If you played Mystery at the Movies as an activity with your small group, youth group, Bible study, Sunday School Class, Camp, Retreat, or other ministry group, you can use this Post-Game Discussion Guide to facilitate some fun and meaningful conversation about the characters and story from the game. Who knows, somebody might even learn something! Note: It is not necessary to complete all the questions. You can pick and choose to discuss whichever you like based upon the particular setting, the point of the activity, and how much time you have. Enjoy, and may God bless your time!
Question 1:
As you may have noticed, the rich and famous characters in this game are loosely based upon famous characters from the Bible. Take a minute to think about whom each character was based upon. Can you see any similarities between your character’s strengths and struggles versus those of their biblical counterpart? Take a few minutes to go around the group and hear answers from a few players.
Answer 1:
Pete Rockefeller was loosely based upon Peter the Apostle in the New Testament.
Strengths: “Peter” comes from the Greek “petros” which means “rock.” Jesus chose him to be part of his inner circle of friends and called him “the Rock” of the church. (Matthew 16:18)
Weaknesses: He was a man of passion, sometimes to a fault as when he pulled out a sword and cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant! (John 18:10) At his low point he denied knowing Jesus. (Matthew 26)
Maggie Meriwether was loosely based upon both Mary Magdalene and Mary of Bethany.
Strengths: Mary Magdalene courageously followed the Lord through the crucifixion, honored Him with a proper burial, and was there at the empty tomb on Easter morning. (Matthew 27, John 20) Mary of Bethany loved Jesus dearly, using her most precious perfume ointment to wash his feet. She was always eager to sit at the Lord’s feet to learn from Him. (John 12) Weaknesses: Prior to being healed by Jesus, Mary Magdalene had a dark past and was described as having seven demons. (Luke 8)
Paul Scales was loosely based upon Paul the Apostle in the New Testament.
Strengths: He was a great leader and organizer for the early Church, spreading the Gospel throughout the Roman Empire. He was also a tremendous writer, divinely inspired to produce 13 books in the Bible. Weaknesses: Before his conversion experience on the road to Damascus, he was an enemy of the Church and would seek out Christians to torture and even execute. (Acts 9)
Eve Appleton was loosely based upon Eve, the first woman, created in the Garden of Eden.
Strengths: She was the mother of all people who once walked closely with the Creator. (Genesis 2)
Weaknesses: She believed the serpent’s lies and disobeyed God, bringing death into the world. (Genesis 3)
Dave Shepherd was loosely based upon King David of the Old Testament.
Strengths: He was the brave warrior who defeated Goliath, the great King of Israel, and the gifted musician who wrote most of the Psalms. (Psalms, Acts 13)
Weaknesses: He gave in to temptation, committed adultery with Bathsheba and then gave the order for her husband to be sent away and killed. (2nd Samuel)
Rebecca Welling was loosely based upon Rebekah, wife of Isaac in the Old Testament.
Strengths: She was found serving at a well when chosen for marriage to Isaac. She was very beautiful, and a great comfort to Isaac when his own mother died. She was the mother of Jacob/Israel. (Genesis 24, 26)
Weaknesses: She took matters into her own hands and tricked her husband on his deathbed so that he’d give his blessing and inheritance to his other son. (Genesis 27)
Mose Stafford was loosely based upon Moses, the great leader of the Exodus.
Strengths: He was chosen by God to lead his people out of Egypt with many miracles. He was given the Commandments of the Law and divine inspiration for the first five books of the Bible. (Exodus)
Weaknesses: He killed an Egyptian out of anger for abusing an Israelite slave. He was also initially a poor or shy speaker, perhaps with a speech impediment. (Exodus 2:12, Exodus 4:10)
Esther Crowne was loosely based upon Queen Esther of the Old Testament.
Strengths: She was very beautiful and Godly. She courageously used her limited power as queen to prevent King Xerxes from slaughtering her people, the Israelites. (Esther 2:9, 7:3)
Weaknesses: She had very little power with the king prior to her rewarding resolution. At first she was scared to approach the King without invitation since it was a capital offense.
Sam Strong was loosely based upon Samson, the mighty judge of the Old Testament.
Strengths: He was blessed by God with super-strength and used it to fight for God’s people. (Judges 13)
Weaknesses: He foolishly gave up the secret key to his strength to a beautiful but deceitful woman, which ultimately led to his blindness and death. (Judges 16)
Sara Abrams was loosely based upon Sarah, the wife of Abraham in the Old Testament.
Strengths: She was married to Abraham, the father of Israel. God used her to bear Isaac through whom would come Jacob, and thus Israel. (Genesis 21)
Weaknesses: She doubted God and laughed at His plan for her to have a baby in her old age. Before she had Isaac, she used her concubine to get a child. (Genesis 16, 18)
Lydia Styles was loosely based upon Lydia of Thyatira, a seller of purple cloth in the New Testament. She was one of Paul’s first converts and was a very generous host to the apostles.
Johnny Duncan was loosely based upon John the Baptist in the New Testament. He preached in the wilderness about the coming of Jesus. He wore animal skins and lived on locusts and wild honey.
Delia Shears was loosely based upon Delilah from the Old Testament story of Samson. She was very beautiful, but deceitful. She betrayed him, cutting his hair and handing him over to the Philistines.
Lot Stark was loosely based upon Lot, the nephew of Abraham in the Old Testament. He was a righteous man who fled Sodom and Gomorrha before it was destroyed.
Adam Clay was loosely based upon Adam, the first man, created in the Garden of Eden. He is the father of all mankind, but also the one through whom sin and death came into the world.
Bethany Cologne was loosely based upon Mary of Bethany in the New Testament. (See above.)
Joe Jackets was loosely based upon Joseph and his coat of many colors from the Old Testament. He maintained his integrity and never gave up hope until God made his greatest dreams come true.
Martha LeBour was loosely based upon Martha or Bethany (sister of Mary) in the New Testament. She is knows for being a hard-working woman who generously hosted the Lord and the disciples.
Dr. Lucas Mountebank was loosely based upon Dr. Luke, the author of Luke and Acts. Luke followed Paul on his missions and wrote a detailed historical account of the gospel of Jesus and the early Church.
Folly Plum was loosely based upon Folly, as described in Proverbs. Folly is not so much a person as a personification of foolishness.
Question 2:
As you may have noticed, the story played out in this game is similar to a story in the Bible. For example, the victim in the game is named Ransom. Whom does he resemble from the Bible?
Answer 2:
Most obvious is the resemblance Ransom has to Uriah, one of David’s most loyal soldiers, also Bathsheba’s husband. David sent him off to be killed in order to take his beautiful wife. (2nd Samuel 11-12) But Ransom is also meant to represent Jesus, who was also betrayed by one of his friends. For 30 pieces of silver Judas handed Jesus over to the Jewish authorities to be killed. The word “ransom” means a price demanded or paid for the release of a captive. Jesus said, “The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45) He gave up his life to pay the price for the sins of every one of us, so that we may be free from guilt and shame.
Question 3:
How did the mistakes of other players contribute to Ransom’s vulnerability to being abducted?
Answer 3:
There are many acceptable answers, but for starters: Rebecca changed the plane ticket. Pete deserted him at the airport. Paul was thinking more about his movie than the safety of his star. Maggie flirted with the Terrestrian security, giving away info about his plans. Other players had questionable relations to the terrorists in the past, etc.
Question 4:
Did Jesus hate those who abandoned and betrayed him? How do you think he feels about us when we disappoint him?
Answer 4:
No, Jesus did not hate those who abandoned and betrayed Him. Instead, He forgave them and continued to love them. And He loves us, even though we are still sinners. Indeed, every day every one of us sins and falls short of the glory of God. The debt we owe for sin is more than we could ever pay. In fact, the Bible says, “The wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23) The Good News is, “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) As it says in possibly the most famous passage in the New Testament, “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
To the discussion leader:
Now might be a good time to ask if any of the participants have any questions about the Gospel message, and to offer an opportunity to discuss it further or pray together.
Oh, and we at Supper Sleuths would love to hear how it goes! Send any questions or comments to suppersleuths@gmail.com.
Download a PDF version of this discussion guide here.