So the Next Generation Will Know: Preparing Young Christians for a Challenging World

by Sean McDowell, J. Warner Wallace, Nick Foles (Foreword)

Whether you’re a Christian parent, youth leader, or educator who works with Generation Z, this book was written for you. As powerful ideas in our increasingly secular culture shape more of this generation, trusted leaders must share what they know about Jesus in ways that will reach them. But how? Backed by the latest research and first hand experience, this powerful book shows how to share biblical truth with a generation that desperately needs to hear it in a way that draws them in instead of pushing them away.

Written by two youth influencers and experts on Generation Z, Sean McDowell, Ph.D., and J. Warner Wallace, So the Next Generation Will Know is an extraordinarily practical and relatable  guide for anyone concerned with ensuring the next generation understands and embraces a biblical worldview.

Genres: Christian, Parenting, Nonfiction, Christian Living, Christianity, Education, Discipleship

208 pages, Paperback

Published May 1, 2019

About the author

Dr. Sean McDowell is a gifted communicator with a passion for equipping the church, and in particular young people, to make the case for the Christian faith. He connects with audiences in a tangible way through humor and stories while imparting hard evidence and logical support for viewing all areas of life through a Biblical worldview. Sean is an Assistant Professor in the Christian Apologetics program at Biola University.

Sean still teaches one high school Bible class, which helps give him exceptional insight into the prevailing culture so he can impart his observations poignantly to fellow educators, pastors, and parents alike.

Read more about Sean on his website.
Connect with Sean on Facebook.

Reviews

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most excellent, Theophilus! If you have kids, teach kids in a Christian school setting, or work in youth ministry… Or if you work in church ministry in any capacity… You should read this book. If I had discretionary money to buy cases of this book and pass it out I would. It is very good.

[Joshua Madl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that I will have all my youth leaders read. It gave great insight, practical help, and did not make me feel like I’m failing as a youth leader. Rather, it got me excited to engage this next generation. Highly recommend.

[Misty Wilson read.fine.print · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so excited to be a part of what we call the ABC (Apologetics Book Club)! We read classics of the faith (last month we discussed The Pursuit of God by Tozer), apologetics books, and parenting books. This month we will discuss So the Next Generation Will Know: Preparing Young Christians for a Challenging World by Sean McDowell and J. Warner Wallace.
•
Sean McDowell is the son of popular Christian author Josh McDowell and Sean is a professor of apologetics and author in his own right. I heard him speak many times to groups of young people and I was blown away by how powerfully he presented the truth of Christianity to kids and skeptics. J. Warner Wallace is the crime scene investigator you may have heard of? He was an atheist who applied his investigative skills to Jesus’ resurrection and the Bible, and came out the other side a believer. Then he wrote books about it! So I have high respect for these authors.
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They delivered. The book is so packed full of insight that my only complaint is that it’s a tad overwhelming. They cover statistics about Gen Z, how unique the generation is in in so many ways, tips on how to connect with them, and maybe most importantly why we should make building relationships with them a priority in our lives.
•
Throughout the book they made a point to specifically speak to three separate groups: Christian educators, parents, and church student leaders. I am able to apply the wisdom from this book in several different contexts.
•
Two things I loved were: the positivity of this book and the frequent use of scripture. A few quotes to convince you to read this one: “It is much easier to live in a state of distraction than to confront the loneliness of the human heart.” (as it relates to phone usage!) “My parents were modeling an important point: Love teaches kids to thoughtfully and confidently engage in the world around them.” “Our sacrifices reveal our priorities.”

[Staci · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rarely find a "parenting" book that resonates so deeply and feels so pertinent to the times. There were many moments of my internal voice crying, "Yes!". As both a parent of a teenager and someone who feels like the secular world is my 'people group', I found McDowell's honest assessment of the challenges of this generation and what is needed to face them, spot on. Our young people need safe relationships in which to ask the hard questions. They need caring adults who aren't afraid to look at those questions together and find the Biblical truth to answer them. They need to be trained to perceive the worldviews around them and compare them to what God says . I have a feeling I will be recommending this book right and left.

[Lucas G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are a pastor, parent, or in any way involved in youth ministry, this book is an essential resource. The sad and uncomfortable reality is that many youth ministries function as little more than social and/or entertainment clubs. As a result, many students raised in the church still end up walking away when they get out on their own. Why? Because we've failed to equip them with the knowledge of and the ability to defend the Christian faith when they were with us. Combined, McDowell and Wallace have decades of experience working to fix that problem by engaging with students in such a way that they gain not only an intricate knowledge of what Christianity teaches, but also an ability to defend those teachings against even the most hostile objections from skeptics. Throughout this book, they teach us how to do the same.

This book isn't just filled with information. Instead, it mostly walks through how we can take practical steps in our interactions with students that will have a lasting positive impact on their faiths. These steps are applicable to everyone from parents, to youth pastors, to anyone volunteering in student ministry. Each chapter also contains numerous examples from the authors' experiences working with students.

Admittedly, much of what they say might be a bit scary for those without exposure to apologetics. For example, one of the events they discuss involves bringing high school students to the campus of UC Berkeley specifically to engage with skeptical students and professors. The key, however, is that before the trip, each student undergoes weeks of training so that they are prepared. And because the students have a specific event to train for, they take the training seriously. This is just one of many examples they discuss.

As one who had little (if any) exposure to training like this before I went to college, I cannot emphasize enough how needed this is in our churches. While I happened to find the information I needed to engage with the challenges I received from those around me, not every student is so lucky. It would have been much better if all of us were trained beforehand. And with this book in hand, any youth ministry can do just that.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is great for people who are dealing with a group of teenagers. There are some good take always for parents but I would recommend this more to a youth pastor vs parents.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sean Mcdowell and J. Warner Wallace have teamed up to bring us a practical guide for equipping the next generation with a biblical worldview in their soon to be released book So The Next Generation will Know: Preparing Young Christians for a Challenging World. (May 1, 2019)

Many books on apologetics and worldviews claim to be a guide in sharing the biblical truth with the next generation, but McDowell and Wallace deliver on that promise: “We’ve written many books that make the case for God and Christianity. Those books describe what is true and why we should believe it. This book is different. We wrote it for a very practical reason: to show you how to teach the truth of Christianity to the next generation.”

In showing how to teach the truth McDowell and Wallace have four target readers in mind: parents, youth workers, Christian educators, and people who love young people. Their intentionality is evident throughout the book. Suggestions are provided for each group not only in the text of chapter of the book, but with useful sidebars designated for each target group. These suggestions range from a list of questions parents can ask their kids to polling students for the Christian educator. The training and preparation McDowell and Wallace provide go beyond theoretical and moves quickly and evidently to the practical.

For example, in a chapter helping the next generation develop a passion for the truth, one of the challenges is helping young Christians who might be spiritually dispassionate avoid apathy. They suggest the “Two Whys for Every What” approach. They explain that “as pastors, parents, and educators, we’ve all explained what is true to our young people. What we believe about God? What are the claims of Christianity? What does the Bible teach about important moral issues? . . . simple propositional truths about the nature of God or the claims of Christianity may or may not ignite a fire in our young people.” They suggest that for every “what” you offer young people you follow up with two “whys.” The first why is “why is the claim you’re making true?” Young people (contrary to popular opinion) want to know why we believe what we believe. “If we want them to get excited we need to help them see that the Christian worldview is reasonable and evidentially true.” The second why is “why any of this should matter to them.” After describing “what is true and and why it’s supported by the evidence, take the time to explain why they should care in the first place.” How does this truth impact their lives, what difference does it make in the everyday living? How does this change the way they view themselves? How does it protect or guide them?

Some of the highlights from the other chapters include the challenge of Generation Z (the generation born between 2000 and 2015), balancing truth and relationship, understanding Generation Z, building a biblical worldview, training versus entertaining, providing life changing experiences, and engaging contemporary culture. Each chapter. along with the sidebars for each focus group, includes activities, teaching methods, and constructive tips. It is backed with the latest research to guide the reader to effectively reach the next generation.

This book is not a book on apologetics, you will not learn the different reasons for God’s existence or the evidence for the resurrection, but they include in the appendix a list of resources for gaining that information. And not just a list of other books, but videos, curriculum, conferences, websites, trip resources, sample surveys, and trip itineraries, in the areas of apologetics, theology, and spiritual development.

McDowell and Wallace are keenly equipped to write this book. Both have years of experience with training not only young people but other youth workers, parents, and apologists. Sean McDowell is an associate professor of apologetics at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University as well as a part time high school teacher who regularly blogs at seanmcdowell.org. J. Warner Wallace, a cold-case homicide detective, is a Senior Fellow at the Colson Center for Christian Worldview and adjunct professor of apologetics at Biola University with years experience as a youth worker. Between them they have authored, coauthored, and edited dozens of books on apologetics, including:: Evidence That Demands a Verdict, Is God Just a Human Invention?, The Fate of the Apostles (Sean McDowell) and Cold-Case Christianity, God’s Crime Scene, Forensic Faith (J. Warner Wallace).

If you pre-order the book and send a copy or screenshot of your receipt to offer@coldcasechristianity.com you will receive further resources including 25 youth training articles, 15 MP3 audio podcasts addressing issues from the book, a previously unreleased youth training video, and a PowerPoint presentation about the unique characteristics of Gen Z. Details for this offer can be found out:

https://seanmcdowell.org/item/so-the-...

This is a fine book that should be a helpful resource in training those who are equipping the next generation so they will know the truth.

[Logan Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

My kids are still quite young (6 and 4), so I can't speak from experience in parenting, or in leading youth groups, the way these authors can. But I still say that I found this to be one of the more practical and helpful books on reaching the next generation that I have read.

There's a lot to highlight here but I want to focus on what stood out the most to me. A lot of Christian cultural criticism has a tendency to be wholly negative, and somewhat crisis-oriented. The next generation is narcissistic and woefully postmodern, all modern films despise the traditional family, and so on. This is not that.

Now, these authors don't deny troubling trends in the culture and they spend some time on those, too. But the rightly point out that you can't engage with a generation while painting them all as godless miscreants. And they also point out the opportunities to engage with them as people, and through culture, especially in the last couple of chapters of the book. I found that tremendously refreshing. It's clear that the authors have a real heart for ministering to young people, and they do a good job of passing that on.

There's much more to the book that just this, too. It's filled with practical training tips, especially for Bible teachers and youth group leaders, as well as helpful advice for parents. Highly, highly recommended.

[Kari · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the very best, most practical, hands on books I've ever read in teaching our youth (middle-school to young adult). It is written for parents, teachers and ministers who work with youth. It is not just encouraging us to teach them what we believe, but why we believe it. Encouraging, practical, full of hope, and requiring the adults speaking into the next generation to engage, love, and study what and why we believe ourselves so we can pass it on to them, which is especially important in our current culture. Every parent, educator and youth pastor should own a copy.

Some quotes:
"The primary reason Gen Z disconnects from the church is our failure to equip them with a biblical worldview that empowers them to understand and navigate today's culture."

"If we do not consciously equip young Christians with a biblical worldview, they will unconsciously absorb the ideas of today's culture."

"We need to earn the trust to communicate Christian truth to them in a genuine fashion. And that trust is earned through investing our time and energy in getting to know them as individuals."

All throughout the book they give hands on and specific tips and ideas to try. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book For Leading Youth to Jesus

This was a very good book on getting youth into the love of Jesus.

An excellent resource for my own volunteering goals.

Would recommend this to parents too.

4.8/5

[Nick Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredible resource for any Christian who has Gen Z people in their lives. The next generation is so unique, and creates a unique challenge when it comes to educating them about the truth of Christianity. Overall, this book is educational, practical, and extremely helpful.

[Janet Milligan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very helpful book to understand how to share God with Gen Zers in ways that relate well with their unique life experiences. Great resources listed for preparing them for the faith challenges they’ll face in college and beyond.

[Tim Baumgartner · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an insightful book about Gen Z (Whose title comes from Psalm 78:5-7)!!!

There are two main sections:
Do You Love Me?
Will You Show Me?

The Preface is from Nick Foles, NFL Quarterback, MVP of Super Bowl LII, and author of Believe It: My Journey of Success, Failure, and Overcoming the Odds. He tells of being at the podium after winning the Super Bowl and wanted to share what teens need to hear as often as possible:

This victory is not my life and did not complete me. It was the brutal experiences along the way that had allowed me to be where I was and the love of Christ that had brought me to that point of victory.

I REALLY like how the book goes back and forth between McDowell and Wallace sharing their own insights and experiences. The Intro says, “If we care about young people, we’ll sacrifice for them because we love them.” Gen Z faces more challenges just one click away than previous generations did when they would look for it. It requires intentionality. These authors were VERY intentional in trying to help the reader to obtain practical advice regarding a wide variety of topics and issues–one of my favorite parts of the book, which is constantly utilized throughout EACH chapter.

They’ve both written books that describe WHAT is true and WHY we should believe it. This book is DIFFERENT. It’s for four groups of people:
Parents
Youth workers
Christian educators
People who love young people

Ch 1: Love Responds–Examining the Challenge Before Us
Young people in America and Europe are leaving the church at an unprecedented rate.
Wallace shared that during his first year as a pastor, he used his art major skills in their meetings: interactive, artistic, and experiential, incorporating music, imagery, and other sensory elements. They grew, but the results were terrible. Most walked away from the faith as freshmen in college.

5 Things learned from studies about this phenomenon:
The Group is Large
This youngest generation (AKA: Post Millenials, The App Generation, The Selfie Generation, Homelanders, iGen, etc.) is quickly becoming the largest–about 32%. Born roughly between 2000-2015, it’s advised to ask them all kinds of deep, important questions (i.e. What is most difficult to believe in about Christianity?) even at an early age. Be SURE to say with your words and actions that we are ok with their questions and doubt. Prepare for future conversations by anticipating their questions and researching on our own.

The Problem is Real
They are the least religious of all generations. In fact, the % of teens who identify as atheist is double than that of the general population. A variety of studies report that 50 to 70% of young Christians walk away from the church by the time they are in their college years.

The Reasons are Revealing
The most popular reasons from four different studies:
-I’m making decisions myself rather than listening to someone else.
-It no longer fits my understanding of the universe.
-I had a bad experience at church with a Christian.
-Evolution
-Science and faith are incompatible.
-Lack of evidence
(Most involve some sort of intellectual question, but a focus is also on hypocrisy).

The Departure is Early
Most abandon their faith while still living with their parents (We can’t blame college professors anymore). 79% said they left their faith during their teen or adolescent years.
The Future is Still Bright
88% believe in some kind of God, spiritual force, or higher power–even if it’s not the God of the Bible. They are willing to listen if we are listening first. In fact, listening is at the core of the solution. They are seeking reasonable explanations and authentic relationships–two inseparable rails that will lead us to a solution.

Most showed up to youth group due to it being a safe place to hang with people who loved them.

USC Sociology Prof Vern Bengtson’s massive study found:
Regardless of the religion, a warm relationship with the parents, particularly one’s father, is the single most important factor in faith transmission. Grandparents and the wider religious community is also key.
But kids need more than relationships. In uni, they will find non-Christian safe places.
In fact, their desire to chase their passions may be the driving factor in their decision to reject Christianity.

TRUTH ALONE is not enough EITHER.
We need relationships AND truth–the balance between justice and mercy, law and grace. (1 Thess 2:8.

Read books WITH them about their questions.

Invite them to anonymously ask any questions they have, and then address them as a class.

Here are suggestions based on the data:

Make a Commitment
Allow the sobering numbers to ignite a fire in your soul. We need to sacrifice comfort and our own desires to accomplish a greater work. See Colossians 1:29.

Start Early
According to statistics, young Christians leave the faith long before they tell anyone and usually before going to uni. In fact, one large evangelical study found that the median age of conversion was ELEVEN. This number appears to be dropping. We need to start earlier.

Take on the Tough Issues
Think of various questions.

Be Patient
Be patient if you don’t have all the answers, or if young people aren’t progressing as we would like. Just do your job. Study. Speak truth. Love them. The rest is in God’s timing.

Stay Balanced
Between truth and relationship.

Ch 2: Love UNDERSTANDS–Recognizing the Uniqueness of This Generation
One time, someone approached him at a Cru Staff training and asked how he was personally. He shared how his parents were, and the guy said, “No, I want to know about YOU.” This was particularly meaningful for Sean.

“A problem well defined is half-solved” (Josh McDowell).

1 Chronicles 12:32

It is more important to understand than to be understood.

Ask Gen Z, in a classroom setting:
What characteristics describe their generation?
Who are their most influential voices?
What makes your generation unique?
What are common misconceptions about your generation?
What are the collective experiences that help define your generation?
What is hardest about being a young person today?
What makes students in our school different from those in others?
If you could give leaders advice, what would it be?

What are the top 4 words that come to mind when thinking of Gen Z?

Millennials: Born between 1981-1999, formed by Vietnam War & assassination of John F Kennedy
Gen Xers: 1965-1980, formed by Challenger explosion, tearing down of Berlin wall & AIDS crisis
Baby Boomers: 1946-1964, formed by 9/11
YouTubers are the new stars.
Nirvana and Guns N Roses are classic rock

Observations and Findings of Gen Z:
They’re Digital Natives:
They’re the first generation raised swiping screens on tablets and smartphones before they could even speak.

They’re Researchers:
According to surveys, 33% of Gen Zers watch online lessons, 20% read textbooks on tablets, and 32% work with classmates online.
They can fact-check their parents (during conversations) and their youth pastors (during a message).

They’re Visual Multitaskers:
89% of Gen Zers own a smartphone, and many own one by the time they are thirteen.
Eighty-nine percent of Gen Zers own a smartphone, and many own one by the time they
are thirteen. ³ The most popular social media apps (Snapchat, Instagram, & YouTube) In fact, 85 percent of Gen Zers visit YouTube more than any other social media platform. ⁴ They’re also able to divide their attention repeatedly by multi-tasking between visual platforms. Eighty-four percent report multitasking on an internet-enabled device while watching television, ⁵ and Gen Zers have access to more opportunities to view visual materials (i.e., smartphones, televisions, laptops, desktops, and tablets) than any prior generation.

They’re Impatient:
Streaming video platforms like Netflix have eliminated the need to wait to watch the next episode of your favorite show, streaming music apps have created immediate access to your preferred music, and online merchandise sites with seemingly endless choices of goods have removed the inconvenience of having to travel to the nearest store.
…some studies place the attention span of Gen Zers at around eight seconds. ⁶ Internet industries understand this reality and have responded accordingly; Snapchat’s ten-second story limit and YouTube’s six-second pre-roll ads are just two examples.

They’re Racially Diverse:
There is more ethnic and racial diversity within Gen Z than any previous American generation, as this is the last generation in which most of the American population will be Caucasian. The first African-American president in US history was in office for eight of their formative years, and between 2000 and 2010, the Hispanic population grew at four times the rate of the total population. ⁷ While some Gen Zers may live in less ethnically diverse communities, they’re still able to experience diversity in an unprecedented manner through social media

They’re Fluid:
Perhaps nowhere is there greater fluidity than with issues of sex, gender, and family. Young people today have grown up with the reality of single parents, stay-at-home dads, couples choosing not to have kids, cohabitation, three-parent families, and same-sex marriages. Few believe there is such a thing as a “normal” family. Only half of teens today believe gender is defined by one’s sex at birth. Roughly one in eight Gen Zers describe their sexual orientation as something other than heterosexual. ⁸ And three in ten report personally knowing someone, most often a peer, who has changed his or her gender identity. ⁹ Formerly fixed categories of gender have increasingly broken down in the minds of Gen Z.

They’re Social Justice Oriented
Gen Zers are motivated by causes surrounding human equality. These include issues
related to poverty, human trafficking, refugees, and more. Gen Zers want to make a
difference in their world: 60 percent want to use their jobs to make an impact, and 26
percent of sixteen- to nineteen-year-olds volunteer for causes they support.^10

They’re Pragmatic:
Gen Zers have a realistic outlook on life… Fifty-eight percent of Gen Zers are worried
about the future. ¹¹ They are cautious and pragmatic. Compared to prior generations, for
example, they are less likely to drink underage and more likely to wear their seat belts. ¹²

They’re Overwhelmed:
In a cover story for Time magazine, a teenager named Faith-Ann described how
overwhelmed young people today often feel: “We’re the first generation that cannot
escape our problems at all. We’re all like little volcanoes. We’re getting this constant
pressure, from our phones, from our relationships, from the way things are today.” ¹³
More than two out of three teens today feel overwhelmed by everything they need to do
each week.^14

They’re Lonely:
Based on their online presence, most teens seem eminently happy. But this happiness is often a veneer hiding deep loneliness. In fact, according to psychology professor Jean Twenge, this new generation is on the verge of the greatest mental health crisis in decades. ¹⁵ She noticed a significant increase in depression and loneliness around 2012, the year iGen (her term for Gen Z) became high school seniors. And this trend crosses socioeconomic, racial, and demographic categories. Regardless of the cause, one thing is clear: there is a growing mental health crisis of loneliness and depression among today’s students.

They’re Individualistic:
Because of the explosion of consumerism in the 1960s, Baby Boomers are often re- ferred to as Generation Me. A 2014 Time cover story referred to Millennials as the “Me Me Me Generation.” ¹⁶ And this me-focused trend continues with Gen Z. They are arguably the Me, Me, Me, Me Generation. Whether in terms of religious choice, gender preference, or the basis for morality, young people today have grown up in a culture that places the individual as the highest authority. Gen Zers resist judging the moral choices of others, and individual feelings often trump facts (post-truth).

They’re Transparent:
Authenticity is important to Gen Z. Given all the possible sources of information available
to them online, they struggle to know who they can trust. They seek real relationships,
and they respect transparency. They know people aren’t perfect. Nearly 80 percent of
Gen Zers, for example, prefer advertising that shows real people in real situations. ¹⁷
They are less impressed with slick presentations or false personas; they can detect
exaggerations, inaccuracies, or prideful attitudes. The more transparent and vulnerable
a speaker or teacher is, the more likely he or she will be trusted by Gen Zers. They want
to hear personal stories that reveal imperfections and weaknesses, because they know
they have similar vulnerabilities.

They’re Post-Christian:
In her book iGen, Jean Twenge concluded, “The move away from religion is no longer piecemeal, small, or uncertain; it is large and definitive. More young Americans are thoroughly secular, disconnecting completely from religion, spirituality, and the larger
questions of life.” ¹⁸ A national study by the Barna Group in partnership with Impact 360
Institute found that only 4 percent of Gen Z has a biblical worldview. ¹⁹ But as we’ve
noted, there are still opportunities to share spiritual truths with Gen Zers. According to a
recent survey, many Gen Zers report that they view religious leaders as better role
models than celebrities, professional athletes, or politicians.^20

Three timeless principles we can apply as we interact with them:
Remember, every young person has a unique story
we must remember that no one is simply a product of his or her generation.
For example, social media is one of the defining characteristics of Gen Z.
In fact, many young people (for a variety of reasons) don’t use social media at all.
Focus on what we have in common
It’s simple–we are all made in the image of God (Gen 1:27).
We all know right from wrong (Rom 2:14-16).
We yearn for eternal life (Ecclesiastes 3:11).
We love stories.
We yearn for meaningful relationships.
Stay positive
While many use “optimism” to describe Gen Z, it amazes us how many offer pessimistic descriptions like “lazy,” “entitled,” “gullible,” and “selfish.”

***If you’re a parent, ask a few questions***:
If you had a day to do anything, what would you do?
What are your favorite memories of our family?
How would you describe our family to an outsider?
Are there some things that other families do that you wish we did together?
What are your favorite things to do with me?
If you were me, what changes would you make to our family?
Do you want to be a parent someday?
Is there anything I do that frustrates you?
What is one thing I could do to be a better dad (or mom) to you?

***Something Timeworthy***
What attributes of Gen Z were most eye opening?
Attribute:
-lonely
-transparent
-individualistic

How might this change the way you interact with them?
-be more willing to cry
-don’t post in group chats as much–share to individuals


Ch. 3: Love Relates–Connecting With the Hearts of Young People
When Sean was younger he told his dad he had lots of questions and is unsure of what is true.
Josh, his dad, said, if you follow the truth, you will follow Jesus because that’s who He is. Regardless, he said he would always love him. (63)

Truth is best learned and sustained in relationship…we have to teach, model, and incarnate truth in our relationship with them…this is exactly what God has done for us (John 1:14; 17:3).

*Something Timely*
Beware of “helicopter parenting”
Every failure is an opportunity for a young person to grow. We need to give them space to do it.

A Lonely Generation
Some studies suggest Gen Z may be the loneliest generation.
…young people have been raised to constantly compare their appearance and accomplishments with others, to fear missing out (FOMO), and to portray their lives as perfectly happy.
These forces can be crushing to their self-image.

…the loneliness of this generation stems from broken relationships.
But if they encounter the healthy relationships God desires (Mark 12:28-33), they will have the foundation or relational anchor.

If they are lacking, a vacuum ensues and the desire to fill it with relational counterfeit (i.e. addictions), such as:
Consumerism–if they just buy a product, their lives will be filled.
Busyness–likely because they don’t want to feel their emotional hurt & be distracted.
Pornography–accessibility and hormones are key, it removes vulnerability (asking girls out).
Social media–We need embodied relationships. A digital ‘like’ can’t relace a physical ‘hug’.
Video games–-can also become a counterfeit …to fill their hearts with meaning and significance… designed to subtly promise respect, community, identity, and control. [They] can be beneficial, fun and entertaining. We are all built for relationships, and when they are lacking, something will fill the void. Broken relationships are at the heart of why this generation has so many addictions.

Relationships Shape How We Seek God
As a young agnostic, Josh McDowell (Sean’s dad) set out to disprove Christianity and traveled internationally to museums and libraries. But his biggest barriers were relational and emotional. People spoke of God as Father, and he thought, “Why would I want that when my dad is a drunk?” It was through an accurate understanding of the character of God as exemplified in Scripture, lived out relationally with other Christians, that he could grasp God’s love and thus be drawn to the faith.
This fits what psychologist Paul Vitz calls the “theory of the defective father.” … if someone has a distant, harsh, or disappointing father, belief in a heavenly father becomes difficult–if not impossible (i.e. Bertrand Russell, Friedrich Nietzsche, Jean Paul Sartre, Albert Camus, and Karl Marx). There are certainly exceptions.

*Something Timeless*
To varying degrees, they will view the character of God and the Christian life based on the significant Christian adults in their lives. Consider two things:
-How deeply are my relationships with God and my father?
-How significantly are my relationships with young people?
Hopefully, these questions keep us on our knees in prayer asking for humility, love and wisdom so we can be faithful role models for the next generation.

In fact, sometimes increased access to information leads to greater skepticism. (70)
Many wonder what they can know and who they can trust.
There are 2 ways to build trust with them:
-knowledge
-relationships

75% of Gen Zers don’t want to let others down & 75% want to make a difference for someone else

10 Strategies for Connecting with Generation Z (Start with one, then use others):
Share Stories–both successes and failures

[Will Abrams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is intended for parents, youth leaders, and educators who are looking to impact Gen Z and beyond. It's fairly simple premise is to combine healthy relationships, worldview understanding, and apologetics so that kids have the information as well as trust that has been developed over years. You will find dozens of tips and next steps in addition to reading recommendations and more. This is a good book for anyone who belongs to the 3 groups I mentioned or hopes to one day.

[Nitoy Gonzales · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the question we often ask when we pick up a new book is: How do I apply this to my life? Another one is: how do I make an impact to the world knowing these truths found in this book? Often enough, books do have a sort of action plan included in the book. Those parts can be found at the end of every chapters or on the epilogue. However a few page of practical applications is not enough for some heavy truths we might learn from a book. I think that’s the task that has been laid to Sean McDowell and J. Warner Wallace in writing So The Next Generation Will Know. And they did an amazing job of pulling off a practical book that will compliment an apologetics book.

So The Next Generation Will Know is the latest book of apologist Sean McDowell and J. Warner Wallace. Renowed for their own works, they came together to deliver a book that will help Christians get down and dirty. The book is geared to basically everyone who wants to teach or already teaching apologetics in the church. It give you the how’s on teaching apologetics and mobilizing the Gen Z to live out and defend their Christian convictions. First, McDowell and Wallace opens your eyes to the reality that some Christians specially the youth are abandoning the faith through stats and personal stories. They also discuss how culture and social media shape the minds of Gen Z spiritually. Then they serve the readers practical things from Scripture and on experience. If noticed a side bar in almost all the pages of the book, it’s not just fancy after thought nor some trivial. If the main content is meaty, so is the side bar.

To be honest I’m not into books that has two authors. However this book is a exemption. McDowell and Wallace writing together in So The Next Generation Will Know is a match made in heaven. Aside from sharing their indispensable wisdom in apologetics which is already a great help for Christians, they have a unique background that makes the book even more interesting to read. We get to have glimpses to Sean’s moments with his father, Josh McDowell (the popular apologist) as he teaches his son living out the Christian life. Wallace on the other hand, let us peek on his life as a cold case detective. Different backgrounds but one mission: to help Christians connect to the next generation on defending the faith. For me that’s a runaway hit of a book.

You might ask: Do I have to get a book on apologetics to understand this? Of course and it’s a must. However if you have read one, read something online, already expose to the arguments in Christian apologetics or practicing it already, then I could say you don’t have to. If you forgotten what you have read or learned, So The Next Generation Will Know has some refresher points here and there. Nevertheless, this is not a book that will give you all the details of arguments about Christianity like the usual apologetics books. You have to get it from somewhere else.

So The Next Generation Will Know is a must read because of it’s accessibility and it reeks tons of practical advice on why and how we teach apologetics. If your apologetics book lacks or doesn’t make a connection in terms of applying apologetics to real life then don’t freet. This excellent book got you totally covered. One of my best reads so far this year.

My verdict:

5 out of 5

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

A helpful, practical guide to teaching kids and teens why Christianity is true. It focuses on methods and specific examples of how to teach Christian truths, leaving the reasons for Christianity to be covered by other resources.

McDowell and Wallace explain that you need to help youth with 3 Rs: reasons (how they think), relationships (who they're with), rhythms (what they do). I like their TAB worldview training model, which tells how to cover the areas of theology, apologetics, and behavior.

It's written for parents, youth workers, Christian educators, and others who want to help youth.

Notes
Love Responds: Examining the Challenge Before Us
79% of Christian youth walk away from faith during adolescent and teen years (many ages 10-17).

Youth are interested in spiritual things.

Youth are willing to listen to you if you'll first listen to them.

Love Equips: Giving Kids a Worldview That Brings Significance
Youth need 3 Rs: reasons (how they think), relationships (who they're with), rhythms (what they do).

Love Ignites: Developing a Passion for Truth
"The greatest threat to Christianity is found not in the arguments of the atheist but in the assumptions of the apathetic." Challenge isn't convincing youth that God exists or Christianity is true, but in getting them to care enough to talk about these issues.

For every "what" you offer, add two "whys." State truth, then explain why it's true and reasonable, by giving philosophical and evidential support.

Love Trains: Resisting the Desire to Entertain Rattier Than Train
TAB worldview training model: Theology, Apologetics, Behavior.

Love Explores: Providing Life-Changing Adventures for Students
Suggested TAB activities for youth (most to least demanding)
1. Surveys and conversations
2. Evangelism
3. Teach in family or class setting
4. Create video or blog post
5. Service project in neighborhood (home repairs, errands, cleaning parks, etc.)
6. Visit local university (conduct survey, evangelize, discuss spirituality with student group, etc.)
7. Spend time at non-Christian religious facility or community
8. Serve at local mission or ministry (rescue mission, soup kitchen, etc.)
9. Take a TAB trip (immersive focus on theology, apologetics, and/or behavior for 3-7 days)

Appendix
Resources
Curricula
• Evidence for Faith (course by Sean McDowell)
• Journey Advocates (course by Sean McDowell)
• Cold-Case Christianity
• God's Crime Scene
• Forensic Faith
• True You (Focus on the Family)
• Big Questions (William Lane Craig, Sean McDowell, et al)
• Understanding the Times
• I Don't Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist
• The Deep Roots Bible Curriculum
• The Case-Makers Academy
• 5 Things Every Teenager Needs to Build a Lasting Faith

Theology
• Theopedia

Apologetics
• Cold-Case Christianity
• God's Crime Scene
• Forensic Faith
• Is God Just a Human Invention?
• Ethics: Being Bold in a "Whatever" World
• Understanding Intelligent Design
• More than a Carpenter
• Evidence that Demands a Verdict
• seanmcdowell.com
• coldcasechristianity.com
• breakpoint.org
• reasonablefaith.org
• impact360institute.org

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this book a lot. I think it's an excellent resource for teaching teenagers to grow in the Christian faith. The authors raise a very interesting point that apologetics should be an important part of what teenagers learn as a part of their discipleship. For every "what" (theological truth of Christianity) that is taught to the kids, there should also be two "whys" that are taught alongside-- why is this true (apologetics that defends the validity of this theological truth), and why does this matter (how this theological truth contributes to Christian worldview, and how this worldview helps humanity flourish). The authors argue that when teenagers learn about discerning different worldviews from someone they have a good relationship with, they can have more confidence in the validity of the Christian worldview and become less likely to step away from faith.

Not only do the authors encourage teenagers to learn apologetics, they also encourage churches and Christian schools to organize events and mission trips for teenagers that requires them to serve as Christian apologists to communities holding other worldviews. The ideas is for teenagers to engage in extensive training for a couple of months in theology, apologetics, and appropriate Christian behavior when interacting with people they disagree with, and then send them. They believe that when the training has a tangible goal and purpose (a.k. participation in the event or the mission trip), the students will be motivated to receive the training and the outcome of the discipleship training will be more effective.

I am not totally convinced, because this is something I never experienced. I'm having a hard time imagining high schoolers getting excited about Christian apologetics. But this book definitely makes me want to at least introduce some age-appropriate books on apologetics to my own children. The appendix provided an extensive list of curricula, books, websites, conferences, and apologetics-centered mission trip organizers for teens. I'm probably going to go back to this appendix again and again in the years to come.

[Christen Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book and found it both encouraging and insightful. As a mom of 4, I felt inspired but not overwhelmed with the amount of information or teaching methods presented because every thing seems very doable. Throughout this book, I felt like my eyes were opened even wider than they were two years ago when my family experienced some rough hits from culture while living in Scottsdale, AZ. However, after I finished So The Next Generation Will Know I felt motivated that I can (and Lord-willing, will) lead my children to live a life that both honors God and adapts a biblical worldview.

So The Next Generation Will Know has empowered me to “make a difference” and I think it will empower you, too. As a parent and follower of Jesus, we need more Christian resources like this and influencers like Sean McDowell and J. Warner Wallace but for now, I will praise this book for the life-impacting potential it possesses for those closest to me.

If you feel discouraged by the things you witness day-to-day in the media, online or in every day life, I hope you will feel led to carry your cross and do your part to enlighten the world. As a millennial and a parent to four Gen Zers, I truly believe our culture is at a crossroads – we can continue on the path we’ve been traveling on for the last few decades or we can rise up and light up the world. In my heart of hearts, I am praying and working towards a revolution. I hope you and those in your sphere of influence will join me in investing in the young souls who outnumber the rest of our population.


* I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

[Jenny Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

A few years ago I read Ken Ham’s Already Gone which discusses the reasons why people leave the church, leave the faith, and how early in life it seems to begin. Within the last year, I saw So the Next Generation Will Know popping up in my Amazon feed as suggested reading. Glancing at the summary, I thought it was so similar to Ken Ham’s book that I didn’t need to read it. I already knew people were leaving the church and the faith, Already Gone confirmed it, so why would I need to read another book about it?

When I started watching Sean McDowell’s Youtube channel, my view started to change. I have already read J. Warner Wallace’s Cold-Case Christianity and was impressed with it. The interviews that Sean McDowell presented were very polished and well put together. So I decided to see what their book was about and if they could present any new information; and I’m glad I did. McDowell and Wallace write from the position of parents in America (Ham immigrated here from Australia) teaching youth either in church or in school. McDowell and Wallace present practical, daily ways in which to interact with kids and youth to help them form their worldview and possibly help prevent them from leaving the faith. Whether you are a parent, youth pastor, or teacher there are activities you can implement on a daily, weekly and monthly basis.

[Meagan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was required to read this book for my job.

This book has really good practical ideas to help young people understand what they believe and why they believe it.

I love that the authors discuss how some parents expect to drop their kids off at youth group so that they'll stay off drugs. Hello! It is not the youth pastor's job to keep kids off drugs, and if that's the only reason parents want them to go to youth group, that tells me a lot about the parents.

I especially liked the types of trips the authors discussed where the youth go out and ask other people questions about what they believe and why, and even engage with those who are atheists--listening to presentations, etc. If you want your children to be grounded in their faith, be ready to answer difficult questions and have conversations involving purpose, meaning, etc., and prepare them for challenges to their faith.

I did not agree with the phrasing "so the next generation will know." I'm not teaching my child about God so that his generation will know. I'm teaching him about God so that he will have a relationship with Him.

The other issue I had with the book is minor. I didn't like the passages in the margins. I felt as though I were being interrupted while I was reading.

[Lindsey Layton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think that this is an important, timely, and extremely practical book. As a Christian educator, most of what I encountered while reading this book wasn't "new" to me. However, I felt like the authors accurately assessed the needs of our current generation of young people as well as provided practical advice for how to address these needs in an intentional way. There was a heavy emphasis on equipping students with biblical worldview and apologetics. I think it is important to remember that these things alone are not the answer to all of our students' needs. My ultimate hope is that my students' trust would be in Jesus, and that this trust would result in love for God and others that is rooted in the truth of their biblical worldview that is able to engage their own doubts as well as the skepticism of others confidently. I appreciate that the authors recognized that at the end of the day, we are not the ones who change students' hearts. We are called to be faithful in teaching, equipping, and praying for our kids, while trusting that God is the author and finisher of each of their faith journeys.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent resource for parents and youth leaders. As both, I found the insight into the characteristics of GenZ to be accurate. It helped me see another way to do Youth Ministry beyond building relationships and having flashy services - giving students the opportunity to live out and share their faith through outreaches and mission trips. This book stresses the importance of training students in a Biblical Worldview through three key areas - Theology, Apologetics, and Behavior. Young people are capable of so much more than the current culture gives them credit for and the authors embrace that. As a parent of young children, I believe the information in this book will help me be proactive as I train up my own children, so their faith will be their own and they can become lifelong followers of Jesus.

I hope that soon they will release an updated version of this book. This book was written in 2019. All of the information on the characteristics of GenZ were spot on (GenZ are digital natives, have grown up with smart phones and social media, have major mental health concerns) but I believe the defining moment of their generation was the pandemic so it would be nice to have some updated reflections on GenZ and the challenges they face in a post Covid world.

[Jay Medenwaldt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I decided to read this book, but after reading it, I'm glad I did. It's a must-read book for youth pastors, teachers, parents with teens, and anyone else who interacts with teens. This book will help you understand their generation better, the challenges the face, and help you prepare them to become mature adult Christians.

The title of each chapter begins with the word "love" and discusses different ways to love Gen z. The first half of the book focuses on understanding Gen Z so that we can know who they are and relate to them better. The second half of the books gives a plethora of practical ways in which we can equip and train teens in the church to face the challenges of their generation.

I don't know of any other book like this one. I highly recommend it and if you're into apologetics or passionate about training youths, I'd suggest getting a copy for your youth pastor as well.

[Kristin Rogers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a different kind of book for me, but I appreciated their insight into stats and studies they present about Gen Z. I also appreciated how they address particular concerns this generation faces per studies and personal experience as teachers and youth leaders... they also present great care and for love this group of image bearers. It’s filled with loads of strategies...conversation starters, types of questions to ask and a call to really be in flesh and blood relationship with this generation. They speak to parents, youth leaders/pastors and teachers. I’m glad I read it.

[Olga · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant, must read for all parents, teachers, youth pastors, pastors, any one who loves a GenZer

God has equipped you to share and impact their thinking and ultimately they way they will live their lives.
Helping them understand important things like worldviews and how to cultivate and actively (effectively) nurture a Christian worldview. These are critically important in a world that is fighting tooth and nail for your young persons attention.
Many strategies, pointers, and practical steps.
Brilliant!

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book I've read on this topic. Written by former youth workers and apologetics speakers McDowell and Wallace, it outlines some guiding principles and best practices for passing the faith to the next generation.

Includes some good engagement with worldviews of our culture and insights about lifestyles of generation z.

Really good stuff in there about parenting as well!
My only complaint is that they talked too much about their mission trips to Utah, though their point was helpful that kids learn by participation and action.

[Rhea Sparrow · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had to read for work and did not like. Was published pre COVID, so many things felt outdated about genZ. As a GenZ girly, I was not the primary audience, but I also don’t know that I’d recommend this book to people. Just read the Barna Report on GenZ and look at research if you are curious. This book might be helpful to old people who are youth pastors at their churches, but it’s clearly written from a millennial/genx white male perspective and makes assumptions that are probably only accurate for white males reading it.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this look directed towards educators of young people. The layout style of "extras" on each page is distracting and NOT my favourite but the overall content was an helpful angle on best ways to communicate and relate to Gen Z-ers who are fully digital and questioning. A lot of it was just practical info as to how, in GENERAL, this current upcoming generation processes information and technology and views life.

[Brittany Lindvall · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is definitely equally directed at youth pastors/leaders as at parents but I still enjoyed it and their perspective was interesting. I appreciated that they start with the strengths and weaknesses of the Gen Z’ers and thought they made some good points in that section. I also got some good ideas from the last part where they discuss practical application of helping your kids/students know what they believe and put it into practice.

[Jodi Booth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Youth pastors and teachers in Christian schools might find this more practical than I did, but there's still a lot of good information as a parent. I'm thankful we already use every opportunity to talk about movies, books, shows, news events, etc. through a biblical world view. We need to up our game in having kids put their faith to the test on the street and on mission trips, but I'm feeling good about how we've prepared them to go out into the world.