To understand the difference between authentic and fake friendships.

Transcription

1 T h e T r u m a n S h o w : Reminders: Phony Friendship If you are going to use a movie clip, ALWAYS PREVIEW IT! No exceptions! You are responsible for what you show your group! Our writers will always try to provide clean clips and warn you of nearby questionable words or content but all art forms are subjective only you can determine what to show your group. Number one rule: watch it first. Please read the Terms of Use at the end of this lesson for important licensing and copyright information. Goal: To understand the difference between authentic and fake friendships. Setting the Stage: Ask your group to list the qualities that a good friend should exhibit. Write their answers on a chalkboard or a large sheet of butcher paper. If your group is really sharp, write out the entire alphabet and have them come up with one quality for each letter of the alphabet (i.e. affirming, bighearted, candid, etc.).

2 The Truman Show Overview: Truman Burbank is a lighthearted insurance salesman who believes that he lives in the tranquil town of Seahaven with his wife and close friends. However, Truman s life is really a TV show. Truman has lived on a soundstage from birth, and without his knowledge, every moment of his life has been recorded and broadcast on television. Everything around him that forms his daily life is a fabrication of actors and props. Truman begins to suspect that something bizarre is happening, which worries Christof, creator of The Truman Show. As Truman becomes more distrustful of his environment, Christof desperately tries to keep his leading actor from discovering the truth. IMPORTANT NOTE: The Truman Show is rated PG for some thematic elements and a few profanities. The DVD contains a theatrical trailer that would be helpful to play prior to the clip if your students are unfamiliar with the movie. Leaders should preview clips prior to showing them to the group. Also, it would be helpful if the leader has seen the entire movie. Scripture: Psalm 41:9, Proverbs 26:24, and John 15:12 15 All of us can relate to the laments of David and Solomon in Psalm 41:9 and Proverbs 26:24. We have all been betrayed, backstabbed, and hurt by people whom we have considered friends. Jesus also knew what it was like to be betrayed by his closest friends (John 13:2). And he knew what it was like to be a good friend. In John 15:12 15 Jesus gives us some insight into the greatest thing we can do for our friends: sacrifice. Although most of us will never be asked to lay down our life for our friends, we can learn to be like Christ and lay down our lives daily by putting the needs of others before our own.

3 Movie Clip: Lauren... or Is It Sylvia? and Mococoa It s the Best! Time: DVD: Start at the beginning of chapter 7; end after Sylvia s father takes her away. Start the next clip at the beginning of chapter 14; end when the scene switches away from Sylvia, Truman s sweetheart. Introduction to this Clip Truman survives a near-nervous breakdown and is almost convinced something is terribly wrong in his world. In this clip, what Truman needs most, a genuine and honest friend, is the opposite of what he receives from Marlon. Warning: In the first clip Truman and Sylvia engage in a passionate kiss. In the second clip Truman says hell twice, and a scene shows him drinking a beer with his friend. Use discretion when showing to your group. Key Comments and Principles from Clip Real friends don t just tell us what we want to hear; they are honest and open. I ve been your best friend since we were seven years old, Truman... You re the closest thing I ever had to a brother. I would gladly step in front of traffic for you, Truman. The last thing that I would ever do to you is lie to you. I mean, think about it, Truman, if everybody is in on it, I d have to be in on it too. I m not in on it, Truman, because there is no it. What Did You See? After viewing the clip, ask the group these questions:

4 Truman and Marlon have known each other for nearly twenty-five years. Are they really friends? Why or why not? Truman only had one conversation with Sylvia, yet he seems to have experienced a deeper connection with her than anybody he s ever known. In a way, he feels closer to her than anybody else on the planet. Do you think this is possible? Why or why not? Why do you think Sylvia was so compelled to tell Truman the truth? Do you think she thought she was saving him? Do you think that the actor who plays Marlon actually cares about Truman? If you were in Sylvia s shoes and you were capable of freeing Truman like she thought she could, would you tell him the truth? Which do you think is a better friend the one who comforts us and lets us believe things that are not true, or the friend that tells us the truth though it may hurt us? What Did You Read? After reading the scripture for today, ask the following questions: What are the key elements in these scriptures? Have any of you experienced the ugliness of Proverbs 26:24? If so, would you like to talk about your experience? What can we learn about friendship from Jesus words in John 15:12 15? It s likely that you will never be given the opportunity to lay down your life for a friend. Can you think of some other ways that you can practice this principle on a regular basis? Jesus told his disciples to love one another as he loved them. How should we interpret and apply this command to our lives today?

5 What Does It All Mean? Tie the movie clip and scripture together by asking the following questions: What can Marlon teach us about friendship (specifically what not to do)? What can Sylvia teach us about friendship? Why is it that the wounds of a close friend hurt so much more than the wounds of an enemy? A hypocrite is somebody who says one thing but really thinks or does something else. What are some ways that friends can be hypocritical? Why do you think the Bible talks so much about friendship? Do you think your church has more Sylvias or Marlons? What about your youth group? Which one are you? Can you think of any existing friendships that could use some work? If you are the one who needs to change, what are some steps you can take to make your relationship better? Creative Activity: Give each of your students a piece of paper and a pen. Ask them to list three of their closest friends. For each friend, have them write down two ways they can live out the principle of laying down their life this next week. When they have finished writing, ask for a few volunteers to share their ideas. TERMS OF USE: In producing this teaching material, Barefoot Ministries references the use of movie clips as suggestions for teaching Christian principles in home small groups. The use of movie clips is a suggestion only, and alternatively the movie content could be discussed verbally, without showing any movie clips. Special permission must be granted for any public performance of copyrighted material, including church use. Legal use of and licensing of suggested material under copyright is the responsibility of the local user and/or the local church. Barefoot Ministries is not responsible for the licensing or use of any media suggested in this material. Barefoot

6 Ministries advises that any church or individual secure proper licensing before any public showing of any part of any motion picture, or recorded copyright media. You can secure a Church Video License and/or find out more information about public viewing of copyrighted media by contacting Christian Video Licensing International at or calling CVLI.