Creator of The Chosen Dallas Jenkins Opens Up About His Dark Turn In Life
Dec 14, 2023
auto_awesome
Dallas Jenkins, creator of The Chosen, discusses his dark turn in life, surrendering basketball dreams, the journey into filmmaking, the importance of contentment, The Chosen as a supplement to Bible study, and the power of surrender and storytelling.
Surrendering ambitions and desires to God's will leads to contentment and joy in serving Him.
The Chosen series aims to complement the Bible and inspire viewers to engage with Scripture and develop a personal relationship with Jesus.
Deep dives
Learning from Failure and Surrendering to God's Will
This podcast episode explores the journey of Dallas Jenkins, the creator of The Chosen series. Dallas shares how he experienced failure and disappointment in his career but was able to surrender his ambitions and desires to God's will. He talks about the importance of focusing on providing our best efforts, or our 'loaves and fish,' and leaving the results and success in God's hands. Dallas emphasizes the need to find contentment and joy in serving God rather than pursuing worldly success. He also encourages listeners, especially millennials and Gen Z, to prioritize their relationship with God above all and to be open to the redirection and growth that may come from moments of failure.
The Role of The Chosen in Deepening Faith
The Chosen series, although historical fiction, serves as a tool to bring people into a deeper relationship with God and a more robust understanding of their faith. Dallas and his team aim to complement the Bible by providing an entry point for viewers to engage with Scripture in a different and impactful way. They hope that The Chosen encourages individuals to delve into God's word, develop a personal relationship with Jesus, and find true flourishing in their faith. The show is not meant to replace the Bible but instead to inspire and ignite a passion for knowing and loving Jesus and His teachings.
Reaching Generation Z and Nurturing Godly Ambition
Dallas recognizes the unique challenges faced by Generation Z, especially regarding social media and the pressure to find value and affirmation through worldly measures. He acknowledges that young women are particularly targeted by these influences and are often drawn away from God's perspective of worth. Through The Chosen and other discipleship efforts, Dallas and his team aim to steer Gen Z towards a different kind of success, one found in God's ways rather than the world's standards. They encourage young people to surrender their ambitions, prioritize God's will over worldly achievements, and embrace contentment, trusting that true flourishing comes from aligning with God's plan.
Maintaining Humility and First Love in Impactful Work
Dallas highlights the importance of avoiding pride and remaining humble, especially when experiencing success or impact through one's work. He emphasizes that success, even in godly endeavors, should not become an idol that hinders one's relationship with God. Dallas shares the lesson he learned from his father's example of humility during the success of the Left Behind series. He encourages Christians to constantly seek God, prioritize their first love, and remain humble, regardless of their level of impact. Dallas reminds listeners that God desires their hearts more than their achievements and urges them to find joy and fulfillment in serving Him.