"The (Not-So-Secret) Secret to Reaching the Next Generation" (Kevin DeYoung)

TITLE: The (Not-So-Secret) Secret to Reaching the Next Generation
AUTHOR: Kevin DeYoung
PUBLISHER: Wheaton, IL: Crossway Publishers, 2024, (48 pages).

Many churches are clamouring for more young people in their congregations. The average age of a North American Church today is above 40, and greying fast. This is a statistical parallel to an aging society. That is why many Church leaders desire young people to step up in leadership for the next generation and beyond. Desires however is one thing. Designing an appropriate strategy is another. Along with that is the inter-generational gaps that often lead to clashes and misunderstanding between the young and the old. Whether it is about the worship wars, traditional vs contemporary music, the generational makeup of leadership boards, the various programs for the young and not-so-young, the common theme is similar: Reaching the next generation is easier said than done. Is there a secret to doing that in the first place? Author and pastor Kevin DeYoung realizes that there is no simple answer to that important question. In trying to explain his strategies that to him is not so secret, but not to others, he titles this book with a catchy "not-so-secret" secret. Briefly, the author shares with us a five-pointer strategy:

1. Grab them with passion. 
2. Win them with love. 
3. Hold them with holiness. 
4. Challenge them with truth. 
5. Amaze them with God.

The first suggestion is a call for churches to stop becoming lukewarm but to be passionate about Jesus. He points out that if we want to grab others with passion, we ourselves need to be passionate about our faith, lest we become the hypocrites that many young people presume to be. The second suggestion speaks the popular language of love. Many Christians have let themselves become distracted by non-essentials, such as the unwitting embrace of modern culture or the unnecessary politicizing of Christianity. The race to be more relevant to younger people can become a negative strategy altogether. Designing programs that are similar to the culture around us will render churches' testimonies as not very different from the world. The third suggestion brings us back to the crux of the Christian faith. For God has said, "Be holy for I am holy." In an unholy world, a Church that is holy makes a big difference. The fourth suggestion puts a finger on challenging young people instead of making things easy for them. One of the faults of parenting is about doing too much for their children. The same fault is also practiced in many churches. Do not do for the young what they can do for themselves. Challenge them with truth so that they can learn to grapple with the nuances of the Christian perspective. Finally, we can challenge the young to go beyond moralism or ethical behaviours toward seeing God's amazing grace. God is more than able to defend himself and speak for Himself. We just need to point young people to God.

My Thoughts
This book is an abridged edition of Kevin DeYoung's original work entitled, "Don’t Call It a Comeback: The Old Faith for a New Day." More specifically, it is from chapter 1 of that book which summarizes DeYoung's five suggestions. It is more to whet the appetite rather than a full-blown book to describe how to reach the next generation. The ideas are simple but the implementation can be challenging. It could also be used as a mini-sermon to teach the congregation about the need to do the same for each other. After all, the ideas are not restricted just for the next generation. They are applicable to all generations! All five suggestions have one thing in common: They point us back to a close walk with Jesus. God's work needs to be done in God's way and wisdom. We need to be passionate for Jesus before we can share our passion with others. We need to recognize God's love for us in order to share God's love with others authentically. We need to be holy for God is holy. We need to be challenged ourselves with Truth so that we can challenge others with the Truth that we have experienced. We need to be recipients of God's amazing grace before we can honestly share God's amazing grace with others. So this book should not be restricted to simply a tool to reach the young, but a resource for all to be reached by God first, and others next.

Another similar theme is that these "secret" suggestions are nothing new. They all reflect the "old faith" such as the themes of Passion, Love, Holiness, Truth, and Grace. Like the old hymn, "I Love To Tell the Story," we tell according to what we know and have experienced. They are ways in which we can practice discipleship for the masses. God's gospel never change. It's people who are constantly changing. We can adapt the means and the manners to share God's Truth. One thing is for sure: We should never manipulate God's Truth in order to fit our organs of communications. That means no compromise, no cutting corners, and definitely no coddling with the next generation without the Truth. Many nutritionists give with regard to food, eat food that is as natural as possible with no additives or unhealthy processing of the original. Just like their popular advice to eat food as God had originally intended, we should teach the Truth of God as close to the biblical Truth as possible. That means we need to study God's Word ourselves in order to share God's Word with others. This and various other disciplines should guide the way we reach the next generation.

Hopefully, this book should spur others to cultivate their own spiritual health. Like the popular example of flying commercial airlines, whenever there is air pressure turbulence, put on the oxygen masks on ourselves first before we put it on our children. It is only when we have secure airflow can we then help others to affix their oxygen masks. If we do not, instead of helping other, we might end up needing help ourselves. While this book's title is about reaching the next generation, DeYoung subtly tells us that we too need to be reached first. That is the key point in this book.

Kevin DeYoung (PhD, University of Leicester) is the senior pastor at Christ Covenant Church in Matthews, North Carolina, and assistant professor of systematic theology at Reformed Theological Seminary, Charlotte. He serves as board chairman of the Gospel Coalition and blogs at DeYoung, Restless, and Reformed. He is the author of several books, including Just Do Something; Crazy Busy; and The Biggest Story. Kevin and his wife, Trisha, have nine children. 

Rating: 4 stars out of 5.

conrade

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This book has been provided courtesy of Crossway Publishers via NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.