Documentary
A six-part series that explores centuries of worship practices, as seen through the eyes of Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox churches. From scripture, sermons and creeds to baptism and the Eucharist, from art and music to drama and media, from prayer and contemplation to…
The Word explores how the written and spoken word consisting of scriptures, sermons and creeds have remembered and celebrated God’s story throughout centuries of Christianity, including: • What early church documents reveal about ancient worship practices and why many churches are recovering and continuing these ancient faith practices today? • How stained glass has been used to tell the stories of scripture, including a visit to the oldest continually operating stained glass studio in America? • Why influences such as the printing press and the translation of the Bible into the language of the people dramatically changed how scripture is used in worship? • How great preaching movements of the church have influenced the development of sermons and homilies? • Why creeds such as the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds are an important tool for teaching the essentials of the Christian faith?
The Body explores how individuals are joined with the body of Christ through baptism and how the idea of community is essential to the worship experience, including: • What early church documents and practices teach us about how baptism is celebrated today. • What symbols are common to all Christians in the celebration of baptism. • Why there are different forms of baptism among various Christian traditions. • How the Scriptures and church history support the community of believers as an important part of worship. • How one unique community of believers celebrates worship through its western-themed cowboy church.
The Feast explores the significance of the Eucharist in worship and reveals how the observance of special days and seasons of remembrance and anticipation such as Advent and Lent is essential to the worship experience, including: • What early church documents and practices teach us about how the Eucharist is celebrated today. • Why the feast of the table is called by different names: Eucharist, Communion, the Lord's Supper. • What the different methods of celebrating the Eucharist are among various Christian traditions. • How Old Testament feast days and festivals have formed a pattern for the current Christian calendar of holy days and seasons. • Why the liturgical year is still relevant for Christians today.
The Music explores how liturgy and music have enriched the celebration of God’s story throughout centuries of Christianity, including: • Why time, place, structure and symbols are significant components of worship • What elements of liturgy lead us to experience the glories of Heaven while on Earth • How church music has evolved, from plainsong and chant to hymns and modern praise songs • What the history of liturgy and music teach us about the debate over worship style • How Jason Houser, a singer/songwriter and country music producer, helps families learn Scripture through music
The Expression explores how visual art, drama and media have been used in various times and places in Christian worship for the creative expression of the faith, including: • How paintings, sculptures, stained glass and icons visually convey God's story. • Why worship space and architecture influence and enhance the worship experience. • What types of media have been used at various times in Christian worship. • How the the digital age and the advent of advanced technology have impacted worship, and • What inspires Floodgate Productions to produce film clips on contemporary, faith based topics that are seen in churches nationwide each week.
The Embrace explores the inward worship practices of prayer and contemplation and the outward acts of worship found in service and ministry, including: • How beloved prayers such as the Lord's Prayer have become an essential part of our ongoing dialogue with God. • Why public and private prayer is essential to Christian worship. • How the Church throughout the centuries has carried its message to the world through missions and caring for the poor, imprisoned, sick, and dying. • How a ministry called Broken Chains reaches out to the biker subculture with the Gospel message.
Self – Host

For the first time, in breathtaking and high-definition cinematography, the truth, goodness, and beauty of Catholicism are illustrated in a multimedia experience. Journey with Fr. Robert Barron to more than 50 locations throughout 16 countries. Be illuminated by the spiritual and artistic treasures of this global culture that claims more than one billion of the earth's people. Learn what Catholics believe and why. Discover the full meaning of the faith.

Do you know the real story behind the New Testament? We all share a fascination for discovering ‘the rest of the story.’ Through reading the New Testament we discover that God indeed keeps his promises, but those promises don’t always look like what people expected. Especially when it comes to Jesus. Join well-known Bible scholars N.T. Wright and Michael F. Bird as they team up to take you on a tour of the explosive story behind the story of the New Testament.

The epic story of the emergence of Christianity in just over a century, from the death of Jesus of Nazareth, around the year 30, to the moment when the leaders and followers of the new faith, already scattered throughout the eastern Mediterranean, from Jerusalem to Rome, are definitely moving away from Judaism, around the year 150.