Below are Kids Movie Talking Points for Cars.
Would you describe Lightning McQueen as proud or humble in the beginning of the movie?
Even though he is very gifted he is proud. Even if someone is very talented they shouldn’t be prideful because everything they have has been given to them as a gift from God. Scripture tells us, “What do you have that you have not received from God? If then you have received it why do you boast as if you did not receive it?” (1 Cor. 4:7)
Does Lightning get humbled and was that a good thing?
He does get humbled when he’s forced to stay in Radiator Springs to fix the road and it was a good thing because it humbled him. The Bible says pride comes before the fall and that “everyone who exalts himself will be humbled but he who humbled himself will be exalted” (Luke 14:11).
How do the people in Radiator Springs treat Lightning and what effect does that have on him?
They treat him kindly for the most part and he ends up loving the people and the town. Even though Lightning was rude to them they responded with kindness. Jesus said we should treat others kindly even if they mistreat us. When we do they will often not only love us back but want to love the God who made us forgiving toward them.
Doc and Lightning race around the dirt track and Doc doesn’t hurry because he knows Lightning will drive into the bushes later. Christians also don’t have to worry about what might happen in the future. Why?
Like Doc, Christians know what is going to happen in the future. We know that God loves us (1 John 3:16), forgives us (1 John 1:9), will work everything for our good (Rom. 8:28), and we will go to be with him forever (John 14:3). Therefore, we don’t have to worry but can work joyfully and “heartily for the Lord and not for man” in whatever we do (Col. 3:23).
In the final race Lightning has a chance to win but stops to help his friend after he crashes. Did he do the right thing? Why?
Jesus said that the two most important commands are to love God with all our heart, soul and mind and to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matt. 22:37-39). Winning a race or a game is way down the list of things that are important to God. It’s moving when people put loving others before winning and shows they have priorities similar to God’s. We should too.
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.
