Jesus said the greatest love is self-sacrificing for others, to the point of laying down your life for your friends. In the closing scene of It’s a Wonderful Life, newly commissioned First Class Angel Clarence Odbody reminds George Bailey, “No man is a failure who has friends.” For countless families, including my own, George Bailey and the cast of It’s a Wonderful Life have long been treasured holiday friends, reminding us of the power of friendship and the potential impact and worth of a single human life. For me, the 1946 film remains not just a holiday classic, but my favorite movie of all time. I suspect many share that perspective.
As a pastor, I have often made reference to It’s a Wonderful Life as an illustration of the values and virtues we see illustrated in the Christmas story: answered prayer, sacrifice, provision, faith, generosity, mercy, grace, joy, and forgiveness. My friend Greg Asimakoupoulos has expanded the concept with his wonderful book; Finding God in It’s a Wonderful Life. Greg carefully points out the obvious biblical and theological errors in the movie, but also draws attention to the biblical themes addressed. Like the joy of carefully unwrapping a skillfully wrapped Christmas present, Greg removes the wrappers from this film, discovering God in virtually every scene. You will not only enjoy reading the book, you will appreciate the timeless lessons as you discover God’s purposes and providence along the way. With Greg’s thoughtful reflective and discussion questions at the end of each chapter, the book could also be used for personal or group Bible study. Pastors might like to use it as the basis for a sermon series or Bible study during the holiday season.
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