SPIDER MAN

Columbia Pictures
PG-13

On the surface, Spider Man is a great movie about triumph by the underdog, and even as such, is a fun movie. But looking deeper into the film, we can see a glimpse of God in the midst of the story and Peter Parker's struggles.

Good versus evil
This film is an example of the classic struggle between good and evil, with the Green Goblin representing the evil and Spider Man the good.

• Brother Martin (Luther, that is) said that we are at the same time saint (good) and sinner (evil). From your own experience, is this true? If so, how?  (Theologically speaking, "We are born children of a fallen humanity; in the waters of baptism we are reborn children of God and inheritors of eternal life." (Lutheran Book of Worship p. 121)
  
• Read Romans 7:14-20. How does this passage relate to your own life?

Where are you in the film?

• How are you like Spider Man? (Answers may include: "I do what I can to help people." "I know things about myself that other people don't." "Sometimes I do things for people without letting them know who did them." Etc.)
  
• How are you like the Green Goblin? (Answers may include: "I don't feel like people understand me." "People do things to me that I don't deserve." "I'm not always able to control my impulses, and I end up hurting people." Etc.)
  
• Other characters are also important in this story and also tell us something about ourselves. What of yourself do you see in:
  • Mary Jane (MJ)
  • Harry Osborn (Peter's friend)
  • Aunt May
  • Uncle Ben

Using the gifts God has given you

• How did Uncle Ben help Peter Parker as he wrestled with his new identity? Recall the following quote: "These are the years when a man changes into the man he's going to become the rest of his life. Just be careful who you change into." -Uncle Ben
  
• Uncle Ben seemed to understand Peter way more than Peter wanted to admit. Talk about how you ignore, or maybe resent, advise from adults.
  
• Uncle Ben made a statement that Peter keeps coming back to through the rest of the film, "With great power comes great responsibility." What does that mean in your particular situation? What about if you don't have great power? Are people without great power still responsible for their actions?
  
• When he discovered his new powers, Peter Parker had to struggle with how he would use his new gifts. How do you think him causing the death of the man who killed Uncle Ben affected Peter Parker's outlook on life and on his new powers? How much do you think he considered teaming up with the Green Goblin?
  
• Listen to the following passages from scripture. As you do, keep in mind the question, "What gifts has God given me?"

Matthew 25:14-30
How do you use your particular gifts? How is God calling you to use your gifts?

Matthew 4:1-11
How did Jesus respond to temptation? What does this tell us about Jesus? (He's fully human, and experienced every emotion and temptation we experience.)

What do people think?

• What does God think? Peter Parker was called a freak, but realized that he was OK as he was, even more than OK.
  

• Have you ever thought of yourself as a freak, an outcast, or as imperfect or undesirable in any way? How did you handle those feelings?
  

• In the following two passages, what does God say about who you are?

Psalm 139
Focus especially on verses 14-15 ("I am fearfully and wonderfully made.")

Jeremiah 1:4-5
How do you respond to others who seem different from 'normal' people?

• Given these two passages, how do you think God calls us to respond to people who are 'different'?

Self versus others

• The Green Goblin's (and Norman Osborn's) focus was on getting more power for himself. Spider Man's (Peter Parker's) focus was always on helping others who were in need. Where do you see yourself, more focused on yourself or more focused on others?
  

• How does Mark 9:33-37 (especially v. 35) relate to this issue?
  

• Where do you see God in this film?

As with anything, feel free to adapt this guide to your own situation. Enjoy the film, enjoy the discussion, and enjoy one another. And remember, the first word and the last word is always, “God Loves You.”