The Illustration Project: please suggest additions
‘The Illustration Project’ comes from my dream to have good short videos that could be used for illustrating every Bible passage and theme. Big dream, I know. But in this community, perhaps we have at least some collective knowledge of different videos out there that we’ve found useful. I’ve been posting some of the ones I’ve made or have come across. But I really need your help. Please let me know videos that you have found useful for illustrating a point or provoking thought, either by contacting me directly or leaving a comment on this post. I will then turn it into a post and tag it appropriately so that it will be searchable on this site, as well as adding it to the appropriate menu under the illustration project. In your suggestion, please:
1. either provide a link for where the video can be viewed on the web
2. or provide a link to where we can see more about it (eg. an imdb page)
3. “Illustrating:” – Suggest what Bible passages/themes it illustrates (as many as relevant)
4. “How to use it:” – Give an example of how you’ve used it or will use it or what setting it would be good for
5. “Permission for use:” – Show what kind of permission is given for use of the video (Vimeo makes you choose a license when you upload, so this is really helpful for knowing if you can use it) and any cost involved, if any (eg bluefishtv.com)
6. “Critique:” – Add some criticism: what do you like about it? what don’t you like about it?
You can copy and use this:
{video/link}
Illustrating:
How to use it:
Permission for use:
Critique:
Thanks for your help! Let’s build this resource!
Lunchbox: Science
Illustrating: This video talks through the questions people have that science seeks to answer vs the questions that it doesn’t, and so how to think about science in relation to religion. Rather than being opposed to each other, these questions show how science can complement religious beliefs.
How to use it: Provoke thought – it could be used before a talk on how science complements Christian belief, but I think it would be best used before a small group discussion or Q&A style event. It could even be used before a talk on something like Genesis 1 as a way of highlighting that it might not be seeking to answer the science questions but the ‘why’ questions.
Permission for use: This was made by UCCF (the christian unions) in the UK. Like the others in the Lunchbox series, they have made it available for download here so that you can use it in your ministry setting. Do send them an email to let them know how you use it so they can be encouraged by how their resources are being used.
Critique: It’s a bit long, at 2min 59secs, meaning it’s not quite as punchy as it could be. I like how it is structured such that it identifies clearly the types of questions by using similar shots. The footage is generally pretty good too.
Lunchbox: Religion
Illustrating: A poem set to music accompanied by images and words, this animation asks questions about what it means to know God – How can we know God? Do all religions lead to God? The last line sums up it’s getting at: “Could all of these faiths hold some of the truth or is there just one way that I can know you?”
How to use it: Provoke thought – Use this video alongside a talk about how we can know God. It would complement verses like John 17:3, Acts 4:12, and Hebrews 1:1-3. The truth of the gospel is that we can know about God and actually know God personally because he has revealed himself in his Son, Jesus, and made it possible for us to draw near to him because of his death and resurrection. Jesus is the problem to all of the world’s answers.
Permission for use: This was made by UCCF (the christian unions) in the UK. Like the others in the Lunchbox series, they have made it available for download here so that you can use it in your ministry setting. Do send them an email to let them know how you use it so they can be encouraged by how their resources are being used.
Critique: At 2min 39 secs, it’s just a little bit long for my liking, but only by a touch – certainly not too long to use. The animation is good and complements the poem well and matches the rhythm of the music.
Lunchbox: Life
Illustrating: This vox pop gives a good range of people’s answers to what they think is the meaning of life.
How to use it: Provoke thought – Use this video alongside a talk about the meaning of life, which could cover many talks about what it means to be Christian. I’ve used it alongside a talk on the rich man who comes to Jesus asking about how he can inherit eternal life, but who walks away sad because he is not willing to give up his wealth to follow Jesus (Mark 10:17-22). Most people would be able to identify with at least one of the answers. For me, the most striking answer is “I don’t think there’s any meaning to life, is there?”, because in the end I don’t think anyone really believes this – the way they live their lives shows otherwise.
Permission for use: This was made by UCCF (the christian unions) in the UK. Like others in the Lunchbox series, they have made it available for download here so that you can use it in your ministry setting.
Critique: There are some creative shots and the editing is quite good – it sits at a nice 1min 22secs. The sound and video quality could be a bit better, but this doesn’t distract from the point of the video.
What’s God’s Will?
Illustrating: The common question we all have of whether each choice is the right choice – how do I work out what God’s plan is for me? What is his will?
How to use it: Provoke thought – This is a great short text based teaser for a talk on guidance, or even a series. It could be used alongside a specific talk in a series that gets down to how to make godly decisions, and could complement something like Decisions, Decisions well as another way in. Using it before the talk or Bible reading would get people thinking and help them to see why they need to think about it. It is also reasonably light-hearted, with something in there that most people could relate to (even young parents with the choice between cloth or disposable nappies!)
Permission for use: Contact Baltimore Baptist Church (www.biltmorebaptist.org) – they have made this video available for download from vimeo.
Critique: Clever use of lots of different decisions in life to relate to a lot of different groups of people. The animation is reasonable, and works well with the music at a good length. Most videos like this tend to teach their view of guidance in the video itself, but I like how this one leaves it open so that it can be used to complement other things. There are moments when it moves a little too fast so that you miss some of the words, but it still works well.
Lies
Illustrating: This little vox pop cleverly teases out not just that people tell lies, but what people think about their lies. The use of masks helps create a sense of confidentiality. It shows the misconceptions we often have about our lies in the way it shows the range of thoughts the people have about the impact of their own lies (from devastating to nothing), and the way that generally they shift the blame when reflecting on lies they’ve told.
How to use it: Provoke thought – This is a great teaser vox pop that could go before the sermon or Bible reading to get people thinking about their own lies. This could be used with many passages that demonstrate how the mouth reflects the heart, like James 3
Permission for use: Contact Cooke Pictures
Critique: Beautiful camera work, complementary sound, and great idea – what a great way to do a vox pop by adding the element of masks!
Christmas Videos 2011
The problem with videos for a Christmas event is not that they are hard to find, but rather that there are just so many. Below is a bit of a random pick of some good Christmas themed videos. It’s not meant to be a ‘best of the best’, but rather a few stand out ones from the selection that I’ve viewed this year which cover a range of different angles. If you know of others that you think are really good and you can find permission for use, please comment with a link and the same format that I have used for info about the video. Enjoy!
The first two involve retellings of the nativity story. They both have a few of those elements that have come from tradition rather than the Bible narrative, but also present the story in quite creative ways.
Illustrating: the Christmas story as if it happened in the present day while social media was operating.
How to use it: A video like this can be a good way to break up a Christmas service into bite size chunks. The kids like it, and it engages adults in a different way. The lines at the end “times change; feelings remain the same” can be a helpful entry point in moving on to your next chunk. You could offer some points of similarity, but also even some critique – what has this missed about Christmas?
Permission for use: The digital media company Excentric released this video on Youtube in 2010 as an advertising strategy for their company, hoping that it would go viral. And so it did, now sitting at over 10 million views. To get permission, you can contact them through their website – www.excentric.pt – and ask. If you get no response, then you should be able to show it directly from youtube, so long as you show the full video (including the advertising at the end), and offer some critique of the ad.
Critique: The video itself does not provide a main point that preaches the gospel, and it gets some facts a bit wrong. However, it’s really fun, and the points it makes can be used to illustrate other points if you use it well.
Illustrating: the Christmas story as if kids were making a play out of it. It particularly gets into what Mary and Joseph might feel like along the way, and makes it a lot clearer (than the Digital Nativity) that this is the Son of God being born, and how incredible that is!
How to use it: If you’re really picky, then you could point out what facts it gets wrong. I’d probably use it as another element in a Christmas service (whether for kids or adults) that tells the story of the birth of the Son of God and how incredible that is, then have another element following that emphasises that as the point.
Permission for use: Released on Youtube by St Pauls Arts and Media with disclaimer: “Anyone is welcome to show this film publicly, but not change it in any way, nor make money out of it.” Unfortunately, they have not made it available for download as far as I can tell, so you’ll have to play it straight from Youtube. Or contact them through their website: www.stpauls.org.nz
Critique: Again, it gets a few of the facts wrong. They get away with this by telling it how kids might tell it. The production quality in this is incredible. I love the colours, the cinematography, the great use of sound and music. Notice particularly how clever they have been in using the kids voiceover, music and general style of the film to make the kids’ acting entirely appropriate. Brilliant film.
Illustrating: Uses animation to cheekily talk through how incredible it is that God have us himself so we could know him – the miracle of Christmas being that God showed up. It’s clever, funny, and well made.
How to use it: We used it at church this year as one element in a kids service that’s overall main point was to communicate how unexpected and amazing it was that God became human, with the implication that we better look to Jesus. I think it worked quite well, and gave a clear message to the adults as well that what we’re on about at Christmas is getting to know God. This was then complemented by dramas, prayers etc.
Permission for use: This video (along with many more) can be purchased from Dan Stevers’ website – www.danstevers.com – for about $19. He has a number of different formats to choose from, and you can also buy it in packs of other films too for a small discount. By purchasing, you will also help Dan continue to make great films for use in churches.
Critique: It can feel like another sermon in a way, so if all your other elements are quite ‘preachy’ already, then you could think about using something that illustrates your point rather than states it blatantly like this. Having said this though, his humour and great colours give enough padding that you can get away with it. This is a very versatile video that could be used in a lot of different ways.
Illustrating: Instead of telling a nativity story, South Shores have used Daniel’s prophecy concerning the Son of Man as a way in to saying a bit more about Daniel, with the idea that it might “give your Christmas roots”. Jesus wasn’t just a man, but the one who fulfilled Old Testament expectation.
How to use it: Probably best to use this in an adult service before a sermon on Daniel 7. It would give a good introduction to Daniel, as well as helping convince the visitors why you are preaching on something from the Old Testament when it is Christmas.
Permission for use: South Shores Church have this up on vimeo for sharing, but have not specified a sharing license or made download available. So, to get permission, ask through their website – southshores.org – or contact them through vimeo.
Critique: Daniel is a highly contested book, especially surrounding the person of Daniel. So, if you don’t agree with the call they have made on Daniel, then it might be difficult for you to use. Otherwise, it might provide you with the perfect summary. Also, I think it could have done a bit more at the end with bringing it back to Jesus, rather than just the quote from Luke. This would need to be done in the service.
Ok, so you might not use this in church, but I couldn’t resist putting it in. Nothing like a fun but psycho take on opening presents. It is available for download from vimeo, so if you can think of a way of using this to illustrate something for an adult crowd, then go for it (maybe even write a comment below as to how you would?). But otherwise, just enjoy the ride… and be prepared to be haunted by presents for the rest of your life.
There are so many Christmas videos out there. Hopefully I’ll see a whole load more by next Christmas and be able to post up more. But in the meantime, feel free to link more that you have come across below, and ideally use the ‘Illustrating:’, ‘How to use it:’, ‘Permission for use:’, ‘Critique:’ format to outline your description. Happy Christmas!
Broken
Good news! “Broken” won the people’s choice award at the Ignite Short Film Festival 2011! Thanks for your votes! Check it out below. You can download it by going to its vimeo page.
Illustrating: 1 Peter’s treatment of responding to persecution
In 1 Peter, I have been struck by the way Peter describes what it means to be Christian – it’s not a lifestyle, but an identity. You are part of a recreated community of Jesus’ people. Living this identity out in godly lives is then just part of who we are. But Peter never shies back from saying that this will involve persecution from those who don’t follow Jesus, and that our temptation will be to do the same right back at them – they break you, so you break them, and sin starts spreading like fire through gasoline. Peter says no. He calls us to remember Jesus who we follow; how he endured suffering to make us right with God. He calls us to remember who we have then been made to be, freed from sin, and so to keep trusting God and living his way through persecution. ‘Broken’ seeks to capture something of this journey, based mainly on 1 Peter 4.
How to use it: Because it’s a bit cryptic, I’d probably only use it if my talk, or whatever I was using it with, explained the concepts in the video adequately. It maybe even be something that you could use after explaining the passage – that way people would be prepared for the themes introduced in the film, and it might help ram home your application to hold onto Jesus and be godly even in the face of persecution.
Music: ‘Joy Instrumental’ by Page CXVI. Used under Creative Commons License.
Permission for use: Released under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License (so go for it – just attribute it to me, and don’t sell it or change it)
Critique:
• It can be a bit cryptic
• the change between my footage and the ultra-slow-mo stock footage that I used doesn’t quite match up as well as it could
The Parting
A short film that Michael Gibson and I made for the Ignite Short Film Festival 2005 in Sydney. It is based on the story of Exodus 14 (the people of Israel being delivered from Egypt through the parted sea), but told from the perspective of a fish. It raises some of the questions brought up in the passage – when you realise who is in control, would you fear and trust him? It can feel a little like a comedy when you first meet the fish, but the narration and music is much more serious. (I like to think of it as a the Matrix meeting Free Willy – “My name is Nemo!”)
Starring James Deeth (Gillford’s voice).
Script by Guangyao Un and Michael Snowdon.
Music: ‘I Set Myself on Fire’ by Juxtapose (used with permission) – juxtaposemusic.com
Released under Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License
Decisions, Decisions
Another short film I made for advertising Mid Year Conference at UNSW on ‘Guidance’ in 2007.
It was also entered into the Ignite Short Film Festival 2007 in Sydney (Winning Best Actor). It raises the question of our desire for guidance and where we might look for it. It is a kind of awkward comedy with fast paced dialogue.
Starring Marty Clarke and Jonathan Marquet.
Script by Guangyao Un and Michael Snowdon.
Released under Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License
What is ‘The Illustration Project’?
I’ve always found that illustrations in Bible talks helpful when done well – they capture me when the preacher shares more about they’re life; they get me to relate to the material in a different way; and they ideally provoke me to deeper meditation on what God is actually saying. But they can also be unhelpful – they can distract from the point; they can sometime emotionally manipulate; they can even just be boring. Video has opened up lots of new possibilities for illustrating. People love that it’s a different type of media, and so it often has an instant appeal. Though it’s also really hard to find appropriate videos for what you’re speaking on at the time (if you’re a preacher), and especially if you want to be faithful in use (within copyright regulations). Also, so many videos just aren’t exactly right as they haven’t been made with your exact point in mind.
In my last number of videos, I’ve been trying to illustrate the main points of particular passages, with the idea that I could then use them for a talk on that passage if it ever came up. I’ve also tried to make some more general videos that might provoke thought about a theme, so something that could be used at the start of a series, or when a doctrine is particularly relevant in a passage. But there’s only so much I can make, and other people have lots of better ideas and videos for illustrating things. So, what I’m hoping this page will fill with is illustration ideas for particular passages and themes. I will post up videos that I make in this section and what I think they’re intended for. I’d love it if you help me by doing the same, and hopefully we’ll create a resource that we can all use. So in your comment, please:
1. either embed the video (if copyright allows)
2. or provide a link to where we can see more about it (eg. an imdb page)
3. “Illustrating:” – Suggest what Bible passages/themes it illustrates (as many as relevant)
4. “How to use it:” – Give an example of how you’ve used it or will use it or what setting it would be good for
5. “Permission for use:” – Show what kind of permission is given for use of the video (Vimeo makes you choose a license when you upload, so this is really helpful for knowing if you can use it) and any cost involved (eg bluefishtv.com)
6. “Critique:” – Add some criticism: what do you like about it? what don’t you like about it?
You can copy and use this:
{video/link}
Illustrating:
How to use it:
Permission for use:
Critique:
Thanks for your help!
(For ideas on where to search for videos and music that you know you can use, go to my copyright articles in Important Info)
Herb and Patch
A short film I made for the Ignite Short Film Festival 2007 in Sydney (Winning Best Visual Effects). It raises some of the main themes of James 1:1-17.
Starring Michael Gibson (Patch) and Michael Snowdon (Herb).
Script by Guangyao Un, Michael Snowdon, and Michael Gibson.
All compositing was done in Final Cut Pro.
Released under Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License
Blindness
A short film I made for the Ignite Short Film Festival 2010 in Sydney. It raises a key Biblical question – what does it mean to see?
Starring Daniel Morris.
It is set to an instrumental version of ‘Nothing But the Blood’ by Page CXVI (used with permission).
It was shot on a Canon HG20 using a lens adapter and Canon SLR 50mm lens.
Released under Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License
