Packed with spiritual struggles and challenges, TYLER PERRY’S MADEA’S WITNESS PROTECTION uses comedy to

propagate an important message about being the person we were created to be before God. What unfolds among these unlikely

housemates is a meaningful friendship that transcends typical racial and religious boundaries.

A F I L M C O M P A N I O N

A F I L M C O M P A N I O N

Packed with spiritual struggles and challenges, TYLER PERRY’S MADEA’S WITNESS PROTECTION uses comedy to propagate an important message about being the person we were created to be before God. George Needleman is a CFO of a New York City investment house. When his firm turns out to be a front for a Ponzi scheme, he is framed as the culprit and accused of defrauding charities. In an effort to prove his innocence, George and his New York Jewish family enroll in a witness protection program and relocate to a remote Southern setting where they find themselves as guests in Madea’s hilariously dysfunctional household of characters. What unfolds among these unlikely housemates is a meaningful friendship that transcends typical racial and religious boundaries.

Tyler Perry is the recipient of innumerable awards, including nine NAACP Image Awards. His inspirational journey from homelessness in the hard-hitting streets of New Orleans to the heights of Hollywood’s A-list is the stuff of American legend. Inspired by some advice from Oprah Winfrey, Perry kept a diary of his daily thoughts and experiences. These soul-searching letters he wrote to himself served as the basis for his first musical, I Know I’ve Been Changed, and dozens of films later, he has no plans of stopping. As a generous philanthropist, Tyler Perry practices what he preaches, and what he preaches has endeared him to millions of fans drawn by that unique blend of spiritual hope and down-home humor that continues to shape his inspiring life story and extraordinary body of work.

I N T R O D U C T I O NI N T R O D U C T I O N

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A F I L M C O M PA N I O N

A M A Z I N G G R A C EA M A Z I N G G R A C E

READ: James 4:6But he bestows a greater grace; therefore, it says: “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

READ: Romans 5:20–21The law entered in so that transgression might increase but, where sin increased, grace overfl owed all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through justifi cation for eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

LESSON TO LEARN:Grace happens. Grace will not pass you by in this life. When grace happens, it is up to us to respond. Because we have been given the gift of free will, we have to make a decision to respond actively to grace. Cooperating with grace is nothing new; it has been mankind’s calling since creation. Sinners who respond to grace with their heart become saints.

Madea (played by the talented Tyler Perry) represents a touchstone of grace for all the other characters in the fi lm. Once the Needlemans are relocated to her house as a part of a witness protection program, interesting opportunities begin to present themselves.

While Madea has her own hilarious methods of getting what she wants out of the situation, there seems to be some inspiration coming from above urging everyone to “come clean.” Yet the most moving moment comes when George visits a nearby church. Then all the pieces of his life fall into place. For, while listening to the testimony of the ill Pastor Nelson (John Amos) as he announces his retirement as pastor of the church, George has his own moment of surrender.

PASTOR NELSON: Praise the Lord, everybody. Praise the Lord. I have to tell you that I’m so happy to be found in the house of the Lord, where mercy can be found. Now many of you know that I have been very sick these last few months and I have prayed about this, and I feel that it’s time for me to retire.

George is at his weakest point – most aware of his need for mercy – when grace fi nds him. His eyes are open to clues that have been in front of him for all these years, both within his family and at his job. With a little grace from above, George is about to make good things happen for many people who have needed him. Needleman is about to live up to his name!

QUESTIONS: Where is your strength? Where is your weakness? Where have you encountered grace? What was your response? No one has a perfect track record when it comes to responding to grace, but how can you become better prepared to cooperate with grace the next time it comes your way?

M E R C Y A N D J U S T I C EM E R C Y A N D J U S T I C EREAD: Matthew 5:5–9Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfi ed. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

READ: Luke 16:19–31(The parable of Lazarus and the rich man is unforgettable and perfect for this discussion.)

LESSON TO LEARN:There will come a time when we will all be judged for what we have done and for what we have failed to do (in thought, word and deed). That should be a daunting thought. But, because of the great sacrifi ce of Christ, who gave His life for the world, our Father in heaven chooses mercy over justice. His gratuitous gift of mercy remains our greatest need.

Forgiveness is not easy. In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus says, “If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.” (Matthew 6:14–15) Unless we have no sins to be forgiven – which is impossible – we had better get used to forgiving. In TYLER PERRY’S MADEA’S WITNESS PROTECTION, people everywhere are in need of forgiveness, and the same people need to forgive. The tangled web of culpability can only be undone with mercy.

George was guilty of negligence to his job and to his family. Cindy, his daughter, is guilty of unkindness to her family. Kate, his wife has not been forthright. Jake, the pastor’s son, is faced with being dishonest and having lost the church’s savings. Madea welcomes her houseguests out of greed. Even Joe has a few confessions of his own to make.

At the same time, for every person who needs mercy, there is an opportunity to be merciful.

All the characters are given an opportunity to be forgiven, and we are as well. It happens so easily that sometimes we miss it. When have we been forgiven? Where may we need to ask for forgiveness? In this fi lm, people are forgiven and life just goes on. That’s family. That’s the image of God.

QUESTIONS: Every time you have prayed The Lord’s Prayer, you have asked for mercy. And you have also promised to be merciful to others. Is it possible to forgive something that you may not be able to forget? How do you show forgiveness? How do we know when we have been forgiven?

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E Y E S T O S E E A N D E A R S T O H E A RE Y E S T O S E E A N D E A R S T O H E A R

All the characters in TYLER PERRY’S MADEA’S WITNESS PROTECTION are hiding out in one way or another, and Madea sees them all. Obviously, George is hiding from the mob and his secret whereabouts are the centerpiece of the story. But if we watch the fi lm with eyes of faith, we see each character revealed as the person they were created to be. Through a clever trick played by Madea, Cindy, George’s daughter, who hardly has the time of day for anyone, discovers her great love for her family which has been hidden by her own selfi shness. Madea uncovers the real identity of Kate, George’s wife, when she encourages her to speak her mind about right and wrong.

Speaking the truth about our faith and about what we believe is the only way to live out the

Gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus says, “Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father. But whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father.” (Matthew 10:32–33)

Have you ever heard the expression, “If you tell a lie long enough, you will start to believe it”? In TYLER PERRY’S MADEA’S WITNESS PROTECTION, we are given an inside view of how George believed that working his job and providing for his family were the only requirements for being a good father. Although providing materially and fi nancially for one’s family is every parent’s responsibility, it is not suffi cient. There must also be relationships characterized by love. George discovers that a simple game of catch with his son, Howie, makes all the difference in the world, for love is revealed in the world through relationships.

Our Holy God did not provide for us all good things in creation and then walk away. Daily, He is among us spiritually – even physically – and seeks our hearts in love. God seeks to have a personal relationship with each and every one of us, and that personal relationship is our means to salvation!

How many times in scripture do we read that some have eyes but do not see, and some have ears but do not hear? Do we recognize Jesus in all the many ways He is with us daily? Perhaps it is time to recognize our own blindness and ask for the gift of sight.

God does not hide His true identity from us the way we sometimes hide our true identity from ourselves and from one another. He does not play a game of hide-and-seek with us. God has revealed Himself fully in Jesus Christ.

QUESTIONS: At its core, this fi lm is about being who you were created to be. Christ came into the world to reveal the Father to mankind. He also reveals to us what it is to be fully human. Who do you believe you were created to be?

READ: John 12:44–45Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but also in the one who sent me, and whoever sees me sees the one who sent me.”

READ: Rev 2:17Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.

Photo Credit: KC Bailey

LESSON TO LEARN:We cannot fully be ourselves except through a sincere gift of self to another in love. As George discovers when he spends time with his son, we are all created to be a gift to others. Our lives are not truly lived if we live them for ourselves. We are only fi lling up space, doing a job, going passively through life. Jesus asks us to be active; to give ourselves away in love. We are called to become a “self-gift” – fi rst to God, and then to our neighbor. Jesus shows us what love is all about when He is lifted up on the cross. And though our cross may not be made of wood, every challenge, every trial in this life is an opportunity to love completely, faithfully and fruitfully.

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People will often look to rules, and even commandments, for help in deciding what to do in a particular situation. Sometimes this leads to fi nding loopholes and “a way around” often known as “legalism.” But Jesus says that the difference between right and wrong is written on everyone’s heart (Romans 2:12–16). In TYLER PERRY’S MADEA’S WITNESS PROTECTION, each main character exhibits knowledge of right and wrong, even when discovered to be doing something that is not altogether good. George admits he should have paid more attention to the smell of something fi shy at work, and should have given more of himself to his family. Madea knows that she should be more welcoming to her prospective houseguests (who are in need of a place to hide) even though they are of a different background. Cindy, George’s stuck-up daughter, knows deep within her that she is hurting others and pushing them away. Her transformation may be the most obvious and comes, as transformations often do, in a moment of crisis.

MADEA: Why are you crying?

CINDY: What do you mean?

MADEA: I thought you hated them.

CINDY: No, I don’t. I don’t.

MADEA: Well, if I treated them as bad as you treated them, then I would be crying too.

CINDY: Oh my God! I can’t believe this.

Moments later when her family walks in the door and she realizes that they are safe, she is caught – or perhaps she catchesherself – expressing unconditional love for the members of her family.

MADEA: Tell them you are sorry.

CINDY: Dad, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.

MADEA: Her too.

CINDY: Kate, I’m sorry. Howie . . .

QUESTIONS: To what extent are you aware of your own heart? Does your conscience tell you when something is right or wrong? Do the Ten Commandments (Divine Law) resonate within you and confi rm what you already believe (Natural Law) about good and evil? Are the laws of the state (Human Law) consistent with the Ten Commandments (Divine Law)? When are you most in danger of going against your conscience? Why do we need God’s law and human law if what is right is already written on our hearts?

READ: Romans 2:14–16They show that the demands of the law are written in their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness and their confl icting thoughts accuse or even defend them on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge people’s hidden works through Christ Jesus.

READ: Romans 13:1–2Let every person be subordinate to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been established by God. Therefore, whoever resists authority opposes what God has appointed, and those who oppose it will bring judgment upon themselves.

LESSON TO LEARN:In a certain sense, we all have a moral compass in our hearts. Sometimes an offense is not intrinsically evil, but still hurts someone – and we know it. In his literary examination of the Christian faith, “Mere Christianity,” C. S. Lewis says that the natural law – the one written on every heart – is “hard as nails,” and compares its stubbornness to that of Love. And Love never fails (1 Corinthians 8). But if we ignore what God has revealed to us within our heart, we can lose touch with our heart where truth and love reside. We will always be tempted to deny the good, true and beautiful things of God, but in the end we will all be judged by how we responded to what is written on our hearts.

W R I T T E N O N O U R H E A R T SW R I T T E N O N O U R H E A R T S

the door and she realizes that they are safe,

herself – expressing unconditional love for

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How many times do we wish we could start over? How often have we missed an opportunity to do the right thing? Now, through Christ, we have that chance to make any change for the better in our lives. Through His life, death and resurrection, mercy and forgiveness mean we can always do better.

In TYLER PERRY’S MADEA’S WITNESS PROTECTION, George and Kate, who are married and well-off, discover a new depth to their marriage in taking on their true mission in life as a married couple.

Kate finds out in a discussion with Madea that she may have not been helping the family by keeping things locked up inside. Madea suggests that she should speak her mind and let her true feelings be voiced.

GEORGE: I’m going to do all I can to help us get our life back.

KATE: I don’t want our life back. I want a new life . . . one where you are in it, where we’re all happy and there’s band camp, and lunch in the afternoons . . .

George, like every man, realizes his call is to profess, protect and provide, and he is suddenly on a mission to set his family free from the bonds of passive living. He all at once recognizes that “providing” means to provide his own self for his family. With a little grace, he is about to go from being inactive to actively involved!

KATE: I haven’t seen this kind of fire in you since we got married. Do you remember our honeymoon in Florence?

GEORGE: It rained the entire time.

KATE: Yeah, you said maybe this is how our marriage would be, full of rain.

GEORGE: And you got upset.

KATE: Right, and you said . . .

GEORGE: Rain makes everything grow.

KATE: Right, so to see us in all this rain . . . Maybe this was all for the best . . . for us to get to know each other again.

GEORGE: Maybe it was.

KATE: I love you, George.

GEORGE: I love you too, Kate. And I’m going to bring the sunshine back . . .

KATE: I have no doubt that you will. You always do the right thing.

QUESTIONS: Do you live a life with purpose? Are you motivated by a mission that is uniquely your own? Is there something keeping you from living an inspired life? How does it feel when you pursue your mission as opposed to denying your responsibilities?

READ: Matthew 28:18–20Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”

READ: 1 Corinthians 12:4–7 Here are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit.

LESSONS TO LEARN: We are all called to play some role in the world. None of us is accidentally here. Sometimes this role is called a “vocation.” God created each and every person for that person’s own sake and with a particular vocation in mind. We are all parts of the Body of Christ, and like the parts of a body, each member has its own purpose. The whole body benefits from every part, and every part benefits from the whole body. You are likewise critical to the goodness of the entire human race. Your happiness, too, depends on you taking up your vocation.

D O N ’ T M I S S Y O U R M I S S I O ND O N ’ T M I S S Y O U R M I S S I O N

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THIS GUIDE WAS CREATED BY ALLIED FAITH & FAMILYTo obtain FREE copies for your church, please email faithandfamily@alliedim.com.

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