Family Movie Night Devotion - ONWARD

Disney/Pixar's newest movie is now streaming on most streaming services.  It is rated PG and has an 87% rating through Rotten Tomatoes.  Use this devotion to turn your family movie night into a devotional experience that will help everyone grow in grace.

One theme we will pick up on in the movie that runs throughout the Bible is that easier is not always better.  In fact, sometimes God intentionally makes his will or his way a little harder to help us grow and learn to trust him more.  

Joshua 6:15 - On the seventh day, they got up at daybreak and marched around the city seven times in the same manner, except that on that day they circled the city seven times.

When Joshua came to the wall of Jericho, God instructed him to march around the city every day for a week.  Then, on the 7th day, after they marched around the city, they were ordered to blow their horns and shout, and the walls came tumbling down.  Think about it, why did the walls fall?  It wasn’t because they yelled or blew their horns.  God knocked down the wall. So, couldn’t God have just knocked them down on day 1?  Or couldn’t God had just knocked them down as the Israelites were walking up?  Yes, but he made the people walk around the city to stretch their faith and to prepare the people inside for what was coming.  God could have done it the easy way, but the people wouldn't have grown in their faith, love and trust of him.

In our walk with God, we have to understand that easier isn’t better.  The journey to wherever God is leading helps us grow in faith.  We don’t just need to take the easy way out!

As you watch the movie think about how the journey changes the two brothers.


1 John 4:18 - There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

The command God gives more than any other command in the Bible is not to be afraid.  You might think that it would be to believe in him or have faith in him, and it kind of is, because if we have faith in him, we won't be afraid.  We know God will take care of us.  We can step out of faith, not because we have all the answers or strength, but because we know we serve a God that is all powerful and all knowing. 

Nothing motivates us away from fear more than love.  Love of God causes us to be willing to step out on faith and do things we never thought was possible.  Love of people causes us to be bold and do whatever we can to love and help those people.  Love drives away our fear and moves us to action. 

As you watch the movie think about how love moves Ian beyond his fears.



Philippians 2:1-4 - Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

In these Bible verses, Paul is telling his church in Philippi that one of the ways they can help others come to believe on Christ is to look and act like Christ to each other.  This includes, but is not limited to, valuing “others above yourself,” or putting others first.  This is what Christ did for us, when, despite having no sin of his own, he took on our sin and willingly went to the cross so that we could have the gift of eternal life. 

As Christians, we aren’t just called to think of ourselves and see what we get out of every exchange or interaction.  We are called to humble ourselves and think of how we can help and benefit others.

At the end of the movie, watch to see how Ian puts his brother, Barley, first.

WATCH THE MOVIE



Joshua 6:15 - On the seventh day, they got up at daybreak and marched around the city seven times in the same manner, except that on that day they circled the city seven times.

How did the journey change Ian, Barley, their mom and Manticore?  Why do you think God often makes us wait for the answer to our prayers?


1 John 4:18 - There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

How did the desire to meet his dad change Ian and make him bolder throughout the movie?  How can you be bolder in sharing your love for God?


Philippians 2:1-4 - Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

What act of humility and selflessness does Ian do at the movie?  Why do you think God calls us not to just look at ourselves, but consider the impact on other people?  What is an area in your life you can work on being humbler?

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