Season 1: Foundations of Cinematic Theology Most Christians think film is “just entertainment.” But movies and TV shape imagination, identity, morality, and worldview more than almost any other force in modern life. In this episode of Cinematic Scripture, I explore the surprising history of how Christians have engaged film — and why recovering the way of Jesus means learning to dialogue with the stories shaping our world. You’ll discover how the church once influenced early Hollywood, why fear and withdrawal cost Christians their cultural voice, and how Jesus’ own method of discipleship — presence, questions, story, and shared life — offers a better way forward. Through Scripture, theology, and examples from Children of Men, The Tree of Life, Arrival, Spotlight, The Leftovers, The Good Place, Lost, Ted Lasso, and more, you’ll learn how film and TV can become tools for spiritual formation rather than threats to avoid. This episode walks you through the five movements of cinematic theology: The World: How Christians historically shaped film and culture The Disruption: Why the church retreated — and what we lost The Action: How Jesus and the early church modeled dialogical, relational formation The Opposition: Why we resist entering stories with presence and compassion The New World: What faith, family, church, community, and evangelism could look like if we recovered the way of Jesus If you’re searching for how Christians can engage culture with wisdom… If you want to understand the relationship between film and theology, faith and media, discipleship and story… If you’re longing for a way to watch movies without fear, cynicism, or compromise… This episode will give you a clear, hopeful, deeply biblical way to begin. If you’re spiritually exhausted and want a simple way to understand the story of the Bible and your life in 5 days, join the Scripture‑Through‑Story Challenge here: Scripture Through Story
