All Christian adults have the God-given responsibility of training up the younger generation in their faith. This call extends to even those who do not have a child of their own. In order to make an impact on the life of a 20-something, a personal relationship has to first be built. Peter and Kelli Worrall say that this is one of the 20 things to tell your 20-something self.
“When we are entering into relationship, when we first sit down with them and hear about what they’re struggling with and where they are spiritually, it opens a door.
Personal relationships provide the opportunity for Peter and Kelli to speak into the lives of young people and show that they care about them as a person, and not just a project.
When Peter mentors a young person, he first determines if they actually put their money where their mouth is.
“Where does your money go to? Where is your time spent? Because you say you’re interested in God and the church but you’re never there. So how does that match up?”
Christians of all ages will often say that they love God, but they aren’t actually following Christ. Building a relationship with a young person will enable you to ask the tough questions and effectively challenge their convictions.
“Many Christians in their 20’s don’t have a Christian worldview in practice, they actually have something that’s post-Christian with echoes of Christianity.”
Peter says that often 20-something Christians operate from a deistic worldview that sees God as impersonal.
“God exists but He never really quite touches down into life. He’s a therapeutic God I go to when I feel bad about my decisions I’ve already made, and then He kind of puts a salve on it, He takes care of me, He patches me up.”
As Christians, we know that this view of God is flawed. Sadly, many Christians live their lives with this impression of God and they miss out on the personal relationship that is available to all Christians. Is there a 20-something in your sphere of influence whose life you could impact? Ask God to show you how you can use what you’ve learned in your faith journey to impact the next generation.
Key Scriptures: Isaiah 43; Habakkuk 1:5
Featured Songs: Grace Wins by Matthew West; Dear Younger Me by MercyMe; Impossible by Building 429
Highlight : Helping millennials cultivate a true biblical worldview
