A Spiritual Lesson In Toon Language: Lesson 26a

Topic: Responsibilities I - The Honorable Martyr

Series: The Smurfs, Power Rangers Lost Galaxy

Episode: Dreamy's Nightmare (Smurfs), Loyax' Last Battle (Power Rangers Lost Galaxy)

Lesson PDF link: 26a.pdf

Fun Fact: This set called "Responsibilities" is designed more or less to show the principles of what Christian life consists of. In other words, this is what is expected and necessary in the Christian experience. In the case of the martyrdom lesson on'dying for what one believes as a Christian', this is only necessary for some. However everyone who is a Christian needs to be willing to do this. This responsibilities set (most of it anyway), should come very naturally anyway - depending on how much God has worked on the Christian individual of course.

Introduction

The first one of these ended up being the hardest one (perceived to me) of the set. It is on martyrdom. Before the actual martyrdom, we talk about the lost and the problem of being in this spiritual state. To help illustrate that, I used a clip from the Smurfs episode "Dreamy's Nightmare". Later on in this lesson, we talk about redemption and then the martyrdom itself. I use the Power Rangers Lost Galaxy episode "Loyax' Last Battle". In this episode, we see an old warrior on the side of evil that used to be good turn to the good side again. Unfortunately, because he is going against the villains now, the villains blow him up for his newfound mind-set.

Scriptures Used Include: Luke 15: 1-24, 14: 25-35, 21: 12-19

Do you consider yourself a Christian? If you are, how strong are you in living out your Christian faith? How far would you go to stand firm in it? To those who may not be, what do you think a Christian should live like or do? In general, have you ever found yourself comfortable in a life that is sinful in God's sight in your opinion (past or present)? We are going to discuss the issue of being comfortable in a life of sin, redemption and then the subject of martyrdom. I will show a clip from the Smurfs called "Dreamy's Nightmare" and then shortly after, a Power Rangers Lost Galaxy episode called "Loyax' Last Battle". After this we will have a Biblical study and discussion.

Cartoon Clip: "Dreamy's Nightmare":

Introductory Bible Study And Discussion Using Luke 15: 11-13:

At first, we are going to look at this very small section of scripture in order to prime us for our main character. This character is named Loyax.

The Bible States:

Lk 15:11 Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons."

Lk 15:12 "The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them."

Lk 15:13 "Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living."

What do you see in this first clip that relates to these three verses? Dreamy is much like the prodigal son in this parable. This son in the parable wants to travel the world outside his home using his inheritance. Dreamy packs his things and leaves on his journey as well. For the prodigal son, this is the wrong thing to do. For Dreamy, it's the same thing. Dreamy shouldn't have left. Papa Smurf symbolizes God. The whistle would symbolize being able to come back to God after one comes back to the righteous side and repents.

Cartoon Show: "Loyax' Last Battle":

Bible Study: Luke 15: 1-24, 14: 25-35, 21: 12-19

First, I want to say that the Bible scriptures for this are not going to go "1, 2, 3" (in order). We are going to skip around, so please bear with me. With our main Bible study we are going to start with the subject of redemption. In our first passage which is Luke 15: 1-24, we see three parables. The first two are about finding things that are lost. These parables are intended to show God's undying love for us that we may be found. Jesus wants us to witness to the lost. This way the lost can be found.

The Bible States:

Lk 15:1 Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him.

Lk 15:2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."

Lk 15:3 Then Jesus told them this parable:

Lk 15:4 "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?

Lk 15:5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders

Lk 15:6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.'

Lk 15:7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

Lk 15:8 'Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?

Lk 15:9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.'

Lk 15:10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

Lk 15:11 Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons.

Lk 15:12 The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.

Lk 15:13 "Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.

Lk 15:14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.

Lk 15:15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.

Lk 15:16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

Lk 15:17 "When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!

Lk 15:18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.

Lk 15:19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.'

Lk 15:20 So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

Lk 15:21 "The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'

Lk 15:22 "But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.

Lk 15:23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate.

Lk 15:24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.

Think of Maya as a Christian who is a great witness. How do our first two parables ("The Lost Sheep" and "The Lost Coin" respectively) fit our main cartoon show "Loyax' Last Battle"? How does the parable of "The Prodigal Son" relate to our Smurfs clip and our main show "Loyax' Last Battle". We see that our character of study, Loyax is one mixed-up monster. He wants honor and glory and thinks that battling and winning against our heroes is the way to this goal.

Why do you believe this is so?

A villain of some type had beaten Loyax once. This made Loyax feel as if evil was and is the winning side. This obviously means he is truly a proud (in the bad sense) warrior. Loyax probably felt like he was the best and wanted to be on the winning team. Eventually, Loyax becomes comfortable against good even though he despised evil once. Maya, being the Christian example felt compassion for this monster and tried to help him to see the truth of what evil had done to him and that it's never too late to change. Do you have a friend that you are trying to show The Way to? Is this person's reaction sort of like Loyax (stubborn as a mule) or is the reaction more positive?

Eventually we see that Loyax shows promise for changing his tune. However, Loyax has to weigh the cost of following The Way. This, of course, is a very high cost. Let's look at Luke 14: 25-35.

The Bible States:

Lk 14:25 Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said:

Lk 14:26 "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters - yes, even his own life - he cannot be my disciple.

Lk 14:27 And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

Lk 14:28 "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it?



Lk 14:29 For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him,

Lk 14:30 saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.'

Lk 14:31 "Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand?

Lk 14:32 If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace.

Lk 14:33 In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.

Lk 14:34 "Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?

Lk 14:35 It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out. "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

Loyax must choose in this episode between supposed embarrassment and disgrace or try to win his "victory". Do you see what his choice is and what is it? This is just like our passage of "The Prodigal Son" because Loyax was lost but then saw The Light and was found. He came to his senses and repented. What did Loyax's choice ultimately cost him? Let's look at Luke 21: 12-19.

The Bible States:

Lk 21:12 "But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name.

Lk 21:13 This will result in your being witnesses to them.

Lk 21:14 But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves.

21:15 For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.

Lk 21:16 You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death.

Lk 21:17 All men will hate you because of me.

Lk 21:18 But not a hair of your head will perish.

Lk 21:19 By standing firm you will gain life.

In this passage, we see that the Bible states that following Jesus might well get us martyred. The Bible states if we love Jesus then we will be hated. If we are persecuted and/or martyred for Jesus's sake, then we win. Unfortunately, Loyax had to endure Deviot's hatred and was martyred for his choice. How can you witness better to all the people that are lost like Loyax was? Are you confident that you can persevere until the end and gain eternal life? As Christians, we should be willing bear even the toughest of circumstances and even become martyrs like our friend Loyax. Loyax won his last battle. Pray with me that we stand firm and make the right choice regardless of the consequences.