Bible studies: Music & Media

Group, July/Aug 2000 by Belknap, Bryan

biblical discussin starters

no doubt song: "Staring Problem" (from the album Return of Saturn)

theme: Dissatisfaction with looks

synopsis: The singer confesses she constantly compares her (supposed) inadequate looks to others'.

background: No Doubt returns after an extended absence with the follow-up to their multiplatinum Tragic Kingdom album. Though music tastes have changed, their unique pop blend of new wave, punk, and ska remains the same. Gwen Stefani's lyrics could pass for musings from a Tiger Beater's diary-dreams of romance, laments about failed relationships, and yearnings for authenticity dominate the songs' themes. Though no spiritual answers appear, neither do immoral ones. Return to Saturn addresses everyday life and no more, commenting only on immediate feelings of love or loss.

study: Play the song. Have kids form groups of four. Ask: Is anyone content with their looks?

What causes us to be jealous of others' looks? Read aloud Psalm 139:13-16.

Ask: What does "fearfully and wonderfully made" mean? What things are true about God's creations? How does that make you feel? What would help you find contentment with your looks? Close in prayer, asking God to help kids see themselves through his eyes. kj-52 song: "It's The S.O. I" (from the album 7th Avenue) theme: Glorifying God synopsis: KJ-52 and

Sons of Intellect proclaim that no one can deny or run and hide from God's glory.

background: Jonah Sorrentino, better know by his emcee name KJ-52, drops his first major release like a bomb. Filled with varied yet skillful rhymes, his album 7th Avenue blends an East Coast style with shades of RIB, old school, and Deep South while remaining true to his style and viaionpreaching the gospel to hip-hop culture. KJ-52 grew up in the ghetto area of Tampa, Florida, and became a Christian at age 15. Now an ordained youth pastor, he preaches Christ to his audiences and the artists he opens for, such as DMX. The album boasts several guests (from Knowdaverbs, GRITS, and Cross Movement) and beats, but only one message: Turn to Jesus for eternal salvation. With this impressive debut, KJ-52 promises to keeps heads bobbing and hearts turned toward God.

study: Print out or project the lyrics so everyone can read along. Play the song. Ask: Why do we sometimes run from God? What happens to people who spend their lives trying to hide from God? Read aloud Isaiah 45:2225. Ask: What will happen someday? How should this fact affect your life today? What are practical ways you can glorify God daily? x-men (pg-13)

On July 14th Bryan Singer, director of The Usual Suspects, brings to life X-Men, one of comic-doms greatest and most popular series. The big budget film stars Patrick Stewart, Halle Berry, Ian McKellan, Famke Janssen, and James Marsden as mutants, people with DNA changes that give them special powers. The mutants band together and form a team that seeks to fight injustice, even though they're treated with fear and persecution by the "normal" people they're trying to protect.

Though not screened at press time, the overall theme of X-Men closely parallels the Christian life: Christians are also "mutants," changed by the Holy Spirit into different people. People without this gift often reject, revile, or persecute Christians. In spite of this, we must devote our lives to protecting and saving others, even if they hate us. To do this, we must band together under Jesus' banner with other Christians.

Videotape and play the opening from the animated X-Men series on local TV Say: The X-Men are mutants with super powers. If you could choose a super power, what would it be? Read aloud Romans 15:17-19. Ask: What does the Holy Spirit do? How can his power help you "save the world?" Read aloud Luke 6:22-23. Ask: Why do some people hate Christians? What response can we make? How can we join with others to change the world? clip location: 3:30 thru 4:30 theme: Lust synopsis: Stanley Ipkiss sees Cameron Diaz's character for the first time.

illustration: Jim Carrey is Stanley Ipkiss, a socially inept nice guy who discovers a magic mask that transforms him into an outrageously cartoonish hero. In this clip he and his coworker ogle the character played by Cameron Diaz as she enters their bank. Their eyes practically fall out of their heads, obviously displaying the lust in their hearts, as she walks across the lobby toward them in slow motion.

God is very explicit about his feelings toward lust-he hates it. Expressions of lust, however, saturate our society. This humorous clip will spark discussion on how God's people can combat lust in all of its forms.

Show the clip. Ask: What sin were the men in this clip exhibiting? Is lust always this obvious? Explain. Read aloud James 1:13-15. Ask: Where does lust eventually lead? Is lust limited to sexual desire? What are some other objects of lust? How can we combat lust? Pray together for strength in dealing with lust.

the, sixth sense (pg-13)

clip location: 50:00 thru 51:15 theme: Spiritual death

synopsis: Cole confesses he can see dead people. illustration: The Sixth Sense, the #1 thriller in history,