Saturday, September 27, 2008

Coming Together as One

In the opening two verses of Philippians 2, we read Paul encouraging the church with these words:
“If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.”

We’re pretty sure (okay, we’re certain) that Paul wasn’t referencing movies when he wrote these words. But if you want an example of people being “like-minded … being one in spirit and purpose,” all you needed to do was be at a movie theater yesterday that was showing FIREPROOF. People from every kind of church, large and small, were in the seats ... lots of seats!

Playing on 839 screens, FIREPROOF was the No. 3 movie in the nation on Friday! Read that again: the No. 3 movie in America! To put that in perspective … well, you can’t. Okay, we’ll try. Movies 4-8 on the list were on between 2,300 screens and 3,000 screens. Each.

You have flabbergasted Hollywood for a day. Thank you!

Now who’s up for doing it again today and tomorrow?

If you haven’t seen FIREPROOF yet, please make a concerted effort to go between now and Sunday night. If you saw it yesterday, think who you know that needs to see it this weekend ... and take them with you.

Let’s continue to be one in purpose for building strong marriages ... and making an impact on Hollywood this weekend.

54 comments:

Kyle Prohaska said...

YAHOO! This film is going to surprise a bunch of people. Amen.

Unknown said...

I'm going in just a little over an hour to see it!

Test said...

NUMBER THREE!!! WOW!! God is so good!

Kimberly said...

Number 3 is AWESOME! My husband and i saw it last night and there were only a few open siats in the theatre! I'm so glad we bought tickets early! The movie was fantastic - I'm sending all my friends to see it!

TruthSeeker said...

My Wife and I travled 50 miles yesterday to see the this movie. I believe that this movie has been gifted to this Nation during a crucial time in our society. This tool will re-generate many. May it be So!

The Nassars said...

our church bought all the seats in the local theater, then hosted a dessert fellowship at the church afterwards. Free childcare was also provided. The movie was great!!

Beauty for Ashes said...

I'm going this evening to see it with a couple family members!

Brandon R. said...

Very excited to see what happens this weekend!

In His Service said...

Praise the Lord! This movie was really from Him. I was able to get our couples group in church involved. My prayer is that everyone who has seen it will help someone else see it by babysitting, paying their way and even paying for the couples dinner out. It will be worth every penny spent if a marriage/soul is saved.

Robert and Theresa said...

We are heading out in about 45 minutes to see it...can't wait!

Blessings,
Robert and Theresa

www.faithandfamilybooks.com/faithandfamilyblog

markmcsw said...

I would love to see Caleb and Catherine (Kirk and Erin) in a sequel, 5-10 years later, dealing with another event in life, together as a team, strengthened by years of faith and growth as a couple. Something dealing with their children, perhaps an illness or other crisis. Christians can always use help dealing with painful events, how to hold ONTO your faith when it seems like God has left.

Anonymous said...

Number 3? That's great!!! I went and saw it last night. It was awesome. The friend that came with me was surprised by how good it was. I can't wait for it to come out on DVD so I can buy it!! Great job and keep the good films coming!!!

jw32durha said...

My wife and I saw the movie today and thought it was great. What a terrific storyline. Thank you very much!!!

Blogger User said...

Fireproof is an absolutely terrific film. A group of us went on Saturday. I gasped, I laughed, I cried (and I don't cry at movies!) The theater-goers who packed the room cheered at the end. The whole project has obviously been blessed. The Hollywood naysayers are going to faint when they see the profits.

I ordered the book last night, and am looking forward for the DVD. I'm going to re-watch Facing the Giants and Flywheel!
-- Anita

Unknown said...

We saw it Friday night and it was fantastic! Some of our relatives went on Sunday and I'm hoping more will go this week. I spoke to the manager of out theater and he said the response has been so great that they will probably hold it over for the next 3 weeks !!

The Roy Family said...

My Husband and I went to watch this Sat Night! It was so awesome! such a blessing! real people can make a difference too! time the Christians showed HOLLYWOOD how to make real movies. Keep it up Sherwood! Ya'll are so awesome! The theater SOLD OUT!I gotta go buy the book now...the dare...
We laughed, we shed tears, we we gasped...we were blessed...we were touched...GOD IS SOO GOOD!!! Thank you sherwood for producing the movies we want to invest our money in...please keep spreading the gospel through movies...God bless you all.. a little hisotry on my husband and I..we were married for 7yrs, without God in our marriage we divorced for 8yrs and then remarried again 5years ago..the difference is..God is at the center of it all now...big difference...Thank you soo much! The Roy Family TX

cvcraven said...

What an amazing movie!!! We took another couple with us and everyone enjoyed it!!!

Rob McClurkan said...

I saw the movie and loved it!!!
Congrats on being #3 that is too cool!

Unknown said...

We saw FIREPROOF in theaters and it was amazing. When the movie ended, my family waited to see the credits. Most of the other people left by the end of the credits and as we turned around to leave as well, we saw a couple behind us weeping, embracing, and asking one another for forgiveness. Not wanting to disturb them, we left, but not without a beautiful memorey etched within our hearts. May the Lord be praised! Thank you.

Michelle said...

My family drove 3 hours to see it on Sunday, and we were astounded! It was even better than we imagined, and we imagined really big! God is amazing!!!! Thank you Jesus! Thank you Sherwood church! Can't wait to see the tally of the entire weekend's showings!

Anonymous said...

I am just filled with joy and I am so prayerful when it comes to this movie. I left the theater praying, that all who were in there with me heard God speaking to them. We can do some serious damage to the enemy's camp if we stay in prayer about this movie and keep encouraging people to go see it for the right reasons.

Unknown said...

I took a group of my youth leadership team along with their spouses to see this film over the weekend. We all loved it and were excited to share with our church family on Sunday. Well done, great job and may God continue to add the increase!!

pastorjosh'swife said...

Just have to say that the movie was excellent! We went with 18 other people from our church (of 60) bringing other guests to total 33 people! Many unsaved, several in marital trouble, one couple where the husband told me Sunday morning that the movie was almost identical to his broken marriage (but his wife went with him to the movie!). We ordered 10 Love Dare books to give away at church Sunday morning and I have to order more! :)

Okay, this part is just as amazing to us! We found out just about a month ago that Fireproof was coming to Sterling, IL which is only 25 miles away instead of driving an hour and 15 minutes, so we did our best and promoted and purchased tickets from Fandango during the week and went Saturday night. While there, a theater employee or manager told me that both opening night and Saturday night, they needed to put Fireproof on TWO screens!!!! So, guess what got bumped??? House Bunny!!!! Can you believe how God worked there? Of course! We were so excited to tell that story to our church on Sunday morning! Isn't God amazing!?? Thank you for your hard work and all your prayers backing this amazing work! May God continue to be glorified in the days ahead as more and more people see Fireproof and read the books and take the Love Dare! Blessings to you and the whole Fireproof team and Sherwood!

Benjamin - The Sower said...

My wife and I just saw the movie this afternoon (Sunday) because it was SOLD OUT Friday night when we tried to go with friends from church.

Originally, I was going to be deployed to Iraq when FIREPROOF was supposed to come out after anticipating your new movie since the beginning of the year. Well, my orders were pushed back until after Thanksgiving, so I was able to see it with my wife, and we have both been blessed to the core…

I WAS Caleb only 4 short years ago - when he screamed at his wife, those were MY words, when she told him she wanted out, those were my wife’s words…

It was only the Power of God that was able to hold us together, and this movie has captured that truth perfectly. Thank you all for presenting the Gospel so beautifully and illustrating for the world how it is the power of God unto salvation, which works miracles in marriages!

DorothyandLuis said...

I have been referring this movie since May of this year. I referred it without seeing it. My heart kept telling me that it was going to impact marriages - especially at a time where marriages are failing. My church alone had more than 10 marriages heading for divorce. I bought the campaign kit and have been doing the bible study with 5 other couples prior to the movie. All the men were challenged to do the Love Dare and all have been blessed by doing it. Our group went to see it and I was blown away by it from beginning to end.

Thank you for listening to the calling God gave you to make this movie. I pray this movie will continue to leave Hollywood baffled. It will let them know that Marriage is important to God created by God to glorify Him.

Southern Scream said...

I've already seen Fireproof two times! OK, one of those was for free at the free Charlotte, NC (New Life 91.9 FM)screening back on 9/8 but still I've seen it twice now. God is so good! I couldn't help but laugh at Jo Blo's commentary on his site. lol

fatherof8sonofthe1 said...

My wife and I watched on the opening night and thought the movie was outstanding EXCEPT one part...It seems a lack of integrity of the message of the movie when Kirk and his leading lady engage in a VERY passionate kiss in the firehouse. Unless this was his wife pulling a stunt double role or Kirk was swapped out with a double and it was her husband, we feel it was a very inappropriate scene and should be cut or modified for the DVD version at least. Acting or not...it violates the heart of the message. Otherwise, we have recommended the movie to other with that one concern. God bless you and may you do the right thing.

i_am_4given said...

I saw the movie on Sunday...and I would recommend it to anyone!!! And as a matter of fact I am recommending it to everyone!!! The first thing my husband said to me when we got out of the movie theater was, "I would love the soundtrack for Fireproof". I have looked for it, but it seems there is not one..will one be out soon??

Oh, and I just wanted to let you know, my husband and I are doing The Love Dare, and it is awesome!!!

Blessings,
Ronnie!!

Dave Phillips said...

I started a 'promoting Fireproof' group on Facebook and I already have friends from Europe asking when it's going to be released there. Any possible news on this?

Jay McHue said...

Any plans to expand the number of theaters soon? I think with all the positive feedback by average people who've seen it, it would be a good move.

Unknown said...

We took our church to see it last night.. not a dry eye in the place! Thank God for such talent and ability to make a movie so powerful! We were truly blessed!

Heather said...

My husband just planned on going to see the movie and I'd watch it when it came out on DVD - but after he saw it Sunday afternoon, he wanted me to go that night and didn't care I'd pay the night price at the theater. :) I don't know if I've ever cried so much during a movie and I don't know my husband to ever cry at a movie! We are so happy to have helped support it opening weekend. In a time of so much division in the church, I'm happy to see something we can all agree on - I'm praying for you all and for God to draw many to this movie!

Karri said...

This is such an amazing movie.It's one of the best movies I've ever seen.I can't wait until the DVD comes out.

Suzanne said...

My husband and I went to see Fireproof on Friday night. I was so excited. We invited another couple to go and they went with us. It was an incredibly God-glorifying movie. The actors/actresses chosen were perfect for their parts. The action scenes were so well done - I couldn't believe it! The message was AWESOME! It couldn't have been better. You've definitely improved on the filming aspect since Facing the Giants. Keep on glorifying the Lord! The race is not done yet. We all need to be about our Father's business. Thank you for all you do for the Kingdom.

esollars said...

I heard about the movie and since we have 4 theaters owned by the same company in our area, we went to the one closest but it wasn't playing. We then went to our neighboring community but it was sold out! What a testimony. Loved it. Telling everyone I know. They got the movie right!!!! What a breath of fresh air.

Jay McHue said...

Fireproof needs everyone's help on IMDB. Atheists who've never seen the film are trying to flood the movie's ratings with "1" votes. Go to http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1129423/ratings and help give the film a boost with REAL ratings.

Unknown said...

It's been a long time since I've heard an audience clap at the end of a film. Great job, and great message!
The true worth of a film or song or book, is the answer to this question, " are lives better after they saw that film or heard that song or read that book?"
The answer for "Fireproof" is absolutely YES.
Thank you for this film.

Dawn said...

This was really a wonderful movie. My husband I saw it last night. I have linked to it in my blog. Great movie. We need more like this.

TaggTroop said...

Praise God! FIREPROOF got a huge round of applause when it was over!!! Everyone stayed seated to watch all the credits, and we appreciated every person on that list! Praise the LORD!
~ Meggy T

DanF said...

Kansas City MO - Last Night Our Men's Fraternity Group went to Fireproof instead of our regualar meeting (Winning at Work and Home). The movie fit very well with what we are learning about a womans needs and speaking her love language...something Caleb (Kirk Cameron) had negelected. We are planning to get the Love Dare for each or our men and are also encouraging them for their date night to take their wives to see Fireproof. Thank you for making a wonderful resource for strengthing marriages. Dan Ferrell Men's Fraternity Leader Providence Baptist Church

Unknown said...

I just wanted to testify that God has broken my addiction to pornography because of a scene in the movie, Fireproof. After watching Kirk Cameron destroy his computer rather than face temptation, I knew that's what I had to do. I destroyed my laptop and threw it in the trash. Since then, I've felt freedom like never before! I had been addicted for over 20 years. I have shared my testimony in front of my church and with friends. Two of my friends have also taken steps to defeating pornography in their lives after hearing my testimony. Praise God!!

Anonymous said...

Once again the Kendrick brothers have made a huge impact on Hollywood. More importanly, they have impacted thousands of hearts as they vividly present spiritual truth through the medium of film. Thank you guys for, once again, challenging and inspiring me to walk honorably in my marriage, and in my relationship with Jesus Christ.
I can't wait for film #4!!!

Shelton said...

Awesome movie! I got to see it opening night thanks to our church providing childcare. I told my parents they absolutely have to go see it. Thank you to all involved in making this film possible. God is doing an amazing work through you!

jennfournier said...

My husband and I saw the movie on Saturday afternoon. It was AWESOME! We sat in the theatre until the very end of the credits. The movie was a blessing from the beginning until the very end of the credits!! We felt led to do the song "Love's not a Fight" in church the next morning & encouraged everyone there to go see the film not just to support you but to be truly blessed through the movie! My parents went Sunday afternoon and my mom began "The Love Dare" today. I am so excited about this movie and encourage EVERYone to see it!

Laedelas Greenleaf said...

I've seen Fireproof twice...and I am thankful that God made this movie! I'm not married, but some day I expect to be, and this movie raised my ideals of what Love is (I reviewed it on my blog...please read it!).

Dear Kendrick Brothers: Could Caleb and Katherine have children in a sequel? You could call it Childproof!

Stacie Bosquez said...

Saw it on Sat. sept. 27 and it was AMAZING! Went with my husband and some other family members. Had actually just purchased Flywheel and watched it and it was AMAZING as well! Thank you for making these great movies with The True Message that we all need to share as believers!
Loved it!

Unknown said...

I wish I had this kind of direction two years ago when there was still a chance for me to put things right. I saw myself in Kirk's character, Caleb, all through the movie. I laughed, I cried. And then I cried some more.
This is a must see for couples everywhere.
God is indeed good!

RipCurlMama said...

My husband and I SO want to see this movie, but it's not playing anywhere near us =( Hopefully soon it will show in more theaters. God Bless!

Sarandipity said...

Thank you for listening to the voice of the Lord and producing a film that will make an impact for the Kingdom. My friends and I saw "Fireproof" on opening weekend and were blown away! May the Lord continue to be glorified through your efforts!

usakenya said...

I took my lovely wife to see the movie on sunday. I thank God that so many are going to see it and support. i pray that continues. I am praying God will use this movie in a powerful way to make an impact on people's life. Ithnak the producers and actors for making this a moviw with a clear gospel message. And i hope hollywood will get a message as to what kind of movies we want

Grateful for Grace said...

We saw it Sunday night and just LOVED IT!! We can't stop telling people to go see it. I decided my ministry would be to babysit for couples who want to see it, but don't have babysitters or can't afford sitters.

One couple is there right now!

creativeworks said...

Found it inspirational and I am not even married. Just work on being what He calls us to be and wait on the Lord.

creativeworks said...

If you want more Faith-based movies, you have to support this one. It's inspirational and not only for marrieds.

Lori said...

I LOVED the movie, cried more than I have in a movie, not just the romance, the point that even if our love isn't returned, God still loves when we didn't return His.... WELL DONE!!! I encouraged those who read my blog to see it