The (Not-So-Secret) Secret to Reaching the Next Generation

The message of this book needs to be read by teachers, parents, and students. So foundational to Christian education!

Excellent, concise essay. Kevin DeYoung warns against trying to be like the culture and provides Biblical recommendations to reach young people"Grab them with passion. Win them with love. Hold them with holiness. Challenge them with truth. Amaze them with God."

This is an interesting format that seems tailored for today's generation of short video consumption, but in a book form. The book gives you some decent insight into Gen Z and Gen Alpha who are a critical generation to reach. The content is 25 pages of a small book so the read is fast and then you can pass it on to those in your circle who are also interested in reaching the next generations.

I like most everything I read by Kevin DeYoung, so I thought I'd pick this up too, though I don't have children. I was surprised at how small a book it is - it's more of a booklet. I would call it almost devotional content for parents. A lot of it is about the relational nature of creating Christ-following children. Naturally a lot of the work needs to be work on ourselves as adults, modelling the things we want to share and being sincere and good, well, parents. That's my main takeaway for this quick read - you need close relationships to impart this stuff.

Great book and timely food for thought about the next generation.

This could be the summary of a long conversation over coffee. I enjoyed it, but was taken back by it's brevity.

I highly recommend it! It will take 20 minutes of your time to read the entire book. Yes, it is short, but it is meaty and to the point. This book will tell you biblically what our teenagers need in the church. Really, it is quite simple, but sometimes not so easy.The reason he wrote this book is because he kept getting asked how do you reach the next generation in your church. He kept thinking it is easier and harder than you think. “It’s easier because you don’t have to get a degree in postmodern literary theory or go to a bunch of stupid movies. You don’t have to say sweet or bling or know what LOL or IMHO means…. You just have to be like Jesus. That’s it. So the easy part is you don’t have to be with it. The hard part is you have to be with Him. If you walk with God and walk with people, you’ll reach the next generation.”The rest of the book he gives five suggestions to those that want to help reach the next generation: Grab them with passion, win them with love, hold them with holiness, challenge them with truth, and amaze them with God. These five things are explained, along with Scripture, to back up how he came up with those five things.I have so many highlights throughout the book, probably half the book, but again, remember the book is short at about 48 pages. Here are just a few that really stuck out to me: We would do well to pay attention to Romans 12 Young people want to see that our faith actually matters to us. The evangelical church needs to stop preaching the false gospel of cultural identification. Robert Murray M’Cheyne said, “My people’s greatest need is my personal holiness.” If we are holy, we will be fruitful. Personal connections with growing Christians are what the next generation needs more than ever.” Why can’t preachers learn that shallow and superficial preaching doesn’t help anybody, including people like us who weren’t Christians.” We can reach them with something more lasting and more powerful than gimmicks, gadgets, and games. We can reach them with God. Reaching the next generation for God by showing them more of God.I do think that this a book that every pastor, parent, youth worker, and teacher should read to help reach the young and help them in their faith journey. Especially before they leave home.I have read most of Mr. DeYoung’s books and would recommend any of those also. He knows how to write, and he knows Scripture.

I'm a KDY fan already, so maybe I'm a little biased, but I found this to be a rather informative and well composed read with some great insights. Definitely worth the read for those in ministry.

This book packs a punch. But it is pretty expensive for the 20 minutes it took to read. I would’ve loved to see the points expanded on. And the title is correct, all of this info isn’t new. Books like purpose driven youth, growing young and welcoming the future church all have covered this. But I really loved the passion put into this. Take this book and apply it as quick as you can

Kevin DeYoung is just such a brilliantly clear writer. He pulls no punches but adds no smoke and mirrors. This was perhaps a little overpriced, as I assumed it was a full size paperback, but it is sized smaller and has fewer pages. Most people could read through this in one sitting in about half an hour - but it will be half an hour well spent! Still worth recommending.