To ask youth workers, educators, and parents:
1. “When we heard that having a highly devoted faith, by definition of the study, meant relinquishing our comfortable, generic Christianity, we—like the rich young man who came to Jesus—went away sad.” (See Matthew 19:16-22). Dean points out that Scripture tells us neither the rich young ruler’s next move or ours. What do you think ours is? (page 186)
2. Dean exposes part of her own response to the NSYR. It revealed that many people have trouble seeing Christ in church. Dean admits that she often has “trouble seeing Christ in church. And yet—the church is where Christ found me, and it is where Christ continues to call me to serve.” She wonders if the problem is in church or in herself. Do you struggle seeing Christ in church? What is the problem? (page 186-187)
3. Imagine a continuum: on one end is frustration, on the other end is hope. Where are you in terms of your attitude toward forming young people in consequential faith? Are you closer to hope or closer to frustration? (page 187)
4. Read the responses to Dean’s email on page 188–especially Andrew’s response: “While the NSYR can give me numbers, I know the names of the kids who have found faith, and who have found it on my watch.” What keeps you hopeful about ministry with young people? What young person can you think of who will not let you give up? Make a list of the names of the students who have “found faith on your watch.”
5. Dean writes: “Those who want to succeed in American life, and attain high levels of visibility in it, will find that being theologically bland helps immeasurably. Yet the gospel is very clear: God wants to liberate us from being defined by these circumstances, so that we are free to follow Jesus regardless of the culture we call home.” How much is youth ministry at your church concerned with helping young people succeed in American life? How about adults? Does this get in the way of following Jesus? (page 192)
6. Respond to Dean’s closing words, referring to this statement: “What Christian adults know that teenagers are still discovering is that every one of them is an amazing child of God. Their humanity is embedded in their souls as well as their DNA. Their family is the church, their vocation is a grateful response for the chance to participate in the divine plan of salvation, their hope lies in the fact Christ has claimed them, and secured the future for them.” Does your church live alongside young people as though these words are true? Do you? (page 197)
7. What is the next step for your congregation, now that you have considered this book together?
