Jesus Revolution Discussion Questions written by the Hobbit and the Ent. This post contains affiliate links, you can find out more on our policies page or in the disclaimer at the bottom of the blog.
Know Before You Watch
Movie: Jesus Revolution
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Christian, Drama
Length: 2 hrs
Age suggested: 13 and up
Release Date: February 24th, 2023
Warnings: Drug use, Overdosing, Addiction and Family Abandonment
Quick Jesus Revolution Summary
Jesus Revolution is primarily a biography of Greg Laurie during a few formative years of his life. Chuck Smith and Lonnie Frisbee were key influences and figure prominently in the story. The movie starts by focusing on Chuck Smith’s flailing ministry, which is turned on its head when his daughter introduces him to Lonnie Frisbee. This all leads to a revolution…a Jesus Revolution.
Jesus Revolution Review
The film is based on the book Jesus Revolution by Greg Laurie and Ellen Vaughn, which is autobiographical. Harvest online, his church’s outreach, has an entire section devoted to the movie.
Since it is based on the book and real-life events, the central story is correct, but there is artistic license in a lot of details. For instance, in the film in appears that Chuck Smith invites Lonnie, and later a Christian band, to perform on Sunday morning. It was actually the Wednesday service. The events are compressed and transpired over several years.
For fans of The Chosen, there are a few fun moments in the show. The obvious one being Jonathan Roumie, who plays Jesus in The Chosen, plays Lonnie Frisbee. This was a fun change to see. When Lonnie is handing out tracks to people, he hands out some to man on a beach. The man brushes it off and doesn’t understand. That man is Paras Patel who plays Matthew in The Chosen and was a fun little cameo!
Overall, it is well made and well acted. Not the quality of the very best, but well done. It was an interesting story, and we enjoyed it. However, the ending left a little bit of a sour taste in our mouths for a few reasons. One distraction was the inclusion of a rushed love story that felt a bit anti-climactic. The other was the claim that this was considered by some to be the biggest religious revival in American history. So, let’s dive into the legacy of the Jesus Revolution.
The Legacy of the Jesus Revolution
The Jesus movement did not begin in Southern California, although it became a focal point there. It probably reached its height in Dallas in 1972 at Explo ’72, which was sponsored by Campus Crusade for Christ. It had largely faded as a movement by the 1980’s.
Of note, Lonnie Frisbee and Chuck Smith, as shown in the movie, did disagree on the role of “gifts of the Spirit” in worship. This did lead to a split. In later years, it was revealed that Frisbee was gay, and his role has been downplayed or eliminated in many accounts. This fact does not play a role in the movie at all.
Its legacy includes several denominations/church networks. As is seen in the credits, Chuck Smith led Calvary Chapel to be the founding church of the Calvary Chapel Network. Greg Laurie founded Harvest, a megachurch in southern California with global outreach. And apart from his influence on the Calvary Chapel movement, Lonnie Frisbee also was prominent in the development of the Vineyard churches.
The Jesus movement also had a huge impact on what is today CCM – contemporary Christian music. Chuck Smith founded Maranatha music as a recording label for the bands playing in his churches, and it helped spark CCM. The movement also had an influence on Christian art, and the selling of items with specifically Christian messages. The use of contemporary music in worship overall, and casual dress in church, are also legacies of the movement.
There is no doubt that modern churches have felt the impact of this movement
the claim that this was the biggest religious revival in American history was a bit ostentatious. Additionally, but one can’t help but think that many of these changes have been undone by religious abandonment and disavowing of modern religion by disenfranchised people. Overall, the effects are still felt, but the flame of love his dimmed over the years.
Is Jesus Revolution Appropriate?
Contains Mild Spoilers
Overall, Jesus Revolution is pretty appropriate for most older viewers (13+). The most notable warning we would give involves drug use. Multiple people are shown partaking in drugs or being under the influence. The peak of this is when a character is shown suffering an overdose (they survive and brush it off pretty quickly, but there is a moment where you think they may die).
The other notable subplot that may be triggering for some is that of Greg and his childhood. Most of the movie, we are led to believe that Greg’s father abandoned him and his mother when he was a boy. Near the end of the film, we learn the mother took Greg and left the adopted father without warning. Either way, this leaves Greg with severe abandonment and trust issues.
If viewers can handle the above topics and are interested in the story, this should be a good viewing for them. It is slow-paced and not designed for younger viewers, but if they are old enough or mature enough, they should be fine.
Continue reading for our Jesus Revolution Discussion Questions.
Favorite Jesus Revolution Quotes
It’s not something to be explained. It’s something to be experienced.
There is an entire generation searching for God.
My people. They’re a desperate bunch. Desperation. There is power in that word.
If you look with love, you’ll see a group of kids looking for love in all the wrong places.
The truth is always quiet. It’s the lies that are loud.
I’m really here and I’m going to sit with you here for however long it takes.
We say we’re looking for truth. What if this is true?
You want to act like this is all about God. But this is all about you.
No, you use the spirit to do whatever you want!
You say that you’re looking for the truth but I just think you’re looking for an excuse to be unhappy.
Don’t be so arrogant to think God can’t work through your failures.
Fortunately, God has a long history of using flawed people.
-Jesus Revolution Quotes
Jesus Revolution Discussion Questions
Themes to Discuss: Religious Abandonment, Repentance, Corruption, Judging people
- What did you know about Greg, Frisbee, or Chuck prior to watching this movie? How did this affect your viewing?
- Who in our lives/churches are we prioritizing the carpets over the people? What does it mean to prioritize the carpets over the people and how are we doing that in our lives and in our churches?
- Jesus Revolution focuses a lot on hippies and their “sinfulness.” Who could we compare that to today and how could this film encourage us to act and think more softly towards those people groups?
- By the end of the movie, everyone is different than when it began. How are they changed and how do those changes intertwine?
- Frisbee in a lot of ways was a man in between. He was mentor for many and arguably not being mentored enough. Who do you have in your life as a mentor and do you mentor anyone else? How does this movie show that it is important to have both?
Thanks for checking out our Jesus Revolution discussion questions. Before you go, check out these other posts:
–The Chosen Season 1, Season 2, Season 3, and Season 4 Discussion Guides
-When a bird changes how you read the Bible: Blue Parakeet Book Review
-5 lessons on communication from Narnia here.
-How did we get here? Jesus and John Wayne book discussion questions
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