The myth that has existed is churches have to have the COOL factor in order to attract young adults to church. First, that perspective starts from the wrong premise of needing to attract young adults to church. We should be a community of faith that welcomes and engages young people so that they feel a sense of belonging.
Second, young adults are not looking to be entertained. They have enough options in the world. They are looking for people who take Jesus seriously because they resonate with Jesus’ life. They are most compelled by the way he really cared for people and lived for compassion, justice, equality, peace, and reconciliation. Jesus practically demonstrates and inspires love, forgiveness, fairness, and sacrifice. While spirituality can feel abstract for young adults, Jesus makes faith something that’s everyday, personal, and doable.
At Fuller Youth Institute, we have a simple (yet profound) definition of discipleship: everyday yes to Jesus. Jesus is not an abstraction, but a reliable source for young adults negotiating a life filled with transitions and decisions. The choices they make have the potential to impact the trajectory of their future, including their spiritual lives. Young adults need support and creative approaches as they discern what saying “yes” to Jesus looks like.
To help us start compelling conversations that empower young adults to connect their lives with Jesus’ life, here are a few questions:
- How has your faith inspired your desire to work in your professional field?
- How have your studies and training resonated with or challenged your faith? What new questions are emerging for you as a result?
- What leaders do you think emulate Jesus-like qualities? How do they inspire your own living?
- When Jesus encourages us to rest, what does that look like for your own life, and why do you think that could be important?
- How are you connecting Jesus’ message of forgiveness with the way you treat others, or even how you talk to yourself?
- How does following Jesus influence your spending, dating, working, politics, goals, and more?
These are not pop-quiz types of questions. These are invitations to conversation through which young adults will feel invited to try on answers, work through tensions, and voice possibilities as they seek to say “YES” to Jesus everyday.
