Reminders: Napoleon Dynamite: Snacking with Sinners 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 that Jesus understanding of popularity and success differs from the world s understanding.
Setting the Stage: As a group, make a list of all the cliques or social classes in your students schools (i.e. the jocks, the drama club, the popular kids, etc.). Discuss the characteristics of each group. Napoleon Dynamite Overview: Napoleon Dynamite is a movie about Napoleon, an unusual teenager living in the backwater town of Preston, Idaho, with his grandmother; pet llama; and older brother, Kip. Napoleon s grandmother leaves town, so Napoleon s uncle Rico comes to stay with them and proceeds to ruin Napoleon s life. IMPORTANT NOTE: Napoleon Dynamite is rated PG for thematic elements and language. Although this is a fairly clean movie, leaders should still preview clips prior to showing them to the group. Also, it would be helpful if the leader has seen the entire movie. Scripture: Matthew 9:9 13 Take time to check out a couple of commentaries on the scripture passage. In Matthew 9:9 13 the author, Matthew, records the story of his calling. To fully understand the significance of Jesus befriending a tax collector, we need to understand the role that the tax collector played in Jesus day. They worked for the despised occupying Romans, and their job was to collect taxes from the people; however, they made their living by
collecting more than what was required and keeping the extra money for themselves. Obviously, they were very unpopular people. But Jesus didn t seem to care about Matthew s social status or how His own would be effected by befriending Matthew. Jesus was often known to choose to hang out with the poor and helpless over the powerful and influential. Jesus simply desired a relationship with people especially the outcasts of society. He loved the unlovable and embraced the rejected, paying no regard to what others thought of Him for doing so. Movie Clip: Current Events Time: Start at the beginning of chapter 2. End at 08:54, when Napoleon says, This one gang kept wanting me to join because I m pretty good with a bow staff. Introduction to this Clip Here is our first glimpse of the legendary Napoleon Dynamite. Undeniably Napoleon has some serious social quirks: he sits alone on the school bus, plays by himself at recess, gets made fun of in gym class, shuns the popular crowd, and is a target for bullies. And even though he has no buff physique (except his fro), no cool outfits (unless you count moon boots), and no superpowers (except his bow staff skills) Napoleon acts like a true hero in this scene. What Did You See? After viewing the clip, ask the group these questions: Does Napoleon seem happy? Why or why not?
Do you think Napoleon really hunted wolverines in Alaska with his uncle? If not, why would he lie? How is your school similar to Napoleon s? As the tetherball scene showed, Napoleon probably spends a lot of time alone. Do you think he is happy or comfortable being alone? How was Napoleon a hero in this clip? What were your thoughts as you listened to the principal talking to Pedro? If you were Napoleon and saw the principal demeaning a new kid, would you have intervened? What Did You Read? After reading the scripture for today, ask the following questions: What are the key elements in this scripture passage? Why do you think Matthew was so willing to follow Jesus? What attracted the sinners and tax collectors (that is, the outcasts of society) to Jesus? Jesus said, It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick (Matthew 9:12). Who were the healthy to whom Jesus was referring? Who were the sick to whom Jesus was referring? What did Jesus mean when He said, I desire mercy, not sacrifice? What Does It All Mean? Tie the movie clip and scripture together by asking the following questions:
Can you think of people at your school who, like Napoleon or Pedro, are in need of a friend? How could you show them love? Who are some modern-day tax collectors? If Jesus were at your school, whose table do you think He would choose to sit at for lunch? How do you think visitors feel when they visit your youth group? Do you try to make them feel welcomed and included? Based on Matthew 9:9 13, what can we learn from Jesus in regard to how we treat others? Creative Activity: Before the lesson, place several piles of money on a table, all containing variations of five dollars (one pile with five one-dollar bills, another with twenty quarters, another with fifty dimes, etc.). Also, have both an old and a new five-dollar bill. Hold up the new five-dollar bill and ask your students if any of them wants to have it. Then ask them why they want it. Then hold up the old five-dollar bill and ask the same question. After you get the same response, ask them why they wanted the dirty, old bill just as much as they wanted the clean, new one. Repeat the exercise with piles of money, each containing variations of five dollars. At the end of the object lesson, emphasize that five dollars is still five dollars, regardless of how it looks. In the same way, all humans have the same value because we are all made in God s image.
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 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 www.cvli.org or calling 1-888- 771-CVLI.