Sunday, November 8, 2026
What's your favorite movie? The one you can watch over and over, quote from memory, or stop scrolling for when you catch it playing on TV? Maybe it's a story about an unlikely hero, a second chance, an epic adventure, or a love that conquers all. Whatever your favorite, it probably sticks with you for a reason.
Stories have a way of reaching something inside us. They make us laugh, tug at our heartstrings, challenge our thinking, and leave us asking bigger questions about life. Maybe that's because the stories that move us most point beyond themselves to something, or someone, greater.
The longing for redemption, hope, sacrifice, and love we see on the screen echoes a bigger story - the story of Jesus.
Even Paul, 2,000 years ago, drew from the culture around him to point people to Jesus. He quoted poets and philosophers of his day to reveal how God was already at work, even in unexpected places.
Acts 17:28
“For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’”
God isn't confined to a church building, a Sunday morning, or the moments we set aside for prayer. He is present in every part of our lives, His fingerprints show up in the questions we ask, the experiences we share, and the stories that capture our imaginations.
As we look ahead into this week, let's be intentional about spending our screen time focused on something more than popcorn in hand. Let's watch with curiosity and an open heart. Enjoy the stories, but look beyond the screen and consider what God might be revealing through the themes that resonate with us.
Every good story reflects a glimpse of the God who made us and the deeper truths he weaves into our lives.
Discussion Questions:
Ice Breaker: What movie, book, or story left you feeling hopeful?
Why do people sometimes settle for surviving instead of believing things can get better?
Read Romans 5:3-5: How does this passage challenge the way we typically view hardships and setbacks?
When you're going through a difficult season, what are you most tempted to lose: joy, hope, trust, or perseverance?
Reflect and Respond: What's one area of your life where hope feels difficult right now? What is one small, faithful step you can take this week instead of giving in to discouragement?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for meeting us in every story. Open our eyes to see your truth, your hope, and your love in the things we watch and the lives we live. Help us to notice your presence and to let every story point us back to you. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
Series Theme Verse:
Acts 17:28
“For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’”
Written by Lori Tuckerman, Director of Content at CedarCreek Church.