Kutz and many other pastors prefer to share uplifting yet realistic stories about how faith has helped people through trying times. Marsh says it is especially important not to preach the Easter message in "Christianese,'' using obscure biblical terms and references.

Smith said his third and latest album, The Big Picture, marks a departure of sorts in his career.

'The first two records,' he said, 'they were contemporary and they were pop, but they were kind of Christianese or whatever — you use that kind of language to communicate to the church.'