Paul wrote to Timothy instructing him to not be despised for his youth. But isn't that at least a little like what the church does to its youth today? Perhaps the church does not despise its youth, but isn't it at least a little dismissive of them? Instead of being integrated into the body of the church, youth are being entertained and occupied. What happens when they become young adults? The church has not prepared the next generation of Christians for their emerging adulthood years. Millennials and Gen Zers should be stepping into greater leadership and service roles in the church but are instead walking away from it altogether. Those who remain have been ill-prepared to endure in a post-Christendom society. There is a simple three-part message young adult Christians need to hear: Youth is no obstacle to Christ; the world is an enemy of God; and the best way to respond to this world is love. This message encourages young adults to commit to following Jesus now, prepares them for pushback they may face because of it, and instructs them on essential and practical ways to live in light of this hostility.
