Table of Contents
Sunday
School Lesson - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix................................. 1
Preface................................................................................................................................................................................................... 1
How to Follow the Lesson....................................................................................................................................................... 2
Key Points in Order of the Phoenix..................................................................................................................................... 2
Key Movie Points............................................................................................................................................................................ 2
QUESTIONS......................................................................................................................................................................................... 4
Biblical References........................................................................................................................................................................ 5
IÕve read that many ardent fans of the Harry
Potter series did not like the book version of the Order of the Phoenix. Many
were turned off by all the negative things that happen to Harry and probably
upset at the turmoil and the apparent decent into darkness. Frankly I found it
to be refreshing! Here in this book we begin to see large-scale development in the
characters and begin to leave all the vestiges of ÒcuteÓ behind. My perspective
on OOTP is that we begin to see something akin to Orthodox theosis in Harry.
Something that is even more evident in the later books (and hopefully movies).
Harry begins to deal with basic, deep questions
about what his true character is. In short he has doubts! What could be more
relevant to your young people than dealing with doubt and the amount of
character it takes to fight evil in the world? While there have been objections
to the overtones of the macabre in this series, I think the darkness is part of
the test for the characters. We all have to deal with how we react to evil and
its many forms. As Orthodox we have an icon dealing with Saint John ClimacusÕ
Ladder of Divine Ascent and here in movie form we see a great way to illustrate
that very struggle toward theosis and God.
One thing IÕve learned about using movies like
this is not to be afraid to stop if you hit an area of keen interest to the
kids. If there is a concept or topic that they react positively to then my
advice is to address it. The best advice I probably ever got on youth activities
is that they have to be three things: relaxed, relevant and real. The kids have
to have the room to be themselves, it has to be put into a format or level that
reaches them and it has to be done in a way that delivers things they can use.
ThatÕs hard to do and I would estimate that I probably succeed at it less than
half of the time.
I basically watched the movie scene by scene
using a computer. The numbers you see are the elapsed time from the beginning
of the movie. When I showed the movie I used a PC since it gave me better
control over the movie allowing me to skim over the parts to get to the minute
markers I wanted.
I found what I considered to be key points and
portions of the movie that illustrated them. Then I used the biblical
references to reinforce them as we watched the movie.
á
Steps to salvation
á
Struggle: The spiritual battle (Daniel 12:10, Psalm 5:11, Psalm
11:5)
á
Action: Doing something!
á
Love: The greatest of all spiritual gifts
á
Return of Voldemort parallels the return of Satan to the world and
the eventual final battle between good and evil (judgment day).
á
Our own struggle between being good or bad.
** Chapter 5, 20:40 - 25:21
- Harry has to face trial as the
result of being persecuted for telling the truth about the return of Voldemort
(Job
19:19)
00:26:00 original order of the Phoenix. Sirius
shows Harry a picture of the original Order of the Phoenix and talks about how
many of them died for the cause. How is this like looking at icons of the Holy
Saints of the Church?
** 00:33:00 - 00:33:44 Harry faces
doubt and scrutiny from students who are reading the bad accounts written about
him in the daily news. How is this like our own Christian struggle? (hint: not
much is written positively about Christians in most quarters). Ron stands with
his friend as we should stand together as Christians. (Proverbs 17:3, Proverbs
17:17)
00:44:00 Luna expresses to Harry why Voldemort
might want him to feel isolated and alone. Satan will try to isolate us to make
us less of a threat to his ambitions
00:53:00 - 00:56:15 Harry agrees to take on
teaching defense against the dark arts since Umbridge and Fudge are afraid of
the students learning to defend themselves against the "dark arts".
The idea of magic in this series has to do with
the relationship we have with God and the development of our belief. When the
students go into the room of requirement (01:02:00) Harry the difference
between those who can work magic and those who cannot is the depth of their
belief.
01:01:30 - Dumbledore's army is practicing
while those who follow Umbridge are signing up for with her to persecute those
who believe that evil exists (and Voldemort has returned). The DA is practicing
their "magic" and we see that the key is in their confidence
*** 01:13:43 - Black and Harry
trace Sirius' family tree and have a wonderful discussion about having dark
feelings versus doing dark things. What makes us good or bad. Harry is confused
about feeling angry and thinks that he might be becoming bad. "you're
not a bad person.... the world isn't split into good people and death eaters...
what's important is the path we choose to act on.. that is who we really
are..."
01:19:00 Hagrid tells Harry "...there's a
storm coming Harry and we'd all best be ready when it does" (Mark 13:36,
Luke 12:11)
01:57:00 Harry tries to use the Crucio curse.
Does it work? Why not?
Friendship
**** 02:01:00 "Its not how you
are alike... its how you are different"
Love: Harry expresses pity for Voldemort (Matthew
5:44)
02:06:00 Luna expresses sincere feeling to
Harry about the loss of his God Father. (Romans 12:15 15 weep with those that
weep)
02:07:30 "We have something Voldemort
doesn't have... something worth fighting for..." (1 Corinthians 16:13)
The showdown. In the end Harry learns that
either he or Voldemort must win.
Summary: Order of the Phoenix is very different
than the previous books/movies. It marks the start of descent into a dark
period, both for society and for Harry personally. Think about how thing end
for Harry. By the end of this story he is no longer a quidditch player, loses
the girl he has a crush on and discovers that either he or Voldemort must kill
the other. It is the start of a very dark time, and it parallels many biblical
ideas. One example, is Harry's birth date. He is born at the end of the 7th
month. While it could be coincidence Revelations 8:1 also talks about the
opening of the seventh seal which is a significant part of the final battle
between good and evil in the final days.
The most important point of the story concerns
the spiritual condition of the characters and how this is born out in their
character. Case in point; what happens when Harry tries an unforgivable curse
on
Conversation starters:
á
Does "magic" give Harry Potter the ability to make his
problems disappear? Does it improve his life? Answer: No, the story is really about the people, relationships and
the love that bonds people, and which is stronger than any evil.
á
In the end we will be defined by what and who we love. Voldemort
loves only himself and power, while Harry, Dumbledore and others around them
love one another and what is right.
á
In OOTP Harry changes from the boy to whom bad things happen to the
boy who does things.
á
Sirius Black tells Harry Potter that he's not a bad person, just a
good person that bad things have happened to. Do you agree? Have good things
happened to Harry? What has he done himself that might make him a good person
or a bad person?
á
Sirius then says, "We've all got light and dark inside us. What
matters is what part we choose to act on." What choices does Harry make?
What about the scene near the end when Harry tries to do something really bad
but is told he did not succeed because he didn't really "mean" to do
it? Do you think he "meant" to?
á
It has been said that the greatest trick the Devil ever played was
convincing the world he did not exist. How do Voldemort's actions in this film
parallel that?
á
Harry and Dumbledore are accused of lying and fearmongering when they
say that Voldemort has returned. When have you been accused of lying because
you said something you knew to be true? How did you handle it? How have you
decided who to believe when other people have told you that someone is lying?
á
J K Rowling may be hinting very strongly at the final judgment day
using little clues. Both Harry and Neville were born in the 7th
month of the year, while in the book of Revelation the end of the world begins
with the unrolling of the 7th seal and the 7th trumpet.
Do you think Rowling is pointing to this? How is Orthodox teaching of the end
times different than others (we do not believe in the ÒraptureÓ). How would you
feel being in HarryÕs place and knowing you must face an adversary such as
Voldemort? (We in fact face an even worse enemy).
Deuteronomy 7:9 ÒTherefore know that the LORD
your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a
thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments;
Deuteronomy 6:5 You shall love the LORD your
God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
Deuteronomy 4:31 31 For the LORD your God is a
merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with
your forefathers, which he confirmed to them by oath.
Job 19:19 All my close friends abhor me,And
those whom I love have turned against me.
Daniel 12:10 Many shall be purified, made
white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked
shall understand, but the wise shall understand.
Psalm 5:11 But let all those rejoice who put
their trust in You;Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; Let
those also who love Your name Be joyful in You.
Psalm 11:5 The LORD tests the righteous,But the
wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates.
Psalm 70:4 Let all those who seek You rejoice
and be glad in You;And let those who love Your salvation say continually, ÒLet
God be magnified!Ó
Psalm 97:10 You who love the LORD, hate evil!He
preserves the souls of His saints; He delivers them out of the hand of the
wicked.
Psalm 109:4 In return for my love they are my
accusers,But I give myself to prayer. Thus they have rewarded me evil for
good,And hatred for my love.
Proverbs 3:26 For the LORD will be your
confidence, And will keep your foot from being caught.
Proverbs 8:36 But he who sins against me wrongs
his own soul; All those who hate me love death.Ó (hence the term "death
eater"
Proverbs 17:3 The refining pot is for silver
and the furnace for gold, But the LORD tests the hearts.
Proverbs 17:17 A friend loves at all times, And
a brother is born for adversity.
Ecclesiastes 3
Everything Has Its Time
1
To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under
heaven:
2 A time to be born,
And a time to die;
A time to plant,
And a time to pluck what is planted;
3 A time to kill,
And a time to heal;
A time to break down,
And a time to build up;
4 A time to weep,
And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn,
And a time to dance;
5 A time to cast away stones,
And a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace,
And a time to refrain from embracing;
6 A time to gain,
And a time to lose;
A time to keep,
And a time to throw away;
7 A time to tear,
And a time to sew;
A time to keep silence,
And a time to speak;
8 A time to love,
And a time to hate;
A time of war,
And a time of peace.
Jeremiah 31:3 The LORD has appeared of old to
me, saying:Ò Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with
lovingkindness I have drawn you.
Hosea 4:18 Their drink is rebellion, They
commit harlotry continually. Her rulers dearly love dishonor.
Matthew 5:44 But I say to you, love your
enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for
those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
Luke 12:11 ÒNow when they bring you to the
synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you
should answer, or what you should say.
Matthew 24:12 And because lawlessness will
abound, the love of many will grow cold.
Mark 13:36 If he comes suddenly, do not let him
find you sleeping.
John 13:35 By this all will know that you are
My disciples, if you have love for one another.Ó
John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this,
than to lay down oneÕs life for his friends.
Romans 13:10 Love does no harm to a neighbor;
therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Romans 12:15 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice;
mourn with those who mourn.
1 Corinthians 13:3 And though I bestow all my
goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not
love, it profits me nothing.
1 Corinthians 16:13 Watch, stand fast in the
faith, be brave, be strong.
Corinthians 2:6-9
BRETHREN, among the mature we do impart wisdom,
although it is not a wisdom of
this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed
to pass away. But we
impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God
decreed before the ages for
our glorification. None of the rulers of this age
understood this; for if they
had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
But, as it is written,
"What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the
heart of man conceived, what God
has prepared for those who love him."
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in
Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things
have become new.
Ephesians 3:11 according to the eternal purpose
which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and
access with confidence through faith in Him. 13 Therefore I ask that you do not
lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
Ephesians 4:17 [ The New Man ] This I say,
therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest
of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind,
Ephesians 4:24 "... and that you put on
the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and
holiness."
Hebrews 3:14 For we have become partakers of
Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end,
Hebrews 10:35 Therefore do not cast away your
confidence, which has great reward.
Revelation 8:1 [ The Seventh Seal and the
Golden Censer ] When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven
for about half an hour.
Revelation 10:7 But in the days when the
seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be
accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets."
Revelation 11:15
[ The Seventh Trumpet ] The seventh angel sounded
his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: "The
kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and
he will reign for ever and ever."
Revelation 16:17
The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and out of the temple came a loud voice from the throne, saying, "It is done!"