Finding Nemo:
Fear
Reminders:
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If you are going to use a movie clip, ALWAYS PREVIEW IT! No exceptions!
You are responsible for what you show your group! Our writers will always try to
provide “clean clips” and warn you of nearby questionable words or content—but
all art forms are subjective—only you can determine what to show your group.
Number one rule: watch it first.
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Goal:
To understand that we have nothing to fear with the love of God and the power of the
Holy Spirit in our lives.
Setting the Stage:
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Place assorted food items, such as baby food, sardines, pudding, or any small packet or
container of food, in two brown bags. (Place enough food items in each bag for half of
your class.) Set the bags on a table, and create a starting line approximately 5–10 feet
away.
Split the students into two teams, and have them form two lines. The first person in each
line is to race to the bag, reach inside, and then pull out the first item he or she touches.
Participants must eat whatever they grab, or they must sit out for the rest of the game.
After each person has gone, the next person in line races to the bag. The first team to eat
all of the items in the bag is the winner. (If need be, have some team members go twice.)
When the game is over, discuss the difficulty in overcoming the dislike of the food in
order to win.
Finding Nemo Overview:
Finding Nemo is an animated movie about a father’s quest to find his son. With the
anticipation of the start of a new life, followed quickly by tragedy (the loss of his wife
and unborn children), Marlin, the father clownfish, goes to extremes to protect Nemo, his
only surviving child. After rebelling against his father’s overprotective nature, Nemo is
captured by a diver and taken to live in a dentist’s fish tank. The story revolves around
Marlin’s journey to rescue his son, and Nemo’s desire to return home. Marlin and Nemo
both meet incredible creatures along the way, each leaving an indelible mark on their
lives.
Scripture:
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Romans 8:14–16 and 1 John 4:16–19
These passages reveal to us the love of God, the power that He gives us through the
indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and the ability to live in freedom from fear. While a
reverence for God and an attitude of respect for who He is has been called the “fear of
God,” there is a difference between that attitude and an unhealthy fear that keeps us from
living our lives to the fullest and according to God’s plan.
In the Romans passage Paul discusses the power and authority that becomes ours when
we receive the Holy Spirit. This power allows us to overcome our fears through the
authority given to us by God the Father when we receive His son, Jesus, as our Lord and
Savior.
In the 1 John passage, we read that our fears can be overcome by trusting in God because
God is love. On the day of judgment, we can have faith in the love of God for us and
confidence in our salvation. If the love of God is in us, we will receive a reward, not
punishment, on judgment day. We need not fear.
Movie Clip:
“The Drop Off”
Time: Start in chapter 5, when Nemo’s classmates try to persuade him to swim out into
the ocean. End when Marlin meets Dory and follows her out into the ocean.
Introduction to this Clip
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Marlin has just found out that Nemo and his classmates are headed to the drop off, an
area that proved to be deadly to Marlin’s family before Nemo was born. As Marlin
frantically races to save his son, Nemo and his friends gaze out into the depths and see a
boat off in the distance.
Key Comments and Principles from Clip
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“Oh my gosh! Nemo’s swimming out to sea!”
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“Come back Nemo. I’m going to have to swim out there and get you before some
other fish does.”
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“Daddy! Help me!”
What Did You See?
After viewing the clip, ask the group these questions:
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How did Nemo’s friends pressure him to swim farther than he was allowed to go?
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What misconceptions did Marlin have about Nemo’s choices?
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Do you think Nemo would have swam out to the boat if his father hadn’t shown up?
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Do you think it is fear of the ocean or respect for his father that might have kept
Nemo from swimming out to sea?
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Who do you think was most afraid—Nemo or Marlin?
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What caused Marlin to overcome his fears and swim out into the ocean?
What Did You Read?
After reading the scripture for today, ask the following questions:
ƒ What spirit did we not receive when we became children of God?
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ƒ What spirit did we receive? What authority does that give us?
ƒ How does 1 John 4:16–19 describe God?
ƒ Whom does this passage say we should rely upon?
ƒ According to this passage, why is there no fear in love?
ƒ In what can we have confidence?
ƒ Why do we love? Why is this important?
What Does It All Mean?
Tie the movie clip and scripture together by asking the following questions:
ƒ What was it about Nemo that made Marlin so worried and overprotective?
ƒ How can unhealthy fears control people?
ƒ How can we live without fear?
ƒ What did Marlin rely on to give himself a sense of security?
ƒ What different kinds of things do people rely on to give themselves a sense of
security?
ƒ Do you think fear is healthy? Why or why not?
ƒ What emotions and attitudes do you think form the roots of fear?
ƒ How does fear hinder our relationship with God? With others?
ƒ What’s something you could do that would help you to let go of a fear and place
your trust more deeply in God?
Creative Activity:
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On a sheet of paper, write, “Lord, we’re afraid of _______. Help us to trust You.” On a
second sheet of paper, write, “Have courage. It is I. Do not be afraid. (Matthew 14:27).”
Post both sheets in the front of the room.
Split the students into groups of four or less. Ask each group to create a list of realistic
situations that might cause them to be afraid. After about ten minutes, have the groups
share their lists. Write each group’s list on the paper that says, “Lord, we’re afraid of
_______. Help us to trust You.”
Next, lead the group in the responsive reading below. “Lord, we’re afraid of _______.
Help us to trust You.” (Fill in the blank with a situation.) After a group reads a situation,
have the rest of the kids respond by reading “Have courage, it is I. Do not be afraid.”
Continue the reading until each group has had a chance to read at least one situation off
of their list.
TERMS OF USE: In producing this teaching material, Barefoot Ministries references the use of movie
clips as suggestions for teaching Christian principles in home small groups. The use of movie clips is a
suggestion only, and alternatively the movie content could be discussed verbally, without showing any
movie clips. Special permission must be granted for any public performance of copyrighted material,
including church use. Legal use of and licensing of suggested material under copyright is the responsibility
of the local user and/or the local church. Barefoot Ministries is not responsible for the licensing or use of
any media suggested in this material. Barefoot Ministries advises that any church or individual secure
proper licensing before any public showing of any part of any motion picture, or recorded copyright media.
You can secure a Church Video License and/or find out more information about public viewing of
copyrighted media by contacting Christian Video Licensing International at www.cvli.org or calling 1-888771-CVLI.
Permission to photocopy for local church use granted by Barefoot Ministries®.