I’m always looking for a way to challenge myself and our church. A focus and call to mentoring the next generation is never wrong. What helps is when I can find research to support what I observe and then try to influence change and growth in that area.
Today, I read more about LifeWay Research’s latest findings on Generation Z and their involvement in the local church. Most people assume that this generation is falling away from the local church, but that has not been my observation. My assumption was that they are there, but we are not mentoring them on the level that is needed for application of what they are hearing from us. It is hard to apply what you are hearing if you are not taught how and where in your life at each stage of development. Our traditional practice is the old “if you build it, he will come” mentality. They might show up, however, if you don’t give people are reason to come back, they will not. Gen Z believes they should be in church, but they lack the tools of application for what they are experiencing, so they go to another church or ministry. They don’t stop looking, they just stop going back to what is not useful for them. To me, this makes them much more mature and in tune than my generation. We just did it because we were told to, but didn’t know why. Technology and social media practices makes our traditional methods of Christian Education obsolete for Gen Z. It has a tendency of leaving them frustrated and confused as to what the purpose of “traditional” ways of doing church accomplishes, because in truth, the old ways are no longer accomplishing much. The local church does a good job of providing information, but does little to inform a changing generation on what to do with it. They are like the Ethiopian Eunuch! They can read it, but they don’t know what to do with it unless someone guides them. The Church needs more Philips! (Acts 8:31)
The article, Gen Z churchgoers attend more but often lag in application, Lifeway Research shows what I have observed for some time now.
According to the research, younger churchgoers outpace their older counterparts in specific signposts, including sharing Christ and building relationships. Gen Z churchgoers also attend church more frequently than others in the congregation. However, Gen Z significantly trails other generations in the signposts of exercising faith and living unashamed. They also have the lowest levels of agreement with key theological beliefs.
“My biggest concern for Gen Z is not that they are disconnected from the church; our research shows that Gen Z is deeply involved. The greater concern is that they are not being deeply formed,” said Chuck Peters, director of NextGen ministries at Lifeway.
The various age groups within a church need each other, said Chad Higgins, Lifeway’s senior manager of church equipping. Older churchgoers should see this as an opportunity, he said. “I pray that we, as believers, do not fall into the cultural trap of generational finger-pointing but instead lean in and build meaningful relationships with this younger generation.”
Our challenge is to meet ALL people where they are when God brings them to us. If we are to accomplish this, we have to put our bias and “felt needs” aside and learn how we can lead these people most effectively. When approach any area of church ministry, those in leadership have to ask themselves, “is this about me or about the people Jesus sends my way?”
Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:26-28
Serving the Savior,
Bro. Jonathan
Today, I read more about LifeWay Research’s latest findings on Generation Z and their involvement in the local church. Most people assume that this generation is falling away from the local church, but that has not been my observation. My assumption was that they are there, but we are not mentoring them on the level that is needed for application of what they are hearing from us. It is hard to apply what you are hearing if you are not taught how and where in your life at each stage of development. Our traditional practice is the old “if you build it, he will come” mentality. They might show up, however, if you don’t give people are reason to come back, they will not. Gen Z believes they should be in church, but they lack the tools of application for what they are experiencing, so they go to another church or ministry. They don’t stop looking, they just stop going back to what is not useful for them. To me, this makes them much more mature and in tune than my generation. We just did it because we were told to, but didn’t know why. Technology and social media practices makes our traditional methods of Christian Education obsolete for Gen Z. It has a tendency of leaving them frustrated and confused as to what the purpose of “traditional” ways of doing church accomplishes, because in truth, the old ways are no longer accomplishing much. The local church does a good job of providing information, but does little to inform a changing generation on what to do with it. They are like the Ethiopian Eunuch! They can read it, but they don’t know what to do with it unless someone guides them. The Church needs more Philips! (Acts 8:31)
The article, Gen Z churchgoers attend more but often lag in application, Lifeway Research shows what I have observed for some time now.
According to the research, younger churchgoers outpace their older counterparts in specific signposts, including sharing Christ and building relationships. Gen Z churchgoers also attend church more frequently than others in the congregation. However, Gen Z significantly trails other generations in the signposts of exercising faith and living unashamed. They also have the lowest levels of agreement with key theological beliefs.
“My biggest concern for Gen Z is not that they are disconnected from the church; our research shows that Gen Z is deeply involved. The greater concern is that they are not being deeply formed,” said Chuck Peters, director of NextGen ministries at Lifeway.
The various age groups within a church need each other, said Chad Higgins, Lifeway’s senior manager of church equipping. Older churchgoers should see this as an opportunity, he said. “I pray that we, as believers, do not fall into the cultural trap of generational finger-pointing but instead lean in and build meaningful relationships with this younger generation.”
Our challenge is to meet ALL people where they are when God brings them to us. If we are to accomplish this, we have to put our bias and “felt needs” aside and learn how we can lead these people most effectively. When approach any area of church ministry, those in leadership have to ask themselves, “is this about me or about the people Jesus sends my way?”
Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:26-28
Serving the Savior,
Bro. Jonathan
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