Welcome to Adulting: Navigating Faith, Friendship, Finances, and the Future

by Jonathan "JP" Pokluda, Kevin McConaghy (With)

Every day, another Millennial becomes an adult. For many young people, the transition is a bumpy one, fraught with opportunities to make mistakes and bad choices. The clear expectations they had at home or in school are gone, and they may feel unprepared to face what comes next.

But sometimes we make it harder than it has to be. Combining entertaining stories from his own experience, insights from the Bible, and compelling evidence from research, "JP" Pokluda lays out a roadmap for how to navigate life as an adult, addressing topics like

- friendships and dating
- career and money management
- interpersonal conflict
- controlling anxiety
- recovering from addiction
- and discovering your purpose on this earth

Anyone struggling to find a footing in the world of adult life will welcome this witty, non-patronizing guide.

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Self Help, Faith, Christian Living, Christianity, Relationships

224 pages, Paperback

Published September 4, 2018

About the author

Jonathan “JP” Pokluda is the Lead Pastor of a 145 year old Baptist church in Waco, TX, Harris Creek. Prior to moving to Waco in 2019, he was previously the leader of the largest weekly young adult gathering in the country. Although JP was raised in church, he didn’t come to understand the grace of the Gospel until his early twenties. This ignited a desire in him to inspire the next generation to radically follow Jesus Christ and unleash them to change the world. He spends a lot of time helping older generations understand and disciple younger generations.

JP is the author of several best-selling books, including Welcome to Adulting, Outdated, and his most recent release Why Do I Do What I Don’t Want to Do?, a book written to help readers of all ages replace deadly vices with life-changing virtues.

JP and Monica, his partner in ministry, have been married since 2004. Together they have the joy and privilege of discipling their children Presley, Finley, and Weston.

Reviews

[Becca Rae · Rating 2 out of 5]

If I'm just being honest I really struggled reading through this one. I am aware that I am different than many in my generation, and I didn't really get anything out of it for myself. When I picked up this book I thought it was going to be about "responsible" adults needing to make tough decisions in life and learning how to balance it all. Instead it was more about the "irresponsible" people who really need to suck it up and grow up on multiple levels. Unfortunately the audience that really needs to read this book is also the least likely to pick it up.

Throughout the book I had mixed emotions on different chapters. Some were helpful, some were frustrating, others I struggled (or didn't) get through. I especially did not appreciate the chapter that discussed anxiety. I will not go into full detail on how I feel about it, but it's obvious the author is writing about something he doesn't know or understand. If someone deals with anxiety it's not just an emotion, and it's not just that they aren't trusting God. It's also not as simple as labeling it as sin. Sharing this type of mindset causes more harm than good. Sometimes anxiety is a physical attack where the person doesn't even know what they are anxious about. The inexplicable is frustrating. Then to tell a person that they are sinning because they are not trusting God in their situation... how is that if they don't even know what they are anxious over? Now don't get me wrong, there are times where anxiety CAN be a sin issue, but until someone fully understands what it feels like to deal with it and how it is not only a mental but physical problem, then their judgement is unfair and ignorant.

I really hate giving negative reviews for books because I know so much of the author's time and heart goes into writing. I also know that you can't love every book you pick up. Unfortunately this was one I really had a hard time getting through.

*I received a copy of this book from the Baker Books Publishing. I was not required to give a positive review. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.

[Hayden Short · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have had the privilege of getting to listen to JP preach on Tuesdays and Sundays for a year and a half now, and this book has been a culmination of all of what God has used him for during that time. I share a lot of JP's similar past, so to get to read things from his point of view paired and backed through the worldview of Biblical Truth was extremely encouraging and transformational for me. What JP is sharing with us here isn't rocket science, it's something way more complex, yet so simple. Jesus is after us, y'all. God used JP in this book to discuss the things the world thinks are either normal, or things that we should be ashamed of. JP uses God's word to shed a light on things the world would LOVE to keep in the darkness. From pride to porn addiction to financial woes to people pleasing and all of the above, Jesus is bigger than all of these things. Adulting can be extremely scary, but it doesn't have to be. The jobs, the money, the relationships, etc; none of it matters as much as our relationship with Christ and I think that JP does a great job of capturing that and challenging us in the most appropriate ways possible. Thank ya JP, love you!

[Isaac Arnold · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this quick read! JP has been formative in my faith through his Podcast Becoming Something, he’s YouTube sermon videos, or other resources he leverages.

Would have enjoyed a bit more depth in certain areas and was surprised there was not more dissection of scripture. Overall solid and worth the time however!

[Purshia Gambles · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my 30th year of life, this was a really practical, clear, entertaining read on what has been such a (painstakingly) growing season. Anyone from ages 22-35 should read this. Or just anyone that doesn’t know how to adult as a Christ-follower.

[Erin Shultz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easily one of the best books for young adults I have read. I have been listening to messages from JP and going to The Porch, a young adults ministry out of Watermark Community Church in Dallas, Texas, for the past couple years. When I heard JP was writing a book, I could not have been more excited about how much of a positive impact it would have, as the words and messages God has blessed him with have genuinely impacted my own life in such an enormous and positive way as well and pointed me back to Christ again and again. Often we find ourselves relying on what the world tells us our life should look like, when really the Lord has a different plan and instruction for where we can really find life to the fullest. I highly recommend this book for anyone in the college/young adult stage of life looking for some sound biblical wisdom and perspective on what a pursuit of true life in Christ looks like in a practical application day to day.

[Lane Gramling · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are entering adulthood, you need to read this book!

Jonathan “JP” Podluka has written a great guide on what it means to be an adult in the 21st century. Adulting is full of exciting things like responsibilities and mortgage payments, but JP reminds readers that there is more to life than simply getting married and finding a good job. Your purpose defines how you live your life, and for the Christian, your purpose is defined by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

This book is divided into 5 sections: purpose, work, relationships, fears, and eternity. If you are looking for a book that dives deep into one passage and one topic for 200 pages, this book is not for you. Rather, Welcome to Adulting is a summary of the basic challenges that 20-somethings face and how the Bible responds to each situation. As a 20-something, I felt like each topic was relevant and pushed me to a greater biblical understanding. This book is simple to understand and hard to put down (My roommate read the entire thing in a day… before I was even able to get to it. Not bitter.).

For me, sections 3 and 4 were the best part of the book. Knowing how to biblically deal with conflict will change how you interact with others, and if done in the right way, it really does bring glory to God. I didn’t think I was a big worrier, but I was convicted of areas where I wanted control over my life rather than releasing it to God. JP weaves stories from his life in and out of these pages to remind you that this is not a book from a superior to an inferior, rather it’s from someone who has been there and wants what’s best for you. It’s raw, blunt at times (in a good way), and always looks to challenge you to something greater.

Overall, this book is full of God’s truth and will point you back to the gospel over and over again. Any book that is able to remind me of my need for Jesus and points me to a greater relationship with my Savior is worth the price of admission. I recommend this book for any young adult, especially recent graduates (high school or college). As someone who works in student ministry, this will be the new book we give to high school seniors as they graduate. Highly recommended.

[Jackson Love · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much...I read this book out of respect for the author (Jonathan Pokluda), but the more I read the more I examined my own life: my priorities, my tendencies, and even my own beliefs. In the second to last paragraph, JP gives a final gift of advice to the reader. It goes as follows: “Today, I pass on that advice to you. Don’t wait. Don’t live most of your life focused on temporary things, thinking you’ll have time later to think about eternity. Focus on what really matters now. Surround yourself with the truth of God. Share the love of Christ often. Give generously to those in need, and share the resources God has temporarily entrusted to you.”

[Katerina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I skimmed this this book at the request of a friend. This looks like a helpful book for young men. It is personably written and offers sound advice on authority, work, money, community, conflict, dating, and worry. The biggest challenge will be getting those who need to read this book to read it. I fear that the chapter on authority will cause many to set the book aside. In the introduction, the author writes, "I hope you don't read this book alone." I think that is sound advice. I believe this book will work best if read in a group.

[Ellie Studdard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was interested in reading this book because of the author, and I figured my review would be something along the lines of “what a great book for those graduating from college and entering the real world.” However, this book is full of wisdom for people in all stages of life! I’m in my late 20s and really enjoyed JP’s insights. I appreciate the passion JP has for young adults. I will be purchasing a copy for my bookshelf and think it will make for an excellent gift for graduates.

Thank you to Baker Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book!

[Angus · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for any Christian beginning to transition into adulthood; regardless of how long they’ve been in faith. It’s insightful and easy to read, communicating clearly and giving a good overview of what it looks like to navigate adult life as a Christian. Would definitely recommend to any young adult.

[Madison Beckham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not trying to be dramatic but this is my favorite book I’ve ever read & it’s changed my perspective as a young adult in the modern world. Here’s a lengthy list of things I want to remember from what I’ve learned:
- you were specially created by God and put on this earth to do something- do not waste your life!
- don’t let time go by…take advantage of having the knowledge that you have purpose on the earth to further His kingdom
- Ephesians 2:10 - God has created us intricately and beautifully to do good works that He had prepared in advance for us. It’s all intentional
- Why would God make known to you His unrevealed will if you’re not even living out His revealed will?
- Any mistake you’ve made, or any bad things that someone has done to you, God can use for good (Gen 50:20)
- Your abilities and experiences will change over time, so God may have you focus on different things at different stages of life= it’s a beautiful, ongoing adventure! What is He calling you to do in this season of life?
- Work may not be fun all the time, but you do it because it’s obedient and holy. Take time & be faithful to it- this will help you increase in skill, and you will be recognized for it!
- We do not work to find fulfillment- that can only be found in God. We work to provide for ourselves and for others.
- Colossians 3:23-24
- Proverbs talks about being wise when saving money. However, do not idolize money and look to money as security, for true security is found in God alone
- The more stuff you have, the more it has you
- Be generous with your time, treasure, and talents now, and you’ll be paid back infinitely more throughout eternity
- Romans 12:15
- Try to incorporate the discipline of attaching Scripture to any advice you share
- Don’t be a weni! (How to work on negative communication habits!)
- How you handle conflict is a great way to show Jesus to the world around you
- Being married does not make you complete. You are complete and fulfilled through Jesus and Jesus alone.
- Love is an ACTION, not a feeling. Feelings are inconsistent and unreliable. God tells us how we can take action and show love in 1 Corinthians
- Much of your worry can be eliminated by resting in the knowledge that God is the one in control and He ALWAYS has your best interest at heart
- You are worried that not everyone will like you? You are making an idol out of others’ opinions of you
- 2 Corinthians 10:5= how to wage a war on worry
- When facing an issue, don’t look at the situation as “something being wrong with you.” There’s something wrong with everyone- we all have a sinful nature, and we all need Jesus to help us. Accept that!
- God trusted me with life here another day, so I will live for Him. Don’t wait another second to share the message of the Gospel & the gift of eternity to those around you
- Material possessions are fleeting; kindness to another human, or sharing the story of Jesus with them, is eternal. Store up treasures in Heaven!

[Kelley Orr · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is full of wisdom for all stages of life but specifically think it's a great read for new post grad / young adult! I really appreciated the section about finance, it was practical and biblical financial advice, which I personally was blessed by! And here are my other takeaways from the rest of the book:

Friendship vs community:
•"We treat eachother as caring family members even when we're not related, which is why followers of Christ are typically referred to as brothers and sisters in the Bible. Jesus called His unrelated followers His brothers and sisters. Followers of Christ would be diluted to think they could survive or thrive without being connected to other members of the Body. John 13:34-35"

Dating:
•"Your end goal of dating is to determine whether this is the person you will spend the rest of your life with... if the goal of dating is this, then you should not be dating if you are not ready to be married." AGREE!

• "'What if someone is a really godly person and in every way would make a good wife/husband... but I'm just not attracted to them physically, should I still date them?'
My answer is no but not because there's anything wrong with that person, that person seems very attractive in Gods eyes and if you're not spiritually mature enough to see them that way, then no don't date them but pray that God would change your eyes and your heart to be attracted to things that God is attracted to"
OK This is very widely debated and I thought it was so funny he talks about this in his book because I have talked about this principle / the weight attraction plays in dating SO much this summer and I still have mixed feelings but I thought his explanation was very helpful and food for thought!!!!!

[Logan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Where to begin?

When I first started this book, I was actually excited. Finally, the keys to the secrets to adulting well were within my reach! My optimism remained throughout the introduction and the first few chapters. But as I began to realize just how shallow each chapter was, I grew more and more bored with what I was reading. It's not that the information within isn't necessarily helpful; it's just not necessarily meaningful.

I agree with another one of the reviewers on here on that the folks who could probably really benefit from this aren't going to read it. Folks, like myself, aren't going to enjoy it because there's better books, online articles, and (surprisingly enough) Twitter threads that are more succinct. Although I didn't finish this book, I did look through the chapter on anxiety since I actually went to counseling for my own. And, well... I'm sorry, Jonathan. But it's a very weak chapter that comes across as ignorant of the topic. Matter of fact, it contributed in my abandoning of this book.

In summation, this book shouldn't be a book. It'd be more effective (and probably get more eyes on the material) if it were turned into a series of blog posts, pithy Twitter threads, or several videos on TikTok or YouTube. Because there are far better books out there that deal with each specific chapter in a more meaningful and edifying way.

[Ashley Rhein · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not going to lie, I wasn’t fully invested in the beginning. BUT the ending was so so good. Literally so much truth packed into the final few chapters. Don’t wait. Don’t wait to spread the word of God, because our existence on this Earth is to help advance His kingdom. I really loved this book and I love JP and his work at the porch

[Emma Chrusciel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a little worried that this book would be cheesy and cliche-laden, but I honestly loved reading it. The author doesn't shy away from the challenges of adulthood and is unafraid to confront the reader with some tough love. At the same time, he grounds everything in the hope of Christ and puts the difficulty of adulting into an eternal perspective. This book is chock-full of anecdotes, practical advice, Scripture references, and more. I'd highly recommend it to any college grad who's trying to figure out how to adult in light of Christ.

[Savanna Graves · Rating 5 out of 5]

JP is really good at taking complex topics and breaking them down into digestible and understandable stories, examples, and actions. I really wish I would’ve picked this one up fresh out of college as it probably would’ve saved me a lot of heartache and confusion on how to find community, how to handle your wallet, and what faith looks like when it’s yours and not swayed by others. good stuff.

[☆ lydiature ☆ · Rating 2 out of 5]

it was ok, nothing special. topics were decent but they should’ve been more detailed. i appreciate his honesty, but his whole tone comes across as condescending & know-it-all. which is obviously annoying. i’m not interested in reading anything more from him personally.

[Mads Ascencio · Rating 4 out of 5]

really great book for us in our 20s figuring out life. a lot of good reminders for me. nothing revolutionary but a really sweet visit back the the basics. a good reminder that living for jesus just isn’t that complicated.

[Eric Wu · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good primer for a lot of the topics presented in the book! If you don’t want to read this book, just listen to JP’s podcast, he says pretty much the same stuff.

[Shelby Peck · Rating 4 out of 5]

really candid and forward advice about pursuing what matters and surrendering your adulthood to the One who has the best in store

[Emily]

If you want my thoughts go read Bethany’s review 👌🏼

[Allie Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is supposed to be godly helpful tips for people just turning into adults. But there were good tidbits and reminders about all parts of life for all ages. It was a little surface level but went ahead and gave 5 stars bc I will want to read again. JP has a way with words!

[Kristin Rogers · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’d say it’s a good intro to all the topics he covers, but nothing is covered too deeply. It’s all good info but if you’ve thought about each topic before you’re likely not hearing much that’s new and extremely helpful. If you haven’t, this is a great book to dip your toes into these ideas. I much prefer his Outdated Book. But that’s only covering the idea of dating.

[Nikki Edrington · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was excited about this book because a trusted mentor recommended it; however, I was ruefully disappointed. First of all, I don’t think the book’s subtitle accurately represents the content. Upon completion, I was left with the realization Pokluda hadn’t offered much in the way of “navigation” for young adults.

Even worse, Pokluda’s blind spots are so painfully apparent. Offhand comments about money, poverty, and the laziness of young people turned me away from anything valuable he may have had to offer. In an attempt to “scare straight” a particular audience, Pokluda traded in nuance for harsh generalizations, invalidating experiences/trauma/suffering, and a lack of authenticity. I was appalled at the continual use of invalidation in his attempt to get readers to see his point; as a young adult pastor, I could not use this book in ministry because it would alienate group members who have not lived such privileged lives.

There were places that I agreed with him, certainly. But the negative heavily outweighed the positive and I cannot recommend this book.

[Molly Cash · Rating 5 out of 5]

JP is an awesome preacher and I love hearing his story of redemption. Since my husband and I recently started leading a Newlyweds class filled with mainly twentysomethings, I wanted to hear what JP had to say to this age group! This book would be great for any high school/college/young professional person. Great reminders about the purpose of dating, getting ready for a “real world” job, handling money, being in community, etc. The topics don’t go into a ton of detail unfortunately, but I do appreciate the readability of this book.

[Audrye Glosson · Rating 5 out of 5]

JP takes fundamental ideas and breaks them down into understandable and applicable thoughts. Welcome to adulting is a great guide book into the wild unknown of the Adult world.

Definitely recommend this one to all high school seniors, college kids, and young adults. Adulting is hard, but it doesn’t have to be impossible.

[Brian Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible read!!! I feel as if this book would be beneficial for any person— spiritual or not. Christian or not. Definitely grab one and read it. JP is a phenomenal writer, story teller, man and believer. Lots of great insight for young adults.

[Bethany]

Maybe I’m incredibly late to this book (or this book has heavily influenced my intake) but I’ve heard it all before. It has everything you need to know as a Christian adult especially if you haven’t had a lot of discipleship!

[Alan Roper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welcome to Adulting is an incredible book. To anyone that it is in a transitional phase of life, specifically between high school to college and college to the real world. I wish I would’ve read this book sooner! It dives into a variety of topics that are pain points for many people, including myself. JP encourages readers to have an eternal perspective and not place so much value on the things of this world that will always fade away, but rather place our focus on the Lord and to live a life that is honoring to Him and that brings him glory, which is ultimately for your good.


If you end up reading this book, I would definitely recommend going through it with a group of fellow believers. I found a small group of 4 other guys who are in similar stages of life to me, and we just talked through what we were learning from the book, how we can apply what we are learning, and how we can honor God through our actions in various areas of life including work, money, community, conflict, dating, worry and many others that JP goes into much further detail on. Through the reading, we learned a lot about ourselves, each other, and formed greater connections with one other.

I truly cannot recommend this book enough, and I will be passing out a couple of extra copies that I bought on ThriftBooks! Lol. I hope you decide to read and get even more out of it than my group and I have!

[mattie mae seals · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book really said “hey you! yeah you! stop spiraling about your 20s and read this instead.” and honestly? fair.

gave it a solid 3.5/5 — some chapters felt a little meh, but the sections on friendship, community, and dating? bangers only. jp pokluda snapped when he talked about conflict and how to not be the worst in relationships (friendships and romantic). like sir i am emotionally avoidant, thank you for noticing.

i think every early-20s small group has read this at some point, and now i get why. it’s approachable, practical, and full of “why did i need to hear that today” moments. not every page hit for me, but when it did, it felt like truth served with a side of tough love.

bonus points for making me reflect on how i do community — and making me lowkey want to have a group chat about it.

would recommend if you’re feeling overwhelmed by being an adult and need a friend-pastor to kindly call you out.