Rocky 2.0 with Paul McDonald and Britt Mooney
This week on the Men at the Movies podcast, we dig into the archives to share our discussion about Rocky. This is a story of transformation and rebirth—for Rocky, Adrian, Mickey, and even Paulie. And how is this transformation accomplished? Through love and forgiveness. Yo Adrian, let’s discover God’s truth in this movie.
Paul and Britt discuss how the only battle David ever lost was with himself. How can we avoid the same fate?
Quotes
Rocky loses the fight but you feel like he won.
When you’ve been told your whole life that you’re a bum, it’s hard to believe when someone tells you anything different.
God’s dreams for us are bigger than we think.
To be a man is to still be standing at the end.
Rocky isn’t fighting Apollo, he’s fighting himself. Our biggest battle is against ourselves.
Our identity determines our behavior.
Themes
Movie is about transformations and rebirth: Rocky, Adrian, Mickey, Paulie.
Definition of failure and success: Rocky doesn’t think he can win, he just wants to prove he’s not a bum. Just don’t quit.
Rocky went into Adrian’s world to woo her—Jesus did the same thing for us.
Love is transformational: Rocky/Adrian-Both of them told they were losers/nobody, but in each other found someone who thought something different. They gave each other confidence because they saw who they could be. Teach each other (Adrian learns to fight for herself, Rocky gets confidence from Adrian). Fill each other gaps. Speaks truth to each other
When opportunity comes, we freeze because we believe we aren’t ready. But success will only come if we humble ourselves, ask for help, and forgive those who overlooked us in the past.
What made Rocky a desirable opponent to Apollo, and a hungry fighter when given a chance, was the decade of hiddenness and being overlooked.
Your environment doesn’t hold you back, but provides the capacity for growth.
Transformation vs conforming: Conforming is externally based, changing behavior while transformation begins internally, based on our identity.
Paulie vs Rocky: Paulie feels like the world owes him something, doesn’t work to get his way out. Rocky works for his opportunity.
Resources
“We can’t live beyond the identity we’ve embraced.” -Morgan Snyder
“A woman in the presence of a good man, a real man, loves being a woman. His strength allows her feminine heart to flourish. His pursuit draws out her beauty. And a man in the presence of a real woman loves being a man. Her beauty arouses him to play the man; it draws out his strength. She inspires him to be a hero.” Stasi Eldredge
“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” -Ephesians 6:13 (NIV)
Atomic Habits by James Clear
Essentialism by Greg McKeown
Questions
What identity has been told to you all your life?
Who has seen the potential in you? Who has believed in you? What is/was your response?
What is your response when offered an opportunity? How hard is it to say yes?
When have you felt like others put you on “skid row?”
How are you working for your opportunity right now?
Where are you being transformed from the inside out?
More info
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Edited and mixed by Grayson Foster (https://graysonfoster.com/)
Logo and episode templates by Ian Johnston (https://ianhjohnston.com/)
Audio quotes performed by Britt Mooney, Paul McDonald, and Tim Willard, taken from Epic (written by John Eldredge) and Song of Albion (written by Stephen Lawhead).
Southerly Change performed by Zane Dickinson, used under license from Shutterstock
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