Our "Featured Movie" page provides you with sermon illustrations and teaching content from the latest Hollywood movies. If you are looking for a relevant sermon illustration from the films people are talking about, you've come to the right place.
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The Stoning of Soraya M. (2009)
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Based on a true story. In 1986, Iranian ex-pat and French journalist Freidoune Sahebjam stops in a small Iranian town when his car breaks down. There, an old woman invites him to her home and tells him the harrowing tale of her niece, Saroya, who, just the day before, was stoned to death by the villagers as punishment for trumped up charges of infidelity. Saroya's husband, Ali, has plans to marry a 14-year-old girl in the town, but does not want to bear the responsibilities that come with divorce, so he manufactures charges, and whips up the town against his wife. This is a brutal film that not only reveals the subjugation and abuse of women in post-revolutionary Iran, but is also an object lesson about the deadly progression of sin.
Movie's Sermon General's Warning:
The Stoning of Soraya M. contains profanity, and very explicit violence toward women. Use great discretion.
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
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Free Bible Study: The Stoning of Soraya M: Defeat the Dark Progress of Sin, Shine the Light
The Stoning of Soraya M is a harrowing film that shows how lust leads to sin, and sin to death. This free Bible study covers three key areas: to show how sin progresses, how it draws others in and works in dark corners, and why hidden sins need to be exposed as the first step in stopping them. The film is rated R for language and a brutal scene of violent stoning. Discretion is advised.
"Defeat the Dark Progress of Sin, Shine the Light" examines the following Bible passages: James 1:14-15; 2 Samuel 11:1-27; James 4:2-3; Proverbs 1:10-19; Proverbs 4:14-19; Romans 1:28-32; Psalm 10:8-11; Psalm 36:1-4; Psalm 64:4-6; Luke 12:1-3; Ephesians 5:11-16.
Click Here to Download Free Bible Study
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Illustration # 1
Clip: Gossip
Scene Setup:
Zahra comes into the town bakery. While there, Leila, the town gossip, reveals a dangerous rumor about Zahra's niece, Soraya.
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Illustration # 2
Clip: Hatred
Scene Setup:
Ali has stirred up the town against his wife, Soraya, by falsely accusing her of adultery. With enough people behind him, he is now unrestrained, and beats his wife publicly in the streets.
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Illustration # 3
Clip: Partiality
Scene Setup:
The mayor passively watches as Zahra is forced to stand up for Soraya's rights when a bunch of men dictate her service to the newly-widowed Hassem.
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Illustration # 4
Clip: Perpetrate
Scene Setup:
Ali is stirring up the town against his wife so that he can be rid of her and free to marry a young girl. But he needs two "witnesses" -- and all he has is one: himself. So Ali and the mullah arrive at Hashem's garage in order to get him to falsely testify against Ali's wife. This is their second visit with Hashem. The first time he steadfastly refused. Now Ali has come to increase the pressure so that he can get what he wants.
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Illustration # 5
Clip: Quick to Hear
Scene Setup:
At great personal risk, Zahra has invited a foreign journalist to her home in order to reveal her town's dark secret.
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video clip.
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Illustration # 6
Clip: Secret Sins
Scene Setup:
Ali seeks out the local mullah to pressure him into a scheme to get rid of Ali's wife.
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video clip.
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Illustration # 7
Clip: Treachery
Scene Setup:
Ali's desire toward a young girl in the village has hardened his heart toward his wife, Soraya. When Soraya spurns the advances of the local mullah, and rejects Ali's demand that she grant him a divorce without alimony, Ali's true colors emerge.
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video clip.
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Featured Movie
Our "Featured Movie" page provides you with sermon illustrations and teaching content from the latest Hollywood movies. If you are looking for relevant illustrations from the films people are talking about, you've come to the right place.
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Articles
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From Mars Hill to the Movies -- Part I
- Using Movie Clips
Ever since the Iconoclastic controversy arose in the 8th century, Christian preachers have been worried about using images in church. Now I will be the first to admit that the icons St. John of Damascus defended in On the Divine Images are far removed from the kind of images produced by Hollywood, but one of the reasons given by iconoclasts for not using images -- that all images are idols -- is the same reason I would like to advance for using them. People in the West idolize Hollywood. That is why preachers should follow Paul's example on Mars Hill by taking what people worship, and using it to lead them to Christ.
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From Mars Hill to the Movies -- Part 2
- How to Use Movie Clips
If movie clips are to be used effectively in preaching, guidelines concerning number and placement need to be observed. How many clips should be used in a single message? For preachers who are new to video usage the prospect of illustrating an entire message with vibrant images can be very seductive. I warn against using more than a couple of movie illustrations in a single message -- one of which should be an opener or a closer. Movie clips are expansive. If the focus is to remain on the text, it is important not to overwhelm the congregation or your small group.
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The Truth-Telling Power of Film
- Why Use Movie Clips
There is a lot of negative writing about the moral cesspool that is frequently Hollywood film. I have written a fair amount of it myself. Chances are great that in future columns in this space, you will see more of it. If that is true, why bother to use film as illustrations in sermons, small group discussions, or youth groups? The answer lies in the power of stories to embody the truth and to make morality come alive.
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