This movie is a prequel to the Despicable Me series. The Minions are on the look out for a master they can follow. They find many different Masters but none seem to fit the description they are looking for. Will they ever find the Master they are looking for?
Applications:
Leadership:
Say: The Minions seem to be searching everywhere for their Master, yet everyone is letting them down. Nobody seems good enough, and when they are good enough, they die. Leaders are people that set an example for others to follow. We can all be a leader wherever we are, because we can all set an example for others. It takes hard work and dedication to be a good leader. A good leader thinks of those that are following them and considers how they can best help and encourage them. Without a good leader the minions felt like they had no purpose. They felt like they were lost in a very big world.
That can be like us too. You see, we were created to be led. We were created to be followers of God. Without His leadership in our lives we might feel like we have lost our purpose too. The bible compares us to sheep that need a shepherd. Our shepherd is Jesus; the good shepherd. Jesus said “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:11. Jesus was the best kind of leader because he gave his life for you and me. He set the example that we can follow. Now, we might not die for others, but we can live for others – just like Jesus did. When we lead, or others lead, we can think about how we can help those around us. We can lead by example, just as Jesus set the example for us.
LEADERS IN THE BIBLE:
The kings in the New and Old Testament (many were ungodly, some were godly including David)
The Prophets – Samuel, Elijah and Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah and many others
Old Testament leaders: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Moses and Jacob
Those in leadership during Jesus’ time: Pontius Pilate, the Pharisees and religious rulers
Jesus – the perfect leader
Those in the Early Church – Paul, Peter, Silas, Timothy
[There are so many more that we can’t possibly mention them all here, but we thought we would mention a few!]
RELEVANT BIBLE PASSAGES ABOUT LEADERSHIP:
John 10:1-30 – The Good Shepherd passage.
1 Timothy 4:12 – Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.
Titus 1:7-14 – a passage about being a good leader/Elder in the church
Hebrews 13:7 – Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.
Matthew 7:12 – So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Hebrews 13:17 – Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
Matthew 6:24 – No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. Who is your favorite famous leader? (this could be someone in history or someone from the TV or a movie)
2. If you were to lead your country what would you do differently to others? How would you think about other people?
3. What do you think makes a good leader?
4. Why do you think Jesus is the perfect leader?
5. What can we learn from the leaders in the bible?
6. How has a leader in your life made a difference to you?
7. What do you think we need to avoid as leaders?
8. Jesus warned us about letting money lead us, or be our master. How can we avoid being led astray by money and power?
9. How can you help and encourage those that lead you? (your leaders at church, school teachers, parents)
10. How does it make you feel knowing that you can set an example to those around you? How will you do that today?
Seeking God:
Say: Have you ever played hide and seek? It seems like the minion’s Master was hiding, because they just couldn’t find one! The minions seem like they never gave up on searching for their leader. They knew that they would be better off with a leader to follow, because that was what gave them purpose. They were willing to keep searching until they found the right Master. The bible talks a lot about seeking. In fact, Jesus told many parables about seeking. He understood that if something really matters to us, then we will keep looking until we find it. That’s why he was prepared to seek us out. He sent his one and only Son so that we might know him. He knows the pain of seeking, yet he also knows the reward.
What are you searching for? Are you, like the minions, in need of a leader? Have you asked Jesus to be the Master of your life? Are you seeking after more of God in your life? The bible tells us that we shouldn’t stop seeking him once we have encountered him, but that our life is to be a continuous seeking of God. Ephesians 3:17-19 says “And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge —that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” If his love truly is that great, then it will take a lifetime to explore the depths of it!
We can seek more of Him every day and know that there is still more to find out, still more to love and give thanks for, still more to stand in awe of. Let’s seek him with all we have and never give up! He promises that when we seek him we will find him when we seek him with all of our heart…. so what are you waiting for? Make him your Master and leader today.
RELEVANT BIBLE PASSAGES ABOUT SEEKING GOD:
The Lost Son (Luke 15:11-32), the Lost Coin (Luke 15:8-10) and the Lost Sheep (Luke 15:1-7)parables.
1 Chronicles 16:11 – Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face continually.
1 Chronicles 22:19 – “Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God; arise, therefore, and build the sanctuary of the LORD God, so that you may bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD and the holy vessels of God into the house that is to be built for the name of the LORD.”
Psalm 14:2 – The LORD has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men To see if there are any who understand, Who seek after God.
Hebrews 11:16 – And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
Isaiah 55:6-7 – Seek the LORD while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the LORD, And He will have compassion on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.
Zephaniah 2:3 – Seek the LORD, All you humble of the earth Who have carried out His ordinances; Seek righteousness, seek humility Perhaps you will be hidden In the day of the LORD’S anger.
Proverbs 8:17 – I love those who love me; And those who diligently seek me will find me.
Deuteronomy 4:29-31 – But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul. “When you are in distress and all these things have come upon you, in the latter days you will return to the LORD your God and listen to His voice. “For the LORD your God is a compassionate God; He will not fail you nor destroy you nor forget the covenant with your fathers which He swore to them.
Matthew 6:5-15 – a practical passage on how to seek God in prayer.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. What was the last thing you lost and how long did it take you to find it?
2. Why do you think Jesus spoke so much about seeking?
3. Do you think you have been seeking God lately? Why/why not?
4. What do you do when you get tired of seeking after God? How do you keep on going?
5. What is the most important thing you have ever lost and how did it feel when you found it?
6. How do you think God feels when we seek after him?
7. How does it feel to know that God seeks you out? That he cares for you that much.
8. God has lots of great words that he has hidden in his Word for us to find. How might you seek them out?
9. What can we learn from the parables on seeking?
10. How might you start seeking God today?
