The Hollywood Reporter called the 2006 movie “The Nativity Story” “scrupulously accurate”, but we give it our own appraisal as part of our study of the Bible’s accounts of Jesus before His public ministry.
From the Second Sunday of Advent 2012 through Lent of 2013 we studied what the Gospel accounts say about Jesus before His public ministry began, from events before, through, and after His birth. We took the Bible’s details in order and compared Catherine Hardwicke’s 2006 movie “The Nativity Story”, which gives a unique perspective on the age-old story of Jesus’s birth. What is clear and unclear in the movie? What does the movie add to and omit and re-sequence from the Bible? Does the movie tell “why” Jesus was born? Does it put forth law and Gospel? How adequately does the movie portray the Gospel message? Is the movie ultimately faithful to the Gospel accounts?
For answers to those questions and more, follow along on-line at any time using the links below to audio files of the class.
Week 16 – March 31, 2013
Audio
(The class took a few questions about “The Nativity Story” and then discussed the resurrection of our Lord.)
Week 15 – March 24, 2013
Audio
(The class wrapped up the viewing of the movie with a few pauses for discussion.)
Week 14 – March 17, 2013
Audio
(The class continued viewing the movie and pausing for discussion.)
Week 13 – March 10, 2013
Audio
(The class briefly discussed The History Channel’s miniseries “The Bible” and the selection of a new pope, before it began viewing the movie and pausing for discussion along the way.)
Week 12 – March 03, 2013
Audio
Week 11 – February 24, 2013
Audio
Week 10 – February 17, 2013
Audio
Week 9 – February 10, 2013
Audio
(The class discussed the aftermath of a December 16, 2012, inter-faith “service” in Newtown, CT. The February 9th statements from LCMS President Harrison and others are here [note the link there to a February 10th video from President Harrison]. You may also be interested in the February 1st letter from President Harrison, the January 31st letter from the Newtown pastor, and the conservative website mentioned in the class.)
Week 8 – February 03, 2013
Audio
(The bulk of class was Daily Bible reading related discussion about Exodus, including obedience to the government in the matter of guns, with some discussion near the end about the preceding day’s Family Vocation retreat)
Week 7 – January 27, 2013
Audio
(Begins with discussion about the North Texas Confessional Lutheran Free Conference “Who needs marriage?”)
Week 6 – January 20, 2013
Audio
Week 5 – January 06, 2013
Audio
Week 4 – December 30, 2012
Audio
Week 3 – December 23, 2012
Audio
(Begins with Daily Lectionary discussion about Isaiah, and the rest of the class relates to the Newtown, Connecticut, school massacre)
Week 2 – December 16, 2012
Audio
(Begins with Daily Lectionary discussion about Isaiah, and the rest of the class relates to the Newtown, Connecticut, school massacre)
Week 1 – December 09, 2012
Audio
(Begins with Daily Lectionary discussion about Revelation, such as the mark of the beast and numerology)
