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

by Kevin DeYoung

5 Christlike Ways to Inspire the Next Generation for Christ Church leaders are continuously concerned they might lose the next generation of faithful believers. They’ve scoured for practical and effective ways to disciple young Christians, often resorting to adopting new and exciting programs, emotional appeals, or mere moralism. However helpful these attempts are, they all seem to lack one critical element―Christ.  In this concise booklet, bestselling author Kevin DeYoung presents 5 Christlike ways to effectively communicate the Christian faith and practice with the next generation. DeYoung reminds leaders that they won’t ultimately impact young hearts with cleverness, humor, or good looks but by walking with Jesus and following his ways―grab them with passion, win them with love, hold them with holiness, challenge them with truth, and amaze them with God.  

Genres: Christian, Christian Living, Theology, Parenting, Nonfiction, Leadership, Discipleship

48 pages, Paperback

Published April 2, 2024

About the author

Kevin DeYoung is the Senior Pastor at University Reformed Church (RCA) in East Lansing, Michigan, right across the street from Michigan State University.

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5. DeYoung excels at communicating jolting truths with witty candor. Every believing high-school or college student should read this.

[Sarah Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

”Make [God] the front and center. Don’t confuse platitudes with profundity. Don’t proclaim an unknown god when we know who God is and what He is like (Act 17:23). And don’t reduce God to your own level. If ever people were starving for a God the size of God, surely it is now.

Give them a God who is holy, independent and unlike us - a God who is good, just, full of wrath, and full of mercy. Give them a God who is sovereign, powerful, tender and true. Give them an undiluted God who makes them feel cherished and safe, and small and uncomfortable too. Give them a God worthy of wonder and fear and avid big enough for all our faith, hope and love.” 🔥

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 2am cluster feed read.

A quick, simple booklet on discipling children, with a slight emphasis towards children already in the church. I already accepted the thesis of the book - the external forms of ministry matter significantly less than the LORD, content, and church body - and therefore did not find it terribly challenging. Like most DeYoung content, it’s clearly communicated and based in scripture. However, his writing felt a bit abrasive in several areas.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

In many ways, this booklet can be summed up by the advice given to me by an older woman years ago at age 18, on the day before my first visit to the high school where I had recently been placed as a Young Life Leader. In response to my nerves about how “uncool” I was compared to the students I would soon be meeting, she told me, “You have no reason to worry— you already have everything these girls could ever want. You have Christ.”

Further study of God’s Word and good theology confirmed this woman’s advice throughout my years in that ministry: “The best attraction is the gospel in its purity. The weapon with which the Lord conquers men is the truth as it is in Jesus. The gospel will be found equal to every emergency; an arrow which can pierce the hardest heart, a balm which can heal the deadliest wound. Preach it, and preach nothing else. Rely implicitly upon the old, old gospel. You need no other nets when you fish for men; those your Master has given you are strong enough for the great fishes, and have meshes fine enough to hold the little ones. Spread these nets and no others, and you need not fear the fulfillment of His Word, ‘I will make you fishers of men.’” (C.H. Spurgeon, The Soul Winner).

DeYoung writes, “The one indispensable requirement for producing godly, mature Christians, is godly, mature Christians.” Amen. Caring relationships with godly adults are the perfect context for the truth of the gospel to be made effective in young people’s hearts. And I appreciate that DeYoung applies this truth to both parents and mentors.

So it was not a surprise to me that I would heartily agree with DeYoung’s premise and main points. However, I am a little afraid that those who are most likely to pick up a book with this title and by this author are those who need this message the least.

At this point I’m my life, I have seen up close a range of perspectives on ministry to young people: some overly based on attraction and relevance, as well as some where leaders seem afraid of any strategy or “fun” at all. DeYoung does make a note that not all strategy is wrong; however, I think this booklet could easily fuel the thinking of those on one extreme of this spectrum. I’m reminded here of Trevin Wax’s “The Multi-Directional Leader.” If you’re already a fan of DeYoung’s work— if you read this book and are not challenged, but only confirmed in your perspective of ministering to young people— maybe consider picking up a book by someone who would challenge your assumptions or broaden your thinking.

My point is: even with an emphasis on theologically rich, confessional, family-based discipleship in the context of the local church, there is still room for strategy in how we show the young people in our lives that we love them and want to know them— a strategy that should likely include fun. ;)

Has my review exceeded the word count of the book itself yet?

[Amber Hammond · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a helpful book! One reason I really appreciate Kevin DeYoung is he makes things simple. In this little booklet he takes the big concept of reaching the next generation and simplifies it, making it seem more attainable. Grab them with passion. Win them with love. Hold them with holiness. Challenge them with truth. Amaze them with God. This book not only challenges me to care for those younger than me better but also to strive to know God better for myself.

“But this is my greatest need and yours: to know God, love God, delight in God, and make much of God.”

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every Christian should read this bc it literally takes 20 mins and simply conveys the importance of being faithful and genuine in your faith!! For those working with youth or college students, it reminds us that loving them well is a lot more impactful than being “relevant” or “cool”.

[Ben Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has an ISBN, so this counts as a book! lol. Solid work from DeYoung, in about as approachable and bite-size as you can get. Seek Jesus in genuine and passionate faith, the younger generation sees through anything less.

[Caleb Purdy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Get this in church members' hands asap

[Mark E. Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short book has gotten me fired up and ready to run through a brick wall in youth ministry.

[Julia Hayward · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just found this in our dear friends’ house and read it in one little sitting (it’s tiny) and all I have to say is amen. Especially working in an inner city environment, I gave up on being anything close to “relatable” or “relevant” a longgggg time ago. Show people Christ. Miracles happen!

[Danette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and to the point.

Grab them with passion.
Win them with love.
Hold them with holiness.
Challenge them with truth.
Amaze them with God.

[Dr. David Steele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christians all share a common goal of reaching the next generation for Jesus Christ. Youth pastors are especially interested in seeing young people who are aflame for the Lord. Much of the literature that addresses discipleship and evangelism is either pragmatic or programmatic, which does not typically yield favorable results.

Kevin DeYoung’s book, The (Not-So-Secret) Secret to Reaching the Next Generation is a breath of fresh air. His short work addresses an important need in a biblical and thoughtful way. The author maintains, “If you walk with God and walk with people, you’ll reach the next generation.”

DeYoung provides five helpful principles designed to truly reach the next generation with the gospel: 1) Grab them with passion, 2) Win them with love, 3) Hold them with holiness, 4) Challenge them with the truth, and 5) Amaze them with God.

Parents and pastors alike will receive fresh encouragement and even a dose of conviction in DeYoung’s timely work.

[Tim Casteel · Rating 1 out of 5]

This "book" makes me angry! Literally the length of a blog post. I really don't understand why more work wasn't put into fleshing out some of the (good!) ideas. It would have taken a few days of work.

It really feels scammy- the paper "book" literally has 20 blank pages. Like they were attempting to make it look like a book so they needed to add LOTS of blank pages - that's 42% of the book. I was shocked when it came in the mail and I saw all the blank pages. Seems very dishonest to list the book as 48 pages when almost half of those are blank pages. Who does that??

I wasn't going to count it as "read" on GoodReads but did so, JUST so I could write an angry review!! haha.

As a veteran college minister, I can say the content is good. But just read the free content on DeYoung's website.

[Chris Duncan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great little book on reaching the next generation. Loved how he mentioned the only thing we have to offer others is our own love for Christ and showing others that our lives have been changed by the gospel then young people will see that in us. Encouraging and convicting to think about with working with college students.

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was too short to be worth reading, but instead I came across 26 pages of content like this: "Give them a God with edges. Give them an undiluted God who makes them feel cherished and safe, and small and uncomfortable too."

[Chase Riebel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had to hit that reread before we start our next series on Sunday, such a great reminder. Kevin really DeGoat.
______________________________

Hey, youth worker, have 15-20 minutes? Read this book. DeYoung challenges the winning of young souls with relevancy, intellectualism, or comfort by offering a simple alternative: win them with Jesus. DeYoung challenges the reader to love them like Jesus, show them Jesus through Scripture, and challenge them with how Jesus challenges everyone.

DeYoung's book is a great reminder, encouragement, and training tool for anyone within ministry of any kind; especially student ministries.

[James Brixey]

This is a helpful and timely reminder to all those who would want to see renewal in their church. I do think this should be held in contention with care not to put unnecessary stumbling blocks before people who might otherwise come to church, but Kevin DeYoungs main point stands tall.
Go read this (very brief) book.

[Samuel Kassing · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was formerly a chapter in “Don’t call it a Comeback.”

I think I would summarize it as our worship of God is more central than our various strategies in reaching the next generation.


It was interesting to see how this chapter aged in my opinion.

[Troy Solava · Rating 5 out of 5]

This shouldn’t count for my “book total” of the year because of how incredibly brief it is. But I’ll take it.

This booklet summarizes what I hope we as the church universal and our local church pursues. Great quotes here and a reminder that the Gospel, the Word, God Himself need not be diluted. But given passionately, lovingly, truthfully. This is what people, especially young people want and need. Helpful book. Summarizes many of the thoughts I’ve had!

[Josh John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent.

[Natalie Herr · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. A quick little book on reaching the next generation. The content was focused and gospel forward, but I took issue with the author’s tone. He came off as flippant toward other approaches.

[Carter Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and sweet and to the point. Young generation wants to see the passion we have for Christ, simple as that. We need to be more like Jesus.

[Chase Selcer · Rating 5 out of 5]

More could be said, but more doesn’t have to be said. Concise, simple, biblical.

[Ben Hanik · Rating 5 out of 5]

20 pages of straight fire! A must read for anyone ministering to the next generation.

[Jonathan Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and right to the point. I really liked this book (booklet). It is the expanding of a chapter from one of his previous books (a chapter that didn’t quite fit), but this book nails it. The way to discipleship is the old paths, and they work! Excited for lots of people to get this short book into their hands.

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best kind of book—concise, practical, and convicting. Highly recommended.
-4.5 stars

[Renee Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

DeYoung answers the frequent question church leaders have on the most affective way to reach the next generation—but it’s not really a secret, it’s the same it’s always been.
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

Great book for particularly church leaders, but everyday church goers and parents would be helped with this book. DeYoung makes it simple—give our young people, unashamedly and unapologetically, Jesus. DeYoung is straight forward and wastes no time with fluff.

This is an article in a book, not intimidating or intellectually robust—it’s a mere pamphlet at 26 pages minimum pages.

[Mak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clear, encouraging, keeps the main thing the main thing, and *very short*… which makes the book ideal material for training church volunteers for youth or children’s ministry.

[Amy Coyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short but powerful book on ministering to Gen Z. No gimmicks or flashy strategies, but just walk with Jesus and follows his ways.

[John Boyne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great little booklet with sound advice for both church leaders and laymen. The best way to reach future generations is simply to proclaim God and His Word. Don't make God small in your life. Let the lion out of the cage!