We were asked by Ligonier ministries to create a short promo piece for their new online study center called Ligonier Connect. It’s a neat system that enables people to hear lectures from RC Sproul, read through material he’s written, and discuss theology with other students online. We decided to approach it from a silent film perspective, using a question about justification as the ball that gets batted from person to person. It was a fun little puzzle to put together. To get the most out of it, try to follow the argument as it develops – that is, after all, what’s so engaging about Ligonier Connect.
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One of the questions I have as a filmmaker is, ‘how does one film spiritual realities in an effective and realistic manner?’ Film is a notoriously physical medium, one that dominates two of our five senses to the exclusion of everything else. Since, by definition, spiritual things cannot be seen or heard, how exactly do we show the spiritual? I’m not talking about showing spiritual beings such as angels or demons: for years film has used actors or computer graphics to represent these characters; but this is more fictional than real. The average person has never seen a demon or angel, and so knows there is something unrealistic when they are used in film. Rather, I’m interested in understanding how to film daily spirituality in a realistic manner without it seeming forced or fake. How does one show the influence of the Spirit? How does one reveal the personal relationship between God and man? How does one show love between the creature and his Creator? 
My favorite sermon was preached by a Dutch professor of theology over a hundred years ago. Just as some of the most beautiful flowers are found in the most unlikely places, this sermon given to a handful of seminary students provides the most extraordinary perspective on the morning of our Saviour’s resurrection. I discovered it a decade ago, and now make a point to read it again every Easter weekend. Its subject is the tender relationship between Mary Magdalene and Jesus, and although this text from John is often found in pulpits on Easter morning, I’ve never heard anyone give such a penetrating and sympathetic explanation of it: “Jesus saith unto her, ‘Mary.’ She turneth herself and saith unto him, ‘Rabboni;’ which is to say ‘Master.’” You can 
