The Hunger Games: Catching Fire opened recently to critical acclaim and impressive box-office returns. Teenagers Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark, who survived the Hunger Games in the first installment of the franchise, return to the arena and are again expected to fight their fellow contestants to the death. But in Catching Fire we see signs of hope for Katniss, Peeta, and all the other people who are suffering in the twelve districts of Panem. During the season of Advent, we celebrate the hope that we have in Christ. Regardless of the circumstances we encounter in our earthly lives, we know that God is ultimately in control. LinC looks at ways we can embrace and live as people of God's hope. Key Scriptures: Jeremiah 32; Micah 5:1-9; Matthew 1:18-25. The story of Bilbo Baggins continues in theaters this Christmas season with the release of The Desolation of Smaug, the second film in The Hobbit trilogy. While Bilbo lacks the strength, size, cunning, and life experience of many of the story’s other characters, his companions nonetheless come to regard him as a leader. When we think of leaders, we may think of political figures, business executives, military officers, teachers, and other authority figures. But we don’t have be in one of these positions to be a leader. God may present us with opportunities to lead in our churches, among our friends and peers, or in our families. Next week we’ll discuss what it means to be a leader and look at some of the ways that God calls us to lead.
