When we grasp the magnitude of what He’s done, we gladly live for others. We go where life is hard, says Keller. We sacrifice for others. We do justice and love mercy.

Hill is in the process of raising funds to share the production with other churches. She also recently finished an album of hymns she has adapted for children. “I’m passionate about kids understanding how they fit in the ‘big C’ church continuum throughout history,” she said.

Nebuchadnezzar observed both Daniel’s faithful service and his prayers to the one true God. The Romans knew the first Christians by both their refusal to worship idols and their adoption of abandoned babies.

In the great art there are what I call echoes of Eden — memories of the true story of who we are — and of the world as God originally created it — beautiful and good and glorious.

I would be gratified if these pieces pointed to hope that is grounded in truth. Hope that is not grounded in truth is sentimentalism, and it is always disappointing.

“Congregational singing is a high and holy privilege, and it’s also a command. It has an effect on individual spiritual formation but also joins believers together and can serve as a radical witness.”

The documentary was created by Grain, a St. Louis-based creative firm that helps its clients create beauty and uproot ugliness. Director John Pa hoped that sharing Higgins’ story would “at least start a conversation about these prejudices we have in our heads, minds, and hearts.”

Twelve of the 18 most-recorded Christmas songs in America, eight of the top 10, and all of the top six fall on the “more Jesus” side of Time’s ledger.

In seven years Morwood has had 15 dancers come through her Bible study, which provides a space where dancers push aside perfectionism and deal honestly with life’s struggles. They hold each other accountable and model humility to others by admitting mistakes and asking for forgiveness.

“There is something special about taking things that are used and tainted and making something beautiful out of them. Art can be regenerative and represent what God does with us to make us new and beautiful again.”