Sermon Tone Analysis

intro

Millennials and

Church

I am 27 years old.

I was born in Dec. 1989, which makes me unquestionable a part of the millennial generation.

Millennials are the group of people born roughly somewhere in the 80’s all the way into the late 90’s.

Depending who you are talking to, it can stretch as far to the late 70’s and as far as 2002.

Being that we are now in 2017, something that must be realized and understood, is that only the last couple years of millennials are still at the collegiate level.

Most are young adults in their 20’s and 30’s very much a part of today’s work force, have begun families, and are for better or for worse contributing to todays society.

There are lots stereo types about Millennials, some you may agree with, some I agree with…some are just fact, but some can be disputed.

There people who say.

· They, referring to millennials, are lazy…they’re all still living in their parents home.

· They are tech savy.

If you are struggling mastering technology or just using the features on your new smart phone…find a millennial to help you (again these are stereo-types

· They don’t commit.

Whether its relationships, jobs, or living in the same place.

Millennials don’t stay tied down for to long.

· Millennials want to change everything.

Traditions don’t mean much to them.

They don’t have respect for their elders.

· They don’t go to church.

They don’t value any one religion.

Listen, I think with many stereo-types, there has to be on some level a little bit of truth.

We can find tangible examples to support each of those stereo-typical statements about millennials.

However I think its unfair to use stereo-types to attach a reputation that encompasses an entire generation.

Not all, or even a majority of millenials, are living at home.

There is a large percentage of younger millennials that are not yet financially independent which is an unfortunate side effect of a debt driven society…such as student loans and financial mismanagement.

Yes Millennials have definitely embraced technology because they were being raised in the beginnings of the internet and swift advancements in computer technology.

Suggesting Millennials don’t commit is a tough statement.

Some positives and negatives factors exist that may explain some of the truth to this stereo-type that does not speak for all millennials by any means.

There was large percentage of millennials that grew up without fathers, 1 in 3, according to one research survey.

The broken family model of single parents is something that has increased among millennial parents today.

Millennials do like to explore, and see the world.

However seeing a larger scope of the world and multiple job experience contributes to well rounded job experience.

It’s not as simple as the stereo type suggests, that they are just simply non-committal.

While millennials do embrace change, I think its unfair to suggest they they have no respect for previous generations as a whole….because

that argument has been made against every young adult generation.

“That’s not how we did it my day.”

However, I will say, there is something to be said when generationally there are mentors for growing young adults.

I’ve had several growing up and they have helped shape me and help me through life’s challenges.

The last stereo-type is the one I will take time to address.

Is there truth to the statement that millennials don’t go to church, and do not value religion?

For the remainder of my message we are going spend time addressing that question and if it is true, see if there are things we, as church-going Bible believing Seventh-Day Adventist Christians, can do to reverse this trend?

Before we go any further, lets take some time to pray.

Pray

Body

If you have your Bibles, please turn with me to .

Jesus, who was by all account a young adult himself, displayed many attributes that young adult millennials are ridiculed over.

Some might say He was the anti-traditionalist.

He always seemed to be moving.

This man of Nazereth doesn’t have the life experience to be preaching with such moxy (that’s a word you won’t find in the King James).

Jesus was discipling.

If the gospel was to go out, disciples were needed.

Young disciples, some who might still be teenagers.

He chose disciples with life experience, no doubt about it, but Jesus chose 12 young adults, today they would probably be millennials.

Verse 1 and 2 tells us he went up the mountain and was followed by the disciples, and seated himself.

Maybe he was tired, maybe he was simply teaching them on their level.

He begins the beatitudes.

Verse 3

3

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,

For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4

Blessed are those who mourn,

For they shall be comforted.

5

Blessed are the meek,

For they shall inherit the earth.

6

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

For they shall be filled.

7

Blessed are the merciful,

For they shall obtain mercy.

8

Blessed are the pure in heart,

For they shall see God.

9

Blessed are the peacemakers,

For they shall be called sons of God.

10

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,

For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.

12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Sometimes I’ve wondered what was so appealing about Jesus to the disciples, and when you look in the scriptures and read his words, I understand.

His words inspired movement.

His words began a movement.

Take for instance the first “blessed” statement, “blessed are the poor in spirit.”

Some of you might have different answers as to what exactly that means.

It means…blessed are ALL whom depend on God, no matter socio-economic status, drawing special attention to those in difficult circumstance both literal and spiritual.

That inclusiveness is appealing to young adults today.

(change slide)

That brings me to the troubling reality, according to Barna Research group, 59% of millennials that have grown up a regular attending Christian have dropped out.

And before you suggest that research doesn’t apply to Adventists, I’m here to tell you it does.

The Adventist church commissioned Barna to do an Adventist specific study on young adults and the percentages strikingly similar.

What is even worse among Christians is that of millennials who are proclaimed as regular or active members, 52 %have not been to church in 6 months or longer.

Essentially they still self-identify as Christians, but are not active in fellowship.

1/3 of those 52% say they do not see church attendance as important.

(Change slide)

Perhaps just as telling are the insights millennials who do say church is important which was actually only 20% according to the study, in their answers to the questions what do they believe is the point of church and why they felt it WAS still important, their top answers were,

“they go to church to be closer to God”

“learn more about God”

the lowest answers were:

the church is the hands and feet of God,

be part of a community

and the lowest: the church does good works in the world.

Those 2 top answers had most to do with a personal relationship with God, which tied to the fact that the answers of there parents and older generations who answered very similarly.