21 Questions The Chosen Series is Asking of My Writing

In 2017, Frank Peretti spoke a goal into my heart during a powerful keynote at a writer's conference: "Write in the Kingdom. There is no higher voice." I pinned his words to my wall, and I've tried to apply them to the infinite decisions that writing demands. I question myself and God often. Am I still writing in the Kingdom? What does that mean now? 

When I discovered The Chosen series, I didn’t just watch it. I collided with it. When I clicked on my first of many Chosen discussions and deep dives, I was unprepared for how Peretti's words were about to explode with meaning. I had stepped into a free masterclass on how to “write in the Kingdom." After the stressful and demoralizing years I'd spent studying the normal way, this world was as absurd and astonishing as Narnia.

Technically, my favorite question in The Chosen is Andrew saying, "Wine hands?" But here are the questions the series is asking of my writing: 

• Is the message I'm writing a direct continuation of Jesus' story? 
• Am I building in the Kingdom of human hearts that Jesus talked about?
• Am I weakening my story to match what's already been done? Or am I willing to pioneer something new? 
• Am I studying my craft and presenting a fully developed story? 
• Am I losing myself in my work so that people will look past me to Jesus?
• Am I getting out of the way? 
• Am I trying to feed the 5,000, or am I placing my loaves and fish into Jesus' hands? 
• Am I trusting that God will protect me from messing up what He's showing me to do?  
• Am I investing in creating the absolute best quality I'm capable of? 
• Am I hoping for easy validation, or am I working hard to earn an emotional reaction from my reader? 
• Am I more concerned with expressing myself, or with serving my reader? What am I giving to my circle of influence? 
• Am I taking myself too seriously? Am I giving laughter? 
• Am I limiting God by measuring my options against what I think I’m capable of? Am I thinking big enough?
• Am I willing to change course, narrow my focus, and even let go of dreams that aren't Kingdom building? 
• Am I willing to lovingly challenge my reader out of their comfort zone?
• Am I allowing God’s voice to guide my decisions?
• Is God my number one audience?

I'm grateful for God's help clarifying my goals, but to all the people making this happen, I wish I could personally thank you! Dallas & Amanda Jenkins, Ryan Swanson, Tyler Thompson -- you are champions of excellence for creators and writers everywhere to follow. The show would have been enough, but your endless honesty about the creation process is truly priceless. 

#getusedtodifferent is right.