18 to 29-year-olds that grew up as Christians
22% are Prodigals
30% are Nomads
38% are Habitual Churchgoers
10% are Resilient Disciples
5 PRACTICES OF RESILIENT DISCIPLES
1. THEY EXPERIENCE INTIMACY WITH JESUS WHICH FORMS A RESILIENT IDENTITY
2. DEVELOP MUSCLES OF CULTURAL DISCERNMENT IN A COMPLEX AND ANXIOUS CULTURE
3. THEY BUILD MEANINGFUL, INTERGENERATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS
4. THEY ARE MOTIVATED AND TRAINED FOR VOCATIONAL DISCIPLESHIP
But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.” 1 Peter 2:9-10 NLT
‘A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. ‘ 1 Corinthians 12:7 NLT
“A SPIRITUAL GIFT IS A SPECIAL SUPERNATURAL ABILITY THAT GOD GIVES TO EACH OF HIS CHILDREN SO THAT TOGETHER WE CAN ADVANCE HIS PURPOSES IN THIS WORLD.” -PASTOR CHRIS HODGES
“Our souls are not hungry for fame, comfort, wealth, or power. Those rewards create almost as many problems as they solve. Our souls are hungry for meaning, for the sense that we have figured out how to live so that our lives matter, so that the world will be at least a little bit different for our having passed through it.” Rabbi Harold Kushner
Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 NLT
‘In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. Romans 12:6 NLT
FOUR LIVED TRUTHS OF A VOCATIONAL DISCIPLE
1. I CLEARLY SEE HOW THE WORK I AM DOING SERVES GOD
2. I FIND PURPOSE AND MEANING IN THE WORK I DO
3. AS A CHRISTIAN, IS IMPORTANT TO MOLD THE CULTURE OF MY WORKPLACE
4. I AM DRIVEN TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD
Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward. Colossians 3:23-24 NLT
1. WE HAVE TO DISCOVER OUR WHY
‘You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.’ Psalms 139:13-14 NLT
“Humans were made to have meaning. Without purpose, life is meaningless. A meaningless life is a life without hope or significance. This is a profound statement and one that everyone should spend time pondering. God gives purpose. Purpose gives meaning. Meaning gives hope and significance. There is awesome truth contained within that logic.” Rick Warren
QUESTION 1: WHAT DO YOU CRY ABOUT?
QUESTION 2: WHAT DO YOU SING ABOUT?
“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
QUESTION 3: WHAT DO YOU DREAM ABOUT?
2. WE UNDERSTAND SUSTAINABLE INFLUENCE IS BASED ON CHARACTER NOT TALENT
You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. Matthew 5:14,16 NLT
MARK 1: A WISE PERSON TRUSTS IN GOD
MARK 2: A WISE PERSON WALKS IN HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS
MARK 3: A WISE PERSON SEEKS GOOD COUNSEL
MARK 4: A WISE PERSON USES WORDS WISELY
MARK 5: A WISE PERSON EXERCISES SELF-CONTROL
MARK 6: A WISE PERSON MANAGES THEIR RESOURCES
MARK 7: A WISE PERSON LIVES IN PEACE
3. WE UNDERSTAND WE ARE STRONGER TOGETHER
He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. Ephesians 4:16
4. WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WHERE WE ARE AT AND WE GROW INTO WHERE DESIRE TO BE.