Faith in Film — Evan Almighty


Imagine God asked you to build an Ark. In 2016, in the middle of the United States, you're told you need to build an Ark. Or, how about this, imagine you're in the middle of Arizona and God asks you to build an Ark. What exactly would you do? How would you respond?

That's the situation in "Evan Almighty," a comedy released in 2007 about a newly elected Congressman, Evan Baxter, who's tasked by God to build an Ark during the middle of a drought in Washington, D.C. Evan, as one might expect, is skeptical.

But really, he brought it on himself. He prayed that God would help him change the world. The whole Ark building thing was the way God answered that prayer. And what results is a pretty amusing 95 minutes that asks some tough questions about faith and obedience.

This is a semi-sequel to "Bruce Almighty," a film that offers plenty of food for thought but a film I feel is a tougher theological sell. "Evan Almighty" isn't exactly a Christian film, and it isn't a traditional sermon, but from a theological standpoint there's plenty there to hook onto about our response to the tough calls God puts in our lives.

When you think about it, that's really the story of Noah. One of my favorite passages of the Bible is Hebrews 11, which is known as the Hall of Faith. Here's what it says about Noah: "By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with the faith." Hebrews 11:7

That might not be a verse that gives you a warm fuzzy, but to me it's a commendation of his faith in the face of a request from God that must have seemed strange and nearly impossible. But he had faith, he followed through, and we honor and recognize him for that faith.

Again, I ask you, if God directed you to build an Ark, how would you respond?

Discussion Questions:
1. Did this film work for you? Why or why not?
2. What would you do if you had a “Noah” moment from God? How would you respond?
3. How does the world’s response to Christianity make it difficult to remain faithful?
4. What lessons can we apply to our own spiritual walk from the way that Evan handles his situation in the film?

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