If your church isn't turning its focus towards bringing in the younger generation then you're missing an incredible opportunity.
A new Barna study shows that teenagers are open to the Gospel in a tremendous way. More than half are "very motivated" to know more about Jesus, and 75% are at least somewhat motivated.
Over three in four U.S. teens (77%) say they are at least somewhat motivated (52% very, 25% somewhat) to continue learning about Jesus throughout the rest of their lives. Less than one in five are unmotivated (6% somewhat unmotivated, 10% not at all motivated), while another 7 percent are unsure.
This is encouraging news. Most of today's teens say they want to know more about Jesus.
Teens today aren't interested in the food at church, they're not interested in the music, they're not interested in the games and prizes that come in your average youth group. As it turns out, that gimmicky stuff is lame.
Gen Z and Gen Alpha want to know about Jesus Christ!
Church leaders should recognize that teens' openness to learning about Jesus represents a significant opportunity for meaningful engagement — but this requires a thoughtful approach given Gen Z's hesitancy toward religion and the Church. Leaders would do well to create spaces for open dialogue where teens can explore their questions about Jesus without pressure.
So, you probably don't want to lead with...
That leads us to the catch.
This generation is open to Jesus largely because they believe that atheism, materialism, and nihilism are false and not worth following. The atheists lost. The next generation is tired of the failed secular humanist experiment that provides no answers and no meaning.
But that doesn't mean they are experts in the Bible. It just means they are open to religion.
Any religion.
It's also crucial to understand that while teens express interest in Jesus, they may approach faith differently than previous generations. Furthermore, authenticity and relevance are key. Be prepared to address difficult questions honestly and demonstrate how Jesus and the Bible relate to the world we live in today.
(Translation: Know your Bibles, Christians.)
It could not be more clear, young ladies and gentlemen want meaning and purpose. The church exists for this purpose, if only they are willing to evangelize (you know, do the thing that Jesus commanded them to do).
A number of discipleship opportunities present themselves in this data. American Gen Z, of varying levels of commitment to Jesus, may be lacking instruction on how to follow Jesus and to find meaning in the words of Christ and in scripture. Additionally, in the absence of trusted guidance, nominal Christian teens may attempt to take on the task of discipleship as a solo endeavor.
With a departure from Christian identity and commitment already becoming common among elder members of Gen Z, faith leaders who work with the next generation have urgent relational and spiritual work ahead of them. As Barna CEO David Kinnaman writes in the U.S. report on The Open Generation, 'Having a spiritual mentor is one of the strongest factors for helping young people develop a resilient faith — one that grows and sustains them over time and helps guide them toward meaning and purpose in life.'
There is tremendous opportunity ahead of us. Let's get to work. 😤
P.S. Now check out our latest video 👇
