Amazing Grace

Week 4

This week we finish the film and further explore what it means to be abolitionists in
our own day. I think this section of the film also contains good stuff about the things
that block justice in our day, greed and fear.

Each of us needs to look over the “Not For Sale” material and be familiar enough
with it to lead the students through it. When I say familiar, I meaning having
mastered enough to answer a few questions about human trafficking and help the
kids discover the opportunity to right this wrong today.

Finally, seeking justice doesn’t mean having to be William Wilberforce. He worked

inside his own avenues of power to bring about the Kingdom of God. So must we.
Don’t let the kids (or yourself) slip into thinking, “I could never do what he did, so I
won’t even try.” Or, I should spend all my time trying to climb the social and political
ladder so I can then use my fame for God’s glory. Both miss the point of Jesus’
mustard seed parable. It’s the small things that become the biggest. The kingdom of
God doesn’t come top down, with big flash. It’s like the smallest seed that grows to
be the biggest plant in the garden. Act where you are with what you know. Look
around and see where to kingdom of God is already breaking in and cultivate it!

Mixer

1.) Have everyone share his or her name and who their favorite super hero
is. If they don’t have a favorite super hero ask them to share their
favorite fictional hero.

Going Deeper

1.) Who is the film’s protagonist? (Tony Stark). As a group come up with a
three word definition to describe the Tony Stark we meet at the
beginning of the movie?
2.) Where did you find connections to and depictions of Jesus’ words from
John 15 in the film this week? (Hopefully Yinsen’s death is an obvious
choice.)
3.) What does Yinsen tell Tony when just before he dies? (Yinsen: [to
Stark after Stark thanks him for saving his life] “Don't waste two
lives. Don’t waste your life.” How was Tony wasting his life? How do
Tony’s achievements embody the goal of your education process in this
country? (Education, especially higher education, is financially driven. You
do it so you can get the best job which = having the most things (including
fame and prestige). But that’s not the way it has to be. We can change that by
 using our education as a launching pad for making a difference in the world –
not for ourselves but for others. Explore with the students what a life that is
not wasted looks like? [It’s one that joins God’s renewing of the cosmos
project]. How can each of us live toward that now (hint – it’s not in everyone
becoming a priest or minister – it’s in all of us using our time, vocation and
relationships to bring about wholeness, reconciliation, truth, beauty and
justice.]
4.) Jesus words in John challenge us that loving your neighbor as yourself
is a fine place to start, but not a sufficient place to finish. Rhodie says to
Tony, “You don’t respect yourself, so I hardly expect you to respect
me...”
How does our ability to love ourselves affect out ability to lay down our lives for our
neighbor?

5.) Psalm 20:6-8 says

6 Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed;        
he answers him from his holy heaven       
with the saving power of his right hand.
  7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses,        
but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.

Tony Stark says: “*They* say that the best weapon is the one you never have to fire. I
respectfully disagree. I prefer the weapon you only have to fire once. That's how Dad did it,
that's how America does it... and it's worked out pretty well so far.”

What would the Psalmist say to Tony Stark if he was there. To hear him
say this?