see in the movies, the
most powerful media of our time.
By hosting a film festival and guiding meaningful discussions about the spiritual themes
portrayed in movies, your church can broaden understanding and faith while combating
the cultural messages that contradict Scripture.
JoHannah Reardon is an associate editor for CHRISTIANBIBLESTUDIES.COM.
Movie licensing information.

Licensing fees are based on church size and can be granted over the phone.
CVLI (Church Video Licensing International)
Phone: 1.888.771.2854
Web site: http://www.cvli.org
MPLC (Motion Picture Licensing Corporation)
5455 Centinela Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90066-6970.
Phone: 310.822.8855 or 1.800.462.8855
Web site: http://www.mplc.com
E-mail: info@mplc.com
Movie Discussion Guides:

http://www.christianitytoday.com/biblestudies/movies/

The Ladykillers
A dark comedy about character, justice, and the good life.
The Ladykillers is a dark comedy set in sleepy Saucier,

Mississippi, deep in the Bible Belt, where the forces of good and
evil meet. The villainous professor, Goldthwait Dorr,
masterminds a riverboat casino heist, and the pious widow,
Marva Munson, unwittingly plays host and foil to the con artist
and his dimwitted henchmen.
This study guide will help you discuss the deeper themes of the
movie. What does this film say about how God intervenes in our
lives? How does it portray the church and Christian worship?
What impact do our habits of thought and lifestyle have on our
character? How do we find true joy? And how is justice delivered
in this world?
Based on:
The Ladykillers (Buena Vista Pictures, 2004), directed by Joel and Ethan Coen, based on the 1955 Ealing Studios
production of The Ladykillers, screenplay by William Rose, Joel Coen, and Ethan Coen, rated R for language
including sexual references.
MOVIE-BASED DISCUSSION GUIDE LEADERS GUIDE
The Ladykillers
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Movie Summary
The eloquently verbose con artist, professor Goldthwait Higginson Dorr III (Tom
Hanks), has a plan. The Bandit Queen, a riverboat casino moored just off Marva Munsons
(Irma P. Hall) home, has $1.6 million dollars he intends to steal. By running a local want
ad, Dorr assembles a motley troop of criminals: Gawain MacSam (Marlon Wayans), an
aggressive street hood with a dirty mouth and lustful impulse-control problems; Garth
Pancake (J. K. Simmons), a demolitions man with bowel-control issues; Lump Hudson
(Ryan Hurst), a muscle-bound heavy with a mental impairment; and the General (Tzi Ma),
a former tunnel-digging Vietnamese general of few words and a lethal smoking habit.
Dorrs plan is set after he rents a room from Munson, and he and his bumbling bandits
invade Munsons root cellar. With battered musical instruments as props, Dorr tells
Munson they are practicing rococo classical musicactually supplied by a boom box. With
a few setbacks, such as an inopportune explosion, a severed finger, and a last-minute bribe
for a corrupt casino boss, the gang finally digs the tunnel and loots the casino. But thats
when the master plan collapses, and the God-fearing Marva Munson becomes the problem
no plan could have predicted. Now they have to kill her. Amazingly, Munson escapes each
attempt at her life and ends up with the money, which she promptly tries to return and
ends up giving away.
The movie demonstrateswith more than mere piles of cashthat crime does not pay and
virtue is its own reward.
For more coverage of The Ladykillers, visit

http://christianitytoday.com/movies/reviews/ladykillers.html
Rated R:
This film is inappropriate for younger viewers due to frequent profanity, crass comments
about male and female anatomy, toilet humor, and a few violent outbursts that can be both
cartoonish and bloody.
Discussing the Scenes

Select one or more of these themes to discuss:
1. Church and Worship
2. Divine Intervention
3. Christianity in the Movies
4. The Making of Character
5. Joy and the Good Life
6. Justice
1. Church and Worship

(Ephesians 2:22; Philippians 4:47; Hebrews 10:25)
Throughout the movie we see Marva Munson at dynamic church services. The congregants
are so visibly worshiping that the scenes are emotionally stirring and uplifting.
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Read Ephesians 2:22, Philippians 4:47, and Hebrews 10:25.

The Ladykillers
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[Q] Why should we rejoice during church worship?
[Q] What is it like to be in a moving worship service? If youve experienced one, how did
you feel touched or stirred? Talk about the effect it had on you.
[Q] How did you feel during these scenes in the film? Were you moved in any way while
watching them?
[Q] How well did the scenes fit in the context of an absurd plot?
At the end of the movie, Lump says, Ive been doing some thinking, maybe we should be
going to church
[Q] What might have happened if any of the criminals had gone to church with Marva?
2. Divine Intervention
(Exodus 14:2330; Acts 5:110; Acts 28:16)
As Dorrs plans crumble and the gang decides to murder Marva Munson, each attempt fails
at the last second. Each thug is killed, either at the hands of another criminal or by an
outlandish accident. MacSam dies while fighting over his own gun. Pancake flees with the
money, but hes caught and killed by the General when his irritable bowel slows him down.
The General is startled by a Jesus cuckoo clock, swallows his cigarette, and tumbles down
the stairs to his death. Lump tries to intervene but is killed by his own stupidity and
professor Dorrs handgun. And a crumbling gargoyle fells Dorr, who plunges to his death
on a barge destined for Garbage Islanda metaphor for hell, and the destination of each of
the dimwitted fools, even down to the severed digit.
[Q] What does the film imply by protecting Marvas life and killing the criminals?
[Q] Who or what is the implied ultimate agent behind these things? Is God at work, or are
these criminals merely the victims of coincidence?
[Q] If its God, what does that say about him?

Read Exodus 14:2330, Acts 5:110, and Acts 28:16.
[Q] Have you ever had a close brush with evil only to realize later that God protected you?
Why do you believe it was God rather than a coincidence?
[Q] If God can protect us from harm, why does he allow bad things to happen at all? Are
we being punished if something bad happens to us? When may that be happening
and when not?

The Ladykillers
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3. Christianity in the Movies

(Isaiah 54:17; John 17:15; 2 Corinthians 10:35; Titus 2:78)
Marva Munson is a devout Southern woman deeply concerned about the immoral state of
culture. She complains about thumpity stereos and the lyrics of hippity-hop music. She
mourns the state of culture 2,000 years after Jesus, 30 years after Martin, in the age of
Montel. She warns the sheriff to help someone, arguing, You dont want to be tried and
found wantin. Then, foreshadowing Dorrs entrance, she warns: Theres a stranger in our
midst, come to deceive us.
After this introduction, we might expect to see Munson portrayed as a busybody religious
nut. But she faithfully keeps the memory of her devout husband alive, 20 years after his
death. She regularly contributes a widows mite to a Bible school (Bob Jones University),
and she is faithful in her attendance at church. She cherishes the wisdom of God found in
Scripture. She resists greed, and she is generous in her hospitality, even while laying down
the law about ungodly behavior in her home.
[Q] Many contemporary films treat Christians and their beliefs contemptuouslyat best
with condescension, and at worst with outright ridicule. What are some reasons why
this film gives a positive portrayal of a womans devout faith?
[Q] Why is Munsons integrity and piety important for the frustration of evil plans later in
the movie?
[Q] Why do you think the filmmakers spent so much screen time with Munson at church?
Wouldnt it have been enough to show her quoting a few verses now and then?
[Q] How have other movies portrayed Christianity? What impact do you think those
portrayals have had on our culture?
4. The Making of Character

(Romans 1:1832; Romans 6:19; 1 Corinthians 10:2324;
Galatians 6:78; 1 Peter 1:13)
Professor Dorr presents himself as a man of purely intellectual pursuits. He has mastered
Latin and Greek, reads classical tomes, and uses impenetrably dense language. He is
obsessed with an author of dark and macabre works: I just love, love, love Edgar Allen
Poe.
[Q] What does Dorrs obsession with Poes writing say about him? How does it affect his
thinking?
[Q] What kinds of books, movies, television shows, or music contribute to sin in our
lives?
[Q] Is there any such thing as a harmless obsession? Why or why not?
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[Q] What impact does our thought life have on our behavior? What do you think Dorr
spent time thinking about? What did Munson spend time thinking about?

The Ladykillers
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[Q] What about the other characters in the filmGawain MacSam, Garth Pancake, the
General, and Lump? How do their actions reveal their hearts? What kinds of
obsessions or thoughts motivate each of them?
In an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times, Tom Hanks said, [Dorr] says he's on
sabbatical from that college in Mississippi, but I think he's been on sabbatical for 17 years.
You just know he got fired for something, probably something a bit scandalous.
[Q] How is Dorrs true character first revealed to us? How is Munsons character
revealed?
[Q] What happens when people try to hide sin in their heart? Why is it almost inevitable
that the truth comes out?
Near the end of the film, Dorr tries to bribe Munsons silence with a substantial portion of
the loot. She sways but finally resists. Later, when she has full control of the money, she
tries to return it but is told she can have it allwhich she then decides to give away.
[Q] How was Munson able to resist the temptation of all that money?
[Q] What would you do if you suddenly found yourself with $1.6 million? What might it
do to your life? Your character? Your relationship with people?
[Q] How would you define integrity? How did Munson show integrity?
Read two or three of these passages: Romans 1:1832, Romans 6:19, 1 Corinthians 10:23
24, Galatians 6:78, 1 Peter 1:13.
[Q] What do these passages say about the relation between our thoughts and our actions?
[Q] What are some ways we can control our thoughts and improve our character?
5. Joy and the Good Life

(Job 20:45;Philippians 4:49, 1112)
During the films church scenes, we see faces everywhere suffused with delight. Feet are
tapping, hands are clapping, arms are raised in worship, and radiant joy lights the screen.
In contrast, whether in the root cellar of iniquity or at the local Waffle Hut, Dorr and his
dimwitted cronies are the picture of anger, greed, and enmity.
[Q] What is the difference between pleasure and joy? What about happiness and joy?
[Q] What are some characteristics of joyful Christians? What sets them apart from people
without joy?
[Q] Why are the Christians the only joyful people in this film? Besides the foot-tapping
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music, what makes the difference?

The Ladykillers
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[Q] When, in your life, have you been the most joyful? How can you carry that joy into
other areas of your life?
[Q] When has joy been absent from your life? What caused your lack of joy? How did you
find your way back?
[Q] What is it like to be around people who dont have joy in their lives?
[Q] How can we live a life of joy even while suffering? How can we find joy even in a
culture that is, bit by bit, sailing for Garbage Island?
6. Justice
(Proverbs 29:26; Ecclesiastes 3:1617; Isaiah 1:17; Romans 12:18
20; 2 Peter 2:9)
The preacher at Munsons church refers to the time when Moses caught the Israelites red-
handed, worshiping the golden calf, worshiping the false god, because Israel was in
decline. So, the preacher says, God smote those sinners in his wrath.
Read Proverbs 29:26, Ecclesiastes 3:1617, Isaiah 1:17, Romans 12:1820, and 2 Peter 2:9.
[Q] How would you define justice?
[Q] Describe some times when you believe justice was delivered.
[Q] God says he is the one to deliver vengeance. What about justice? What are some ways
we work for justice? When should we actively work for justice, and when should we
wait for Gods justice? Describe a time you were caught in that quandary.
[Q] What do you think about how justice was measured out in this movie? Was it
complete? Was it truly just? If you had the chance to rewrite this film, what would
your version of justice look like?
When justifying his thievery to Munson, Dorr convinces her that the casino is a den of
iniquity, that the money is dirty, and the casino doesnt deserve the money. He tells her the
casino is insured so the money will never be missed. In an interview with Hollywood.com,
Marlon Wayans, who played Gawain MacSam, was asked, If you could rob any
establishment, what would it be? He answered, Something corrupt, like a government.
Or I'd probably rob somebody who robbed somebody. Like a drug dealer.
[Q] What kind of morality is at work behind these statements? Can you think of other
examples that exhibit that kind of morality?
[Q] How would you respond if somebody told you a sin was justifiable as long as the cost
was small or the victim was wicked?

The Ladykillers
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As the Credits Roll

[Q] What role did music play in this film? When the film opened, Marva Munson was
complaining about hippity-hop music, and when professor Dorr persuaded her to
let his gang practice music in her cellar, he said the music was gospel-inspired.
What role do you think music plays in culture? Is it possible for music to be sinful in
and of itself?
[Q] Lumps character is mentally impaired, maybe due to a number of concussions. His
navet and obliviousness lead to his exploitation. He responded to an ad designed to
attract greedy lowlifes, but hes not mean-spirited like the rest of the team. What is
the message behind this characters involvement in the plot? Can ignorance ever
protect you from the consequences of your decisions?
[Q] What other themes did you see in The Ladykillers?
[Q] What messages did this movie convey that troubled you or that conflicted with your
faith?
[Q] What messages did this movie convey that encouraged your faith or helped you see
truth in a new way?
Study by Rich Tatum, Internet operations manager

for Christianity Today International.

Godsend
If you could bring someone back from the dead through
human cloningwould you?
Godsend is a what if thriller about the legal, ethical, and moral

implications of human engineering. What would happen if
human cloning became available? Could the option of
resurrecting a lost loved one become an actual temptation? How
do these ethical issues take on additional meaning for Christians
who believe God created human beings in his image? Why are
bio-future thrillers like Godsend, Gattica (which explores a world
of designer children), and Alien Resurrection (in which alien and
human DNA are mixed to form a hybrid being) so compelling?
Based on:
Godsend (Lions Gate Films, 2004), directed by Nick Hamm, written by Mark Bomback, rated PG-13
Godsend
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Movie Summary
Paul and Jessie Duncan are devastated when their only son, Adam, dies in a freak accident.
Dr. Richard Wells, a medical researcher working clandestinely on the edge of new
technology, offers to clone Adam. The clone will still be Adam, he insists. The first eight
years will be much like the original Adams first eight years. After that, the nurturing
process will continue as it would have.
Given only 72 hours to decide before Adams cells lose viability, Paul and Jessie accept the
offer. Dr. Wells insists they move to a new town and live, at his expense, in a restored
seaside house. They must cut all ties with family and friends to keep from being exposed
and prosecuted.
(Warning: If you havent yet seen the movie, you may not want to read the following
three paragraphs.)
Unbeknownst to the Duncans, Dr. Wells has his own motivations for cloning Adam. His
son, Zachary, had died, and Dr. Wells combines Zacharys cells with those of Adam.
At age eight, the new Adam begins to develop night terrors and shifts between his Adam
personality and a frightening alter egoa psychopathic boy who killed his mother and died
in a fire he set himself. Paul and Jessie are terrified as their son shifts from Adam to
Zachary. As the night terrors continue, Adam/Zachary becomes more dangerous. He
murders a schoolmate and is stopped just before he kills his mother.
The family moves again. Adam undergoes rigorous therapy and seems to improve. But no
therapist has ever dealt with a boy who was cloned from two originals: Adam, and Dr.
Wellss psychopathic son Zachary.
For more coverage of Godsend, visit

http://www.christianitytoday.com/movies/reviews/godsend.html
Rated PG-13
This film is rated PG-13 for violence including frightening images, a scene of sexuality, and
some thematic material.

1. Defying Death
2. Faith in Science
3. Medical Advancement
4. Dealing with the Devil
5. Whats the Source of Life?
6. Deception

Godsend
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1. Defying Death
(1 Samuel 28:120; Luke 16:1931)
Godsend contemplates what may happen in the future. It may seem far-fetched, but
already we can clone animals. Genetic Savings and Clone, a bioengineering firm in
California, has offered to clone a favorite pet for $50,000. The Alcor Life Extension
Association and The World Transhumanist Association advocate cryogenics: the freezing of
deceased bodies (or heads) in the hope that they can be cloned at a further date. Several
notable people have allegedly been frozen until science makes cloning possible.
[Q] What motivations do people have for wanting human cloning?
[Q] Discuss the different motivations of Paul, Jessie, and Dr. Wells for cloning Adam.
[Q] Does this second chance at life affect the grieving process? Long term, is this a good
thing?
[Q] Read Luke 16:1931. What does this passage tell us about what happens after we die?
What does it say about interaction between the living and the dead?
[Q] Read 1 Samuel 28:120. Why did Saul disobey God and ask the witch to summon
Samuel from the dead? What should he have done instead?
[Q] Do you know anyone who has gone to a witch or psychic to deal with fear and grief?
2. Faith in Science
(Genesis 3:124; Genesis 11:18)
Through science, we have benefited from nuclear power, fossil energy, chemicals, and
deep-sea fishing. But those same wonders of science have also created nuclear weapons,
poisoned the environment, and depleted fish stocks to the point of extinction.
[Q] Cloning promises great benefits to humankind. What are the possible dangers of
cloning?
[Q] What kept Paul and Jessie from dealing with the loss of their son in a healthy way?
[Q] What did Dr. Wells promise them in the name of science? Why did he fail to warn
them about the dangers of cloning their son?
[Q] Read Genesis 3:124. Why were Adam and Eve not content with what God had
allowed them in the garden?
[Q] Is the argument against cloning similar to the churchs condemnation of Galileo when
he asserted that the world revolves around the sun?
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Godsend
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[Q] Can you think of other examples where the church was too quick to condemn
scientific exploration? When has it failed to be critical enough of scientific
experimentation?
3. Medical Advancement
(Numbers 5:14; Mark 5:120; John 9:141)
In Jesus day lepers were considered unclean. Now they are treated with antibiotics. Some
descriptions of the demon possessed sound like current descriptions of people suffering
from seizures and schizophrenia. As medicine advances, we re-examine our attitudes
toward illness and healing.
However, bioethics has been criticized as a field of situational ethics, divorced from
spiritual and moral values. David B. Fletcher of The Center for Bioethics and Human
Dignity writes, Bioethics has obliged medical professionals to share these intriguing and
critical discussions with lawyers, social scientists, theologians, and philosophers.
[Q] Read Mark 5:120 and John 9:141. Jesus healed people to show the glory of God.
Do modern medical procedures also show the glory of God? When do they and when
dont they?
[Q] If Dr. Wells had not deceived Paul and Jessie, would the procedure have been
beneficial?
[Q] Can cloning, as a way to heal grief, be considered a legitimate medical treatment that
also shows the glory of God?
[Q] How do we distinguish between life-saving science and the science of vanity and
presumptive arrogance?
[Q] What is the role of lay people in the development of bioethics, given that we lack the
technical expertise of scientists and surgeons?
4. Dealing with the Devil

(Genesis 3:124; Matthew 4:111)
In the story of Faust, a doctor seeks riches and fame. The Devil agrees to give them in
return for Fausts soul. This theme has been reworked many times in film and literature. It
is often used as a metaphor for when we knowingly ignore the consequences of our actions.
For instance, recreational drugs offer ecstasy and deliver wreckage. Promiscuous sex
promises freedom and pleasure yet often delivers pain and suffering. Credit cards and
quick loans offer financial help but can also cause ruin. We often make such deals with the
Devil and are disappointed with the outcomes.
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[Q] Were Paul and Jessie deliberately ignoring moral concerns or were they just naive?

Godsend
Page 5
[Q] How do we know when we are making a pact with evil?
[Q] Other than the examples above, can you think of pacts with evil that we willingly or
naively enter?
[Q] Can you think of an example of a medical procedure that causes harm rather than
healing? What are the promised rewards of participating in such procedures? What
are some potential evil consequences?
[Q] Read Matthew 4:111. What would have happened if Jesus had agreed to one of
Satans offers?
5. Whats the Source of Life?

(Genesis 2:425; Psalm 139:1316)
[Q] Many Christians argue that cloning is outside Gods desired plan for creation. How
would cloning be different from other medical procedures, such as in-vitro
fertilization, that create life? Would it be different to create a cloned child than to
pursue fertility treatments?
[Q] Read Genesis 2:425. How does this passage explain the creation of life? What does it
imply about cloning?
[Q] What evidence do we see that Paul or Jessie doubted a cloned Adam would be the
same as the original?
[Q] Read Psalm 139:1316. If cloning becomes possible, will it occur as part of Gods plan
or in spite of it?
6. Deception
(Genesis 37:1236; Jeremiah 9:46)
Clients of a sperm bank were shocked to find that they had been cruelly deceived. After
filling out a wish list for such traits as height, coloring, intelligence, and musical and
artistic ability, they were supposedly impregnated with sperm from donors whose
characteristics matched their own desires. They later discovered that an employee had
been substituting his own sperm and had fathered dozens of children.
[Q] Paul and Jessie question Dr. Wells competence. Why dont they question his
honesty? What does this imply about rationality in grief?
[Q] How might Paul and Jessie have kept from being deceived?
[Q] Read Genesis 37:1236. Why does Joseph trust his brothers when they are obviously
so jealous of him?
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Godsend
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[Q] What examples can you give of deception by trusted professionals or leaders?
[Q] How should we react to the warning in Jeremiah 9:46? How can we keep from
becoming cynical or jaded by this fallen world?
As the Credits Roll

[Q] What other ethical or moral themes did you see in Godsend?
[Q] Did this movie encourage you to examine your faith, or did it undermine it?
[Q] Have you followed the news reports and public debate about human cloning? What
can you do to honor your convictions on this issue?
Study by Stefan Ulstein, movie reviewer for ChristianityTodayMovies.com.

DISCUSSION GUIDE
Hotel Rwanda
This dramatic film tells the real-life story of one mans struggle to
survive and save others during the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
Hotel Rwanda recounts the true story of Paul Rusesabagina, a

hotel manager in the Rwandan capital of Kigali, during the climax
of that nations 1994 civil war and large-scale massacre. When
chaos descends on his family and hotel, Rusesabagina tries in
vain to secure some sense of normalcy to his life. But the gravity
of the situation prods him to seek untapped reservoirs of courage
and risk his life for others.
This study guide will help you discuss the deep themes in Hotel
Rwanda. What does the movie convey about the dignity and
worth of each human life? What does this film say about the
nature of evil? How do the characters summon courage in the
midst of crisis?
Based on:
Hotel Rwanda (United Artists, 2004), directed by Terry George, screenplay by Terry George and Keir Pearson, rated
PG-13 for violence and brief, strong language
Hotel Rwanda
Page 2
Movie Summary
Neighbor turned against neighbor in 1994 when the radical Rwandan Hutu majority called
for the massacre of Tutsi countrymen, who formerly held power under imperialist Belgium.
In less than three months, nearly 1 million Tutsis and moderate Hutus lost their lives
during the infectious madness.
This movie portrays the true story of Paul Rusesabagina (Don Cheadle), manager of the
posh Hotel des Mille Collines, who tries to use his military and Western connections to
save not only his Tutsi wife and family, but more than 1,000 refugees who have fled for
shelter behind the hotel gates. As Hutu military and militiamen approach, demanding the
lives of Tutsis within, Rusesabagina uses his guile to buy time while he pleads with
influential foreigners to pay attention and intervene to save them.
As the horrid violence overwhelms Rusesabagina, he must decide what can be expended
and who is worth risking his life to protect.
For more coverage of Hotel Rwanda, visit

http://www.christianitytoday.com/movies/reviews/hotelrwanda.html
Rated PG-13
For a movie that powerfully depicts evil, Hotel Rwanda manages to remain viewable for
the squeamish. Still, death constantly threatens, and signs of carnage occasionally confront
the characters. The movies roughest moment is also its most graphic, when Rusesabagina
unexpectedly encounters thousands of corpses piled up like firewood. Offensive language
punctuates the movies most graphic and tense moments, and is thus sprinkled in the
dialogue about 10 times. The movie also includes brief violence toward women who are
held as sex slaves by the Hutu militia.

1. Dignity of Human Life
2. Nature of Evil
3. Courage in Crisis
1. Dignity of Human Life

(Genesis 1:2627; Mark 12:31; Galatians 5:14; Galatians 3:2829;
Matthew 5:3842)
We often wonder how something so terrible as the Rwandan genocide could have
happened. And why did the West do nothing to stop the carnage? The answers reveal the
need to see each other as God sees us.

Hotel Rwanda
Page 3
Scene to Watch:
Colonel Oliver explains to Paul Rusesabagina that Westerners consider
Africans to be subhuman
(elapsed time: 00:49:2000:50:45)
Colonel Oliver shatters Rusesabaginas hope that Western forces will intervene and stop
the massacre. Oliver says Westerners will not risk their soldiers blood to save African lives.
He also explains that Rusesabagina should own the hotel, since he is the most intelligent
man there, but he cannot since he is black.
[Q] What do you think of Olivers assessment? Do Westerners regard Africans and other
nonwhites as inferior?
[Q] What is your impression of Rusesabaginas reaction? Why was he so surprised when
the West declined to intervene?
[Q] What is the seed of racism? How is it perpetuated from generation to generation?
[Q] What does the Bible say about racism?

Leaders note: Jesus levels the differences between races by giving them all access
to God. Galatians 3:28 says, There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male
nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are
Abrahams seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Genesis tells us that all men are created in Gods image and are thus equal before the
Creator (Genesis 1:2627). Jesus says the commandment to love your neighbor as yourself
is one of the two greatest commandments (Mark 12:31).
[Q] How do you carry out these biblical commandments in tense situations?
[Q] If youve never been in a comparable crisis, how can you prepare yourself to love your
neighborseven when you dont know them and they are different from you?
Leaders note: Though Rusesabaginas Hutu tribe held the upper hand at the time,
he did not observe a difference between Hutus and Tutsis. As a Hutu, he married a
Tutsi. He never considered the possibility that hed hit a glass ceiling in his Western
work environment. Themes of equality run throughout his life.
[Q] Read Mark 12:31. How did Rusesabagina love his neighbor as himself?
[Q] Read Matthew 5:3842. What does it mean to turn the other cheek?
[Q] Is it possible to withhold retribution when your familys life is at stake, as in

Rusesabaginas case?
Leaders note: The significance of Rusesabaginas refusal to return violence with
violence may be underestimated. Though he did not have many resources at his
1
disposal to directly combat the militia, he protected the innocents more effectively
by using other means to fight evil. Also, Colonel Oliver would not allow the U.N.

Hotel Rwanda
Page 4
officers to shoot at the militia outside the hotel gate, because he knew it would only
incite a violent and overwhelming response.
Scene to Watch:
Hutu radio refers to Tutsis as cockroaches
(elapsed time: 00:22:2200:22:58)
Hutu radio and military personnel label Tutsis as cockroaches that they must squash.
Dehumanizing Tutsis as dirty, hearty pests makes it possible for the killers to justify
murder.
[Q] What characteristics do you associate with cockroaches? What messages did the Hutu
killers convey with this label?
Leaders note: Associating humans with pests is a classic tool of genocide. Nazis
did the same against Jews during the Second World War.
[Q] We are constantly tempted to elevate differences between others and ourselves. What
does Galatians 3:2829 say about labeling others?
Scene to Watch:
White clergy are separated from blacks
(elapsed time: 00:54:2500:56:54)
As white foreigners are evacuated from the Hotel des Mille Collines, a group of French
priests, nuns, and orphans rush toward the U.N. vans for safety. However, the U.N. guards
would not take the blacks. Amid tears and screams, the black Catholic contingent must stay
at the hotel to await the looming slaughter.
[Q] At the orphanage, the whites and blacks obviously lived together in harmony. What
struck you about their separation?
[Q] What does this scene say about the Christian community and equality of man?
Leaders note: Before the genocide, Rwanda was sometimes referred to as the
most Christian country in Africa. The vast majority of the country had been
baptized Catholic or Anglican. A sad fact of the genocide is that many clergymen
participated in the killing. At the very least, few Christians did anything substantial
to prevent the violence.
[Q] If you had been a white Christian being rushed toward the vans, how could you justify
not getting on board?
2. Nature of Evil
(Genesis 3:17; Romans 5:1214; Exodus 32:1924)
Rusesabagina often tries to talk his way out of problems. In the face of such horrendous
evil, however, his words prove inadequate.
Scene to Watch:
Rusesabaginas van drives over masses of Tutsi corpses
(elapsed time: 01:14:2201:16:33)
1

Hotel Rwanda
Page 5
The Hutu militia leader suggests that Rusesabagina and his driver take a particular road
back to the hotel following a meeting for Rusesabagina to get supplies. When the jolted van
appears to have gone off the road, the pair argues with each other in confusion.
Rusesabagina gets out to investigate and stumbles upon dozens and dozens of Tutsi bodies.
[Q] How did seeing these corpses impact you?
[Q] How did this face-to-face encounter with evil change Rusesabagina?
Read Genesis 3:17.
[Q] What is the origin of evil in our world?
[Q] Why did Adam and Eve pass from righteousness to evil?
[Q] How did their action impact subsequent generations?

Leaders note: Romans 5:1214 says: Therefore, just as sin entered the world
through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men,
because all sinnedfor before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not
taken into account when there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from the time
of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a
command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come.
[Q] How would you define evil?
[Q] How does distancing and insulating ourselves from evil stunt our ability to combat it?
Scene to Watch:
After driving over the bodies, a hotel worker asks Rusesabagina about evil
(elapsed time: 01:18:1501:19:08)
Rusesabagina answers that people are cruel due to hatred and insanity.
[Q] Is Rusesabaginas answer to the question adequate?
[Q] How would you have answered that question?

Read Exodus 32:1924.
[Q] Why did the Israelites make the golden calf?
[Q] This passage in Exodus says man is prone to evil. What is the likelihood that the
genocide in Rwanda will be repeated elsewhere?
Leaders note: In the 20th century alone, the world suffered numerous genocides
(Armenia, Germany, Cambodia, Bosnia, etc.). Some of these societies were quite
advanced, not unlike our own.
1
[Q] Why didnt God stop the Jews from building the golden calf? Why didnt he stop the
killers in Rwanda?

Hotel Rwanda
Page 6
Leaders note: Satan first tempted Adam and Eve and introduced evil to the
world. But the Earth is Gods footstool, and he controls all activity. He does not
cause evil, but in his mysterious sovereignty, he allows Satan to tempt man. Never
forget: God has Satan on a leash due to the victory over death in Jesus Christ.
[Q] Could something so terrible as genocide happen in America? Why or why not?
3. Origin of Courage
(Esther 4:1314, 1 Samuel 17)
Rusesabagina displayed extraordinary courage in the face of tremendous opposition.
Scene to Watch:
Rusesabagina thinks the West will have to intervene
(elapsed time: 00:42:0500:44:16)
Rusesabagina has just seen the footage of carnage that will make the nightly news back in
the West. He is stunned that the photographer thinks Westerners will react passively and
get on with life. So long as he expects the West to intervene and protect his family and
hotel staff, Rusesabagina does not fully consider the wrenching decisions he must make.
Eventually he learns there will be no help. If he will act, it will be alone.
[Q] Would you describe Rusesabagina as courageous?
[Q] Is courage a characteristic only few people possess? Can anyone muster courage when
called upon?
Read Esther 4:1314.
[Q] What similarities do you observe between Esther and Rusesabagina?

Leaders note: Answers could include that each held positions of unique influence,
became singled out by their enemies, and only reluctantly acted.
[Q] What finally convinced Esther to act? What convinced Rusesabagina?

Scene to Watch:
Rusesabagina stays behind to help, leaving his family
(elapsed time: 01:26:4201:28:51)
The Rusesabagina family has been granted Belgian visas to flee the tragedy. Yet as his
family gets into the U.N. truck, Rusesabagina stays behind with the helpless and says to his
screaming family, I cannot leave these people to die.
[Q] Rusesabagina would not have made this same choice earlier. Why did he change his
mind now?
[Q] Were you surprised that Rusesabagina decided to stay behind? Was his conversion
realistic?
1

Hotel Rwanda
Page 7
Scene to Watch:
With one phone call to Belgium, Rusesabagina secures the hotel guests
immediate safety
(elapsed time: 00:57:5401:03:18)
Rusesabagina desperately tries to pacify Hutu troops, who had just woken him up with a
gun to the head. He knows the military cannot be overcome with force, so he pleads with
the Belgian owners to save the hotel. Unarmed and helpless, he meets the officer at the
hotel door.
[Q] The Belgian hotel owner placed one phone call and stopped the bloodletting. Contrast
Rusesabaginas courage to most Western leaders cowardice.
Read 1 Samuel 17.
[Q] What did David have to protect himself? How about Rusesabagina?
[Q] When going into battle, where do you draw strength and courage?
As the Credits Roll

[Q] How does the Wests lack of attention to and interference in the Rwanda genocide
impact the way you view current world events?
[Q] The difference between Hutu and Tutsi became deadly, despite the artificial colonial
origins of the designation. What artificial barriers do we erect between others and
ourselves?
[Q] What common traits do the movies heroes (Rusesabagina, Red Cross worker, U.N.
Colonel Oliver) share?
[Q] How was your faith encouraged by Rusesabaginas triumph over evil? Is your faith
challenged by knowing our world is still prone to such incredible outbursts of evil?
Why or why not?
Study by Collin Hansen, assistant editor for CHRISTIANITY TODAY.

DISCUSSION GUIDE
The Village
A community separates itself from the rest of the world to avoid
evil, but something goes awry.
The small community of Covington Woods provides the setting

for The Village. It is an idyllic, sequestered society that exists in
response to the corruption of the nearby towns. Covington Woods
is led by a group of nurturing elders who guard a disturbing
secret that holds the community together.
This study guide will help you discuss the themes in The Village,
an especially poignant film for the church community. What is
the role of authority, and is pragmatism justified? How do people
of principle interact with a corrupt world? Can we regain
innocence in a sinful world? And, can love conquer all?
Based on:
The Village (Touchstone, 2004), written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan, rated PG-13
The Village
Page 2
Movie Summary
The Village, set in what appears to be the late 1800s, is the story of the small, Amish-like
community of Covington Woods. Life is simple and innocent for these inhabitants, who
have chosen to separate themselves from the surrounding, dangerous towns. But its a
nervous peace, as the woods encircling the village are home to Those We Dont Speak Of,
frightening creatures who have made a covenant with the village elders. The villagers dont
enter the woods, and the creatures dont enter the village. But, when tragedy strikes in the
community, some villagers desire to seek help from the nearby towns. This causes a breach
of the borders, and the creatures enter the village, terrorizing the community.
We eventually learn that Those We Dont Speak Of are not real, but a fiction created by
the elders to keep members of this utopian community from leaving the village and being
corrupted by the surrounding, present-day society. The founding elder (William Hurt)
finally reveals to his blind daughter (Bryce Dallas Howard) the truth about the creatures
and Covington Woods when her fianc is a victim of violence. She must then overcome the
fear shes been indoctrinated with to seek help from the surrounding towns to save the
man she loves.
For more coverage of The Village, visit

http://www.christianitytoday.com/movies/reviews/village.html
Rated PG-13
The Village appears to be a horror film, but the fright comes more from what the audience
doesnt see. The PG-13 rating comes from: the threat of the creatures and their appearance;
a somewhat bloody stabbing scene; and various skinned animals left as warnings to the
villagers. There are no sexual situations or offensive language in this thriller.

1. Authority and Pragmatism
2. Community in a Corrupt World
3. The Nature of Innocence
4. The Power of Love
1. Authority & Pragmatism

(Mark 10:4245; 1 Peter 5:16)
From student council to the federal government, the mantle of leadership is one that is
much desired and much abused. Despite grand visions and eloquent documents, leaders
are still flawed people. What is the nature of the call to leadership? And, how do leaders
exercise authority without resorting to abuse?

The Village
Page 3
Scene to Watch:
Edward Walker reveals to his blind daughter, Ivy, that Those We Dont Speak
Of are a farce perpetrated by the elders.
(elapsed time: 1:10:111:12:54)
[Q] Tell about a time you felt controlled or abused by authority. Or, name some examples
of people in history who have abused their positions of authority.
[Q] How did you feel when you found out that Those We Dont Speak Of were a tool of
the elders to control the community?
[Q] If you were Ivy and found out the truth about the creatures and the deception by the
elders, how would you have reacted?
[Q] Why do you think Ivy feels sad for her father and the elders?
[Q] The elders, out of misguided love, use fear as a control tool. Does the end justify the
means here? Things are pretty good in the village; whats the harm? Is there any
place for control in leadership? Explain.
What is the role of leaders? Read Mark 10:4245.
[Q] Where and with whom do you exercise leadership?
[Q] In what ways does Jesus turn the traditional concepts of leadership and authority
upside down? What would Jesus say about controlling, abusive, or pragmatic
leadership?
Leaders note: Jesus introduced the concept of servant leadership; not controlling
power, but loving service and sacrifice as the ultimate model of leadership. Jesus
didnt just offer this concept as an ideal, but he demonstrated it in the Incarnation,
in washing his disciples feet, and in his death in our place. Jesus often derided the
Pharisees and their hypocritical abuse of power and deception: Matthew 15:19,
23:2526; John 8:111.
[Q] How have you seen others follow Jesus teaching on servant-leadership?
Read 1 Peter 5:16.
[Q] What qualities does this passage instruct leaders to develop?
[Q] How can humility and servanthood co-exist with authority?
[Q] Leadership that lords over others or controls them misses the example of the Chief
Shepherd, Jesus. What leadership controls do you need to loosen this week? How
would Jesus, in your position, lead those under your care?

The Village
Page 4
2. Community in a Corrupt World

(Matthew 5:1316; 2 Corinthians 6:1418; John 1:14)
Read the news, observe consumer culture, peruse the media, and it would be hard to blame
anyone for tramping off into the woods and becoming a hermit. How should people of faith
interact with a corrupt world? Its the age-old question of separation or engagement: do we
disconnect from the world or somehow try to change it?
Scene to Watch:
The founding elder, Edward Walker (William Hurt), and his wife open the box
in their home that contains secrets from their past. Each elder in the
community has one.
(elapsed time 1:30:161:32:23)
In this scene, Edward Walker, the founding elder of Covington Woods, and his wife,
Tabitha, open their box of secrets from the past. We see that this is not the late 1800s at all,
but modern day, and that this secluded village was started by a group of people in a grief-
therapy group to retreat from a dangerous world.
[Q] Do you ever envy the Amish or similar communities? Why or why not? How long
could you live that way?
[Q] What did you think or feel when you realized this story did not take place in the
1800s, but in the modern day?
[Q] Is Walker a villain for suggesting the idea of a sequestered community? Why or why
not? Could it have worked without the deception?
[Q] Covington Woods was built on a lie perpetrated by a fear of the world. Is it possible to
isolate ourselves from all evil and corruption? Why or why not?
[Q] What is the purpose of communal living? Of biblical community?

Read Matthew 5:1316. Jesus describes his disciples as salt and light, and as a city on a hill
to shine before all. Now read 2 Corinthians 6:1418, where the Apostle Paul quotes the Old
Testament, saying, come out from them and be separate.
[Q] How do Christians walk the line between separation from the world and engaging the
world to change it?
[Q] Name someone who has engaged the world without being corrupted by it.
[Q] Is the church primarily a harbor from the storm, or a boat launch to engage the
world?
Read John 1:14. Jesus, or The Word, is described here as putting on human skin and
living among us.
[Q] How is Jesus Incarnation (coming in the flesh) a model for Christians in the world?
1
How do we love our neighbors in sacrificial ways, as Jesus did?

The Village
Page 5
Leaders note: Jesus, in the Incarnation, invites us to move into the worlds of
others to sacrificially meet their needs. This could start by simply walking across
the street to help a neighbor, or it may require us to move out of an affluent
neighborhood and into one that is in need, so the burdens of others become our
burdens.
[Q] Where do you and your church need to be more of a city on a hill and be light to the
world? Where do you and your church need to come outand be separate from the
world?
3. The Nature of Innocence

(Matthew 23:2528; Mark 7:1423; Psalm 32:17; Hebrews 10:19
22)
I wish I was a kid again may be a sentiment that crosses the minds of adults. One reason
could be a longing for innocence. There are many guilt-ridden spouses, parents, CEOs,
clergy, and siblings in our society.
What is the price for a good nights sleep with a clean conscience? Many try to obtain
innocence by managing things on the outside: getting more stuff, status, or kudos to numb
the inner nag of guilt; thinking, At least Im not as bad as; saying, If only I could
simplify my life; trying to legislate morality; or cutting themselves off from an evil society.
But innocence can come only from the inside, from accepting Christs love and forgiveness.
Scene to Watch:
The elders confront Edward Walker after he decides to send his daughter to
the towns for medicine.
(elapsed time: 1:15:171:17:17)
[Q] In this clip, Edward Walker says, In the end, thats what we have protected here:
innocence. Define innocence from his perspective. Whats your definition of
innocence?
[Q] Can there be innocence in Covington Woods when the foundation of the community
is a deception? Why or why not?
[Q] Who is the most innocent person you know? Whats it like being around that person?
[Q] What, in your opinion, robs people of innocence?
[Q] Is it possible to regain innocence? Why or why not?

Read Matthew 23:2528 and Mark 7:1423.
[Q] Where does Jesus say evil can be found?
[Q] What would Jesus message be to the people of Covington Woods regarding
innocence?
1

The Village
Page 6
[Q] What is the bigger issue in our quest for innocence: the evil out in the world or the
evil in us? Explain.
Read Psalm 32:17 and Hebrews 10:1922.
[Q] What do these passages say is the means to innocence, or the release from guilt?
Leaders note: These passages say we can be cleansed from a guilty conscience
through confession of our sin to God and, ultimately, through Christs shedding of
blood on our behalf (having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty
conscience Hebrews 10:22).
[Q] Tell about a time you experienced relief, or a renewed innocence, after confession. Or
tell about how Christs sacrifice on your behalf renewed your innocence.
[Q] What would the church look like if there were more of a balance between renouncing
the world and confession of sin?
[Q] How could you shift more of your energies in the fight for innocence from outside to
inside?
4. The Power of Love

(1 John 4:1321)
Consider the concept of love in our culture. If you looked to television, films, music, and
marriage statistics, you would probably conclude that love is sentimental and fickle rather
than powerful and sacrificial. How can we satisfy our longing for real love when we see so
few examples around us? Can love really change the world?
Scene to Watch:
The elders of Covington Woods wonder if Edward Walkers decision to let his
blind daughter go to the towns for medicine is a mistake.
(elapsed time: 1:16:461:18:33)
[Q] Edward Walker said, The world moves for love. It kneels before it in awe. From
your perspective, is this true? Explain.
[Q] Ivy makes her journey of love alone, with the burden of having been indoctrinated by
fear. In what ways have you seen or experienced fear waging war against love?
[Q] What evidence is there that we live in a fear-motivated world? A fear-motivated

church culture?
[Q] Besides the example of Jesus, in what ways has love changed the course of history?
Read 1 John 4:1321.
[Q] If, because of Christ, we can be confident in the presence of God and in his love, what
1
else is there to fear? What are you afraid of right now that needs to be driven out by
perfect love?

The Village
Page 7
[Q] What freedom is there in knowing that Gods love overcomes anything that we may
fear? How have you experienced perfect love driving out fear?
[Q] Verse 19 says that we are freed up to love others because of Gods love for us. Who
do you need to love in a sacrificial and powerful way? How will you do that today or
tomorrow?
As the Credits Roll

[Q] The Village is marketed as a horror film. Is it really? Why are people drawn to horror
films? Is there a theological or spiritual reason?
[Q] Covington Woods appears to be a faith community of some sort. Where is God in this
culture?
[Q] How is the community of Covington Woods like the modern-day church?
[Q] Lucius can be seen as a Christ figure in this film. He is pure of intention and
unafraid, willing to sacrifice himself to save others, and his death brings truth to
light. At the end of the film, we dont know if Lucius lives or dies. Does it matter?
Does it matter if Jesus rose from the dead, or was his example enough? What would
you say to someone who doesnt believe in the physical resurrection of Christ?
Study by Kyle White

Changing Lanes
After a car accident, two mens lives become intertwined in
escalating retaliation.
If only. If only we could take back that one moment in timethat

one actionthat one word. How different things would be. That
single snowflake seemed harmless enough until it was the one
that tipped the scales in favor of the avalanche. Changing Lanes
is a film about if only. Two burdened men have their very
different worlds turned upside down as a result of an everyday
fender bender on the FDR in New York. The men, as a result,
wreak havoc upon each others lives as they seek revenge. But at
the bottom of their downward spiral they both realize their
failures.
This study guide will help you discuss the themes of Changing
Lanes. What are the consequences of acting out of retaliation
rather than patience? How does our integrity, or lack thereof,
reap consequences for us and those around us? How can
confession lead us toward redemption?
Based on:
Changing Lanes (Paramount, 2002), directed by Roger Michell, rated R.
Changing Lanes
Page 2
Movie Summary
Changing Lanes begins with, well, changing lanes on New Yorks FDR. Gavin Banek (Ben
Affleck), a Wall Street lawyer in his Mercedes, and Doyle Gipson (Samuel L. Jackson), an
insurance telemarketer in his Toyota, collide in a minor accident, delaying them in getting
to their respective court appointments. From this mundane incident, Doyle loses out on
defending himself in family court and the judge allows his sons and estranged wife to
relocate across country. And Gavin accidentally leaves an important court document with
Doyle in the confusion of the fender bender, jeopardizing his career. Doyle wants his 20
minutes back, and Gavin wants his file back. These losses set them off on a widening road
of retaliation. However, we see that the car accident isnt really the cause of these mens
breakdowns, but the vehicle for them to finally go over the edge. Doyle struggles with a life
of alcoholism, anger, and chaos that his AA sponsor (William Hurt) tries to help stem.
Gavin, a once idealistic young lawyer, is losing his integrity through deception and adultery
in a corrupt law firm run by his father-in-law (Sydney Pollack). Neither man is who he
wants to be.
Inevitably, the mens retaliation spirals down to the point of violence, and at this point they
finally realize the depths to which they have fallen, not only in their quest for revenge but
in their respective lives. Both men realize their only hope is in confession. And confession
may require more of them than ever before.
For more coverage of Changing Lanes, visit

http://www.christianitytoday.com/movies/reviews/changinglanes.html
Rated R
Changing Lanes gets its R rating for language. Besides a liberal use of obscenities, there
are several times when characters use God and Christ as profanity. Also in the film are
some tense moments and violent images of a beating and a car accident.

1. Retaliation Versus Patience
2. Integrity and Moral Consequences
3. Confession and Redemption

(Matthew 5:3848; Romans 5:34; Galatians 5:2226)
Its no newsflash that war and violence are widespread in our world. The images and sound
bites come steadily from the media, but we cant forget that war and violence are simply
products of the human heart. Our hearts. War is a reflection of the anger, revenge, greed,
and violence that we harbor inside. What is our response to retaliation? And, in what ways
can we respond instead of retaliation?
1

Changing Lanes
Page 3
Scenes to Watch:
Doyle, while in jail, tries to justify his actions to his wife.
(Elapsed time: 01:15:0201:16:27)
Doyle is confronted by his AA partner after he bails him out of jail.
(Elapsed time: 01:19:5701:20:45 and 01:21:3601:22:50;
Warning: there are obscenities in these scenes.)
[Q] Have you ever encountered road rage? Ever perpetrated it in any fashion? What
happened?
[Q] What could the characters in this film have doneand whento change the outcome
of the day?
[Q] Doyles estranged wife says to him that the battle with Gavin is just the kind of thing
that always happens to you and never happens to me unless Im in your field of
gravity. In what ways did retaliation affect Doyles life and those in his life? In what
ways has revenge affected your life?
[Q] How would Doyles prayer (God, grant me the strength to accept the things I cannot
change) have helped the people in this story? How could it help in your life?
Leaders Note: The Serenity Prayer used by AA was written by pastor and
theologian Reinhold Niehbur in 1943. The full prayer is: God, give us grace to
accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, courage to change the
things that should be changed, and the wisdom to distinguish the one from the
other.
[Q] Doyles AA sponsor says, Everything decent is held together by a covenant, an

agreement ... What does this mean? Is it true?
[Q] What does the AA sponsor mean when he says Doyle is addicted to disaster and that
his drug of choice is chaos? Do you know people like this? What are they like?
[Q] How do people develop the strength of character to choose patience over retaliation?
Read Matthew 5:3848. Jesus talks about our typical responses to people and then calls us
to a higher standard that can only make sense when we adopt Gods point of view.
[Q] An eye for an eye was a law intended to be used by judges as a rule for fairness
(Exodus 21:2425). However, we often use it as justification for revenge on a
personal level. What does Jesus expect from us, in place of revenge?
[Q] Do Jesus commands here imply weakness? Explain. How did Jesus live out his own
commands?
[Q] How do we keep Jesus commands when they are so counter to our natural response?
Leaders Note: See Galatians 5:2226 regarding the power and fruit that come
via the Holy Spirit.
1

Changing Lanes
Page 4
Read Romans 5:34.
[Q] Why should we rejoice in our sufferings? How have your sufferings produced positive
effects in your life?
[Q] How will you love your enemies this week? What do you think will be the response of
your enemies? How do you think it will change you?

(Genesis 3:613, 1624; Proverbs 13:6; Romans 5:1219)
Scenes to Watch:
Gavin and his father-in-law discuss moral standards.
(Elapsed time: 01:20:4501:21:36 and 01:22:5101:24:16;
Warning: there are obscenities in these scenes.)
[Q] Who do you know that operates with high integrity? What is that person like?
[Q] Gavins father-in-law says: I can live with myself because, at the end of the day, I
think I do more good than harm. What other standard have I got to judge by? How
would you respond to him?
[Q] The philanthropist mentioned in this scene had gotten his wealth through exploiting
the needy. He then used his wealth to fund a foundation for underprivileged children.
Is corporate community giving simply PR money? How much do you know about the
practices of corporations that provide you with goods and services? Does it matter?
[Q] How many good deeds does it take to outweigh one bad deed?
[Q] Gavin says, regarding his moral dilemma, I didnt know what to do. He is at a loss.
What do the people that you know use as a guide for moral choices?
[Q] When faced with a moral dilemma, what process do you use to make a choice?
[Q] Tell about a time when someone elses moral choice, good or bad, affected you.
[Q] Is there a moral standard for all? How do our choices, however small, affect those
around us?
Read Proverbs 13:6.
[Q] In your experience, is this proverb true? Why or why not?
[Q] How are people of integrity guarded by their righteousness?
[Q] How does wickedness (immoral choices) overthrow the sinner?

1
Read Genesis 3:613, 1624.

Changing Lanes
Page 5
[Q] How do moral choices ripple out and affect others?
[Q] How can it be wrong if it feels so good? is a statement we use to justify flirting with
temptation. How do you answer that question?
[Q] What did Adam and Eve do after their disobedience?
[Q] List all the ways that the moral choices of Adam and Eve, our moral representatives,
have affected humanity.
Leaders Note: Read Romans 5:1219 to see the good that one mans (Christs)
obedience has brought to humanity.
[Q] Can you think of other examples from the Bible where peoples moral choices affected
more than their own lives? How have you been affected by the moral choices of others
in your circle of relationships?
[Q] Whom do you have the power to affect, for good or bad, in your moral choices?
[Q] What do you need to do before you can make right moral choices this week?
(Proverbs 28:13; James 5:16; 1 John 1:9)
A crime is committed. All is despair and darkness. But finally the criminal steps forward,
and two simple words, I confess, open the doors for truth, healing, and rehabilitation to
make their way in. Without confession the doors are closed to any kind of redemption.
How much darkness could be avoided if our starting point was an attitude of contrition?
How can we be people of confession?
Scene to Watch:
Doyle and Gavin finally meet at the end of the day.
(Elapsed time: 01:24:3001:29:47)
[Q] How hard is it for you to say, Im sorry? When was the last time you had to?
[Q] Why does Doyle thank Gavin in the end?
[Q] What did Doyle learn about himself as a result of the day?
[Q] Gavin gives the analogy of the pretty girl on the beach. Have you ever had a girl on
the beach moment? Describe it. How would your life have been different if you had
chosen to leave the beach with that girl and leave your other life behind?
[Q] This scene is a confessional, reflective of Gavins visit to the confessional booth and of
Doyles AA support group involvement. Gavin says, Im sorry about what I did, and
Doyle says, Me, too. What happens as a result of their confessions? What doors are
1
opened?

Changing Lanes
Page 6
Leaders Note: The doors are opened for redemption. Doyle gains a healthy view
of himself and has the possibility of returning to his family. Gavin gains the courage
to return to his roots of helping people through the law. Both have the opportunity
to become the men they wanted to be.
[Q] How would this story have been different if it had started with Im sorry?
[Q] How do you practice confession in your life?

Read Proverbs 28:13.
[Q] Why should we confess and renounce sin?
[Q] How have you found this proverb to be true in your life or the life of someone you
know?
Read James 5:16.
[Q] What is the role of community in the act of confession?
[Q] What should our role and attitude be as others confess to us?
[Q] How do confession and prayer with others lead to healing?

Leaders Note: Remind your group of Gods heart and promise in 1 John 1:9 and
his offer of forgiveness and purification.
[Q] How will you practice confession this week? And with whom?
As the Credits Roll

[Q] This film is like a Wheres Waldo of religious symbolism. Can you think of any of
these symbols?
Leaders Note: The cathedral, the AA meeting in the church, the picture of Jesus in
the closet, a busload of nuns, the confessional and the stained glass image of Jesus,
the Good Friday setting, etc.
[Q] Why is the film so rife with these images? Whats the point? What significance is
there in the fact that this story takes place all in one day, Good Friday?
[Q] Compare and contrast the lives of Gavin and Doyle (rich vs. poor; white vs. black,
etc.). Are these two men more alike or more different?
[Q] On the Features portion of the DVD, click on Extended Scenes. Watch
Confessional. What would be your response as a priest taking Gavin Baneks
confession?
1

Changing Lanes
Page 7
Leaders Note: Warning: there is an obscenity in this scene, and the Lords name
is taken in vain.
[Q] How would you have reacted in the same situation presented in the film?
[Q] Was the car accident key to the film, or would Gavin and Doyles lives have gone the
same direction anyway? Why or why not?
Study by Kyle White, freelance writer and regular contributor to

CHRISTIAN BIBLE STUDIES.

MOVIE-BASED DISCUSSION GUIDE PARTICIPANTS GUIDE
Changing Lanes
After a car accident, two mens lives become intertwined in
escalating retaliation.
If only. If only we could take back that one moment in timethat

one actionthat one word. How different things would be. That
single snowflake seemed harmless enough until it was the one
that tipped the scales in favor of the avalanche. Changing Lanes
is a film about if only. Two burdened men have their very
different worlds turned upside down as a result of an everyday
fender bender on the FDR in New York. The men, as a result,
wreak havoc upon each others lives as they seek revenge. But at
the bottom of their downward spiral they both realize their
failures.
This study guide will help you discuss the themes of Changing
Lanes. What are the consequences of acting out of retaliation
rather than patience? How does our integrity, or lack thereof,
reap consequences for us and those around us? How can
confession lead us toward redemption?
Based on:
Changing Lanes (Paramount, 2002), directed by Roger Michell, rated R.
Changing Lanes
Page 2
Movie Summary
Changing Lanes begins with, well, changing lanes on New Yorks FDR. Gavin Banek (Ben
Affleck), a Wall Street lawyer in his Mercedes, and Doyle Gipson (Samuel L. Jackson), an
insurance telemarketer in his Toyota, collide in a minor accident, delaying them in getting
to their respective court appointments. From this mundane incident, Doyle loses out on
defending himself in family court and the judge allows his sons and estranged wife to
relocate across country. And Gavin accidentally leaves an important court document with
Doyle in the confusion of the fender bender, jeopardizing his career. Doyle wants his 20
minutes back, and Gavin wants his file back. These losses set them off on a widening road
of retaliation. However, we see that the car accident isnt really the cause of these mens
breakdowns, but the vehicle for them to finally go over the edge. Doyle struggles with a life
of alcoholism, anger, and chaos that his AA sponsor (William Hurt) tries to help stem.
Gavin, a once idealistic young lawyer, is losing his integrity through deception and adultery
in a corrupt law firm run by his father-in-law (Sydney Pollack). Neither man is who he
wants to be.
Inevitably, the mens retaliation spirals down to the point of violence, and at this point they
finally realize the depths to which they have fallen, not only in their quest for revenge but
in their respective lives. Both men realize their only hope is in confession. And confession
may require more of them than ever before.
For more coverage of Changing Lanes, visit

http://www.christianitytoday.com/movies/reviews/changinglanes.html
Rated R
Changing Lanes gets its R rating for language. Besides a liberal use of obscenities, there
are several times when characters use God and Christ as profanity. Also in the film are
some tense moments and violent images of a beating and a car accident.


Crash
A drama depicting a communitys true-to-life struggle with
racism, alienation, and rage.
Crash takes viewers into modern-day Los Angeles, dramatizing

the intersections of several characters lives over three days. In
doing so, it reminds us of how racism, anger, and the struggle to
achieve security in life can taint our interactions with one
another.
Use this discussion guide to explore the themes of this movie.

What does the film say about heroes and villains and our capacity
to be either or both? How does our desire to protect and be
protected cause us to react to perceived threats? What are some
ways to begin a conversation about racism, and how can we learn
to use our power for justice?
Based on:
Crash (Lions Gate Films, 2005), directed by Paul Haggis, rated R.
Crash
Page 2
Movie Summary
Over three days in modern-day Los Angeles, several characters lives overlap in ways that
dramatize the interplay of race, culture, and class in American society. The film follows the
intersecting stories of an African-American investigator and his Hispanic partner; an
upper-class African-American couple insulted during an encounter with a seasoned, bitter
cop and his young, idealistic partner; a Persian shopkeeper struggling to keep his family
and business safe during tense, post 9-11 days; a Hispanic locksmith hoping to build a
better life for his wife and daughter; a district attorney whos not above using posturing
and press conferences to win political points, and his angry, lonely wife; an Asian man who
makes a living trafficking Asian immigrants; and two young carjackersone with a sense of
social consciousness, and one whos just along for the ride.
The 36-hour whirlwind begins and ends with a car accident: a collision, one character
theorizes, emblematic of peoples need to touch one another, to interact. Still, like a car
crash, few of these interactions are gentle. Most are couched in a tense environment of
suspicion, self-preservation, misunderstanding, and alienation. Although many characters
have shining moments when they transcend stock types, for many, life remains a struggle
between internal and external tensions that are no less intense for their familiarity.
For more coverage of Crash, visit

http://www.christianitytoday.com/movies/reviews/crash.html
This movie was also one of CHRISTIANITY TODAY MOVIES 10 Most Redeeming
Films of 2005
http://www.christianitytoday.com/movies/commentaries/tenredeemingfilmsof20
05.html
Rated R
Crash is a film for mature audiences due to its subject matter, depictions of violence,
sexual content, and frequent use of the f-word and racial slurs. Its likely that any scene will
contain material that some audiences will find offensive.

1. Heroic Villains
2. Seeking Protection
3. Thinking About Racism
4. Using Power Wisely
1. Heroic Villains
(Jeremiah 17:910; 2 Samuel 1112:15; Judges 16; Matthew 26:31
35, 6975)
In Matthew 12:35, Jesus pointed out that our words and actions flow from the goodness or
1
evil stored in our hearts. In the film, several of the characters perform a mix of heroic
deeds and cowardly or evil ones. As you watch the film, discuss the ways we are often
courageous or heroic, as well as villainous or cowardly.

Crash
Page 3
Scene to Watch: Officer Ryans parting words

(Elapsed time: 00:56:5600:58:23)
Officer Ryan tells his younger co-worker, Wait till youve been on the job a few more years
You think you know who you are. You have no idea.
[Q] How do Ryans words line up with Jeremiah 17:910?
[Q] How have you dealt with the temptation to let fear or jadedness overcome your efforts
to serve others? Have these issues ever arisen as part of your efforts toward racial
reconciliation? If comfortable, share with others and brainstorm possible ways to
move forward.
Scenes to Watch:
Officer Ryan harasses Cameron and Christine
(Elapsed time: 00:16:1600:22:24. Warning: this disturbing scene includes
sexual misconduct)
Officer Ryan saves Christine
(Elapsed time: 01:00:2801:06:12)
Officer Hanson diffuses one racially based conflict
(Elapsed time: 01:15:2601:19:20)
During his criminal activity, Anthony saves smuggled immigrants but shows
disdain for them
(Elapsed time: 01:31:3101:34:22; 01:45:1401:46:59)
[Q] Talk about ways each of these characters is heroic: Officer Ryan, Officer Hanson,
Anthony, Graham, Cameron, Ria, Farhad, Rick.
[Q] Talk about ways each proves to be cowardly or evil. Do they participate in evil in
active or passive ways? What do you think motivates each character? Do these factors
(active or passive evil, motivation) matter when you consider the effects of their
deeds? Why or why not?
[Q] Read 2 Samuel 1112:15, Judges 16, or Matthew 26:3135, 6975 and identify 1) a
heroic moment in the main characters life, and 2) a moment of weakness, evil, or
cowardice.
[Q] How does knowing about each biblical characters multifaceted personality cause you
to think about your own life? In what ways have you demonstrated courage or
cowardice?
[Q] Like the characters in the movie, how have you shown strength or weakness in
dealing with difficult issues of race and class?
(Psalm 3; 91; Proverbs 31:8)
The theme of protection emerges throughout Crash: Some characters seek personal safety,
1
while others try to protect the things they have built, like their political stature or business.

Crash
Page 4
Still others put themselves on the line to protect others. Explore the theme of protection
through these questions.
Scenes to Watch: Officer Ryans harassment of Cameron and Christine causes
conflict
(Elapsed time: 00:16:1600:22:24. Warning: this disturbing scene includes
sexual misconduct)
(Elapsed time: 00:23:1500:25:08)
[Q] How does Camerons inability to protect Christine from the police cause conflict
between them? With whom do you identify in this conflict?
[Q] In your opinion, why do Cameron and Christine start to fling questions about each
others blackness at one another?
[Q] Does wealth or prestige protect a person from more overt forms of racism? Why or
why not? If so, how?
Scene to Watch: Daniel gives his daughter Lara the invisible, impenetrable
cloak
(Elapsed time: 00:25:0900:30:17)
[Q] How does Daniels tenderness with his daughter affect the way you view his
character?
[Q] Daniel tells five-year-old Lara about the cloak as a way of protecting her from reality.
What realities do you want to protect loved ones from?
[Q] What realities do you want to be protected from?

Scene to Watch: Farhad almost kills Lara
(Elapsed time: 01:20:1901:23:11)
[Q] Farhad accidentally shoots Lara during a confrontation with her father, using the gun
he bought to protect his shop from intruders. How did his self-protective impulse
become something different? What happened externally and internally to bring about
the change?
[Q] How would you describe what Farhads protective impulse became? Do you
understand this change? Can you sympathize? Why or why not?
[Q] Ria is angry with her partner, Detective Graham, because he protects his emotions by
remaining distant from others. What do you think he is protecting himself from?
[Q] Describe how or why he might have developed such defenses. How does this coping
strategy lead to unexpected results?
[Q] Have you ever built up personal defenses to protect yourself? If comfortable, share
1
how. Talk about safe ways to overcome this tendency.

Crash
Page 5
[Q] Have you ever built defenses to shield yourself from Gods work in your life? Talk to
the group about such a time.
[Q] Each of the characters deals with physical or emotional protection in some way. Read
Psalm 3, Psalm 91, and Proverbs 31:8. How do you balance depending on God for
protection with other measures of protecting yourself or defending others in your
care?
[Q] Many of the conflicts in the film are intensified because of the presence (or potential
presence) of guns. What are your feelings about guns and self-defense? Explain them
in light of Scripture and a biblical worldview.
3. Thinking about Racism

(Acts 10:2346; 6:17; Galatians 2:1113)
[Q] As a group, share your personal definitions of words like racism and prejudice. Did
everyone have the same definition? Why or why not?
[Q] What do you think motivates racism?
[Q] Are you comfortable discussing this topic? If so, were you always that way? If not,
why not?
[Q] What are some examples of personal racism from the film? How about structural or
systemic racism?
[Q] Choose a character from the film, and describe how he or she may have perpetrated
and/or been victimized by racism. Is it possible to be in both situations?
[Q] Do you think any of the tensions between characters in the film could have been
resolved peaceably? What might have made a difference? What distinguished
peaceful resolutions from violent ones?
[Q] What is the cost of choosing peace? When is it appropriate to resolve racial tensions
through forbearance, and when is it appropriate to stand defiant?
Scene to Watch: Officer Hanson diffuses conflict
(Elapsed time: 01:15:2601:19:20)
[Q] How did Officer Hansons prior knowledge of Cameron affect the way he treated him?
[Q] How can getting to know someone from a different racial, ethnic, or class background
affect the way you view such issues? Share a story about a time this took place in your
life.
[Q] Officer Hanson put his reputation on the line when he intervened on Camerons
behalf. How might you be able to take a risk on behalf of cross-cultural
understanding?
1

Crash
Page 6
[Q] Read Acts 6:17. From what you know of the situation, would you describe this
incident as an example of personal or systemic racism? Is it really that simple? What
guidance does the apostles solution provide for Christians today?
[Q] Read Acts 10:2346 or Galatians 2:1113. What do these verses say to you about
Gods role in changing peoples hearts and minds? How about our role as human
beings?
[Q] What might opposing personal and systemic racism look like for your church? In your
life? Brainstorm as a group.

(Leviticus 19:15; Deuteronomy 16:20; Psalm 9:16; 112:5; Isaiah
1:17)
Scene to Watch: Hanson requests a new partner
(Elapsed time: 00:33:1000:35:00)
[Q] What do you think of the way Lt. Dixon responds to Officer Hansons request for a
new partner?
[Q] Do you perceive Dixons response as wise or unwise? What motivates him? From
what you know, is his motivation understandable? Commendable?
Scene to Watch: Confrontation at the HMO
(Elapsed time: 00:46:2500:49:09)
[Q] Whats behind Shaniquas refusal to go out of her way to help Officer Ryans father?
How would you have responded?
[Q] How might Shaniquas actions be perceived as a victory of sorts? Why might that
victory be a shallow one?
[Q] What could have taken place in Shaniquas heart to cause her to use her power in Mr.
Ryans favor?
[Q] Consider the power these characters had: Graham, Anthony, Rick, and Cameron. Did
these characters use their power and influence wisely?
[Q] Read Leviticus 19:15; Deuteronomy 16:20; Psalm 9:16; Psalm 112:5; and Isaiah 1:17.
According to these Scriptures, how should we use our earthly power?
[Q] How do you use the power you have? How do you determine what is just?
As the Credits Roll

1
[Q] What other significant themes did you see in Crash?

Crash
Page 7
[Q] How did you feel when this movie ended? Did you feel it was true to life? Why or why
not?
[Q] Do you have a friend of a different background to talk to about Crash? How were his
or her impressions of the film similar, and how did they differ?
[Q] How did this film challenge your faith or encourage you to see things in a new way?
Study by LaTonya Taylor, editor with IGNITE YOUR FAITH magazine.

Crash
A drama depicting a communitys true-to-life struggle with
racism, alienation, and rage.
Crash takes viewers into modern-day Los Angeles, dramatizing

the intersections of several characters lives over three days. In
doing so, it reminds us of how racism, anger, and the struggle to
achieve security in life can taint our interactions with one
another.
Use this discussion guide to explore the themes of this movie.

What does the film say about heroes and villains and our capacity
to be either or both? How does our desire to protect and be
protected cause us to react to perceived threats? What are some
ways to begin a conversation about racism, and how can we learn
to use our power for justice?
Based on:
Crash (Lions Gate Films, 2005), directed by Paul Haggis, rated R.
Crash
Page 2
Movie Summary
Over three days in modern-day Los Angeles, several characters lives overlap in ways that
dramatize the interplay of race, culture, and class in American society. The film follows the
intersecting stories of an African-American investigator and his Hispanic partner; an
upper-class African-American couple insulted during an encounter with a seasoned, bitter
cop and his young, idealistic partner; a Persian shopkeeper struggling to keep his family
and business safe during tense, post 9-11 days; a Hispanic locksmith hoping to build a
better life for his wife and daughter; a district attorney whos not above using posturing
and press conferences to win political points, and his angry, lonely wife; an Asian man who
makes a living trafficking Asian immigrants; and two young carjackersone with a sense of
social consciousness, and one whos just along for the ride.
The 36-hour whirlwind begins and ends with a car accident: a collision, one character
theorizes, emblematic of peoples need to touch one another, to interact. Still, like a car
crash, few of these interactions are gentle. Most are couched in a tense environment of
suspicion, self-preservation, misunderstanding, and alienation. Although many characters
have shining moments when they transcend stock types, for many, life remains a struggle
between internal and external tensions that are no less intense for their familiarity.
For more coverage of Crash, visit

http://www.christianitytoday.com/movies/reviews/crash.html
This movie was also one of CHRISTIANITY TODAY MOVIES 10 Most Redeeming
Films of 2005
http://www.christianitytoday.com/movies/commentaries/tenredeemingfilmsof20
05.html
Rated R
Crash is a film for mature audiences due to its subject matter, depictions of violence,
sexual content, and frequent use of the f-word and racial slurs. Its likely that any scene will
contain material that some audiences will find offensive.

1. Heroic Villains
(Jeremiah 17:910; 2 Samuel 1112:15; Judges 16; Matthew 26:31
35, 6975)
In Matthew 12:35, Jesus pointed out that our words and actions flow from the goodness or
evil stored in our hearts. In the film, several of the characters perform a mix of heroic
deeds and cowardly or evil ones.

Crash
Page 3
(Psalm 3; 91; Proverbs 31:8)
The theme of protection emerges throughout Crash: Some characters seek personal safety,
while others try to protect the things they have built, like their political stature or business.
Still others put themselves on the line to protect others.
3. Thinking about Racism

(Acts 10:2346; 6:17; Galatians 2:1113)
Using the movie clips, discuss how we can begin dialoguing about racism.

(Leviticus 19:15; Deuteronomy 16:20; Psalm 9:16; 112:5; Isaiah
1:17)
Consider how the characters use their power and influence.
Study by LaTonya Taylor, editor with IGNITE YOUR FAITH magazine.


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Ethics Examined

Leaders Guide: HOW TO START A CHURCH FILM FESTIVAL

Study 1: THE LADYKILLERS

Study 3: HOTEL RWANDA

Study 5: CHANGING LANES

How to Start a Film Festival in Your Church

Times have changed.

Talk to Your Church Leadership

Decide on a Name and Your Goals

2008 CHRISTIANITY TODAY INTERNATIONAL

Find Your Stance on Ratings

Prepare the Discussion Leaders

Work Out the Details

Finally, you will need to choose which movies to show. CHRISTIANBIBLESTUDIES.COM

2008 CHRISTIANITY TODAY INTERNATIONAL

JoHannah Reardon is an associate editor for CHRISTIANBIBLESTUDIES.COM.

Movie licensing information.

Movie Discussion Guides:

2008 CHRISTIANITY TODAY INTERNATIONAL

The Ladykillers is a dark comedy set in sleepy Saucier,

For more coverage of The Ladykillers, visit

Discussing the Scenes

1. Church and Worship

Read Ephesians 2:22, Philippians 4:47, and Hebrews 10:25.

2004 CHRISTIANITY TODAY INTERNATIONAL

[Q] Why should we rejoice during church worship?

[Q] If its God, what does that say about him?

2004 CHRISTIANITY TODAY INTERNATIONAL

3. Christianity in the Movies

4. The Making of Character

2004 CHRISTIANITY TODAY INTERNATIONAL

5. Joy and the Good Life

2004 CHRISTIANITY TODAY INTERNATIONAL

[Q] How would you define justice?

2004 CHRISTIANITY TODAY INTERNATIONAL

As the Credits Roll

[Q] What other themes did you see in The Ladykillers?

Study by Rich Tatum, Internet operations manager

2004 CHRISTIANITY TODAY INTERNATIONAL

Godsend is a what if thriller about the legal, ethical, and moral

For more coverage of Godsend, visit

Discussing the Scenes

2004 CHRISTIANITY TODAY INTERNATIONAL

[Q] What motivations do people have for wanting human cloning?

2004 CHRISTIANITY TODAY INTERNATIONAL

4. Dealing with the Devil

2004 CHRISTIANITY TODAY INTERNATIONAL

[Q] How do we know when we are making a pact with evil?

5. Whats the Source of Life?

2004 CHRISTIANITY TODAY INTERNATIONAL

As the Credits Roll

Study by Stefan Ulstein, movie reviewer for ChristianityTodayMovies.com.

2004 CHRISTIANITY TODAY INTERNATIONAL

Hotel Rwanda recounts the true story of Paul Rusesabagina, a

For more coverage of Hotel Rwanda, visit

Discussing the Scenes

1. Dignity of Human Life

2005 CHRISTIANITY TODAY INTERNATIONAL

[Q] What does the Bible say about racism?

[Q] Is it possible to withhold retribution when your familys life is at stake, as in

2005 CHRISTIANITY TODAY INTERNATIONAL

2005 CHRISTIANITY TODAY INTERNATIONAL

[Q] How did seeing these corpses impact you?