About this week’s movie:

"Spider-Man: No Way Home" is a Marvel film that continues the story of Peter Parker (Spider-Man) following the events of "Spider-Man: Far From Home." The plot involves Peter seeking the help of Doctor Strange, to erase people's memories of him as Spider-Man after his identity is revealed. However, something goes wrong, and this results in the arrival of villains from other Spider-Man universes, including characters from previous Spider-Man film series. The film explores themes of identity, responsibility, and the consequences of tampering with reality.

‍

Message Notes

‍

• Peter’s enemy, Mysterio, nearly destroyed an entire city and made it look like it was Spider-Man that did it. To make things worse, he revealed Spider-Man’s real name, and his life is in great danger.
• Like many of us when bad things happen, we immediately jump to solving them. And that oftentimes means going about it the wrong way.
• When we lean into anything or anyone to solve our problems, except Christ, we are depending on the wrong thing.
• Job 8:13–15 - “Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so perishes the hope of the godless. What they trust in is fragile; what they rely on is a spider’s web. They lean on the web, but it gives way; they cling to it, but it does not hold.”
• Turning to God, instead of someone or something, will always be the better choice. Looking to the wrong things can lead to greater difficulties in our lives, and for Peter, that’s what happened.
• There are always consequences for not listening to and being obedient to God.
• John 3:17 - “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
• 1 John 1:19 - “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
• Proverbs 14:12 - “There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in [destruction].”
• When faced with the problems we deal with, we all have the choice to get bitter, or get better. To either continue to do things our way, selfishly trying to make sure our solutions, solve our problems, the way we want, or we can submit to a God that loves us, knows what’s best for us, and will give us the solutions we NEED, but they may not be the ones we WANT.
• Ephesians 4:31-32 - “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
• Trusting in God and making the hard choices even when you don’t feel like it, is the only way to make sure that we can move forward.
• Even though we have made a decision to depend on Christ and do things his way, that doesn’t mean the devil is going to stop trying to come after us. How will we respond when he does?
• Proverbs 15:23 - “The right word at the right [season]—beautiful!”
• We all need a Spider-Man to step into a difficult season and help us get out.
• That’s exactly what happened to Peter. Because he had help, because he had someone who stepped into his situation, he was able to let go of all that bitterness and anger. And you know what. Letting it go, set him free.
• Proverbs 16:7 - “When a [person’s] ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.”
• Are you ready to surrender your mistakes to God? He’s ready! And, you are surrounded by a bunch of people who are ready to walk through whatever season of life you are in.

‍