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The following movies wouldn’t always get "two thumbs up" for the message they convey, but they are useful in illustrating themes and getting people to look more deeply at their lives and the lives of those around them. Here are examples to get you started thinking.

Forgiveness and accountability. The news recently showed us the real life drama of one of the first women to be executed. Questions of forgiveness and accountability were part of that debate. Dead Man Walking is a very powerful story that can be used to help leaders face those questions. How much does Jesus forgive? The role of spiritual advisor played by Susan Sarandon gives a model for how Christians can be both forgiving and confrontational as needed. Another touching story of forgiveness can be found in Places in the Heart starring Sally Fields.

Divorce and the issues it introduces into lives. A serious topic, but one that can be humorously examined with the help of Mrs. Doubtfire. (Sally Fields does get around, doesn’t she?)

The question of evil. Why does God allow evil? Who’s ultimately responsible for evil in our world? Angels have been a recent theme of media, but Caryn Young, volunteer staff in Nevada, points out that devils and demons seem to be getting equal time now. A graphic portrayal of the devil by Al Pacino in Devil’s Advocate raises the question of how much power and control evil forces can exercise over people. Needful Things by Stephen King shows what happens when the devil comes to town and begins to lure people toward a quite different lifestyle.

Views of Jesus. Caryn says she wasn’t planning to see The Last Temptation of Christ, but went with friends at work who were going to see it anyway. "They were asking me about it, and I decided to go with them in order to be able to comment on it from a biblical perspective." Other films that offer views of Christ range from the musical Godspell to the more classic--yet somewhat biased--portrayals in such films as Jesus of Nazareth.

Leadership and Loyalty. There’s more than just carpe diem ("seize the day") in Robin William’s Dead Poets Society. Discipleship and leadership themes make this a good movie for a leadership team to discuss together. Caryn was struck by the powerful finish which finds some students supporting their great teacher, while others remain ashamed of him.

Relationships and yearnings. Recent movies that give glimpses into relationships and yearnings include Titanic and Good Will Hunting. Titanic is about much more than a boat. Leonardo DiCaprio gives us a character of whom it is lovingly said, "He saved me in every possible way a person can be saved." Kate Winslet’s Rose has to ask what makes a life worth living as she encounters a young man who views each day as a gift and longs to "make it count."

When two twenty-year-olds wrote Good Will Hunting as an assignment for a Harvard writing class, they created a set of friends any of us would want to have. Matt Damon’s character has a friend who won’t let him waste his life, a girl who loves him when he can’t love himself, and a counselor who has lived with the pain he still struggles against.

More . . . The list of movies you could use in ministry is as long as your imagination (or friends’ memories or published video resources). The Dictionary of Film Quotations by Corey and Ochoa lists film quotes by topic categories (forgiveness, happiness, honesty, etc.) and is a good starting place. Here are other examples:

In Cool Runnings, John Candy as Olympic coach regrets his earlier "win at any cost" mentality and the price he paid for cheating.

City Slickers convinces Billy Crystal that life is about just one thing, but then leaves him with the challenge of figuring out what that one thing is.

Near the end of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Harrison Ford provides us with a memorable look at what a "leap of faith" entails.

Having overpowered a violent karate coach, The Karate Kid’s mentor, Mr. Miyagi, demonstrates grace when a threat of "no mercy" is transformed into a harmless beep on the nose.

The classic Chariots of Fire is full of imagery portraying persistence, courage of one’s convictions, and the emptiness of a meaningless victory.

Whether or not you’re familiar with the writings of C.S. Lewis, Shadowlands lets you watch one of Christianity’s great minds struggle to apply the gospel’s truths in the face of the most joyful--and darkest--moments of life.

Whatever you watch, remember what language movies speak. If you take someone to an intellectual debate, you ask what they thought. The language of movies is the language of emotions. Here, you ask people, at least initially, how they feel.

Caryn Young suggests starting with questions about what your friends liked and didn’t like. A film in which a spouse stays faithful amidst pressure is unique. Ask someone how they feel about seeing that happen. Ask people what characters they can most relate to. Who approaches life as they would?

"See what they’re into," says Young. "Start easy and the discussion may move to the spiritual realm later." Either way, you’ve learned more about your friends and how they might relate to aspects of the gospel.

Finding ways to make movies a part of your ministry can help you provide others with surprisingly honest glimpses into people’s lives. And those glimpses can open doors to even greater truths.

Another source of ideas for using the arts in ministry is The Ideabank Index. For details, call 800-307-4332.