Small Group Trends: “Movie Nite” Ministry

            Friday night, 8:45 p.m. on a cold January evening.  The house has been cleaned up; the coffee table moved out of the den; sand chairs, bean bags, blankets, and pillows arranged on the floor.  The doorbell rings as the microwave starts popping the first bag of popcorn.  Mike walks in with a plastic grocery bag full of Little Debbie snack cakes, kicks off his shoes, and heads to the kitchen where my wife Becky or daughter Alli has set out bowls for the Nutty Bars, Swiss Cake Rolls, and the bag of chips which Dennis will come through the door with shortly.  Everything else is in place: soft drinks, movie theater cups (the kind with lids and straws—we have to protect Becky’s new carpet), plastic popcorn containers that look like the old square red and white popcorn boxes they used in theaters in the fifties and you still see at county fairs from time to time.

            Soon more college kids and the occasional professor come through the door, kick their shoes off into a growing pile, and begin jockeying for seats in the den.  A new couple has gotten engaged—they want to be sure Becky and I see the ring.  With other students I may talk classes or new movies or books everyone ought to read.  Becky gets to know some new girls by showing them around the house.  By 9:10 p.m. it’s a good crowd—over twenty—and late comers are arranging themselves sardine fashion in a row on the floor, sharing the pillows till everyone’s got a comfortable viewing space.  Drinks and popcorn are passed around while I introduce tonight’s movie, Pirates of the Caribbean.  I suggest a few elements or themes to watch for and perhaps raise a question or two.  Then I thread my way back to my big blue recliner, grab a Star Crunch as the bowl comes by, turn on the surround sound, and select “Play Movie” on the DVD menu.

            When the movie ends I say, “Well that was fun.  I don’t know if there’s enough depth there for us to talk about” (as there has been with other movies), “but is there anything that anyone noticed that you’d like to talk about?”  Jennifer raises her hand, and the ensuing discussion is fantastic.  Apart from being just plain fun, Pirates of the Caribbean contains lessons about the biblical principle of “the letter of the law vs. the spirit.”  Young Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) learns that its possible to be a pirate and a good man while Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) learns that a pirate’s code should not be obeyed with heartless inflexibility, but is rather a set of guidelines that must include mercy.  After the discussion (which continues past midnight), a few students linger to talk, ask a question, or ask for a hug.  Everyone’s out by the one a.m. campus curfew; another successful “Movie Nite at the Starr’s” is done.

Why Movies?

            When I first came to Kentucky Christian College I was encouraged to develop a small group ministry or “D-group” (“D” for “Discipleship”).  Many of the staff and faculty on campus volunteer to help out in this way.  Work at a small college, however, usually leads to the accumulation of responsibilities, the wearing of many hats.  After a few years, I found it difficult to maintain my enthusiasm, even to have enough time and energy, to keep up a traditional D-group.  “Movie Nite” grew out of the need to rest, a desire to connect with students, and the enthusiasm that goes with doing something fun that is even more fun if shared.  I didn’t plan to start a ministry; it’s just that all the other film fanatics on campus gravitated toward me, and we began talking about the movies we just “had to” watch together.  What I expected was a time of fellowship.  What it has grown into is a real ministry of discipling.

            I also do “Movie Nite” because people love movies.  They continue to be a growing national pass-time.  And with movies I don’t have to prepare an elaborate Bible study—the study arises out of the post-film discussion.  And people (especially young people) connect to movies emotionally—they care about the plots, characters, and issues raised by film, engaging themselves more enthusiastically than they tend to in a traditional Bible study.

Post-modern People

            Analysts call our current culture “Post-modern.”  Christian teachers who have spent time analyzing and writing about the best methods of evangelism and discipleship in Post-modern times point out the importance of authenticity, relationships, and a kind of complete, whole-person teaching that is best represented by story.  Today’s Christians, especially younger X and Millennial generations, want meaningful truth, spoken through real-life or story-like situations, not theological outlines.  Today’s non-believers, who mistrust institutions and traditions, and are skeptical of Christian claims to absolute truth, will nevertheless listen to the sincere stories of sincere Christians, or to Christian truths as shown in stories rather than expressed in statements.

            People are amazingly enthusiastic about the movies.  I might get two dozen students to show up for a special end of the year devotional, but I had 180 go with me to see The Passion of the Christ.  And when people find that their entertainment life is just as much a part of Christian living as is their church life, they are thrilled.  It’s amazing but true: movies can teach us about the Bible, and the Bible can teach us how to watch movies.

            A “Movie Nite” ministry, however, can lead to other conversations and connections as well.  Many of my “Movie Nite Kids” have become closest friends, and Becky and I have become close confidants and counselors to them.  We’ve dealt with everything from degree and career choices to depression and broken families.  There have been powerful group conversations—I remember a conversation over death that had many in tears—and there have been very personal one-on-one “next day” conversations.  Some conversations have gone deep into theology; some have been marriage advice to engaged couples; some have been just plain silly fun.  But “Movie Nite at the Starr’s” has always been authentic, relational, and great story telling.

Starting Your Own Movie Nite

            Starting a “Movie Nite” can be as easy as inviting friends over to watch a movie.  It depends, though, on your goals. Movie Nites could be used for discipleship for youth groups, men’s/women’s fellowships, and Sunday school classes; but they could alsobe used for outreach, for developing relationships with un-churched neighbors, friends, and co-workers.

            Once you decide whom you want to reach out to, pass the invitation along: “Hey, Movie Nite at my house; we’re watching Signs, and I’m looking for some people to talk about it.”  I usually put a flier on my office door and spread the news otherwise by word-of-mouth.  I always make the invitations open for friends to invite friends which allows for wonderful surprises in who shows up on any given night.  Be sure to hand out directions to whomever needs them.  I always invite a large group of people so that, when personal plans keep some away, there will still be a few who come.  We average in the high teens/low twenties, but we’ve had Movie Nites with as few as three and as many as thirty-five.

            On the night of the show, be sure you have the movie and your VCR or DVD player is working!  Clean up the den and bring in extra chairs and throw pillows.  Turn on the porch light (we always start at 9 p.m. on a Friday night), and pull out the popcorn tubs.  I prefer to keep things low key: I make a few comments before the movie about what to watch for, ideas to think about, and a warning about potential objectionable material.  Watch the movie and then let the discussion go where it will.  Again, I like to be low key and informal.  Talk until you’re done talking and conclude by telling the group when your next Movie Nite is and what you’ll be watching.

Some Films Worth Watching

            You can go on-line and find many good film lists.  Pick movies that fit your group.  A web resource that I appreciate for film ministry resources is www.hollywoodjesus.com.  My own website has a list of my favorite movies.  Here are a few films from the last five years or so which I haven’t put on my list yet* but that are certainly great Movie Nite choices:

            Everything we have and do belongs to God, including our play.  Why not use even our rest and recreation to glorify Him?

*Charlie's Movie List has been updated to include the movies listed in this article (and many, many more for that matter) since the writing of this article.  I would highly suggest that you check it out by clicking anywhere in this sentence.

To read more on this topic, see Charlie's essay on Media Ministry by clicking here.