Secrets To Seize Movie Opportunities For More Bible Study!
We not only introduce you to a new way to Bible study with your family, but a way to make the most out of it!
Family Bible study…
Is different than a typical Bible study with friends or church members and it’s different than Sunday school class with other children. If you haven’t visited our main family Bible Study page, check it out here. We create Bible studies fit for your whole family! When it comes to family, Bible study should be fun when there are kids and teens involved, in this article, we show you how to combine your normal family movie nights with some awesome Bible study in secrets to seize movie opportunities for more bible study!
A part of our Focus on Your Family: Family Bible Study, we introduce you to a new way to enjoy Bible study with your family.
Contents:
Make it a fun Bible study night! Add treats that the family will enjoy like candy, popcorn, or pretzles.
“Always be consistent in having Bible study with your family. The more you do, the more they look forward to it, the more you grow as a family.”
Movies and Bible Study
A movie, video, or cartoon doesn’t have to be Biblically based for you to have Bible study. Any family movie works perfectly. And by family, we don’t exactly mean the Home Alone series! So be sure to preview all movies and shows before settling on them.
Great Benefits of Using Movies For Bible Study
Movies can help with Bible study in several ways. Some benefits are:
- Movies can illustrate biblical stories and themes in a visual and dramatic way, making them more memorable and engaging for the for your family.
- Movies can spark discussions and reflections on how the biblical messages apply to our modern lives and challenges.
- Movies can inspire us to learn more about the Bible and its historical and cultural context, as well as to compare different interpretations and perspectives.
- Movies can entertain us and enrich our spiritual and artistic appreciation when we are able to explore situations that might not happen in our own everyday life.
Pray In!
Just like in your normal Family Bible studies, always begin with PRAYER. If you are a part of the Family Bible study membership, you can always refer to The Plan, outlined in curriculum, before starting. It’s a great way to get the most out of your Bible studies and a guide to family directed prayer. Get a free copy with one of our free family Bible study curriculums here.
Preview First
Movies, videos, and cartoons are an asset when it comes to entertaining our family as we teach them about Gods word in an illustrative way.
However, it can easily turn sour if you pick the wrong one, or neglect to preview a film or learn about it before showing it to your family.
If you are unable to see the film or need to learn more about a film or cartoon, there are sites that can help with that. A few such sites are listed below.
3 Sites For Movie Previews and Ratings
There are many websites that offer parental reviews of movies and cartoons, but some of the most popular ones we like are:
- Common Sense Media: This site provides detailed and age-appropriate reviews of movies, TV shows, books, games, podcasts, apps, and YouTube channels. It also offers tips and guides for parents and caregivers on topics such as screen time, online safety, and media literacy.
- Parent Previews: This site focuses on movie reviews from a family perspective, rating films on criteria such as violence, sexual content, language, and positive messages. It also features interviews, articles, and podcasts on various aspects of parenting and media.
- Parental Guide: This site covers movies, TV shows, games, and music, giving ratings and reviews based on content and quality. It also provides recommendations for family-friendly entertainment and educational resources.
I also want to add an app, not just a site. The App VidAngel is a streaming video service that allows you to filter out objectionable content from Netflix and Amazon Prime shows and movies. You can customize your preferences regarding profanity, nudity, sexual situations, and graphic violence.
What our family loves is that VidAngel will automatically skip or mute the scenes or sounds that you do not want to see or hear. VidAngel also offers some of its own exclusive content.
VidAngel is a subscription-based service that costs $9.99 per month, as of the date of this article. They “Make Entertainment Good For Your Home.”
So be sure to preview all movies and shows before settling on them.
Think of Questions
Think of questions beforehand or as the movie plays, try to ask your children life relating questions, like:
- What would you do in this situation?
- Should the character be asking God for help right now?
- Try to make comparisons to stories in the Bible.
- Point out important things the characters are doing.
Try to bring them to an understanding of what should happen if something isn’t happening, talk about consequences and forgiveness: any way the movie leads you. Be flexible!
You don’t have to pause the movie for every question, just the ones that really make them think, then play the movie immediately after asking, so they can think about it.
The Most Important Thing!
Having Bible study with your family is one of the most important things you can do as a Christian family. Having movies, cartoons, or videos as a helper, will aide you in your teaching and instructing of your child in Christ.
Our families are always our first ministry!
For easy family friendly Bible studies, visit Focus On Your Family: Family Bible Study.
Choose Wisely!
One thing to keep in mind is that anything you choose doesn’t have to be long and boring, or short and fast. Try to use videos that will entertain and teach your family, keeping in mind the timeframe you are going for.
Aim for your normal family movie nights or get togethers. Spice up a normal family Bible Study with a surprise movie!
Must Watch Movies To Add To Your Bible Study
If you are interested in watching some movies based on the Bible, you can check out some of the following suggestions below. We also love the original Veggie Tales and all things Super Book!
For Parents
Our Top Favorite movies for Parents
Fireproof
Caleb and Kat’s marriage is headed for divorce until Caleb’s father steps in with a unique plan for rebuilding it.
Major themes:
How do we deal with anger and lack of forgiveness in marriage?
What does God offer to a couple to bring healing and hope?
And what does it means to genuinely believe in Christ and be fully committed to him?
Unconditional
There are bound to be storms in our lives that bring disappointment and pain, but God’s love is never far, shining in even the most unexpected places.
Major Themes:
Joe: The Humble Hero of Love (Proverbs 11:2; 18:12; Luke 14:7–11; Ephesians 6:10–18)
Samantha: Overcoming Grief with Love (John 12:24–26; 1 Corinthians 13; John 13:34–35)
Macon and Keisha: Love for the Loveless (James 1:22–27; Matthew 25:34–45)
The Passion of the Christ
A wrenching portrayal of the brutality of Christ’s crucifixion.
Major themes:
Finding Yourself in the Story (John 18:1–11; Romans 5:12–19)
Who is Jesus (Matthew 16:13–18)
Fear and Power (Matthew 26:47–54; Mark 14:51)
Carrying the Cross (Mark 9:41; Luke 22:20; John 15:18–21)
Marriage Retreat
Any group with couples will enjoy chatting about this movie starring Pure Flix founder David A.R. White and other familiar actors who go on a marriage retreat, share their burdens with each other and mend relationships. This movie can tie in to “The Resolution for Men” or “The Resolution for Women” study, or any couples study.
The Ultimate Gift
Jason is a reckless young man who is led through a series of tasks that his late grandfather set up for him to complete before getting his inheritance. Jason starts out just wanting the money, but in the end, he finds much more than he thought he would (just as his grandfather intended). With echoes of the prodigal son parable, this movie, starring James Garner and Abigail Breslin, would be great for any Bible study group to discuss.
The Case For Christ
A hard-driving journalist, Lee Strobel was exactly where he expected to be at work: on top. His award-winning investigative reporting recently earned him a promotion to legal editor at the Chicago Tribune. But things weren’t going as well at home where his wife Leslie’s newfound faith in Christ went against everything Lee believed—or didn’t believe—as an avowed atheist.
Utilizing his journalistic and legal training, Lee begins a quest to debunk the claims of Christianity to save his crumbling marriage. Chasing down the biggest story of his career, Lee comes face-to-face with unexpected results that could change everything he knows to be true.
For Kids and Family
Our Top Favorite movies for Kids and Family
Disney’s A Christmas Carol
Dickens’ classic tale of gaining the world, while losing one’s soul, but scarier and in 3-D.
This Disney version is the scariest of them all, but we still resonate with the story of greed, second chances, and conversion.
Major themes:
Judgment (Luke 9:23-27)
Repentance (Luke 19:1-10)
The Christmas Spirit (Luke 2:8-20)
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian—Teen Version
The Pevensie kids return to Narnia only to find it again under a dark siege in this story of faith, friendship, and family.
In Prince Caspian, the sequel to The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, the Pevensie kids return to the magical land of Narnia only to discover that the land is again ruled by an evil monarch, Aslan is nowhere to be found, and the “old Narnians”—dwarves, fauns, talking animals, and dancing trees—are in hiding…
Major themes:
Jealousy/Pride
(Proverbs 27:4, 17; Mark 10:35–45; Galatians 5:19–23; James 4:6)
Grace/Mercy
(1 Samuel 24:1–22; Romans 3:23, 6:23)
Childlike Faith
(Mark 10:13–16; Matthew 11:25)
Ben Hur
- Released: 2003
- Directed by: William R. Kowalchuk Jr.
This epic historical drama stars Charlton Heston as Judah Ben-Hur, a Jewish prince falsely accused of treason by his childhood friend, Messala. The film’s gripping tale is set against the backdrop of the life of Jesus Christ, with impressive chariot race scenes and a powerful climax.
The Bible: In the Beginning…
- Released: 1966
- Directed by: John Huston
Directed by John Huston, this remarkable film adaptation takes audiences through the “Book of Genesis,” immersing them in the Creation, Adam and Eve’s story, Noah’s Ark, and the Tower of Babel.
Do You Believe?
This is a great movie to learn about evangelism and the power of the Holy Spirit. Twelve different souls, all moving in different directions until the cross of Christ changes all of them in diverse ways. Pastor Matthew experiences a street preacher’s bold faith and is challenged to let the cross change him, with ripple effects throughout the community.
Helping you Focus on your family, is what our Bible studies are all about. We hope this article will be an asset to your studies!
Join us in our other Family Bible Studies from Focus on Your Family: Family Bible Study!
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Calm In The Chaos | Teen Girl’s 30-Day Devotional Journal for Overcoming Stress and Anxiety
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The Books of John | Complete Family Bible Study Curriculum
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30 Days of Devotions For Kids | Children Devotional
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Valentines With a Purpose A 5-Day Family Devotional on God’s Love
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7-Day Family Bible Study: The Story Of Christmas
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Free Christmas Family Game
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Free Christmas Tree Ornament Printable
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Free Printable Christmas Puzzles
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Free Printable Christmas Gift Tags
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* If you are here from one of our family Bible studies curriculum links, this article was updated from our former family movie room. It will no longer show videos, but help you to find the movies, videos, or cartoons suited for your family Bible study. Happy Bible studying!