There are a lot of models, strategies, and examples of mission out there but the best is Jesus’ life! We can learn from the ways and rhythms of Jesus to better ourselves for mission…his prayer life, his communion with others, his connection with the Holy Spirit, and so much more! The Chosen is the first-ever multi-season series about the life of Christ. It gives great insights and challenges to how we can read the gospels and it is a great tool for mission and sharing about Jesus with others.

Here’s a piece from our guest writer, Emma Trueick, about how The Chosen has impacted her.

Luke 5 v 1-11 Jesus Calls His First Disciples

“5 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. ² He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. ³ He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.
⁴ When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” ⁵ Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” ⁶ When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. ⁷ So they signalled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink ⁸ When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” ⁹ For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, ¹⁰ and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.
Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” ¹¹ So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.”

This is where we see the very beginning of the ministry of Jesus, when he calls his first disciples. I remember very clearly this being taught to me as a young child in Sunday School at the age of maybe 5/6. I remember being given a colouring in sheet with drawings of Jesus standing on the shore with His hands stretched out towards the boat, and Simon (Peter) and Andrew were the two brothers who were holding on tightly to their nets because they were full of fish. I remember counting the fish… I remember kneeling on the ground, leaning on my chair and sharing pencils with my friends as we coordinated the colouring in of our pictures.

When we grow up, how often do we glance over, and possibly take for granted the beauty and true meaning behind these examples in the Bible because we know them off by heart, and have had them read to us and read them for ourselves ever since we were little.

This is one of the first major scenes at the start of the first series of the TV show The Chosen that really got my attention.

I was first introduced to The Chosen during the first lockdown back in spring of 2020, and I only came across the show because of an advert that had come up on my Facebook page … and I have been a fan ever since!

I don’t know if you have ever heard of or seen The Chosen, but I would encourage you to check it out! In a nutshell it’s a drama series, based on the Gospels, providing an ‘authentic and intimate picture of Jesus’ life and ministry, seen through the eyes of the people who knew him.’

“The people who knew him…” – I know Jesus and have followed him for over 25 years, but when I first saw this scene, I was taken back to my memories of hearing this as a child.

Then in thinking about it as an adult, Jesus calling Simon (Peter) and Andrew, I was really struck by the impact of the call to follow Jesus. In the episode prior to them being called, the creators of the show have really set the scene by giving an interpretation of what normal life might have looked like for these two brothers… two Jewish men, with strong faith, awaiting the Messiah, as many of their ancestors for generations had been. Simon a married man, who was very close to his brother, and both of them trying to work hard and make a living to support their family. Very normal, and very relatable, and then along comes Jesus and everything changes… You will have to check out The Chosen for yourself to see more.

Once we become followers of Jesus the call on all of our lives is to follow in his footsteps every day and share who he is with as many people as possible! How do we do that? How do we encourage our brothers and sister in Christ to grow deeper in their faith and understanding of Jesus? How do we help evangelise and share Jesus through the gospels with people who have never encountered him?

I am a massive fan of TV shows and movies and love ones that challenge and stir my faith to take me deeper on my walk with God. Over the years I have also been intrigued by depictions of Jesus. The Chosen, however, from the very first episode, feels set apart from anything else I have ever seen. So, I want to encourage you to check it out for yourselves, it is an amazing tool for the church for mission, evangelism, and the main purpose at the very heart of this show from the creator Dallas Jenkins, an evangelical Christian himself, is this … ‘This show is not a replacement for the Bible, we want this show to be used to point people to the Bible and ultimately to Jesus.’ (paraphrase)

 The finale of season 3 will be out in local cinemas all over the UK and Ireland on the 2^nd and 3^rd of February. Check out our website for ticket information here.

And if you are looking to catch up, use it with your church groups, or family and friends check out www.thechosen.tv

The thoughts and views expressed in this are the author’s own.