Encanto | Belonging, Gifts, and Grace in God's Family

Welcome to “At the Movies”! This sermon series, "At the Movies," draws inspiration from the storytelling genius of Jesus, who used parables to reveal profound truths about God and our relationship with Him. By exploring familiar stories from our own popular culture, we uncover the redemptive and enduring themes that resonate with the truths found in Scripture. This week, we explore "Encanto," a tale of family, gifts, and grace. As we delve into this vibrant narrative, we will discover how its themes mirror our spiritual journey, encouraging us to embrace our unique gifts, find our place in God's family, and rest in His grace. There’s a lot to unpack here, so we’re going to give you all the good stuff up front so that you have everything you need to partner with the Holy Spirit this week. We believe He has something unique to say to you, so the goal of this week is simply to create space for a conversation with Him.

When we make a decision to follow Jesus and are baptized into His family, the Holy Spirit gives us unique spiritual gifts. Like Mirabel in "Encanto," when we haven’t identified what those gifts are, we may feel left out or inadequate, but God delights in using each of us to accomplish His purposes, and discovering that purpose is a journey with Him. We are not alone in this journey; we have the fellowship of believers and the promise of God's grace, which gives us hope and courage to pursue His calling in our lives. Explore these Biblical truths throughout this week using the Scripture, reflection questions, and prayer prompts below, and see what the Holy Spirit has to say to you!

Ask God to help you recognize and embrace your gifts and to use them for His glory.

So Will I (100 Billion X)
Hillsong UNITED, Benjamin William Hastings

Pray for GOD to reveal someone that you could come alongside in their journey to follow Jesus, and a specific next step you could take to encourage them this week.

Who You Say I Am
The Worship Initiative, Shane & Shane, Dinah Smith

Ask God for the strength to let go of performance pressures and to rest in His grace.

Run To The Father
Cody Carnes

Seek God's guidance in mending broken relationships and for the courage to forgive.

Lord, I Need You
Matt Maher

Thank God for the gift of community and pray for opportunities to encourage and support those around you.

Make Us One
Gather Worship, Chris Tomlin, Matt Maher

As part of our "At the Movies" series, we invited readers of the Daily Rhythms blog to share their favorite movies or shows that reflect biblical themes. This week, we're excited to feature a submission from Leada Carr at our Midway Campus, who reflects on "The Great Gatsby." Through her insights, we delve into how this poignant story, much like "Encanto," captures the essence of identity, emptiness, and the quest for genuine fulfillment.

In "The Great Gatsby," we encounter themes of wealth, appearances, and the emptiness that often accompanies them—echoing the journey of the Madrigal family in "Encanto." Both stories remind us that the pursuit of worldly success and approval can leave us profoundly alone and unsatisfied. True fulfillment comes from understanding our worth in God, not in material possessions or social status.

Leada highlights Gatsby's mansion as the ultimate symbol of excess and illusion. She notes, "Gatsby builds his entire life around impressing Daisy and earning respect, but he never addresses the emptiness and idolatry behind it." Similarly, in "Encanto," the Madrigal family learns that their worth is not defined by their magical gifts but by their love and unity.

Some of the scriptures Leada highlighted were 1 Samuel 16:7 and Matthew 16:26, reminding us that God looks at the heart and that gaining the world is meaningless if we lose our soul. These truths resonate with the message of "The Great Gatsby" and "Encanto," where characters discover that true identity and peace come from God, not from external validation.

Leada writes, "Gatsby’s story is a cautionary tale about building your life on something that can’t love you back. He idolized Daisy and wealth, thinking they would give him identity and peace. But all they gave him was emptiness and a tragic end." Both "The Great Gatsby" and "Encanto" emphasize the importance of finding our worth in God and the dangers of chasing after illusions. They encourage us to trust in God's truth and embrace the journey of His calling on our lives. As Leada beautifully captures, these stories illustrate how "you can fool everyone with appearances, but God sees the heart...and only He can fill it."