“He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD.” ~ Psalm 40:3
When I was in Bible college, I took a class called “Redemptive Cinema.” The premise of the class was that redemption is not just a biblical category or a theological concept to define but a real and present fiber woven into our being, into the hearts of people. Redemption shows up in all forms of art. Why? Because people, whether knowingly or unknowingly, have it rooted deep within their heart and are longing for it and will express it. The class specifically looked at the art medium of cinema. Redemption is a theme in movies all of the time. Needless to say, the class has caused me to inspect and evaluate every movie I watch and look for the theme of redemption in them all. Even movies we watch as a family. (Let me just tell you how eager this makes my family to watch movies with me.) Most recently, it showed up in our family movie time in “Horton Hears a Who”.
If you have not seen the movie, let me summarize it. Horton is an elephant who belongs to a community of animals. He discovers another community of creatures, living on a speck of dust. He then must convince the other animals that what he has come to know is true, all the while being ridiculed and potentially exiled for his belief. He must take a stand. Meanwhile, down on the speck in Whoville, the Mayor discovers that Horton is the source of their “natural” disasters and must convince others that Horton exists and can save them from disaster. I won’t ruin the rest of the story, but do you see a theme here? Both Horton and the Mayor of Whoville are playing similar roles, and they both are looking to the other to “save” them or their livelihood.
Friends, we all desire redemption in some form. We are all seeking something outside of ourselves to fill the gap within us that we know exists. For the believer, God has placed this song in our mouth that shouts that redemption has come; and we have placed our trust in the LORD. Courageous evangelism is allowing the song of redemption to be heard and pointed at Jesus. This week in our text, Luke 9:18-27, Jesus will tell His disciples that to make a stand for Him, to follow after Him, will require a cross. However, Jesus desires that they have incredible clarity on what that means first!
I am fired up about this text and how it will fuel our evangelism and witness to our world!
Also, here is the worship set to help you prepare your heart.
See you Sunday, church!
Nate Lott
Myerstown Campus & Small Groups Pastor
SUNDAY AM PLAN
9:00 AM – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
9:15 AM – Worship Service On Campus & Online (Myerstown Campus)
11:00 AM – Worship Service on Campus & Online (Lancaster Campus)
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