Engaging Generation Z: Raising the Bar for Youth Ministry

by Tim McKnight

Overview

A holistic approach to reaching Generation Z in your local church

To disciple the youth in student ministries today, we have to understand the unique characteristics of Generation Z, and apply lessons learned from recent decades of youth ministry. Pastor and professor Timothy McKnight brings a wealth of new insights, resources, and guidance for reaching today's adolescents.

Following an overview of the beliefs, attitudes, and practices of Generation Z, McKnight provides youth pastors and volunteers with a complete plan for discipling adolescents through the local church. This includes practical advice on topics such as:

• Engaging parents in youth ministry
• Holistically guiding students in their beliefs, behavior, and affections
• Equipping adult leaders who can serve as role models
• Working with pastors, staff, and church leaders
• Helping parents develop rites of passage for their children as they move into adulthood
• Raising expectations for adolescents to encourage them to grow toward maturity

Based on years of personal experience and practice, Engaging Generation Z provides everything youth ministers need to equip, grow, and encourage today's generation of young people to follow Christ, and to take their student ministry to the next level.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780825445934
Publisher:	Kregel Publications
Publication date:	01/26/2021
Pages:	200
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Tim McKnight received his Ph.D. from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the Director of the Global Center for Youth Ministry and Associate Professor of Youth Ministry and Missions at the Clamp Divinity School of Anderson University. He has served in the pastorate since 1991 with much of that time in youth ministry. He currently pastors Mosaic Church of Anderson, a multiethnic multigenerational church plant. Tim is also the founder of One Disciple, a ministry focused on helping people live, love, and lead like Jesus in every aspect of their lives.

Table of Contents

Foreword Greg Stier 9

Acknowledgments 11

Introduction: Every Generation Must Be Taught Anew 13

Part 1 Test Time: Does Youth Ministry Pass?

1 The World Has Changed, but the Gospel Has Not: Analyzing the Current Culture of Student Ministry 19

2 Meet Generation Z: The Next Great Generation 31

3 The Potency of Expectancy: Why We Can Be Optimistic 47

4 Truth or Consequences: Biblical Teaching Confronts Contemporary Practice 57

5 Entertaining Children or Assembling an Army?: Lessons from History 65

6 From the Parachurch to the Local Church: A Brief History of Youth Ministry 77

Part 2 Reinventing Youth Ministry

7 Teaching the Youth Well: Building a Ministry on the Word 93

8 Habitual Love: Stirring the Affections of Youth 109

9 Get Real: Sharing Jesus Consistently 123

10 Life Is Worship: Recalibrating the Focus of Students 135

11 Advice to Parents: It's Time to Grow Up 151

12 Meanwhile, Back at the Church: Staff Relations and Leading a Ministry 171

13 Rites of Passage: Seasons of Change 183

Conclusion: Raise the Bar 195

Editorial Reviews

Eager to inspire and activate your young disciples? Your search is over. In his this, author Tim McKnight coaches pastors and parents with real-life narratives from his training in the Army, from historical perspectives from his work as a scholar, and from his heart as a parent of young men. Most importantly, his wisdom and encouragement come from his time spent in God’s Word. Prepare to see your ministry and results change as you engage Gen Z.

Ken Coley

We do youth ministry best when we know our students and our Bibles well. In this book, Dr. Timothy McKnight combines a rich knowledge of Scripture with a wealth of insights on the experiences and perspectives of Generation Z to deliver a blueprint for revitalized and effective youth ministry. This is an invaluable and deeply encouraging resource for anyone navigating the intricacies of student ministry in our current context.

Greg Stier

I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know Dr. Tim McKnight’s heart for teenagers and student ministry leaders firsthand, which is why I’m excited about this book. You should be assured that it comes from someone who lives student ministry, and who has a deep desire to serve you, the student ministry leader. I’m thankful for Dr. McKnight’s contribution here in the effort to reach and disciple this generation of teenagers.

Ben Trueblood

As the largest generation, Generation Z is going to be shaping American culture for the foreseeable future—but who is going to shape the spiritual lives of Generation Z? In his new book Engaging Generation Z, Tim McKnight provides valuable insights and tools for developing a student ministry that will connect with and nurture these young adults in their walk with Christ. As a long-time youth minister himself—and now a pastor and teacher of youth ministry—McKnight offers the kind of practical guidance that can make an impact on ministry in the local church. This is a book that deserves the attention of pastors and other church leaders as well as student ministers.

Michael Duduit

Tim McKnight offers a great challenge in leading youth ministry to an ever-changing culture. Tim asks great questions to get you thinking, makes strong statements to give you a push, and offers great ideas to help advance youth ministry. Youth leaders and parents need to work through Engaging Generation Z: Raising the Bar for Youth Ministry, so together, we can raise the level of excellence for the students we serve.

Randall J. Davis

The vast majority of people who surrender to Jesus as Lord and Savior do it before the age of eighteen. Because of this truth, the youth ministry in every local church must be empowered and equipped to be the front lines of our evangelism and mobilization efforts. That’s why Engaging Generation Z, by Tim McKnight, is such an important and timely book. Let this resource help guide you in reaching Gen Z, because I truly believe they are the generation in which God could spark the next great spiritual awakening! Therefore, every pastor, next gen leader, parent, and student needs this book.

Shane Pruitt

In every era of student ministry, there is a resource that accurately assesses the landscape of the culture, identifies the unique characteristics of the current culture, and provides the practical insights necessary to faithfully serve youth and their families. In Engaging Generation Z, my friend Tim McKnight provides this generation's resource for ministers, leaders, and parents who are investing in today’s students. His balanced approach is biblically rooted, historically informed, culturally relevant, and practically instructive. This work will be the benchmark in student ministry for years to come!

R. Scott Pace

I've been in student ministry since I was a student myself. After 35 years, I realized how much more there was to learn about Gen Z when it occurred to me that my two sons were part of it. Thank God for Tim McKnight! He has been more than a trusted friend to me. He's become a voice in reaching Gen Z with the gospel. He is respected by his peers and those who lead teenagers (and those who influence them) as one of the foremost leaders in preparing youth pastors to disciple a generation that seems to be so distracted by screens and social media. But what Tim does in these pages is lay out a biblical framework for helping students see who Jesus is, understand the good news of his kingdom, and become true followers of Christ. This book is a gift to the church.

Clayton King

I read Tim McKnight’s new book Engaging Generation Z: Raising the Bar for Youth Ministry from cover-to-cover with this question in mind: ‘Is there anything new under the sun to inspire kids to love God and impact their world?’ He more than answered my question. The ‘raised bar’ Tim champions is the ancient wisdom of caring parents, rites of passage, strong, Christ-centered families, passionate youth leaders that model servanthood, a lifestyle of evangelism, and Bible-centered discipleship. The great thing about this book is that Tim demonstrates how to make that happen. Read it thoughtfully and be prepared to change your parenting and grandparenting.

Ron Boehme