Below are Kids Movie Talking Points for It’s a Wonderful Life.
What made George Bailey sad?
He was worried he would go out of business.
Why was he losing his business?
Cause Uncle Billy accidentally lost $8,000 and Mr. Potter found it and didn’t say anything.
Why do people steal and act greedily?
Because of sin. Adam and Even were the first people to disobey God in Genesis 3 and ever since then we all sin.
What effect does sin have on the world?
It brings destruction everywhere. Mr. Potter and George Bailey’s life are illustrations of the sadness and destruction sin brings.
Who saves George’s life?
An angel.
Do you think angels act on their own apart from God?
No. Throughout the Bible angels simply do the will of God. They carry out his commands. But God does say he commands angels to protect us (Ps. 91:11). God watches over us in his power and one of the ways he does that is through angels.
Does this mean we can act recklessly because God will send angels to protect us?
No. In Matthew 4:5-7 Satan tempts Jesus to jump off the top of the temple and then he quotes Psalm 91:11 that God will send angels to protect him. But Jesus responds with Deut. 6:16, which says we shouldn’t test God but should act responsibly.
George is shown what the world would be like without him. How does it make him feel?
It makes him desperately want to keep living.
What do you think the world would be like without you?
I’m sure it would be crazy to see what the world would be like without us, but here’s a more important question: what do you think the world would be like without Jesus?
Very sad. Without us there may be some good things that wouldn’t happen, but we’ve also done bad things. The great news is that Christ did come. George Bailey got to keep living, but all of us eventually die in this life. But because Jesus came, we not only get to live in this world, but forever with him in heaven.
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.
