CLIP: The clip starts at 18 minutes and 26 seconds and lasts until 23 minutes and 12 seconds
After surviving the Hunger Games, any ideas that Katniss and Peeta may have had of slipping out of the public eye are promptly squashed. On their victory lap of the districts, it becomes apparent that they have inadvertently started a rebellion against the oppressive capital. Keen to remove the growing threat of Katniss, President Snow announces a special 75th anniversary Hunger Games, where former winners are pitted against each other to the death.
The clip that we are looking at in this session takes place early on in the film, and sees Katniss and Peeta on their journey through the districts. What is meant to be a routine visit becomes the start of a rebellion for the other districts. Katniss is left with a tough decision: should she pretend everything is ok or stand up to the authority and risk dire consequences? After showing the clip, break into small discussion groups (you may wish to have a designated discussion leader in each group) and explore the following questions:
• Are you distracted from the important things in life? If so, what are those distractions and what are the important things that you are being distracted from?
• Were Katniss and Peeta right in deciding to pretend that everything was ok on their victory tour?
• Is it right to stand up for what we believe is right, even if that means going against authority?
• Should we disagree with the authority of the Bible?
After discussing the first set of questions, read through Proverbs 25:26 and then Matthew 22:15-22 together (you may wish to give some context to this passage). Return to your groups to discuss the final set of questions:
• What does the passage from Proverbs appear to be indicating about our relationship with authority?
• Does the message from Jesus appear to contradict this - and if so - which is right?
• Should Jesus’ message in Matthew still apply in today’s world and context?
• What sort of authority and messages should Christians be engaging with and possibly be challenging today?
