Below are Kids Movie Talking Points for How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Is it good for people to live all alone like the Grinch?
No. God said in Genesis that it wasn’t good for man to be alone (Gen. 2:18). God created us for his glory, but also to love others (Matt. 22:37-38) and live in community with them so we can learn from them (Prov. 27:17).
Is the Grinch kind or mean? Does that make him happy or sad?
The Grinch is angry and bitter at the Whos in Whoville and it made him sad. When we give into bitterness and anger it makes us unhappy. God tells us to “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice” (Eph. 4:31-32). When we disobey God’s Word and give into anger it makes us unhappy like the Grinch.
Who is kind to the Grinch? Do you think she should have been nice to him?
Yes, even though the Grinch is mean to her Cindy Lou Who is right to be kind to him. Jesus told us to love others as we would want them to love us. He said in Luke 6:32, “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?” Christians can forgive because they know how much God has forgiven them. That’s what enables them to love others even when they don’t deserve it.
After the Grinch steals the presents what does he hear that confuses him?
He hears the Whos singing in their town, even though they have no presents. He thought they loved Christmas just because of the presents, but he was wrong.
Some people believe that Christians only love God because of the blessings he can give them. This is actually wrong. We should love God more than the gifts he can give us. Paul said he could be content in all situations because he had Christ (Php. 4:11-13). Psalms 73:25-26 says, “Whom have I in heaven but you (God) and there is nothing on earth I desire besides you.” It can confuse people when they see Christians who are happy even when sad things happen to them, and sometimes this leads those people to want to love God.
The Grinch is changed by the Whos singing. What has God done for us that causes us to be loving and generous to others?
When we see how generous God has been to us by lovingly dying for us it makes us overflow with generosity in love toward God and others. As 2 Cor. 8:9 says, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that though he was rich yet for your sakes he became poor so that you by his poverty might become rich.” When we realize God loved us and died for us we can be loving and generous to others.
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.
