Millennials to Become Largest Generation in 2019

[Amanah]

what do you think of this article on how to engage Millennials?

Millennials to Become Largest Generation in 2019: Here’s How Your Church Should Respond

Remember the scene in the classic Disney cartoon The Sword in the Stone, where a young Wart pulls the sword out of the stone and becomes the rightful king of England? The light shines from heaven. A solemn song comes out of the sky.
It’s a powerful moment.
It’s about to be recreated next year, though with surely less fanfare.
But we’ll soon have a new king of the generational hill.
It has been nearly 30 years since Neil Strauss and William Howe first coined the term Millennial in public discourse through their book Generations.
It seems churches have been fascinated with the generation ever since. In the 1990s, we redefined children’s ministry to engage them (and draw in their parents). Then we rewrote the book on youth ministry. When they hit young adulthood, we started tweaking our worship services.
A coworker of mine often asks this question, “What’s the difference between cows and Millennials? You can’t milk a cow this long.”
Bah-dah-bing!

All Hail the New King
But in all seriousness, next year will mark a new milestone in our journey with Millennials. According to a new report by the Pew Research Center, Millennials will outnumber Baby Boomers for the first time in 2019.
That’s big news.
For all of our task forces to study reaching them, books created about engaging them, and time spent pouring over demographic trends during the last three decades, Millennials have always been the soon-to-be kings of the hill, the emerging generation we need to reach.
But Millennials are emerging no longer. They’re here.
Starting next year, Millennials will be the dominant generation numerically throughout the country. (By the way, you’ve likely noticed that history skipped one generation. Gen Xers, born from 1965 to 1981, will likely pass on without ever being the largest American generation.)
With size will come even more influence. Millennials have already been in the process of redefining the urban experience, exploding the housing market, and changing politics. All of this is just the beginning of what the next few decades will bring.

Millennials Are Changing Everything
And, let’s not forget, Millennials are changing—and have changed—how churches engage their communities as well. In the three decades since we discovered this generation, we’ve made countless adjustments to our ministries in the name of reaching them more effectively.
But let’s face it: We still have work to do. No, we don’t have to “cater to Millennials.” They don’t want that. You don’t want that. To woo Millennials, we don’t have to become the church with the loudest music, the funniest pastor, or the best smoke machine.
Millennials can do without all of that.

How Churches Can Better Engage Millennials
But as Millennials become the dominant numerical generation in our communities, we need to make sure we’re putting in the effort to speak their language.
Here are four ways churches can do that.

1. Look for ways to engage Millennials in leadership of our churches
The oldest Millennials turn 36 this year. Most churches have someone in leadership that’s a Millennial. If you don’t, do something about it. You have a responsibility to disciple the next generation of church leaders. Involving Millennials in your church’s leadership discussion will undoubtedly change the conversation and help your church understand blind spots. Make sure you’re involving Millennials in all aspects of your church’s leadership—not just your youth ministry. You won’t find an area of your church where Millennials can’t make a significant leadership contribution.

2. Let’s go “all in” on mobile
To better engage Millennials, you have to go where they are. And the vast majority of them are spending more time on their mobile devices than older generations. Almost 98 percent of them have smartphones. A quarter of Millennials look at their phones a hundred times a day!
Increasingly, if you’re not providing a high-quality mobile experience, you’ll miss opportunities to engage Millennials in what your church is doing. Unlike older generations that have a bit more patience with mobile apps, Millennials (particularly younger ones) have lived their entire adult lives with companies like Amazon and eBay providing top-notch mobile experiences. They’re far more likely to dismiss bad technology and move on to organizations that better understand the platform.

3. Serve our communities with abandon
Millennials aren’t content to just give money and let the church serve the community for them. “Millennials seek opportunities to engage in meaningful work with people they love,” William Vanderbloemen writes. Millennials aren’t looking to join a social club when they unite themselves with your church. They want to impact the world around them. Before they want to get involved in your church, many want to see your church as a vehicle for them to make a difference in the broader world. But again, they don’t just want to get involved through their checkbooks. They want to put their sweat into it as well.

4. Build bridges between generations
Only 63 percent of Millennials had a mother and father married to one another for most of their childhood. That’s far less than other recent generations. They’re more likely than other generations to crave intergenerational relationships. Millennials don’t want a one-generational church. They’re looking for ways to bridge generational gaps.
Our churches should be involved in ways to help. Purposely put young and old alike in church groups together. Encourage ministries that partner older married couples with younger ones. Enlist the support of younger attendees to mentor older ones on using technology in the church.
Honestly, these aren’t really “Millennial” suggestions at all. Every generation in our communities will benefit from involving younger leaders, providing more effective mobile tools, increasing our commitment to service, and building intergenerational bridges.
So let’s dive in. The Millennials are waiting.



https://echurch.com/millennials-beco...hurch-respond/

[Originalist]

Simply tell them what God commanded us to tell everyone, that he hath made this same Jesus who was crucified both Lord and Christ, that God commands men everywhere to repent and submit to the rule of his Son, to be baptized in his name for the remission of sins, and that God will give the Holy Ghost to all who obey Him.

To those who resist, use the Law to bring the knowledge of sin and their need of God's forgiveness. Then let God do the rest.

No special insights into these groups is needed to communicate this universal message. The gospel demands that we conform to Christ, not that we somehow make Christ "relatable" to groups.

As for discipline them, what the article espouses (younger with older) is basic discipleship taught in scripture for all generations, not just Millennials.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Originalist

Simply tell them what God commanded us to tell everyone, that he hath made this same Jesus who was crucified both Lord and Christ, that God commands men everywhere to repent and submit to the rule of his Son, to be baptized in his name for the remission of sins, and that God will give the Holy Ghost to all who obey Him.

To those who resist, use the Law to bring the knowledge of sin and their need of God's forgiveness. Then let God do the rest.

No special insights into these groups is needed to communicate this universal message. The gospel demands that we conform to Christ, not that we somehow make Christ "relatable" to groups.

As for discipline them, what the article espouses (younger with older) is basic discipleship taught in scripture for all generations, not just Millennials.

I think God is wondering why we don’t just do the simple thing — Seek you FIRST the Kingdom of God and HIS righteousness and ALL these things will be added unto you.

[TheLayman]

Originally Posted by Originalist

Simply tell them what God commanded us to tell everyone, that he hath made this same Jesus who was crucified both Lord and Christ, that God commands men everywhere to repent and submit to the rule of his Son, to be baptized in his name for the remission of sins, and that God will give the Holy Ghost to all who obey Him.

To those who resist, use the Law to bring the knowledge of sin and their need of God's forgiveness. Then let God do the rest.

No special insights into these groups is needed to communicate this universal message. The gospel demands that we conform to Christ, not that we somehow make Christ "relatable" to groups.

As for discipline them, what the article espouses (younger with older) is basic discipleship taught in scripture for all generations, not just Millennials.

Hello Originalist:

I understand exactly what you are saying in the highlighted portion and I've seen this approach in many churches denominational and independent alike...they want to change Jesus to make him more acceptable to a wider group, pretty soon Jesus is just one of the guys.

BUT... that's not exactly the communication problem being addressed. The actual question is do Millennials even understand the concept of "truth?" That is a very real question and one of the reasons why in Christian formation classes we spend some time (several classes) on what "truth" is, or perhaps I should say the different concepts and meaning of "truth." A lot of eyes usually start to cross when we get to the heart of the matter, like the correspondence theory of truth and reality, but it is necessary, very necessary.

Many people understand a little about moral relativism but even here they are for the most part ignorant of the wherefores and therefores of it, and how it all happened. Boomers are for the most part unaware that relativism is in everything now (which is why the words "lie, liar, lying" are treated as almost as curse words these days). When you have two worldviews (a filter through which you process data) and one worldview is that truth is objective as opposed to the other '"views" truth as subjective, you have serious communication problems. One worldview is based on absolutes, the other that the only absolute is that there are no absolutes (that fact that this is a self-defeating proposition notwithstanding). One worldview uses words to describe reality, the other to create it. One group relies on objective data, the other on feelings. If you are interested here are 4 books I would recommend:

Total Truth by Nancy Pearcy

This book is long and cerebral, but it is in my opinion by far the best book there is for explaining the differences in these worldviews, how it happened, and all of the implications. It explains how the philosophies of naturalism/materialism along with their public dogmas of Darwinism and relativism have infected every area of our culture, education, and understanding of reality...and what the end result will be (it is interesting to see what has taken place in our culture since this book was written in 2004).

Unshakeable Foundations by Norman Geisler and Peter Bocchino

This is a meaty all around apologetics book which offers a great foundation in "truth," philosophy, and competing worldviews and faiths (and how to explain the self defeating propositions held by non-Christian worldviews).

Christ Among the Dragons by James Emery White (this is not James Robert White who runs Alpha/Omega ministries)

This is a much shorter book than "Total Truth" and focuses specifically on objective "Truth" vs subjective "Truthiness" and the challenges this brings to the church and teaching truth.

Relativism: Feet Firmly Planted in Mid-Air by Francis Beckwith and Gregory Koukl

Again a book much shorter than Total Truth and focuses on relativism, what it is, and its effect on education, public policy, and law.

Incidentally, this isn't just about the church, I saw this clash of worldviews everyday in the workplace and the divide is incredible. I was a Director and millennials would make me absolutely nuts, and they probably viewed me as an evil dictator. This clash of worldviews effects everything, and the church is not immune.

TheLayman

[Amanah]

Good points and thank you for the book recommendations.

[TheLayman]

Originally Posted by Amanah

Good points and thank you for the book recommendations.

Thank-you Amanah and you are welcome. I almost forgot, "Total Truth" by Nancy Pearcy also explains how this naturalistic/materialistic/Darwinian/relativistic worldview has infected the church. I cannot recommend this book enough, she really connects the dots.

TheLayman

[Evang.Benincasa]

40% of Millennials claim no religious affiliation.

Sad how people think Nancy Pearcey Religious psychobabble is going to keep everything afloat in Churchanity. Without the Holy Ghost infilling you don't have anything. This country's religious elite are PIed Pipers attempting to lead Apostolics in a ecclesiastical conga line circling the drain.

[1ofthechosen]

Originally Posted by TheLayman

Hello Originalist:

I understand exactly what you are saying in the highlighted portion and I've seen this approach in many churches denominational and independent alike...they want to change Jesus to make him more acceptable to a wider group, pretty soon Jesus is just one of the guys.

BUT... that's not exactly the communication problem being addressed. The actual question is do Millennials even understand the concept of "truth?" That is a very real question and one of the reasons why in Christian formation classes we spend some time (several classes) on what "truth" is, or perhaps I should say the different concepts and meaning of "truth." A lot of eyes usually start to cross when we get to the heart of the matter, like the correspondence theory of truth and reality, but it is necessary, very necessary.

Many people understand a little about moral relativism but even here they are for the most part ignorant of the wherefores and therefores of it, and how it all happened. Boomers are for the most part unaware that relativism is in everything now (which is why the words "lie, liar, lying" are treated as almost as curse words these days). When you have two worldviews (a filter through which you process data) and one worldview is that truth is objective as opposed to the other '"views" truth as subjective, you have serious communication problems. One worldview is based on absolutes, the other that the only absolute is that there are no absolutes (that fact that this is a self-defeating proposition notwithstanding). One worldview uses words to describe reality, the other to create it. One group relies on objective data, the other on feelings. If you are interested here are 4 books I would recommend:

Total Truth by Nancy Pearcy

This book is long and cerebral, but it is in my opinion by far the best book there is for explaining the differences in these worldviews, how it happened, and all of the implications. It explains how the philosophies of naturalism/materialism along with their public dogmas of Darwinism and relativism have infected every area of our culture, education, and understanding of reality...and what the end result will be (it is interesting to see what has taken place in our culture since this book was written in 2004).

Unshakeable Foundations by Norman Geisler and Peter Bocchino

This is a meaty all around apologetics book which offers a great foundation in "truth," philosophy, and competing worldviews and faiths (and how to explain the self defeating propositions held by non-Christian worldviews).

Christ Among the Dragons by James Emery White (this is not James Robert White who runs Alpha/Omega ministries)

This is a much shorter book than "Total Truth" and focuses specifically on objective "Truth" vs subjective "Truthiness" and the challenges this brings to the church and teaching truth.

Relativism: Feet Firmly Planted in Mid-Air by Francis Beckwith and Gregory Koukl

Again a book much shorter than Total Truth and focuses on relativism, what it is, and its effect on education, public policy, and law.

Incidentally, this isn't just about the church, I saw this clash of worldviews everyday in the workplace and the divide is incredible. I was a Director and millennials would make me absolutely nuts, and they probably viewed me as an evil dictator. This clash of worldviews effects everything, and the church is not immune.

TheLayman

Ok I see what you are saying, but I feel thats absolutely making excuses for people. My Bible says "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him. and I will raise him up at the last day." We don't have to make programs to fit people, we need to pray, fast, and consecrate ourself and create a atmosphere to draw God! "Where the Spirit of the Lord is liberty" let Him work out the rest. Because, just as in the 1st century church "the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved"; that statement is true today also.

This reminds me of this sermon by Larry Booker. He talks about the dark ages and how Barbaric the people were. I mean these millennials are nothing but upper class barbarian's it sounds like. Here it's not the exact same topic, but it's saying some similar things.

[TheLayman]

Originally Posted by 1ofthechosen

Ok I see what you are saying, but I feel thats absolutely making excuses for people. My Bible says "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him. and I will raise him up at the last day." We don't have to make programs to fit people, we need to pray, fast, and consecrate ourself and create a atmosphere to draw God! "Where the Spirit of the Lord is liberty" let Him work out the rest. Because, just as in the 1st century church "the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved"; that statement is true today also.

This reminds me of this sermon by Larry Booker. He talks about the dark ages and how Barbaric the people were. I mean these millennials are nothing but upper class barbarian's it sounds like. Here it's not the exact same topic, but it's saying some similar things.

Let's just say this I was apart of Generation X. I didn't believe in God, but that didn't stop Him from reaching out to me and manifesting Himself unto me. Romans 1:20 is the same yesterday, today, and forever "For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse." For me, and everyone else whoever lived, or will ever live. There's no excuse, don't entitle them that way! That's hurting them worse, because society enables them that way.

I agree, and if you knew me you would know that the last thing I'm going to do is feed a millennial's feeling of entitlement. When I teach this class this is hard for boomer's to wrap their head around...I'm always watching for the light to come on in people's eyes. By the way, one should look at a worldview like an operating system on a computer...it's always running in the background and is necessary for the operation of all your other programs.

Let me give you one example from the workplace, and this happened about 15 years ago (I worked at a very liberal university). One day a young man by the name of Marty who worked for me (early 20's, going to school) and was the truest representative of liberalism at work I have ever known came into my office and said, "Mark, I have a question I would like to pose if you don't mind, it's not about work." I said, "Sure, go ahead." He held up a picture of a cat in a magazine and said, "Why should we teach our children to call this a cat?" Marty is being absolutely serious. I answered, "So that he understands what others are referring to when they use the word 'cat' and so that others understand him." Marty then asked, "Do you think that's fair?" I was dumbfounded which was a common state for me to be in when talking to Marty. I replied, "Do I think it's fair? I don't think it's a matter of fair or unfair Marty, I think it is simply teaching someone to communicate correctly. What do you think would be the 'fair thing to do?" Marty replied, "Why not let our children decide what to call it, why do we need to force our reality onto them?" I said, "Why don't we let them choose what to call it? How about because we don't want them to be a highly functional idiot? Because, as I said, we want them to understand others and be understood by others. Because I don't think it would help either of my children to go through life calling a cat memowow." To make a long story short, he had this insane idea that we should allow children to create their own language because "forcing" them to use our language was simply forcing our construct of reality on them, etc., etc., etc. I say again, he believed this. As usual my belief that Marty was actually insane continued to grow.

Much to my surprise this very thing is actually addressed in "Total Truth." It's incredible. You see, postmodernism doesn't really use language to explain reality, it uses language to create it.

As for the church...I kept trying to tell Pastors that I knew that people in the pews are not necessarily understanding what you are saying the way you intend them to understand it. I'm not saying that are not hearing, I'm saying they are hearing something other than what you are saying...and I know this based on the questions I get asked by them. For example, when you say X is "truth," you say this intending people to understand the word "truth" to mean something that corresponds to "objective" reality, but the person you are saying this to has a filter that says "truth" is "relative" and "subjective" and understands what you said about X with through that filter.

I'm just saying that when you teach something from Scripture to a Boomer and to a Millennial who has been indoctrinated into post modernism, with them sitting next to each other, don't be surprised if even though they "hear" the same thing, they come away with two different "understandings."

You can take it or leave it but the topic is something way to complicated for me to do justice to trying to explain it in a series of posts. That's why I recommended the books.

TheLayman

[1ofthechosen]

Originally Posted by TheLayman

I agree, and if you knew me you would know that the last thing I'm going to do is feed a millennial's feeling of entitlement. When I teach this class this is hard for boomer's to wrap their head around...I'm always watching for the light to come on in people's eyes. By the way, one should look at a worldview like an operating system on a computer...it's always running in the background and is necessary for the operation of all your other programs.

Let me give you one example from the workplace, and this happened about 15 years ago (I worked at a very liberal university). One day a young man by the name of Marty who worked for me (early 20's, going to school) and was the truest representative of liberalism at work I have ever known came into my office and said, "Mark, I have a question I would like to pose if you don't mind, it's not about work." I said, "Sure, go ahead." He held up a picture of a cat in a magazine and said, "Why should we teach our children to call this a cat?" Marty is being absolutely serious. I answered, "So that he understands what others are referring to when they use the word 'cat' and so that others understand him." Marty then asked, "Do you think that's fair?" I was dumbfounded which was a common state for me to be in when talking to Marty. I replied, "Do I think it's fair? I don't think it's a matter of fair or unfair Marty, I think it is simply teaching someone to communicate correctly. What do you think would be the 'fair thing to do?" Marty replied, "Why not let our children decide what to call it, why do we need to force our reality onto them?" I said, "Why don't we let them choose what to call it? How about because we don't want them to be a highly functional idiot? Because, as I said, we want them to understand others and be understood by others. Because I don't think it would help either of my children to go through life calling a cat memowow." To make a long story short, he had this insane idea that we should allow children to create their own language because "forcing" them to use our language was simply forcing our construct of reality on them, etc., etc., etc. I say again, he believed this. As usual my belief that Marty was actually insane continued to grow.

Much to my surprise this very thing is actually addressed in "Total Truth." It's incredible. You see, postmodernism doesn't really use language to explain reality, it uses language to create it.

As for the church...I kept trying to tell Pastors that I knew that people in the pews are not necessarily understanding what you are saying the way you intend them to understand it. I'm not saying that are not hearing, I'm saying they are hearing something other than what you are saying...and I know this based on the questions I get asked by them. For example, when you say X is "truth," you say this intending people to understand the word "truth" to mean something that corresponds to "objective" reality, but the person you are saying this to has a filter that says "truth" is "relative" and "subjective" and understands what you said about X with through that filter.

I'm just saying that when you teach something from Scripture to a Boomer and to a Millennial who has been indoctrinated into post modernism, with them sitting next to each other, don't be surprised if even though they "hear" the same thing, they come away with two different "understandings."

You can take it or leave it but the topic is something way to complicated for me to do justice to trying to explain it in a series of posts. That's why I recommended the books.

TheLayman

The cat story was the highlight of my day! I LOL'ED for real, that is sad. But I can see that, I understand what you mean. Yea when you teach children big bang, and evolution I guess it isn't a stretch when they begin to act like animals, with no beliefs. I am part of Generation X, and I guess I was exactly the same. God reached out to me, and saved my life mightily; and I didn't know it was Him at first, but then I got put in situations from that and it became undeniable. All I can say is don't fret God has a way! I was chief amongst sinners, and past hopeless and God got me there. I was like Pilate when he said "what is truth." Today I do know though, God made a way!