Flip the Script: Disrupting Tradition for the Sake of the Next Generation

by Chuck Peters, Jana Magruder, Stephanie Salvatore

When it comes to connecting the gospel to our current culture, are we reading from an old script?

Kids and students today are swimming in a worldview of secular influence—where belief in God is understood to be one possibility among several options. Many kids today do not approach the Bible with the same beliefs as previous generations on issues such as an absolute right or wrong, the existence of heaven and hell, or that there is an outside authority that supersedes personal truth.

How do we reach this generation of kids and students?

Perhaps the solution lies in teaching the same timeless truth of the gospel wrapped in new strategies for welcoming kids and students with intentional, radical hospitality that helps them feel known and breaks down barriers that could prevent them from responding to the gospel and experiencing spiritual transformation.

Flip the Script will:

• help you understand the cultural worldview kids and students are facing today and the challenges of ministering to this generation with traditional strategies.

• offer a relationship-first approach that fast-forwards kids and students to the place where they are open to hear and understand the gospel

• present key biblical truths to help kids and students discover their identity is found not in who they say they are, but in who God is

• introduce new starting points to help reach kids and students in today’s culture.

The strategies presented in Flip the Script are not just for kids and students. These are whole-church strategies that reach every member of the church. The epidemic of not feeling included or wrestling with identity is not an issue isolated to kids and students—it is a cultural issue facing every person in the church.

This is a thought-leadership book for your whole church leadership team.

Genres: Christian

128 pages, Paperback

Published October 24, 2022

Reviews

[Jennifer Squire]

Enjoyed this quick read calling for relational kids and nextgen ministries in the local church. Their statistics and research are helpful guides as we structure growing ministries.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well presented and easily digestible. It helped me better see the connection between expressive individualism and the unprecedented levels of anxiety that students are experiencing today. In short: we weren’t created with the psychological scaffolding to support the invention of a self definition.

Key quote from page 6:
Kids and students are growing up with a foundationally secular worldview that tells them the meaning of life is to define themselves. The pressure to do this has resulted in unprecedented levels of anxiety, loneliness, and a desperate need to belong.

I think I want to create a series of 12 discipleship lessons based on the 12 identity statements from chapter 4

[Isaac Colgrove · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. While working in youth ministry, it becomes rather obvious that the Gospel must be shared relationally, but I have never seen an explanation of that fact in such a simple yet profound way. The practical steps to reach the relational culture we live in were excellent. Any ministry leader should really consider giving this book a try.

[Kayce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written and visually appealing with bright, colorful infographics on most every page. My favorite section was chapter 4, with the 12 Biblical truths students need to learn. From that point on the authors hit hard, providing numerous scriptural references to explain why kids’ ministry is crucial to get right in today’s culture.

[Brandon Hair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book with amazing info and a strong challenge to shift our perspective, change the way we approach NextGen ministries, and make sure we’re asking the right questions as we minister to the next generation.

[Robin Langford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Practical. Clear. Helpful. Engaging. Visually appealing.

[Kara Lepley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Work read - still counts for the 2023 total!

[Keith Lockhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this for work. It really embodies the spirit of what we are trying to accomplish at camp and the shift of approaching children (and people in general) in ministry.

[Jennifer Alajoki · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Summarizes lifeway research and statistics for next gen ministry. Helpful as a reference but lacks focus on gen alpha kids ministry research and tips