Doctor Dolittle
A. Preliminaries (Ask before showning movie)
1.He had a gift. What was it?
2. When did he first become aware that he had a gift? (As a child)
3. How did people respond to his gift? They misunderstand, they think he’s crazy Everyone – even those closest to him.
4. So what was his response? Denial – run away
< Show movie portion where Dr. Dolittle finally decides to operate on the tiger, up through operation’s success>
B. Discussion
1. God’s calling.
Eventually Dr. Dolittle had to make a choice – get rich or embrace his calling.
Only by embracing your calling can you become the real You. But who is the real “you”? To know who “you” are, you need to know who Jesus is. The real you is Christ in you, the part of you which is like Christ. (Gal. 2:20)
Some Biblical examples of people with a calling : Samuel, Jeremiah, John the Baptist
Note common elements:
Often called as child
Often the gift is misunderstood by others, others think they’re crazy
Must rely completely upon God, have very close relationship with God.
Prayer: Lord, help us to hear Your call. Help us to recognize Your gifts in our lives. Help us obey You and follow You, even if it means going against everyone else. Help us choose for You and against the world.
2. “Hearing voices”
Doctor Dolittle began hearing animals, and they wanted him to help them. There are voices out there which are a lot more needy than animals.
Most people can’t hear them. They have shut your ears to their cries.
* Prov.21:13 If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered.
* Pro 19:17 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.
*Pro 14:31 He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoreth him hath mercy on the poor.
* Isaiah 58:6 "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter- when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? 8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness [1] will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. 9 Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
Prayer: Lord, open our ears and our hearts to hear the cries of the poor, and to respond.
