“Certainly not MY sermon!” – Yep, Princeton Seminary PhD candidate Stephen Cady says he was just as shocked to discover this – and other things – about the spirituality of young people.
When Stephen embarked on his research – to discover where high school aged young adults find God in worship – he never expected nearly all the responses to say, ‘Actually, I don’t.’
In this interview, Stephen unpacks the motives and messages behind this eye-opening research that will really help us better minister to and with younger people.
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Synopsis
What are young people looking for in church? Stephen Cady says – weight. It’s relevance, it’s challenge, and it’s unpacked in this interview. Here are my notes:
What Young People Really Want
Stephen says it’s the same thing their parents want: help understanding what it means to be human – and a Christian – in the world. Churches that do this well, do their youth, and congregation, well.
Intergenerational Worship is KEY
Stephen says the most helpful move any church can make is to get all ages into one service, every Sunday. Ministering to youth means caring for youth – and it’s harder to do when they’re not there.
Dreading the Sermon
100% of the young people Stephen polled said they dreaded the sermon because it so rarely had anything important to say to them. Stephen says preachers need to 1) be conscious that young people are listening, 2) give ‘weight’, and 3) be authentic and passionate.
About Stephen Cady
Stephen Cady is a doctoral candidate at Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, NJ where he is finishing a PhD in Christian Education and Formation. Stephen’s research focus is in the role of congregational worship practices in the faith formation of youth and young adults. Stephen has been named a Timothy Scholar by the United Methodist Foundation for Evangelism, was twice the recipient of a Dempster Fellowship through the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, and is a John Wesley Fellow.
Stephen is an ordained Elder of the United Methodist Church currently serving on the pastoral staff of Asbury First United Methodist Church in Rochester, NY. Stephen has also served churches in New Jersey and Illinois. He holds degrees from Ohio Wesleyan University and Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. Stephen grew up in Olathe, KS , he and his wife, Emily, have two small children. He enjoys running, collecting Superman memorabilia, and teaching people how to yo-yo.
Books Stephen Recommends
Book, Bath, Table and Time – Fred Edie
Choosing Church – Carol Lytch
Almost Christian – Kenda Creasy Dean
Sponsors I Mentioned
Turnaround 20/20 – Learn from experts who have conquered obstacles to growth and watched God turn things around. Turnaround 20/20 is a unique congregational development conference that brings together 20 experts who speak for 20 minutes each. People like Nelson Searcy, Charles Arn, George Hunter, and Elmer Towns will focus on a specific area of congregational development and are out to spark new ideas and innovations for you and your church. Turnaround 20./20 is Tuesday, October 23 in Nashville, TN.
I think you are missing a major point, in that kids (and adults) have the misguided idea that church time is “their” time, instead of a sacrifice of praise.
I personally have wanted to smack folks upside their thick skulls (especially my fellow Catholics) who say something as ridiculous as “I just wasn’t getting anything out of it” (granted,for us Catholics it’s an even worse statement, as we are being fed on the very body and blood of Christ)
We Americans are so selfish, that while even though God only asks us for a lil’ over one hour of one day, we still think it’s about us….but Christ dies to give us that time, and we should die to self to return the gift . . .and we should be teaching our kids that truth as well.
You are so right Michael – our consumeristic age has certainly become part and parcel of the NA Church -
I couldn’t agree less. Surely God wants 168 hours a week from us, in one form or another, and the one hour on Sunday morning is not likely the most important.
As for how we should approach worship — well, “a sacrifice of praise” is one possible metaphor, and I’m all for praising God. But as soon as a sermon becomes part of the program, that’s not praise, that’s education, and it should be judged on its effectiveness in reaching its audience. Or, as in this case, lack of effectiveness.
Well done. Mr. Cady is pursuing work that is difficult and important. Those who would prefer to smack the recalcitrant upside the head, or to toss out those who don’t eagerly give over their one hour per week (or per day or per whatever), may feel free to remain frustrated and angry instead.
Thanks for this. It’s great that people such as you are conducting this kind of research and getting people to face up to where young people are at.
A resource that has helped me as a parent of three boys who often seem disenchanted with church is this book by Gavin Calver from the UK, Disappointed with Jesus? Why do so many young people give up on God? …
… http://www.amazon.co.uk/Disappointed-With-Jesus-Young-People/dp/1854249800/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345669659&sr=8-1
This is a must read, compelling book for anyone who’s wondering how to keep their children or young people engaged in church life and pursuing Jesus.
Thanks for the resource Annie