The
Magic of Harry Potter
About God's Gang
God's Gang is a
fellowship group for children in first through fifth grades. We meet
for an hour each Sunday afternoon, and our time together is divided
into two parts: (1) 30 minutes of gym time and organized games and (2)
30 minutes of discussion/Bible study and related activities. Our Harry
Potter emphasis was included in the last 30 minute block of time. Our
games included "Wizards, Giants & Elves," based on the
rock, paper, scissors game. We also enjoyed answering trivia questions
and doing word searches based on Harry Potter. And for this unique study,
we used props: a cape, a wizard's hat, a wand, a broom, and, of course,
Harry Potter glasses.
Why We Chose
Harry
One of my goals
in children's ministry at Church Street is to help children learn to
live as spiritual beings in a physical world and to learn to live as
Christians in a secular society. With the popularity and then criticism
of the Harry Potter stories, I felt it was something children can enjoy,
in the proper context, without damage to their spirits. Plus, I happen
to be a children's director who loves the whole Harry Potter world (just
as I loved Narnia, Oz, and all the fairy tales from my childhood).
I find great teachings
in the stories about using good to fight evil in our world, great wisdom
about living and loving those closest to us, and great lessons about
making decisions and living as a good person in what can be an unfriendly
environment. I do not believe Harry Potter or magic to be evil any more
than I believe money or power to be evil. It is the use of these things
that make them good or bad in our world. Harry Potter is a story, and
I believe that with the help of reasonable, imaginative and caring adults
children today are sophisticated enough to read it as just that.
Note: These
lessons are based primarily on the first book in the Harry Potter series,
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. We chose to concentrate
on this book since we knew our children were in various stages of reading
the subsequent stories. Even those children who had not read any of
the stories seemed eager to participate.
Lesson 1: Magic
and the Bible
Harry is a magical
person. Is magic evil, simply because the persons who know how to use
magic are called wizards or witches? Jesus did some pretty amazing things
that might seem like magic if we didn't know better. Is there magic
in the Bible? What is the difference between magic and miracle?
Scripture:
John 2:2-11; John 6:8-14; John 11:38
What we did:
We looked at the Webster's Dictionary definitions of magic and miracle.
We learned that magic is the use of supernatural methods; miracle is
a supernatural act. In small groups the children were asked to think
of something from the Bible that seemed like magic to them. Answers
included Jesus' resurrection, parting of the Red Sea, Moses' stick turning
into a snake, Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. Jesus & Moses
seemed to get most of the story votes. We talked about what makes something
a miracle instead of just magic. Based on HP magic, we emphasized what
Dumbledore says in book 4, "There is no charm powerful enough to
bring back the dead." Thus, Jesus' Resurrection was definitely
a miracle.
From the book:
From Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone we read chapter 1.
Lesson 2: Magic
or Muggle
When Harry discovers
he is magic, his whole world changes. Suddenly he knows he can do special
things. He knows that within him is power to do wonderful things, if
he can only learn to use it. Harry begins a long journey on which he
will learn to use magic to fight evil in the world around him and learn
to believe in himself along the way. We make choices between good and
bad every day. Since we are not magical, what helps us make the choices
we must face in everyday life?
Scripture:
Philippians 4:13
What we did:
The total group was asked what Harry depends on for help in learning
to use his magic. What helps Harry make the choices he makes? After
answering, we divided into small groups. Each group of children was
asked to come up with a situation in which a child about their age has
to make an important decision. They presented the situation to another
group who talked about what they would do and to whom they would talk
to help them decide what to do. Thinking ranged from friends, teachers,
and parents to prayer, God and the Bible.
From the book:
We read portions of chapter 4 from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's
Stone, specifically the part in which Harry learns the difference
between being magic and muggle.
Lesson 3: The
Perfect Wand
All good wizards
need a wand. Wands magically match themselves to their wizards as if
they can sense their needs and strengths. Harry soon learns that his
wand is one of his most important tools in the magical world. What tools
do we possess that help us strengthen our faith the way his wand helps
Harry strengthen his magic? Do we use them well?
Scripture:
Ephesians 6:10-20
What we did:
In small groups we talked about different tools we use in our lives:
tools for school, tools for sports, tools for home repair, etc. After
listening to the scripture we listed the tools from Ephesians that are
needed in the "army of the Lord." We discussed how these tools
are useful to us today.
From the book:
We read the portion from chapter 5 of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's
Stone in which Harry receives his wand.
Lesson 4: The
Sorting Hat
All first years
at Hogwart's School must undergo the ritual of the Sorting Hat. When
placed on the head of a first year student, the Sorting Hat determines
the student's strength of character and destiny. In the Body of Christ
there are many gifts and responsibilities. For what do you feel you
have been chosen? What gifts do you see in those around you?
Scripture:
1 Corinthians 12
What we did:
After we listened to the scripture, each child was given the opportunity
to wear our sorting hat. Each person then told the group what he/she
considered his/her greatest gifts. In turn, the other children told
what they felt each other's greatest strengths were.
From the book:
We read from chapter 7 of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
about the sorting hat.
Lesson 5: Power
of Love
Harry is amazed
that he is able to defeat Lord Voldemort. Professor Dumbledore explains
to him that he is protected by the one thing that evil cannot understand:
self sacrificing love, like the love Harry's mother had when she gave
her life to save him. Evil may have prevailed on the cross, but God
triumphed in the Resurrection. If we believe that Jesus died for us,
is there anything in this world that is more important?
Scripture:
John 3:16; John 15:13; Mark 15
What we did:
Children were asked to think of the one thing in their lives that they
consider most important. Then they were challenged: what is great enough
or important enough to make you give that one thing up? What is important
enough in your life to cause you to sacrifice something important. After
reading the passage from the book, we read the scripture passages. Our
closing discussion was about God's love for us and Jesus' sacrifice
for us and how the power of that love is our protection forever.
From the book:
We read the portion of chapter 17 of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's
Stone in which Dumbledore explains to Harry how he can defeat Voldemort.
What We Learned
Our sessions were
immensely popular with the children and were attended each week by equally
interested adults. We were very pleased with how the children entered
into discussion each week and were able to deal with the correlation
we were making between the story and scripture. We also realized through
out trivia games that children have an immense knowledge of and recollection
of minute details from stories. It makes us want to consider future
lessons dealing with in-depth study of specific Bible stories!
