Martin Scorsese's film adaptation of Nikos Kazantzakis' controversial 1951 novel of the same name contains the central thesis that Jesus, while free from sin, was still subject to every form of temptation that humans face, including fear, doubt, depression, reluctance and lust.

Originally conceived in 1945 by young businessman and Campus Crusade for Christ founder Bill Bright who wanted to privately finance a film about the life of Jesus Christ that was entertaining, biblically accurate, and which could be translated into non-English languages, this film is based very closely on the Gospel of Luke with most of the film's dialogue coming from there.

This six-hour-plus long miniseries which has aired regularly on network television most Easters since the early 1980s is so thorough that the first hour is devoted solely to the story of Christ's birth.

In a year when many will be reconsidering the character of Jesus, it is worth taking some time to consider the characteristics they may have picked up from the big screen's most famous messiahs.

To her surprise, Jenna Allen saw her worries melt away when she was given a Bible to read for herself. Her story is an encouraging example for Sydney Anglicans preparing to give copies of this 'essential' book to the 'Jennas' in their neighbourhoods in 2009, This week we report on how Connect09 aims to help people connect with Jesus, who has the power to transform lives.

So where do you live? Unless youre on a 1,000 hectare farm my guess is that just outside your front door you can see other doors behind which a bunch of people live. Whats their religion? Start guessing now.

The heir to a hero of Chinese mission says the Christian press obsession with persecution in China is "misdirecting the mission world" away from effective gospel ministry in that nation.