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- [00:01]
A
Happy Sunday, everybody. Hey, I hope you're enjoying our series social at the Movies. Now, just in case you missed last week and you're thinking to yourself, why in the world are we watching a movie in church? Well, let me just remind you of the biblical foundation for this series. In Matthew 13:34, it says Jesus always used stories and illustrations when speaking to the crowds. In fact, he never spoke to them without using parables. Think about that social fam. Jesus always spoke to the crowd in parables. A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. And movies, they're like modern day parables. They tell stories that capture our attention, stir our emotions, and reveal the truth. Now hear me. Movies might illustrate the message, but the word of God is the message. And today we are diving into Disney and Pixar's Inside Out 2. Now, don't get it twisted. This movie isn't just for the social kids. Today is for everybody. Everybody is gonna get something out of today. Oh, yeah. You didn't think I could see you? I can see everything. Oh, yeah, I see you back there rolling your eyes in disgust, talking about, I can't believe they showing a movie on a Sunday. I see everything, y'. All. What about this dude right here? Yeah. Angry. Talking about, I came to church to hear somebody preach the word of God in person. You see what I'm talking about? This film brings our emotions to life. And today we're going inside the mind of Riley. Only now she's growing up, which, by the way, if you keep showing up, I'm just making sure you're paying attention. So today we're not just gonna watch a movie. We're going to step into it. So grab your popcorn and lean in because our feature presentation is about to begin. When you wish upon a star Makes no difference who you are. Let's play the movie. All right. All right. Let's go. Boom. They'll never let me have any fun. Let me get my glasses because I want to see everything. Uh, it's not in 3D.
- [02:26]
B
What? In Inside Out 2, we're reintroduced to Riley, who is now a teenager. Joy walks us through the emotions we remember. Anger, disgust, fear, sadness. And of course, Joy herself. She explains that memories shape our beliefs, and together those beliefs form our sense of self. As Riley scores the winning goal in a hockey game, we see a moment that's not just exciting, it's a building block in who she's becoming. Let's hear from Pastor Robert as he breaks down what this tells us about identity, belief, and growing up that line.
- [03:06]
A
From joy hit me. Your memories become your beliefs, and your beliefs make up your sense of self. Social fam that is powerful. Because the reality is, all of us, whether we realize it or not, are walking around with the belief system that's been shaped by moments. And not just the big ones, the quiet ones, the painful ones, the ones nobody saw. We don't just remember memories, we build with them. And those memories form stories that we tell ourselves. Stories like I'm not good enough or people will always leave, or maybe I have to perform to be accepted. But what happens when the foundation of your belief system isn't the truth? What if it's trauma? What if it's a lie? What if it's the pain of your past? You see, Riley's story reminds us that we have to check what beliefs we're building our lives on. So I want to ask you, what are you believing about yourself? Because if the enemy can't destroy you, he will try to distort you, starting with what you believe. Y', all, I know this is inside out too, but I love Romans 12:2. The apostle Paul says, do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. In other words, you can't live right if you don't believe right. When you start believing what God says about you, it changes everything. You'll stop striving, and you'll start standing in the fullness of who you really are. You'll stop chasing people's approval, and you'll start resting in God's affirmation. I know we're in the middle of a movie, but I still feel like preaching. And let me remind you right now what's true about you. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. You are chosen, called, and deeply loved. You are not what happened to you. You are not what other people have spoken over you. You are what God says you are. So next time a memory tries to shape your belief, check it. Make sure it lines up with the truth of God's word. Okay, let's get back to the movie. But before we do, I want to introduce you to a new emotion, one that is universal. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is anxiety. Hear me. Whether you are old or young, tall or short, rich or poor, I don't care who you are. Anxiety has probably come knocking at your door. You. And hear me. If you allow it, anxiety will take over everything.
- [05:59]
B
In this scene, things start to shift for Riley when she overhears some girls talking negatively about her. Suddenly, the new emotion Anxiety steps in, taking charge, trying to protect Riley from getting hurt. At first, Joy supports anxiety, but quickly realizes she is pushing Riley too far. Then something major happens. Anxiety removes Riley's sense of self and throws it away. That moment changes everything. Shortly after, anxiety locks away the other core emotions, literally bottling them up. Her goal isn't just to help anymore, it's to control. She says she wants to change everything about who Riley is. Let's turn it over to Pastor Robert as he unpacks what this moment means for all of us.
- [06:49]
A
Let's break that scene down. Have you noticed anxiety always shows up quietly, but then it grabs the wheel and silences everything else. Joy pushed to the side, the other emotions bottled up. That's what anxiety does. It doesn't just add pressure, it takes over. It doesn't ask permission. It interrupts. It isolates. And before you know it, you're stuck in your head rehearsing worst case scenarios like it's a bad playlist on Spotify. And here's the tricky part. Anxiety doesn't always feel like anxiety. Maybe it's just me, but have you noticed anxiety can show up dressed as preparation? Stuff like, I'm just thinking ahead. It looks like responsibility. I just have a lot on my plate. It'll even twist your ambition. If I don't do this perfectly, I'll fall apart. But hear me. When anxiety is leading, your peace is leaving. Philippians 4 says, Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, present your request to God. And what happens next? The peace of God will guard your heart and your mind. When you present anxiety to God, peace will present itself to you. And if you've been bottling things up, please hear me. Bottled emotions eventually will burst. What I love about Jesus is Jesus doesn't shame your anxiety. He just says, come to me. Come to me with your fear. Come to me with your weight. Come to me with your burden. Because he is still the Prince of peace. Okay, so we met anxiety. Here's what happens when anxiety fully takes over. Oh, spoiler alert. Joy is on the way. Watch this.
- [08:49]
B
During a big hockey game, anxiety takes over Riley's mind, flooding her with doubt and fear. She starts telling herself, I'm not good enough. And it all builds to a full blown panic attack. Meanwhile, Joy and the other core emotions are lost, leaving Joy to question everything. She wonders if growing up means people just feel joyless. But instead of giving up, she makes a choice to save Riley. Joy fights her way back to headquarters and confronts anxiety head on. And with that, something shifts. The weight lifts and she exhales.
- [09:30]
A
Wow. What a powerful scene, y'. All. That wasn't just a panic attack on the screen. That was a picture of what so many people feel every single day. Did you hear what Riley kept repeating to herself? I'm not good enough. I'm not good enough. She wasn't battling her teammates. She was battling her thoughts. And that's what anxiety does. It doesn't just attack your situation. It attacks your identity. And then joy comes back. Ooh, that moment when Joy stands up to anxiety. That's my part. I love what she says. She says, you don't get to choose who Riley is. Some of you need to get some little unction today and stand up and say, you don't get to defend. Define me. I will not be ruled by anxiety. See, the enemy always tries to name what he didn't create. But God is the only one that has the authority to define you. The enemy will always tell you, you're not enough. But God will say, my grace is sufficient. The enemy says, you're too broken. But God says, I'm near to the brokenhearted. The enemy says, you'll never be free from this. But God says, you're not just free, you are free. Free, indeed. What about when joy says, maybe that's a part of growing up, you feel less joy? I felt that line because not only will the enemy try to steal your joy, but life will try and steal your joy. Pressure will try to bury it. Pain has a way of making you lose your wonder. But hear me, joy isn't just an emotion. It's a fruit of the spirit, which means it's not based on your circumstance. It's rooted in your connection. Or rather, it's based on where you are planted. That's why Nehemiah 8, 10 says, the joy of the Lord is your strength. Hear me, social fam. Joy isn't fluff. Joy isn't weak. Joy is a weapon. And sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is to laugh again, is to lift up your hands and worship again. It's the hope again, again. To believe again. Because anxiety might be loud, but it is not your Lord. And I came to tell you, weeping may endure for a night, but your joy is coming in the morning. I think this is a good point in the message right now to just stop and give God the best praise that you got. If you believe that your joy is coming back to you, there's one more clip that you need to see because it brings everything together. If you don't believe me, just Watch.
- [12:14]
B
This special scene showcases all of Riley's emotions coming together to help her during the panic attack. One by one, they collectively hug Riley's sense of self. Riley's inward thoughts shift from I'm not good enough to I'm nice. I'm a good friend. When all of the emotions embrace, Riley is able to breathe with clarity and peace. Riley chooses joy to take the lead of her life. Here's Pastor Robert with more.
- [12:45]
A
I'm not crying. You crying? Why Pixar have to come for her whole soul like that? Oh, no. Seriously though, that scene was healing. I love seeing all the emotions coming together. And here's what hit me. It wasn't joy instead of the others. It was joy alongside them. Ladies and gentlemen, that's what maturity looks like. Not shutting off certain emotions, not bearing our pain and pretending it's praised is learning to feel all of it without being ruled by any of it. God gave you the full spectrum of emotions on purpose. Sadness has a place. Fear has a voice. Even anger in the right way, has a purpose. But only joy should lead. And Riley didn't breathe again because things got easier. She breathed again because she stopped bottling things up and started being honest. That's what healing looks like. Not perfection. Integration, not control. Surrender. You don't have to fake strength when you're walking with the one who holds it all together. Social fam let's pray. Father, thank you for giving us a full spectrum of emotions. And Lord, I thank you that you can handle all of them. Lord, I pray you would use this word today to change us from the inside out. Thank you that if any person is in you, they're a brand new creature. The old is gone. Behold, all things have become brand new. Let us continue to trust you and walk with you every day of our lives. In Jesus name, everybody said amen. Love you, Social.
- [14:46]
C
Social fam I loved that movie. Inside Out 2 reminded us of something so real that emotions are messy and life is layered. But anxiety doesn't have the final say. So much insight in a kid movie, right? That's what I love about this series. Next week is week three and you already know it's about to be powerful because, y', all, I get to choose the movie. You don't want to miss it. We will see you next Sunday for more of social at the movies.