From Screen to Scripture: How Research is Forging New Discipleship Pathways Through The Chosen

When a television series reaches millions of viewers worldwide, it creates more than entertainment – it creates opportunity. 

The Chosen has become a global phenomenon. The multi-season series about the life of Jesus and His disciples has been translated into more than 50 languages and viewed by over 280 million people across 175 countries. Through cinematic storytelling and deeply human portrayals of biblical figures, the series is helping both long-time believers and those curious about the faith in a fresh way.

AtOneHope, this sparked an important question:

Could this cultural moment become a meaningful pathway to deeper engagement with Scripture for young people around the world? 

That question launched a multi-region research effort – and the answers are now shaping new discipleship strategies for OneHope around the globe.  

What We Discovered

At OneHope, innovation begins with listening.

Over the last several years, OneHope began researching how youth in different cultures were responding to The Chosen. Small groups of young people gathered in homes, churches, and online spaces across Latin America, Africa, South Asia, and beyond to watch episodes and share their thoughts. 

The responses were overwhelmingly enthusiastic. 

A young woman in Indonesia said watching it “tremendously changed my perspective on how precious I am as His daughter.” One 13-year-old from Lesotho put it simply: “He was a person just like me, and he was not judgmental but approached with love.”

Again and again, young people described feeling emotionally connected to Jesus in ways they hadn’t before. 

But the research also revealed a gap: 

While the series sparked curiosity and connection, many young people lacked a clear next step for deeper spiritual exploration. .

The show was opening doors. What was missing was a pathway through them.

Building a Pathway for Discipleship

That insight led to a collaborative partnership with Alongsiders International to create a discipleship experience built around The Chosen. 

The model was simple but intentional: young people gathered in small groups to share a meal, watch an episode together, and discuss guided reflection questions designed to spark honest conversations about Jesus, identity, and faith. 

Companion Bible reading plans on YouVersion extend conversation beyond the show, helping participants continue exploring biblical truth throughout the week.

But true innovation requires testing. 

So OneHope piloted the program, studied the results, refined the approach, and tested again. 

Designing for Regional Context

The first pilots  in the Netherlands and France revealed strong enthusiasm from youth leaders, but also valuable feedback.. One French leader described the series as “an attractive, captivating, and realistic series that speaks to both a long-time convert and a young person in the faith.”

Leaders asked for:

• Simpler discussion questions

• Stronger facilitation resources More biblical context for youth unfamiliar with Scripture.

• These insights helped shape the next version of the program. 

Expanding Across Cultures

When the refined program was piloted again across Latin America, more than 250 youth and 41 leaders participated across five countries.. The results were striking:

• 87% of youth said they wanted to continue watching the series

• More than half reported deeper reflection about their relationship with Jesus.

Most recently, OneHope’s product development team adapted the experience for Southern Asia. There, the research revealed something especially important: The same content can serve very different purposes depending on the context. In one Buddhist-majority context, 3 in 4 participants reported thinking differently about Jesus after engaging with the program, and all 20 leaders endorsed it as an effective discipleship tool. In another sensitive country pilot, youth reported significant faith growth and stronger group connection.. 

One Show, Multiple Ministry Strategies

Perhaps the most important insight from this research is this: The Chosen can serve different ministry strategies for different cultural contexts.  

In regions where Christianity is widely known, like Latin America, the show works powerfully for both evangelism and discipleship.. In contexts where Christianity is less widely understood, it often works best as a discipleship tool for believers who are further along their faith journey.

That’s why OneHope continues adapting the experience region-by-region, developing locally-informed strategies rather than exporting one-size-fits-all solutions. Upcoming research in another sensitive context is now testing two distinct approaches simultaneously: 

One designed to spark curiosity among non-believing youth. 

Another to deepen biblical engagement among existing Christian communities. 

Why This Matters

This project reflects a core conviction at OneHope: effective ministry innovation happens when research shapes design. 

We don’t simply ask “What content can we create?” We ask, “How are young people engaging? What is resonating? What barriers remain? And how can we respond thoughtfully?” 

By listening first, we can build Scripture engagement programs that are both globally scalable and locally relevant. 

As this work with The Chosen continues, one thing remains clear: young people are encountering a Jesus who feels present, approachable, and deeply personal.

And for many, that encounter is becoming the beginning of something much bigger.

Share this story to celebrate how storytelling, research, and collaboration are helping young people around the world encounter Jesus in meaningful new ways.