Saving Private Ryan with Paul McDonald and Britt Mooney
We conclude our summer blockbuster series with Saving Private Ryan. We live in a world at war, but our enemy isn’t who you think it is. Going through battle requires fluid leadership and reveals a bond of brotherhood. In the brutality of the fight, we must choose every day to pursue compassion, guard our hearts, and hold on to our humanity.
Quotes
Battle makes us realize what is most important.
Christianity is not an invitation to a cruise ship, but an invitation to a battleship.
We lose sight of who our enemy is.
We adopt this therapeutic idea of God’s love—“If God loved me, then nothing bad would ever happen to me.”
We’re told not to lose heart because we will actually want to lose heart.
The idea that we won’t go through battle, or carry our cross, that our lives will be rainbows and butterflies is not Biblical.
Captain Miller doesn’t always know what he needs to do, but he knows he needs to keep moving forward.
In the middle of war, they are going on a mission of compassion.
Without compassion, we won’t do anything decent.
What if we do the harder thing that is the right thing to do?
Living by the truth has weighty and real consequences, but we may not see it in the moment.
You were rescued to be a rescuer.
Themes
Three main themes: brotherhood in the trenches, leadership in Captain Miller, and the question we have of “Did I earn it? Am I a good man?”
The Normandy scene is a picture of the spiritual reality we face, of Kingdom warfare. It is a scene of inspiring bravery and devastating loss.
War is hell on earth, and when you become a Christian, you become a target.
Leaders do what is tough, but right, in order to save the people under their care.
The enemy tries to surround us with chaos. Leadership is to bring order to the chaos.
Leaders give roles according to your talents, skills, and gifts.
In his naivete, Upham reflects new leaders, pastors, parents.
In the midst of the horrible war, we don’t take life lightly. In this world at war, we are called on a mission of compassion.
The battle is brutal, and in this world at war, it’s easy to lose our heart, our humanity, and our compassion.
Leadership stays connected to and sees the Larger Story, the greater Mission. Leadership reminds you of what matters most.
We maintain our hearts in the little choices we make to hold onto compassion for ourselves and others.
Doing the right thing even if I get nothing out of it is the most God-honoring thing I can do.
We have to know the overall strategy and mission of the Larger Story, of God’s mission.
We must go through the battle and the difficulty to get to the good stuff.
We have the choice with what we do, and who we will become.
Resources
“For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” - Ephesians 6:12 (NLT)
“Then the dragon (Satan) became furious with the woman (Mary) and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.” - Revelation 12:17 (ESV)
Questions
What battles do you face? Where do you feel under attack?
Keeping your battle hidden prevents you from connecting with people who are also going through similar struggles—how would it feel to reach out to someone?
Who has been revealed to be your brother-in-arms?
Where have you been called to lead?
Where have you been ambushed, and your leadership questioned? How did you respond?
What fight is worth dying for?
What is chaotic in your life right now? How can you bring order to it?
Where has reality caused you to rethink your knowledge?
Where do you choose compassion?
How recognizable are you to who you want to be?