Below are Kids Movie Talking Points for Cars 2.
In the beginning of the movie, Lightning McQueen decides to take on Francesco in a race because he doesn’t like being made fun of. Is that a good reason to do something?
Not really. We should always try to act wisely and according to God’s Word, not according to what will preserve our pride. We can also trust God’s Word when it says, “Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 14:11). We can trust that whoever is acting arrogantly will be humbled so we don’t have to worry about them.
Was McQueen a good friend to Mater?
Initially he is when he invited him on the trip, but then he gets embarrassed by Mater and later frustrated by him when he loses the race. James 1:19 says, “Let everyone of you be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.” McQueen could have been slower to get angry and done a better job listening to Mater rather than assuming he wasn’t telling the truth about what happened during the race. McQueen also could have cared less about what other people thought of him.
Did Mater do anything wrong?
Mater was just being himself and there is nothing wrong with that. However, we should make an effort to act appropriately depending on the circumstances as long as that doesn’t mean disobeying God. It would have been thoughtful for Mater to have spoken less at the party and been more reserved knowing that this was a very big occasion for McQueen. This would be obeying the second greatest commandment to love our neighbor as ourself (Matt. 22:37-39). So both McQueen and Mater could have acted better.
Why did the bad guys want to hurt the racers using Allinol?
It was a ploy to make everyone want to keep using regular oil, which they owned a great amount of at their off-shore oil rigs shown in the beginning of the movie.
How did the bad guys disobey Scripture?
They broke at least four different commandments. They loved money and themselves more than God (First commandment – Exd. 20:3), they lied (The ninth commandment – Exd. 20:16), they tried to make money dishonestly which is like stealing (The eighth commandment – Exd. 20:15) and they killed or badly injured many (The sixth commandment – Exd. 20:13).
Did McQueen forgive Mater in the end?
Yes. McQueen stops in the middle of the race to chase after Mater and so obeyed Proverbs 17:17, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” Unfortunately, when he did this there was a bomb attached to Mater.
In the end, Mater saves McQueen. Their friendship is also saved. What is the most important relationship in our life and how was it saved?
Our relationship with God is the most important relationship in our life, and it was saved in an incredible way. We sinned against God and deserved to be separated from him forever (Rom. 3:23; 6:23), yet God didn’t leave us but saw our sad situation (Ps. 102:18-22). God, in love, did the unthinkable when he came to earth to die on the cross to pay for our sins (Mark 10:45). Now, whoever believes in Christ has their sins forgiven and are restored to a right relationship with God (John 3:16)!
Mike McGregor
Mike McGregor (MDiv, Reformed Theological Seminary) is Director of College Ministry at First Baptist Church in Durham, N.C. You can follow him on Twitter at @m5mcgregor.
