What Makes a Hero: Courage

1 Timothy 1: 12-17, Luke 15: 11-32 1

Rainy days down at the beach are made for movies and puzzles, books and naps! When you can’t get your toes out into the sand, nothing is better than watching movies. This month, we are going to take a look at a few movies, through this series: the gospel in film. I am not preaching from these movies.

Rather, these movies point to the gospel by reflecting the human condition. And the gospel, the good news of Jesus, speaks to us. In the season of the summer blockbuster, what makes a godly and faith-filled hero?

Today, we begin with Lion King. Lion King has been a classic – three movies, a play, a Broadway hit! And the remake out in theaters next Friday! Many of you may know the Lion King well enough to participate in a sing along! The story is loosely based on Shakespeare’s Hamlet. The hero’s journey that Simba takes is similar to that of the prodigal son, whose story we heard John read from Luke’s gospel.

The young lion Simba has been primed to ascend to his father’s throne. When his uncle Scar plots and kill Mufasa, his father, Simba believes that it is his fault, and Simba flees in shame. While in the desert experience, Simba’s childhood friend Nala finds him and urges him to be king and come back to the Pride lands. Like all of us, Simba’s fears and doubts lurk larger than life.

Take a look as Simba is reminded of courage in who he is: (play clip)

Remember who you are. What a powerful moment as the father speaks to the son. As the Simba hears Mufasa’s voice, he is reminded that he is now king and must take up the mantle. I doubt Disney had any thought of the parallels that be drawn between Simba and life of Jesus movie is rich! This moment parallels the life of Jesus with transfiguration and baptism, as both he and others are encouraged and reminded of his identity. If you look on the front of the bulletin, I adapted the phrase, remember who you are. Remember whose you are – be Courageous! In our baptism, we find our identity in Christ as children of God. We remember that we are God’s and God works through us.

Courage is about remembering who we are and whose we are. We are children of God and we are God’s beloved. When we lose sight of who we are and whose we are, we lose focus on what God calls us to do in the world and with one another. The prodigal son demanded his inheritance essentially wishing his father dead. He forgot his connection to his family and who he was. He lived life large and spent away all of his inheritance. He remembered who he was as he returned seeking forgiveness. The father gave forgiveness freely embracing him.

Both exemplified courage. Courage in returning and courage in embracing. From there, our courage comes to live out where God calls us to go and who God calls us to be.

Courage is showing up when we can not control how it will turn out.1 Kenda Cressy Dean, professor of Youth, Church, and Culture at Princeton shares this story about the small church of fifty in worship, in her congregation. The church ended up with the first food truck in Princeton, and all because they wanted to reach out to students. The food truck served students and the community, opening up lots of conversation that were not previously available. And it an 80-year-old named Al, who had the most fun and courage. He took his entrepreneurial experience and courageously went forward. And, for the first time in 80 years, Al began to understand that who God had made him to be, as the Silicon Valley tech guy, was a way he could serve God.2

God speaks to us through vision, prayer, and scripture encouraging us to take your place among many who have gone before and come after to make changes to usher in the kingdom of God. Courage is speaking up, when we know something needs to be said, even though it makes us less than comfortable to do so. When our friends and family say things that are hurtful, inappropriate, and bigoted, courage grants us the reminder that in Christ, we treat all as beloved children of God. Courage is acting into and living out the gospel call.

Heroes are ordinary people who do extraordinary things. Courage and fear are not mutually exclusive. Dorothy Bernard, famously said, “Courage is fear that said its prayers.” More fully, when we remember who we are in Christ Jesus, a beloved son or daughter, we can do with confidence all that God calls us to do.

Where is God calling you to live courageously? “Courage faces fear and thereby masters it.”3 Where has God been whispering for you to step into the future God has been preparing for you?

Consider this summer joining us at Mission Central trip on July 23rd or Good Neighbors Day on August 17th . Good Neighbors works on home restoration here in Southern Chester County. Maybe you have never swung a hammer or used an electric drill before. Listen to the courage that our youth mission team will be sharing as they did work and share a witness they had never done before. Maybe you are very competent with tools but feel a little uncomfortable talking with others.

The prodigal son and Simba, and often, you and I, we need to remember who we are, and whose we are. We are children of God, made in the image of God, and called to be courageous! To be courageous comes from the Latin word for heart. When we are courageous, we remember whose and act from the heart. May you, find your courage in Christ to share the gospel, the good news that God never leaves us and continues to equip and empower us to live as children of God, ushering in God’s kingdom here on earth.

This is the Gospel of Lord Jesus Christ, thanks be to God, Amen.

Footnotes
(1)  Brown, Brene.  Dare to Lead. 2018. 
(2) https://www.churchleadership.com/podcast/episode-35-doing-innovative-ministry-featuring-kenda-creasy-dean/?id=lit20190706-transcript#transcript
(3)  King, Martin Luther, Jr. Strength to Love. 2010.