The Heart Of A Real Hero
Did you have a hero growing up?
Was there a story, a person, an image of someone in your life who fought for what was worth fighting for?
For some, this may have been someone in uniform, like a G.I. Joe…
For others, it may have been a comic book hero, or literary figure, who just seemed to take on the world…
Or for others, it may have been a friend or family member, who just seemed to have it all together…
As children, it was as natural to believe in "heroes" as it was to breathe air.
We wanted to see someone bigger and stronger than us fight on behalf of the good.
We wanted to watch them.
We wanted to be like them....
And though we grow older, and the world seems more complex and dark, there is still a child-like part of us that wishes for a hero....
or perhaps even to become one.
“I set out to rule the world
With only a paper shield and a wooden sword
No mountain dare stand in my way
Even the oceans tremble in my wake…”
“The years wore on
And changed my heart
The leading role
For a smaller part.”
“Now I bear little resemblance to the king I once was
I bear little resemblance to the king I could become
Maybe paper is paper, maybe kids will be kids
Lord, I wanna remember how to feel like I did…”
As Christians, we can forget as easily as everyone else that we’re still in an epic story.
We’re living in a story where good and evil are at war...
And at times we’re on the edge of our seat to see who wins...
And heroes, even wounded heroes, are called to the front lines every day.
All around us, we see these sacrifices made by everyone from medical workers, to military and missionaries.
Real people lay their lives down all the time. Lives are saved.
And on the big screen, through hero-stories like, The Avengers, which is our movie theme this Sunday, we’ll see the heart of a real hero is a wounded heart.
And as many lay their lives down for good causes, Jesus alone is the hero of our hearts.
His wounds of self-sacrifice pour healing life into our wounded hearts too. Awakening in us the heroism of living sacrificially that He designed us for! (Rom. 12:1-3)
Remember to invite your friends, neighbors and family to join us in service or online, so that these relevant conversations can “bleed” into the relationships around us and point many eyes to Jesus.
See you all Sunday!
Pastor Dave
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Faith in the Avengers?! - Two Strong Christians on “The Avengers” team:
Watch Chris Pratt (Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers: End Game) as he shares with Jonathan Roumie about his deepening faith in Jesus and outreach on the Hollywood movie set. Chris Pratt acts as Peter Quill in Guardians of the Galaxy.
Watch Emmy-Nominated Letitia Wright (Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War & Avengers: End Game) as she shares about how Jesus called her to sacrifice acting for a season to come to deeper relationship with Him, then gave her the role of a lifetime as the new Black Panther.
Create a Watch party for The Avengers
Gather with friends in your home or online to watch The Avengers (or any movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (aka. MCU).
Have fun. Ask questions. Converse Afterwards. But begin with a prayer asking the Holy Spirit to speak to you specifically during the film, and be prepared to noticed HIs nudges.
1 BONUS POINT: If you ask someone from a different generation what they think about The Avengers?
2 BONUS POINTS: if you invite someone from a different generation to your Watch Party with you!