So I belatedly began watching seasons 1 & 2 a month or so ago, and got through S2E8 last night.
I’ve read your episode by episode commentary shortly after watching each one, and have appreciated the additional details and actually learned a few things.
Haven’t felt the need to comment on much myself until this episode.
I too found it unusual that what has always appeared to be “organic” ministry growth in the gospels - Jesus speaking to crowds because he simply attracts them - is replaced here by his disciples planning out the details of his most famous “sermon” - scouting locations, building a stage, handing out leaflets - essentially modern day marketing strategies.
In a way I kinda get what the writers might be doing here - an early depiction of each disciple using his/her natural gifts to further Jesus’ ministry, perhaps as later discussed / extended by Apostle Paul as “spiritual gifts”. But describing a modern marketing campaign also feels like a cheapening of the power of the Holy Spirit to attract people to Jesus.
Perhaps this is just somewhat distasteful residue of having personally experienced multiple such marketing campaigns in modern evangelical circles - reducing something so personally life changing in my own life, to a slogan.
While watching the disciple hand out leaflets, I couldn’t help thinking of the 1970’s “I Found It” bumper sticker marketing.
Anyway, thanks for the in depth coverage of this series, which I actually have found pretty creative and interesting overall.
So I belatedly began watching seasons 1 & 2 a month or so ago, and got through S2E8 last night.
I’ve read your episode by episode commentary shortly after watching each one, and have appreciated the additional details and actually learned a few things.
Haven’t felt the need to comment on much myself until this episode.
I too found it unusual that what has always appeared to be “organic” ministry growth in the gospels - Jesus speaking to crowds because he simply attracts them - is replaced here by his disciples planning out the details of his most famous “sermon” - scouting locations, building a stage, handing out leaflets - essentially modern day marketing strategies.
In a way I kinda get what the writers might be doing here - an early depiction of each disciple using his/her natural gifts to further Jesus’ ministry, perhaps as later discussed / extended by Apostle Paul as “spiritual gifts”. But describing a modern marketing campaign also feels like a cheapening of the power of the Holy Spirit to attract people to Jesus.
Perhaps this is just somewhat distasteful residue of having personally experienced multiple such marketing campaigns in modern evangelical circles - reducing something so personally life changing in my own life, to a slogan.
While watching the disciple hand out leaflets, I couldn’t help thinking of the 1970’s “I Found It” bumper sticker marketing.
Anyway, thanks for the in depth coverage of this series, which I actually have found pretty creative and interesting overall.