What do you think?
Rate this book
Shaping the Journey of Emerging Adults
Between adolescence and adulthood is a new stage of life: emerging adulthood.
Those in their twenties and early thirties find themselves in transition. This "provisional adulthood" is a time of identity exploration and instability in which one's vocation, purpose, relationships and spirituality are all being renegotiated. Many emerging adults lose sight of God and experience significant confusion and brokenness. Others unexpectedly reconnect with the Christian faith and seek deeper discipleship, yet lack helpful mentoring and direction.
Veteran disciplemakers Rick Dunn and Jana Sundene offer concrete guidance for those who shepherd and care for emerging adults. Some traditional models of disciplemaking focus on a set curriculum to be transferred from the discipler to the disciplee. Dunn and Sundene instead emphasize relational rhythms of discernment, intentionality and reflection to meet emerging adults where they are at and then to walk with them further into the Christlife.
Whether you're an older adult ministering to the next generation or a younger adult with a heart for your peers, this book is an accessible, hopeful guide for effective ministry to emerging adults.
Those in their twenties and early thirties find themselves in transition. This "provisional adulthood" is a time of identity exploration and instability in which one's vocation, purpose, relationships and spirituality are all being renegotiated. Many emerging adults lose sight of God and experience significant confusion and brokenness. Others unexpectedly reconnect with the Christian faith and seek deeper discipleship, yet lack helpful mentoring and direction.
Veteran disciplemakers Rick Dunn and Jana Sundene offer concrete guidance for those who shepherd and care for emerging adults. Some traditional models of disciplemaking focus on a set curriculum to be transferred from the discipler to the disciplee. Dunn and Sundene instead emphasize relational rhythms of discernment, intentionality and reflection to meet emerging adults where they are at and then to walk with them further into the Christlife.
Whether you're an older adult ministering to the next generation or a younger adult with a heart for your peers, this book is an accessible, hopeful guide for effective ministry to emerging adults.
264 pages, Paperback
First published January 20, 2012
17 people are currently reading
79 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 27, 2012
Two things stand out in my mind about this book. One is the deep passion the co-authors have for this generation of Emerging Adults. And the other is the very unformulaic approach to the whole matter of disciple-making.
I appreciate the first because I see far too many diatribes against this generation of Emerging Adults. One of the questions I always raise with friends of my generation who indulge in these diatribes is, "so who are their parents, teachers and mentors?" It would do anyone who indulges these cheap shots good to read the chapter on The Complex World of Early Adulthood. This isn't the same world I grew up in.
The other striking feature of this book is the lack of formulas. Instead, the writers advocate postures and rhythms of disciple-making. First of all, they advocate for disciples and disciple-makers alike that what this is all about is entering into the life that is in Christ. And the postures by which we do so are trust, submission, and love. Secondly, they contend that they basic rhythm of practice for a disciple-maker is one of discernment, intentionality, and reflection.
They follow elaboration of these postures and rhythms by applying this to areas of identity, spirituality, relationships, sexuality, and daily life. Finally they conclude by reflecting on the life journey of disciple-makers and how the postures of a disciple-maker serve them through life.
A very useful book for anyone who cares about this generation of Emerging Adults!
I appreciate the first because I see far too many diatribes against this generation of Emerging Adults. One of the questions I always raise with friends of my generation who indulge in these diatribes is, "so who are their parents, teachers and mentors?" It would do anyone who indulges these cheap shots good to read the chapter on The Complex World of Early Adulthood. This isn't the same world I grew up in.
The other striking feature of this book is the lack of formulas. Instead, the writers advocate postures and rhythms of disciple-making. First of all, they advocate for disciples and disciple-makers alike that what this is all about is entering into the life that is in Christ. And the postures by which we do so are trust, submission, and love. Secondly, they contend that they basic rhythm of practice for a disciple-maker is one of discernment, intentionality, and reflection.
They follow elaboration of these postures and rhythms by applying this to areas of identity, spirituality, relationships, sexuality, and daily life. Finally they conclude by reflecting on the life journey of disciple-makers and how the postures of a disciple-maker serve them through life.
A very useful book for anyone who cares about this generation of Emerging Adults!
December 12, 2017
This book can be a helpful tool for people who are engaged in work focused on life-change, especially for young adults. The most useful part is the discussion on the specific nature of the different seasons of life, and the young adult season in particular. Lots of data, sociaological information, and application. This part would be universally applicable to anyone who works with people.
The remainder of the book is focused on the particular “discipleship model” of the authors. This model is much more hierarchical than I am comfortable with, and depends entirely on the role of mentors. In order for a ministry to apply the concepts in the book as written, there would first have to be an extended effort to build up and prepare a cadre of mentors. That would be a valuable effort, certainly. But if a ministry didn’t already have that in place, much of the model presented here cannot be applied.
As long as you read this book for principles rather than a model, you will likely find it helpful.
The remainder of the book is focused on the particular “discipleship model” of the authors. This model is much more hierarchical than I am comfortable with, and depends entirely on the role of mentors. In order for a ministry to apply the concepts in the book as written, there would first have to be an extended effort to build up and prepare a cadre of mentors. That would be a valuable effort, certainly. But if a ministry didn’t already have that in place, much of the model presented here cannot be applied.
As long as you read this book for principles rather than a model, you will likely find it helpful.
January 28, 2020
Great book overall. The authors highlight relevant contemporary issues (identity/purpose, spirituality, relationships, sexuality, and daily life) for young adults and provide some grounded discipleship advice and perspective. The authors write that disciple makers should practice discernment, intentionality, and reflection as young adults progress towards spiritual maturity marked by perfect trust, submission, and love. Authors provide a guideline for those who desire to be disciple makers, but feel inadequate or ill prepared. Absolutely a must read for anyone who is seriously contemplating how to impact the body of Christ and the world at large. All that being said, the book does become overbearingly repetitive and redundant. However, press on, as its points are relevant and valuable.
September 2, 2013
Dunn and Sundene write that "The presence of the power of Christ transforms every believer into a relational vessel whose heart can be used by God to connect the hearts of others to his grace, truth, and love." This is disciplemaking. Then throughout this book he provides case studies and insights into what this disciplemaking may look like for those he terms emerging adults - late teens to early thirties.
In the end, this book doesn't provide a formula or a set of scripture passages for everyone to follow. Instead, he suggests using a model of discerning the current situation of the disciple, intentionally providing feedback/conversation that may move them along a discipling path, and reflecting on what is happening. Of course, this model will look different for each disciple/discipler pairing. It is a model that weaves in and out of life, that seeks Christ's work in the midst, that can be messy. It's also a model I believe will work when used.
In at least two organizations over the past years I've tried to emphasize that these one-on-one conversations and relationships with the younger generations is needed in the church. Conversations over coffee, honest desire to understand, etc. However, at the end of my plea for more relationship building I often get the question - so what program do we need to put together. It's not a program and it may not end it people taking on leadership in the current men's or women's group. It's also not as easy as just putting together a program from a distance. Building a relationship takes time and energy. But walking with emerging adults as Dunn and Sundene suggest provide the avenue to see how God is working in the world now and to be part of this great pilgrimage.
In the end, this book doesn't provide a formula or a set of scripture passages for everyone to follow. Instead, he suggests using a model of discerning the current situation of the disciple, intentionally providing feedback/conversation that may move them along a discipling path, and reflecting on what is happening. Of course, this model will look different for each disciple/discipler pairing. It is a model that weaves in and out of life, that seeks Christ's work in the midst, that can be messy. It's also a model I believe will work when used.
In at least two organizations over the past years I've tried to emphasize that these one-on-one conversations and relationships with the younger generations is needed in the church. Conversations over coffee, honest desire to understand, etc. However, at the end of my plea for more relationship building I often get the question - so what program do we need to put together. It's not a program and it may not end it people taking on leadership in the current men's or women's group. It's also not as easy as just putting together a program from a distance. Building a relationship takes time and energy. But walking with emerging adults as Dunn and Sundene suggest provide the avenue to see how God is working in the world now and to be part of this great pilgrimage.
December 21, 2016
Over the past decade, there has been a lot of literature written about emerging adulthood. It is this newer concept that connects adolescents to adulthood. I have read a lot of these articles and books and it is a fascinating subject. As I work with emerging adults, I am constantly drawing parallels in my vocation. Furthermore, I have finally stepped out of emerging adulthood (according to the literature) so it is very fascinating to look back at my recent past and see how I emerged in my twenties.
Rarely do I review books with blanket negative statements, but Shaping the Journey of Emerging Adults is just not an interesting book. I applaud the effort and attempt; but the book is really two disjointed books under one cover. Book one summarizes the great works by Christian Smith, Jeffrey Jensen Arnett and others; book two is a work on disciplemaking and spiritual growth. Though these two pieces are interwoven into the book, I didn’t find much real overlap. Meaning, you could take out all references to emerging adulthood and you would have an acceptable book on spiritual development and discipling.
The authors are clear that spiritual development for emerging adults is not easy, “there are no programmatic shortcuts to effective disciplemaking… Disciplemaking is about relationships. Relationships are inefficient… Disciplemaking is unpredictable.” This is true, but odd when the authors spend the next 200 pages producing bullet points and other lists. And I didn’t find any of these proceeding bullet points to be specifically aimed at emerging adults.
Again, I do not disagree with the authors. I do not disagree with their intentions. I do not disagree with their method. I just simply found this book to not really be about emerging adulthood. That’s my two cents.
Rarely do I review books with blanket negative statements, but Shaping the Journey of Emerging Adults is just not an interesting book. I applaud the effort and attempt; but the book is really two disjointed books under one cover. Book one summarizes the great works by Christian Smith, Jeffrey Jensen Arnett and others; book two is a work on disciplemaking and spiritual growth. Though these two pieces are interwoven into the book, I didn’t find much real overlap. Meaning, you could take out all references to emerging adulthood and you would have an acceptable book on spiritual development and discipling.
The authors are clear that spiritual development for emerging adults is not easy, “there are no programmatic shortcuts to effective disciplemaking… Disciplemaking is about relationships. Relationships are inefficient… Disciplemaking is unpredictable.” This is true, but odd when the authors spend the next 200 pages producing bullet points and other lists. And I didn’t find any of these proceeding bullet points to be specifically aimed at emerging adults.
Again, I do not disagree with the authors. I do not disagree with their intentions. I do not disagree with their method. I just simply found this book to not really be about emerging adulthood. That’s my two cents.
March 16, 2012
what a fantastic book on discipleship. It treats discipleship as missional, relational and intentional instead of programatic. This type of discipleship is freeing but not easy. It could easily be used in any class on discipleship.
December 20, 2012
There were some great things in this book, but it was about 100 pages too long.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews