I recently stepped into Brian Lawes’ office to find out how the new Life.Church short film Home Again has changed him and what this story promises for LifeGroups. After his closing door knocked down a random poster of a fox, I set my phone to record, and the following conversation happened.
How old are you, what do you do for LifeChurch.tv, and how long have you been here?
I’m 25, and I’ve been a Filmmaker here for about two-and-a-half years. I get to create for the Church, and tell stories that change people’s lives.
Okay then, what’s your favorite movie?
Good Will Hunting.
You helped create a short film called Home Again. Tell me about it.
Home Again is a modern telling of the story of the Prodigal Son. It’s about a father and two sons, but specifically about the tension between the two brothers.
@brlawes
What’s been your “Aha!” moment of working on this short film?
I’m the older brother. I thought I could work my way to God. I’ve become exhausted at trying. This story is not so much a step closer to God for me, but rather an anchor that steadily pulls me back to Him.
What can people learn about leadership from this story?
Well, we usually personify the father in this story as God. But I think there are times we play the role of the father for people. If we lead like the father, then we love people unconditionally. If we lead like the father, then we’re open-armed when people come back, and we’re patient when they walk away.
That’s some good preachin’! Will you lead your LifeGroup to watch Home Again together?
I lead a LifeGroup of twenty-somethings. There’s this YouVersion Bible Plan that guides you through the story in the Bible along with clips from Home Again. Our group will pick a week to go through the plan and then discuss what we’ve gained when we get together in person.
Sounds perfect for LifeGroups. Anything else you want to say to leaders?
I think people don’t learn as well from being told what to do. I think we learn from being shown what to do. Home Again shows people how to relate to God. I would encourage every LifeGroup leader to go through the Bible Plan, and pick a week to take their group through it too.
