Shrek -- Ugliness Series

Shrek

Introduction (before movie).

Read –Phi 2:5-11 Let this mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus, To whom, though himself in the form of God, it did not seem that to take for oneself was to be like God; But he made himself as nothing, taking the form of a servant, being made like men; And being seen in form as a man, he took the lowest place, and let himself be put to death, even the death of the cross. For this reason God has put him in the highest place and has given to him the name which is greater than every name; So that at the name of Jesus every knee may be bent, of those in heaven and those on earth and those in the underworld, And that every tongue may give witness that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The movie ‘Shrek’ is about ugliness. By ‘ugly’, I don’t just mean appearance, I mean something about them makes them unattractive to others, made fun of by others, don’t like about themselves, makes them feel inferior.

Question: Who are the ugly people, and how are they ugly?

In order of appearance:

Shrek – he’s an ogre

Lord Farquaard – he’s short

Donkey – he’s obnoxious

Fiona – she turns into an ogre.

At the beginning of the movie, how do they respond to their ugliness?

Shrek – withdraws, solitary, outcast

Lord Farquaard – overcompensates, bully, power & wealth trip

Donkey – ignores, unaware

Fiona – hides her ugliness

While you watch the movie, think about -- What is eventual result of response?

What were the results for the 4 characters?

Farquaard --

Donkey – no change, still obnoxious Pro 18:2

Fiona – embraces her ugliness, achieves her destiny (exactly what Jesus did – He became ugly like us, in order to redeem us, )

Shrek – receives love, finds fulfillment

Application:

There are uglinesses in our lives. Weaknesses, failures, something about ourselves that we’re ashamed of. Could be personal thing – feel like you’re fat, or stupid, or clumsy, or unathletic. Could be family thing – parents are divorced, parents don’t make as much money, make you wear clothes you don’t like.

There are 2 possibilities (1) Ugliness can be changed (2) Ugliness can’t be changed. You need God’s wisdom to tell the difference.

1. For those things which can be changed, rather than depending on yourself, seek the Lord’s strength. Let Him work in you.

2Pe 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

Psa 105:4 Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore.

Isa 26:12 LORD, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us.

Psa 147:10-11 He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man. The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.

2. For those things which God will not change -- Embrace them as part of your calling.

Jesus became ugly for our sakes (2 Cor. 5:21 and Isaiah 53:2) – He calls us to do the same (Philippians quote above)

Paul – his “thorn” became his asset (2 Cor. 12:7-10)

Joni – handicap is transformed into something beautiful.

Prayer: Father, we lift our uglinesses up before you. Show us which You will change, and which we must accept. For those You will change, teach us to rely upon Your strength, and not our own. For those we must accept, help us to use them to reach out and touch others, as Your Son Jesus reached out and touched us.