An overview of the different generations and the impact on church culture

2. If…
-We do not have the conviction…
-We do not create the culture…
-We do not use various constructs…
Then…
- We will not reach the younger

3. 36% of U.S. adults under 30
claim no religious identity.

4. 66% of U.K. adults under 25
claim no religious identity.

5. 70% of U.S. adults 18-34 years old
are regular viewers of
pornography. The average age to
begin viewing?

6. 11

7. KeyWord: Realistic
24.5% of the Population
Collaborative.
Authentic.
Diverse.

8. You’re a Millennial if…
People: PrinceWilliam, Backstreet Boys, Mark
McGuire and Sammy Sosa
Places: AOL Instant Messenger, 90210,
Columbine, MySpace
Events: 9-11, Social Media
Technology and information has moved
into their pockets.

9. Four CulturalTrends (Rainer)
1. Education
2. Relational
3. Ready to make a difference
4. Not very religious
Each of these influence Generation Z as
well.

10. Education
Mentorships can be an inroad to
evangelism.
Clear discipleship path that encourages
and facilitates depth.
Clarity on how to engage culture.
Real not relevant.

11. Relational
Family is king. Parents invite your family.
Invest in our children’s ministry
Cannot be a project
Rejects superficiality
Community over the show.

12. Ready to make a difference
Seat at the table in the leading of the
ministries of this church.
Create ministry opportunities in the church
and community.
Tell the story and share the passion.
Rejects an inward focus.

13. Not Religious
Mainly indifferent, not hostile.
Communicate love, value and respect
Rejects the status quo

14. A word for us to hear.

15. We are most to blame.

16. Have lost friends and open your
mouth about the gospel.

17. KeyWord: Post-Christian
25.9% of the Population
Digital natives growing
up in a post 9-11 world
that was marked by the
Great Recession.

18. Generation Z
People: Obama, Miley Cyrus, Malala,
Harry Potter
Places: Middle East,Virtual Reality,
Google
Events: Housing Market Crash, Gay
Marriage,Transgender Debate, iPhone.

19. 5 Marks of Generation Z (White)
1. Recession Marked
2. Wi-FI Enabled
3. Multiracial
4. Sexually Fluid
5. Post-Christian

20. Recession Marked
Worried about the present
More independent and entrepreneur
minded for careers. Pack minded socially
“Anxiety has overtaken depression as the
most common reason students seek
counseling services” NYTimes Article

21. Wi-Fi Enabled
Information needs to be evaluated not
acquired
Social media and the iPhone.
Pornography
Door is open to proclaim the gospel
online in an effective way

22. Multiracial
“Fastest growing youth group in the U.S”-
Sparks and Honey
Diversity is an expectation. Any shred of
racism must be put to death
Global Network
More open and accepting

23. Sexually Fluid
Labels are repressive
The idea is that people should be allowed
to follow their desires, moment by
moment
Many view opposition to gay marriage or
transgenders on the same level as racism
Accepting means affirming

24. Post-Christian
Main source of revelation is personal
fulfilment
Spiritually illiterate.
“God is out but spirits and ghosts are
filling the void”-White

25. “The Church’s mission is to
reach out to the fallen world
and call it back to God… this
involves active evangelism with
subsequent discipleship,
coupled with strategic service to
those in need, such as the
poor.” – James Emery White

26. How to reach Gen Z
where they are:
• Engage culture
• Re-Think Evangelism
• Honest and Humble
answers to their questions

27. Engaging Culture
“We are neither to seek to preserve our
holiness by escaping from the world nor
to sacrifice our holiness by conforming to
the world... (Developing) a Christian
counterculture (is) a call to engagement
without compromise” John Stott

28. Engaging Culture
3 Barriers to Overcome (White)
1. Being a copy
2. Going into isolation
3. Engaging culture in a holy war.

29. Engaging Culture
3Voices that engage culture (White)
1. Heretical
2. Prophetic
3. Evangelistic
An effective engagement of culture
embodies both the prophetic voice and
the evangelistic voice, while utterly
rejecting the heretical voice.

30. Re-Thinking Evangelism
Can no longer be event driven. Must be
both a process and an event.
Assume nothing. Explain everything.
Will not take place effectively in the
context of a weekend service.
Remember what it was like to be lost.

31. Re-Thinking Evangelism
“We look for formulas and programs,
services and processes.The simple truth
is that the early Christians were very
much like Jesus.” –White

32. Answering Questions
“The “What’s up with…” questions are the
heart of what is churning around in the
minds of those on the outside looking in
at the Christian faith. The essence of any
conversation that might move them down
the spiritual road will involve talking about
them. And without defensiveness.”

33. Answering Questions
Understand apologetics
Point to the supernatural. Pray for the
supernatural.
Use science for our advantage.

34. Answering Questions
“For the scientist who has lived by his
faith in the power of reason, the story
ends like a bad dream. He has scaled the
mountains of ignorance; he is about to
conquer the highest peak; as he pulls
himself over the final rock, he is greeted
by a band of theologians who have been
sitting there for centuries.”
Robert Jastrow, former director for NASA’s
Goddard Institute for Space Studies.