Episode 01 - Democracy
Jesus is not often associated with having anything to say about democracy. He did not live in a democracy, nor did He explicitly call for its creation – in fact, He explicitly denied that He was interested in setting up a secular political system. Jesus did, however, teach about freedom and many of His teachings had political implications that have been developed by Christians over the last 2000 years. Explore this topic with your students in this interactive episode of Jesus the Game Changer Season 1.
19 mins
Episode 02 - Forgiveness
‘Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us’ is the closest thing to a command in the Lord’s Prayer, the most famous prayer in history. Jesus taught extensively about forgiveness and His words have echoed down the centuries to be some of the most significant ever spoken. Explore this topic with your students in this interactive episode of Jesus the Game Changer Season 1.
27 mins
Episode 03 - Equality
Jesus taught that each individual had inherent value – they were loved by God and worthy of love and consideration from other people. The teaching of Jesus, Paul the Apostle and Augustine (384-322 AD) soon after, shifted the focus from people being viewed only as members of families, castes, cities or communities, to being individuals of worth. Explore this topic with your students in this interactive episode of Jesus the Game Changer Season 1.
21 mins
Episode 04 - Jesus
The depth and breadth of influence Jesus had on western democracies and culture is extensive. Jesus was, and still is, the Game Changer. This episode explores the historicity of Jesus, and, to a certain extent, the Gospels, as accurate source material for His life and teaching. Explore this topic with your students in this interactive episode of Jesus the Game Changer Season 1.
26 mins
Episode 05 - Leadership
Despite being the most influential figure in human history, Jesus did not follow the conventional patterns of leadership of His time. He gathered only a small group of followers in His lifetime and died a humiliating death at the hands of the Roman authorities. His call for His followers to serve one another as servant leaders is one of the most powerful and enduring ideas from all of His example and teaching. Explore this topic with your students in this interactive episode of Jesus the Game Changer Season 1.
31 mins
Episode 06 - Care
Though Jesus interacted with a range of people, He ministered (more than anyone else) among the poor and the marginalised in society. Jesus did not merely interact – He helped them and taught His followers to do likewise. Christians’ willingness to obey Jesus has profoundly shaped our world. The origins of hospitals, schools, countless charities and much international aid demonstrates the significant change made by Jesus. Explore this topic with your students in this interactive episode of Jesus the Game Changer Season 1.
22 mins
Episode 07 - Wealth
Surprisingly, Jesus spoke more about money than nearly any other topic. Jesus challenged the prevailing wisdom of His day and taught that all money was God’s, to be used for Him instead of for personal advancement. Jesus particularly challenged the religious hypocrisy of appearing to do good works while actually amassing wealth. Explore this topic with your students in this interactive episode of Jesus the Game Changer Season 1.
31 mins
Episode 08 - Education and Health
Social institutions such as education and health care had their genesis in the Christian Church. Christian leaders, predominantly monks and nuns were committed to the care and education of not just the wealthy or elite, but everyone. This episode explores the development of two of these key institutions – hospitals and universities – and their link with Christian beginnings. Explore this topic with your students in this interactive episode of Jesus the Game Changer Season 1.
30 mins
Episode 09 - Reason and Science
Jesus taught that there is one God, who created the universe. This idea is common to all the great monotheistic faiths but Jesus further claimed that God is not only actively sustaining His creation each day but that it is possible to personally know this God. Despite the popular stereotype that Christianity is anti-intellectual and anti-scientific, modern education, academia and science are actually rooted in large measure in the teachings of Jesus. Explore this topic with your students in this interactive episode of Jesus the Game Changer Season 1.
24 mins
Episode 10 - Women and Children
Though Christianity is sometimes stereotyped in the popular imagination as a patriarchal religion, this is an inaccurate reflection of both Jesus’ teaching and the history of the Church. For His time, Jesus was radically inclusive of both men and women. On the whole, the Church has been a place where women have experienced greater freedom than in society. In the same way Jesus went out of his way to focus on children, giving them worth. Explore this topic with your students in this interactive episode of Jesus the Game Changer Season 1.
26 mins
Jesus Christ has made an indelible mark on human history and He continues to do so through His followers. Yet many people do not realise that the values western democracies are built on originate in the life and teaching of Jesus – the equality of all, servant leadership, care for the poor and marginalised, to name just a few.
The Jesus the Game Changer Schools/Youth Edition is the same award-winning series but edited for engagement with students and youth. Ainsley Freeman is the studio host of this series and adds questions for your class or group to stop and consider. There are also worksheets and additional resources to accompany the videos.