Hazelight Studios (makers of _A Way Out_, _It Takes Two_, _SplitFiction_) are famous for their **forced co-op design**. You literally cannot play these games alone. Each player is given different roles, abilities, and challenges, and only by **working together** can you move forward. Even more, their games are designed with the assumption that sometimes one player will be more experienced than the other. The game slows the experienced player down, requiring them to be patient, teach, and adapt so both can enjoy the journey. This is more than just good game design—it’s a picture of what discipleship and spiritual growth look like in the church. God calls us into community, where the strong help the weak, the mature guide the new, and together we are formed into the likeness of Christ. # Recap of [[Kishōtenketsu Narrative In The Bible]] **Kishōtenketsu** is a four-part narrative structure common in Japanese storytelling: 1. **Ki (Introduction):** Sets the scene and introduces characters. - Players start by **finding dragon eggs** and learning basic interaction mechanics, carrying and protecting them through simple obstacles. 2. **Sho (Development):** Expands the story, building relationships or routines. - The eggs hatch into **baby dragons**, each with distinct abilities that let players solve traversal puzzles (gliding, climbing, rolling, etc.). 3. **Ten (Twist/Turn):** Introduces an unexpected development or challenge. - The dragons mature into **full-grown forms**, gaining stronger movement and combat options. The level shifts to more complex coordination challenges that require combining abilities. 4. **Ketsu (Conclusion/Resolution):** Resolves the story, often in a way that connects the twist back to the earlier setup. - The stage culminates in a **multi-phase boss fight against the Dragon Slayer**, testing whether players can fully coordinate their dragons’ expanded mechanics in high-stakes combat. **![[Pasted image 20250919081759.png]]** # One Church, One Temple, One Body, One Lord In our last lesson, we traced how God’s presence moved from Eden to the temple and finally to Jesus Himself, who became the true dwelling place of God. Now, through Christ, the church has become His temple, where His Spirit lives and works among us. God’s new temple isn’t built with stones, but with people. and together we form Christ’s body. **and we are the boddddy* Let's read our bible passage for this lesson. Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 12 that though we each have different gifts, we belong to the same Spirit, the same Lord, and together, we make up the body of Christ. > [!bible]+ [1 Corinthians 12:4-11 - NASB](https://bolls.life/NASB/46/12/) > ^**4**Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. ^**5**And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. ^**6**There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all [persons]. ^**7**But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. ^**8**For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; ^**9**to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, ^**10**and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another [various] kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. ^**11**But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. %% #1Corinthians #1Corinthians12 %% .... > [!bible]+ [1 Corinthians 12:27 - NASB](https://bolls.life/NASB/46/12/) > ^**27**Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it. %% #1Corinthians #1Corinthians12 %% # Enforcing Cooperation Hazelight Studios designs games with one unchanging rule: **you can’t play alone**. Every game they make—_It Takes Two_, _A Way Out_, and _Split Fiction_—requires two players who are always present on the screen. The levels, mechanics, and challenges are built around this principle. No matter how skilled one player is, progress is impossible without the other. There’s no AI companion that can step in, because success depends on **constant communication, timing, and trust**. | Game | Example | | ----------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **It Takes Two** | _Flying Nails & Hammer mechanic:_ Cody can launch nails into a wall and recall them; May uses her hammer to swing from the nail. Neither can cross certain gaps without the other’s ability. | | **A Way Out** | _Back-to-back shaft climb:_ Leo and Vincent must lock arms and ascend a vertical shaft together. If they are out of sync, they both fall | | **Split Fiction** | _Flying together:_ Mia must fly a ship to avoid debris and storms, while Zoe must use the turret to shoot at incoming enemies, | These examples show that **the game constantly forces cooperation**, ensuring both players are necessary for progress. Question: What examples from these games can you think of? ## 1. Discipleship Examples of Cooperation The same is true in discipleship. In the church, no believer is meant to walk alone or do everything. God designed the body of Christ so that we depend on one another. We see this pairing throughout scripture. ### Modern Practical Examples - **Small Group Leader and New Believer:** A mature Christian may share insights from Scripture, while a newer believer brings fresh eyes, asking simple or challenging questions that spark deeper reflection. What the seasoned believer might take for granted, the newcomer sees as breathtaking, reminding everyone of the beauty of the gospel. - **Biblical Precedent:** Paul commended the Thessalonian church for their faith and how their example encouraged others (1 Thessalonians 1:6–7). Paul trains Timothy, but also finds encouragement in Timothy’s faith and depends on him to minister where Paul cannot. - **Marriage or Close Friendship:** At times, one believer may be ‘stronger’ in faith, offering guidance and encouragement, while in another season the roles may reverse. This mutual support allows both to keep growing, as each contributes in different ways and both are strengthened spiritually through their dependence on one another. - **Biblical Precedent:** Proverbs 27:17 captures this principle: “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” Just as a blade left unused or unsharpened loses its edge, a faith left untested or unencouraged can stagnate. - **Peer Accountability Partners:** Both participants are roughly the same maturity level, but one may notice patterns or habits the other misses. Their mutual honesty and observation sharpen each other’s faith. - **Biblical Precedent:** **Ecclesiastes 4:9–10** — _“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: if either of them falls down, one can help the other up.”_ (Ecclesiates 4:9-10) This could be one of many reasons Jesus then sends people out two by two to preach and heal (Mark 6:7, Luke 9:1–6): Question: How can two believers with different gifts serve the church together? # 2. Shared Learning **Game Design:** Hazelight structures its games so both players must **learn** the mechanics together. Each player is often given unique abilities the other doesn’t have, and the challenges are built to require those differences in order to move forward. Puzzles often depend on one player’s perspective while the other takes action. Many puzzles and battles are deliberately structured so that progress only comes when each person understands how their role fits with the other’s. To proceed in these games require _observation, communication, and shared insight_, both must learn the mechanics together, experimenting, failing, and adjusting as a team. Example: Collapsing star force fields final: Your success is tied to your partner. If you rush ahead, fail to communicate, or play recklessly, it can cause your partner to fall, die, or miss the timing of a puzzle. Sometimes the hardest part isn’t the challenge itself, but learning how not to trip each other up. ![[SplitFiction-CollaspsingStart.mp4]] - **Scripture Tie**: - _Romans 14:13_ — “Decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.” - _1 Corinthians 8:9_ — “Take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.” - _Philippians 2:3–4_ — “Do nothing from selfish ambition… let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” **Principle for Discipleship:** In the same way, the church is designed so that believers grow best by learning together. Growth in Christ happens when believers share what they see and know. Each member has been given different gifts by the Spirit, and the body only matures when those gifts are used in harmony. As we walk together—teaching, correcting, and supporting one another—we not only grow individually but also as one body in Christ. - **Parent and Child/ Teacher and Student:** Parents teach biblical truths and life skills, but teens’ questions often push the parent to think in new ways: “Why did God do that?” or “What does this mean?” Similarly, a teacher may present doctrine to a student, but the student’s questions can challenge assumptions and spark deeper study. - **Biblical Precedent:** **:** When God called Samuel, Eli guided him in discerning that it was God speaking (1 Samuel 3:7–9). Samuel followed Eli’s instruction, but eventually, Samuel became the one delivering God’s message of judgment to Eli and his family (1 Samuel 3:11–18). This dynamic illustrates that a learner can both grow under a teacher’s guidance **and carry responsibility in ways the teacher cannot**, even conveying difficult truths back to the mentor. - **Older and Younger Christian Friends:** The older believer brings life experience, while the younger may be more bold in evangelism, or have creativity, or even just intergeneration skills, such as tech skills or speaking. - **Biblical Precedent:** Elijah and Elisha (2 Kings 2:9–15) show faithful succession: the older prophet equips the younger, but Elisha’s faith and willingness to learn allow him to continue and expand the ministry. Moses had led Israel for decades, teaching Joshua everything he knew about God, leadership, and the people. But when it came time to take the Promised Land, God chose Joshua to lead. This shows that even the most experienced leader cannot do everything alone—each person’s gifts and timing matter, and cooperation between mentor and learner is necessary for God’s mission to succeed. Question: What is something in your Christian walk that you could not have learned without the help of another? # 3. Balancing the Skill Gap **Game Design:** Hazelight builds their games with uneven skill levels in mind. If one player falls, the other can quickly revive them. This mechanic allows the more experienced player to carry each other and enables partners to slowly work their way through some of the more difficult sections of the game. They also generally aimed not to have players replay sections by making the checkpoints forgiving so progress is rarely lost.. These design choices prevent frustration and make sure both players keep moving forward together. **Bible Passages:** - _Galatians 6:2_ — “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” - _Romans 15:1_ — “We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak.” - _Philippians 2:3–4_ — "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." Yet both in living out Christianity and in playing these games, the design ensures that the more experienced player—or Christian—cannot simply rush ahead, but must walk alongside and grow together with the other. **In Hazelight games** - **Puzzles and Perspective:** The gameplay is not always skill-based. Many puzzles are perspective-based, meaning one player sees the solution while the other has the tools to act. The makes it to where each player has a different piece of the puzzle that lets them observe and see the solution to a puzzle the other player can't. - Example: In the final of split fiction, Players experience the level through two lenses: one showcasing a sci-fi environment and the other a fantasy setting. Challenges require players to collaborate across these divergent realities. For instance, one player might need to activate a mechanism in the sci-fi world, which in turn affects the fantasy world, and vice versa. Throughout the level, the split-screen boundary shifts, sometimes merging the two worlds and at other times separating them even further. ![[SplitFictionMerge.mp4]] - **Timing and Strategic Engagement Over Precision:** Platforming challenges rely on **well-timed actions** instead of pixel-perfect jumps, while combat sections shifting the focus from precise skill shots to **strategic coordination** with each other, such as dodging effectively and using the right abilities at the right moment. This design ensures that less experienced players can contribute meaningfully without being penalized for lack of precision and skill the other has. - Example: The Wasp fights in the Tree level of *It Takes Two*—feature a **lenient auto-aim system**, The wasps also target the waiting player. ![[It Takes Two Wasps.mp4]] Questions: What are more ways you saw the Hazelight games balance the skill gap? **Principle for Discipleship:** In discipleship, maturity levels are rarely equal. A mentor may know Scripture deeply, while a younger believer may struggle with basics. - **Multiple Genres and Styles:** Narrative, poetry, prophecy, wisdom literature, letters—all provide entry points for different levels of understanding. Jesus’ parables often retell moral truths in ways that both simple and sophisticated listeners can grasp (Mark 4:33–34). A child can grasp the story of David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17), while other believer wrestles with the theological depth of Romans or Hebrews. There are books like Daniel and Revelation that act as the final boss of the Bible. - **Diverse Applications:** Scripture addresses both **immediate practice** (obedience, ethics, prayer) and **deep theological reflection** (covenant promises, God’s sovereignty). This allows younger or less experienced believers to apply the Word without needing advanced understanding, while mature believers can explore nuance. Just as _It Takes Two_ allows the experienced player to “carry” the less skilled player without making them irrelevant, God structured the Bible to **equip all believers** according to their current capacity. A mature believer can guide, but the less experienced believer is not excluded from understanding or contributing—often they perceive truths or ask questions the more mature believer might overlook. *Question*: how does God balance the the Christian walk between mature and unmature believers? **Personal Example:** Sometimes a less “experienced” believer can notice things the seasoned one misses — precisely because they aren’t bogged down with doctrinal baggage or old assumptions. For example, I have been in church my whole life. I know the Bible like I am also a seasoned video game player—I know the history, church culture, debates, word meanings and nuance. For a long time, from my wife’s perspective, she didn't have any of that and was like the fresh player—she engages directly with God’s Word without the layers of prior k nowledge. - Share example about Daniel 9 > [!bible]+ [Daniel 9:24-27 - NASB](https://bolls.life/NASB/27/9/) > ^**24**'Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy [place]. ^**25**'So you are to know and discern [that] from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince [there will be] seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress. ^**26**'Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end [will come] with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined. ^**27**'And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations [will come] one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.' %% #Daniel #Daniel9 %% > [!bible]+ [Titus 2:2-7 - NASB](https://bolls.life/NASB/56/2/) > ^**2**Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance. ^**3**Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, ^**4**so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, ^**5**[to be] sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored. ^**6**Likewise urge the young men to be sensible; ^**7**in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, [with] purity in doctrine, dignified, %% #Titus #Titus2 %% > [!bible]+ [Hebrews 5:12-14 - NASB](https://bolls.life/NASB/58/5/) > ^**12**For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. ^**13**For everyone who partakes [only] of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. ^**14**But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil. %% #Hebrews #Hebrews5 %% > [!bible]+ [Galatians 6:2 - NASB](https://bolls.life/NASB/48/6/) > ^**2**Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. %% #Galatians #Galatians6 %% > [!bible]+ [Romans 15:1 - NASB](https://bolls.life/NASB/45/15/) > ^**1**Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not [just] please ourselves. %% #Romans #Romans15 %%