The Summer Blockbuster Sermon Series 2: The Sequel begins on Sunday. Over the next few weeks we'll take a look at four of this summer's biggest movies and explore spiritual themes from the movies.
First up is a big name comedy, Grown Ups, starring Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade, Salma Hayak, Maria Bello, and Steve Buscemi. This film tells the story of five guys who starred on the same championship youth basketball team who meet again -- this time with their families -- at the funeral of their coach.
Here's a look:
In the film, the men become nostalgic as fathers, husbands, and men for the things that they learned and enjoyed when they were younger, including their close relationships with each other. They try to recapture these values and experiences and share them with their families -- especially their wives and children.
The most successful example of this type of nostalgia in the Biblical narratives is the reign of King Josiah in the land of Judah. (Yes, Roger, the Jewish kings are returning for one Sunday!) Josiah is famous as a reformer, who emptied the Temple of idols and returned the Jewish people to a pure worship of the one true God. Following the example of his great-grandfather, King Hezekiah, Josiah used his authority and tax revenues to restore the Temple to its original glory, and he worked with the priests to return Jewish religious practice to similar stature. (In fact, many historians believe that Deuteronomy -- "the second law" -- was enacted during Josiah's reign.)
On Sunday, we'll explore the nature of this type of nostalgia, its limitations and its opportunities, from the movie, from the Bible, and for our own lives.
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