The Chosen

We live in crazy times. So many changes in our schedules. So many cancellations. But one thing we now have is TIME. Time to do and try new things. Time to be at home. Time to study God’s Word. Time to grow together as families in some incredible ways.

I have one great idea for how to spend eight hours of your time trying a new thing:

The Chosen.

The Chosen is the first-ever multi-season television series based on the life of Christ, AND for the next two weeks, you can stream all eight episodes of season one, for FREE.

As you watch, you will learn about the historical and cultural settings into which Jesus came. You will also meet the types of people that Jesus chooses to cure, care for, and call as his disciples. As you learn more about your Savior’s grace and mercy for all humanity, don’t be surprised if you laugh and cry.

Watch the trailer, and then read about How to Watch The Chosen below.

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A Couple of Things to Think About As You Watch

The Chosen is NOT the Bible nor does it seek to be or replace reading and studying the Bible. The opening credits of The Chosen include the following statement that is worth noting:

The Chosen is based on the true stories of the gospels of Jesus Christ; some locations and timelines have been combined or condensed. Backstories and some characters or dialogue have been added. However, all biblical and historical content and artistic imagination are designed to support the truth and intention of the Scriptures. Viewers are encouraged to read the gospels.

Dallas Jenkins

The Chosen will cause you to read and wrestle with God’s Word. As I have watched the episodes TWO or THREE times each, it has forced me, a seminary-trained pastor, to go back and re-read parts of the gospels, and each time I do, I am blessed. Sometimes an episode will pick up on or flesh out cultural, historical, or contextual concepts that I had never seen or heard before, providing me with fresh eyes to see familiar stories not necessarily in a new way, but in a deeper way. Would I have made the same choices for how to present certain characters and storylines? Probably not. But as I have wrestled with the decisions made by the writers and directors, I have also been forced to wrestle with God in his Word and in the struggle have grown and been strengthened.

The Chosen will not appeal to or engage everyone. If you go into the series with an open mind and heart understanding that it is NOT the Bible and are ready to be challenged as you learn and grow, you will. However, in the same way that not every style of sermon presentation will appeal to everyone, this style of Biblical storytelling will not appeal to everyone either, and that’s okay. No one has to watch The Chosen, but you can.

The Chosen episodes adequately serve as lengthy introductions to actual Bible stories that you know and love. Most episodes build individually or upon each other to climax with a scene that is almost straight from the Bible. You will understand what I mean when you see it happen in almost every episode. The scene of John 3 and Jesus’ late-night conversation with Nicodemus is my favorite.

The Chosen is biblical historical fiction at its best. If you have read anything by Lynn Austin or Francine Rivers you have experienced biblical historical fiction. Some of you might even be more familiar with a work of biblical historical fiction called “I Was There When the Giant Fell” written by my college and seminary classmate Adam Nitz. It’s the story of David defeating Goliath told through the eyes of a fictional character Benaiah. It’s a great read and worth checking out as well. I would echo the comments of one Amazon reviewer about that book and apply her same thoughts to The Chosen.

This book dropped me into the time of King Saul and David in a way that was very personal and left me feeling as if I’d been a witness to their lives as well as Benaiah’s and others in his world. It also gave me a clearer view of Jewish life at that time as well as their perspective and understanding of God’s unconditional love as experienced under the old covenant. God is Love… I like the way the chapters stand alone even as the story moves to weave its pieces together. A beautifully written, truly unique work of biblical historical fiction!

Melinda Matthews

Like, I Was There When the Giant Fell, The Chosen is biblical historical fiction at its best. Each episode drops the viewer into the life and times of Jesus and his disciples in a powerful and profound manner.

The Chosen is family-friendly BUT best for adults and older children. The first episode has a couple of scenes of a demon-possed Mary Magdalene that are a bit shocking and scary. Otherwise, the show is very watchable even with younger children. However, before you watch the show with your children, be sure to explain to them that the show is based on the Bible and that there are parts of the show that are NOT in the Bible. Whether you watch alone or with your family, after you watch, open your Bible and read the accounts the episode is based upon; then compare and discuss them.

Perhaps you will even want to dig into some of the questions included at the end of this post. I would love to discuss the series with you and your family in the near future.

What to Do Next

If you are still reading and are convinced to watch the show, you are probably still wondering, “HOW do I actually go about watching the show?”

The next section will tell you.

If you still want to learn a little bit more about the show first skip the How to Watch section for now and check out an interview I did with show creator Dallas Jenkins.

Finally, check out the Questions to Consider as You Watch section at the end of the post and make plans to participate in a live Zoom discussion.

How to Watch Now for Free

For the next two weeks, The Chosen can be streamed FOR FREE at VidAngel.com. There are many ways to watch. On your computer, smartphone, or cast to your television by a streaming device. I have found the easiest way to get started is to download The Chosen App from the App Store or Google Play.

Watch the video below to learn more.

You can figure it out. If not ask your son or daughter to help you and they will figure it out for you. Start watching today.

My Interview with the Creator of The Chosen

A few months back I had the incredible opportunity to interview Dallas Jenkins the creator of The Chosen. I was also joined in the interview by Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary student, Tyler Swiderski, who is working on his Senior Thesis covering the topic of “Theology and Television.” I have been privileged to serve as his adjunct professor advisor on the project over the past six months.

The big question Tyler was seeking to answer was: Do the benefits of Christian-based visual media outweigh the drawbacks?

It’s a great question and one that I would love to discuss with you. Learn how that can happen below the interview.

Questions to Consider as You Watch

What parts of the series were straight from the Bible? Which parts were added to fill out the storyline? Was this done effectively?

What was portrayed differently than you had imagined it?

Describe each of the main characters from the series. What did you think about the way each of them was portrayed?

How did seeing these biblical events portrayed visually deepen your understanding and appreciation of them?

What was your favorite part of the series?

What was your least favorite part?

If you were the director/producer/screenwriter, what would you have done differently?

What did you learn about humankind (our condition) from each episode?

Which commandments were addressed in the series and in what way?

What specifically did you learn about God from the series?

Which gospel-infused scene has stuck with you the most?

Do the benefits of this series outweigh the drawbacks?

I hope that you and your families enjoy the series. I look forward to discussing it with many of you soon.