SERMON NOTES:

The familiar, mythic stories of the Harry Potter series can help us understand and experience the unfamiliar truths and actual stories of the bible

“It is not our abilities that show what we truly are. It is our choices…”
                     – Albus Dumbledore in Harry Potter – The Chamber of Secrets.

Like the Bible, the Harry Potter series takes life’s unfairness, incoherence, misery, and SUFFERING seriously.

… I have become like an owl of the waste places. I lie awake, I have become like a lonely bird on a housetop. My enemies have reproached me all day long; Those who deride me have used my name as a curse. For I have eaten ashes like bread and mingled my drink with weeping….They have spoken against me with lying tongues. With words of hatred they surround me; they attack me without cause… For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me… I am an object of scorn to my accusers; when they see me, they shake their heads. Help me, O LORD my God; save me in accordance with your love.… when they attack they will be put to shame, but your servant will rejoice. My accusers will be clothed with disgrace and wrapped in shame as in a cloak. – Psalms 102, 109

Both the Bible and Harry Potter present us with human heroes that are flawed yet can grow, and both offer the possibility of redemption to those who are evil but are willing to change. They both teach that doing the good often won’t feel very good in the short term.

Like the Bible, the Harry Potter series lifts up:

friendship, loyalty, compassion and SELFLESSNESS
over
popularity, riches, power and SELFISHNESS.

And both tell us it is often a difficult choice.

One of the reasons for the popularity of the Harry Potter series is that has what we all deeply desire – real friendship, a life where we have the sense that “We are all in this together.” The bible teaches:

“He who pursues righteousness and loyalty finds life, righteousness and honor.” – Proverbs 21:21

“If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” – Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. – Galatians 5:11

“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” – Jesus

HOMEWORK:

VERSE TO MEMORISE:
“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” – Jesus in John 15:12-13

QUESTION TO PONDER:
How open are you to the possibility that God wants to use you in your friend’s lives – to help them come to know Him ?

Musical Credit: John Williams “Leaving Hogwarts”  https://music.apple.com/us/album/leaving-hogwarts/89286124?i=89285919

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