Locations & Times

What if the only way to freedom is through a fight you’ve been avoiding?

In this final week of At the Movies, Jim unpacks the raw and redemptive story behind Braveheart. This isn’t just a film breakdown—it’s a battle cry. What do courage, fatherlessness, leadership, and Jesus have in common? Everything. You’ll hear how Wallace’s war for freedom echoes the war raging in many of our lives today—and how men, especially, are being called up to lead, protect, and mentor the next generation through Forge, a new initiative launching at Flatirons.

Wallace’s transformation wasn’t just fueled by vengeance or romance—it started when one man stepped into his life to teach, mentor, and guide him. Just like Wallace needed Uncle Argyle, our world needs godly men to show up for boys growing up without fathers. Jim calls out men to live noble, uncompromising lives of faith and action. Because freedom isn’t about ease—it’s about fighting the right battle, at the right time, for the right reason.

Set list

Discussion Questions

Braveheart

Jim Burgen
May 18th, 2025

// Bible References: Matt 8:5-10; Jerimiah 17:9; 1 Timothy 6:18; Galatians 5:1

// Community Question: Share a memory from 1995. (The year Braveheart came out.)

// Discussion Questions

1. What role does storytelling play in conveying deep spiritual truths? Can you think of a story or movie that has taught you a valuable lesson? How did that story change your perspective?
2. Jim talks about the importance of having a mentor like Uncle Argyle for William Wallace. Why do you think mentorship is important in our lives? Who have been the mentors in your life, and how have they impacted your growth and decisions?
3. The sermon discusses the negative impact of growing up without a father. (60% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes, 85% of youth in prison come from fatherless homes, etc.) How can communities, small groups, or individuals step in to support fatherless children? What actions, including being a part of Forge at Flatirons, can you take to help? (https://www.flatironschurch.com/forge/)
4. Jim highlights that noble leaders prioritize the needs of others over their own benefits. How does Noble leadership differ from self-serving leadership? Reflect on a situation where you had to choose between self-interest and the well-being of others. What did you choose, and what was the outcome?
5. Going Deeper: Read Jeremiah 17:9. It reminds us that our hearts, when left unchecked, can lead us away from God’s truth, often toward things that feel right in the moment but leave us empty or stuck. How have you seen this play out in your own life when following your heart led you somewhere you didn’t expect, or when your desires pulled you away from what you knew was right? And as you think about those areas, how can this group walk with you, pray for you, and help you move toward truth and freedom?

// Challenge: Jim challenges us to live in the Freedom that Christ gave us when He died on the cross. What do you think freedom looks like in your everyday life?