Pastor Stephen Harvell
Love of Christ Church December 15, 2013
Home Alone
Part 3, "Christmas at the Movies" series
Today we continue our series, “Christmas at the Movies.” Just as Jesus found spiritual application in the wind, water, waves, seed, trees, millstones, and so many other areas, we can find them in movies even when they do not have an obvious Biblical message. Today we look at the movie, "Home Alone."
Movie Intro:"Home Alone" is a 1990 American family comedy that, 19 years after it was released, was the highest grossing comedy of all time. The movie is about 8-year-old Kevin McCallister, and 15 of family members are gathered at his house to spend the night and then leave for a Christmas vacation in Paris the next morning. During the night, an electrical outage resets the alarm clocks and causes the family to oversleep. In the confusion and rush to reach their flight on time, Kevin is left behind, and the family is unaware until they are already airborne.
CLIP INTRO: Let’s join the movie and see how "Home Alone" began for Kevin!
Video Clip #1: (~ 1 min) (start at 09:21,end at 10:40) Kevin is mad at his brother ends with mother telling him to go upstairs.
- Hurtful Words Cause RelationshipPain
"If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were raising himself against me, I could hide from him. But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend, with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship as we walked with the throng at the house of God." (Ps. 55:12–14, NIV)
"He who covers over[not exposes]an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends." (Proverbs 17:9, NIV)
"The tongue has the power of life and death…" (Proverbs 18:21, NIV)
Hurtful words are so painful; they can kill someone’s love.
CLIP INTRO: Let’s see Kevin’s response to hurtful words and rejection by people he loves.
Video Clip #2:(~3 min) (11:58 end at 12:36 & start at 21:00, end at 22:24) Kevin is sent to his room he his mother have an exchange. Kevin says, “I hope I never see my family again!” Then when Kevin realizes his family isn’t home, he says, “I made my family disappear!” celebrates.
- RelationshipPain Can Drive Us To Isolation
We think we'll be happy alone. Kevin said, "I hope I never see my family again!" When someone hurts us, our natural reaction is to isolate or disengage from relationships (divorce, quit a job, leave a church, or become emotionally distant). God’s Word tells us that even when we are in pain,we should not seek separation:
"Are you married? Do not seek a divorce. Are you unmarried? Do not look for a wife. But if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles[emotional pains]in this life, and I want to spare you this." (1 Cor. 7:27–28, NIV)
CLIP INTRO: While Kevin was happy to be alone in the beginning, a change comes over him.
Video Clip #3: (~4 min) (start at 50:44, end at 51:17 andstart at 1:08:25 end at 1:12:00) Kevin looks at picture while making promises. Shift to Kevin in church and man asks to sit down. Ends with Kevin saying, "I bet your granddaughter misses you." and the presents.
- Isolation ProducesLoneliness
"The Lord God said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.'" (Genesis 2:18, NIV)
"…I saw something meaningless under the sun: There was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother…!" (Ecclesiastes 4:7–8, NIV)
Not all loneliness is due to hurtful relationships but also death. Read letter from 88-year-old woman! "Loneliness is a dreaded disease!" — FREE HUGS IN FOYER TO ALL > 80 years old!
CLIP INTRO: Let’s see how "Home Alone" ends!
Video Clip #4: (~ 3 ½ min) (start at 1:34:44 end at 1:37:07, start at 1:37:53 end at 1:38:45) Kevin looks at picture while making promises. Kevin’s mother calls his name and he runs down. She says, "I'm so sorry." Then Kevin looks out window to see old man hugging granddaughter. Ends just before his brother says, "What did you do to my room?" (Total time for all movie clips is ~ 11 ½ min)
- God’s Way To Heal Loneliness
- Restore Relationships Through Forgiveness
Stop being afraid! When Kevin was talking with the old man, he says, "Why not try to call your son?"
"Peter came to Jesus and asked, 'Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?' Jesus answered, 'I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.'" (Matthew 18:21–22, NIV)
Kevin’s mother said, "I am so sorry." Two ways to restore relationships:
1. Ask for forgiveness from others.
2. Release forgiveness to others, even if not asked.
- Start Relationships Through Small Groups
"Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:2, NKJV)
Over 700 people were part of LOCC small groups last semester. They have found this gives them an opportunity to make new friends and to share others' burdens. Sign up for the spring semester start in January. Why not join a small group and find out how others in this church are learning to love God and love others? BE A FRIEND!
- LiveIn RelationshipWith Jesus
"'She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.' All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 'The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel' —which means, 'God with us.'" (Matthew 1:21–23, NIV)
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