Colossians 3:14-17

Let the word of Christ dwell among you richly.

Teach and admonish one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thanksgiving in your heart to God.

1 Timothy 1:3-7

As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, 4 nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship[a] from God that is by faith. 5 The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, 7 desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.

What our culture teaches and how it teaches … shame / outrage / tribe

Can the church teach the same way?

How do you teach the person next to you in a small group, for example - what does it mean to teach and admonish one another in all wisdom?

What are the endless genealogies and myths and speculations and vain discussions of our day?

Do you have to have a take on everything? … Finally my brothers, whatever is pure ...

It is hard to forgive … so we try different ways to avoid it

From the enduring appeal of Hallmark movies to the realistic portrayals of Marriage Story and A Beautiful Mind, love stories are part of our story and part of the Big Story.

Redemption in the Big Story

Sacrifice is a key part of so many stories - because it is a key part of our Big Story. Without sacrifice, you can’t really have love.

A brief theology of culture and how movies - and stories - are vital for our understanding of the big story we are in.

Two different and overlapping looks at the Kingdom of God - the view from seeds (Mark 4) and demons (Mark 5)

Alienation and Loving Our Neighbor