Relevant: The Church as It Relates to Millennials

By Tom Couser

Many millennials, those born in the last two decades of the twentieth century, have turned their backs to mainline Christianity. Young adults who grew up in the church have not followed the faith traditions of their parents. Tom Couser proposes that the churchs message is still relevant and speaks to the needs of millennials. In this book he examines the issues and obstacles that keep the church from being effective in reaching todays teens and young adults.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Feb 25, 2016
• ISBN: 9781512727944

Tom Couser

Tom Couser has over forty years of experience working with teens and young adults. He has served as a director of Christian Education, high school counselor, and coach. Today he is a husband, father, and grandfather. He and his wife, Barbara, live in Dallas, Texas.

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Copyright © 2016 Tom Couser.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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ISBN: 978-1-5127-2793-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-2795-1 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-2794-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016900965

WestBow Press rev. date: 1/26/2016

CONTENTS

Acknowlegments

Introduction

Chapter 1    Yes, We Have a Problem

Chapter 2    Grace: The Cornerstone of Our Faith

Chapter 3    Baptism: A Sacrament of Belonging

Chapter 4    The Lord’s Supper: A Sacrament for the Community

Chapter 5    People of Hope

Chapter 6    Obstacle: No Questions Allowed

Chapter 7    Obstacle: Lack of Compassion for the Untouchables

Chapter 8    Obstacle: Our Judgmental Attitude Toward the Broken and Lost

Chapter 9    Obstacle: Generational Ministry

Chapter 10    Obstacle: Underestimating the Impact of Millennials

Chapter 11    The Future Church: Life in the Fast Lane

This book is dedicated to the memory of

Larry Brandt and Jack Giles.

For sixteen years in the seventies and eighties I served two different churches in the Chicago area. Larry and Jack were two constants in my life. Larry and Jack served neighboring churches, but they were more than just friends or colleagues. They were mentors, modeling compassion and discipleship. I am daily challenged to carry on the legacy of these two giants in the field of Christian education. Their heritage continues to motivate me to pass the torch of faith.

ACKNOWLEGMENTS

A number of individuals have provided me with support and insights as I developed this project.

For fifteen years I was a member of Crown of Life Lutheran Church in Colleyville, Texas. Thanks to Pastor Dave Jung, and the rest of the staff for providing so many examples of how to pass on the torch of faith. I appreciate the permission granted to allow me to reference them in this book.

Thanks as well to Pastor Mark Couser and the members of the worship community at The Crossing Church—Dallas. The Crossing is a diverse family of believers. I especially value the missional lifestyle and the passion that all members have for the lost.

I also need to express gratitude to the DFW Director of Christian Education cluster. I look forward to our monthly meeting and your willingness to provide me with both feedback and support.

Lastly, I could not have completed this project without the help and support of my wife, Barb. During my sophomore year in college, I was on the verge of flunking out of Concordia Teachers College. I had very poor study skills as a result of never taking high school seriously. It was in spring of that year that Barb and I started dating. She was the first person to ever show confidence in me. We started a pattern. She would proofread and edit my major papers. Usually the original manuscript would come back covered with red marks, but I could always count on words of encouragement. It paid off, and by spring of our junior year I actually made the dean’s list. By the time I graduated, my grade point average was high enough for me to be admitted to graduate school.

Barb continues to edit and proofread my newsletters and other work. She also is an additional set of eyes when it comes to newspaper and magazine articles that relate to millennials. She has been supportive of this project and read the manuscript, offering suggestions. Thanks, Barb. You have been a blessing and an awesome partner in ministry.

INTRODUCTION

One of my favorite movies of all time is the Pixar cartoon Cars. Having grown up in Detroit, the Motor City, I have always been a bit of a car nut. I still enjoy going to the auto show each year, and I am a NASCAR fan. In the case of this movie, an added benefit was I could watch it with my grandsons. It’s one of those films I can watch over and over and still enjoy.

For those not familiar, let me share the plotline. Much of the movie takes place in the fictional town of Radiator Springs. The town is located in the mountains and canyons of the Southwest. It is a scenic spot that at one time was on the famous Route 66. The town was a popular stopping point for families traveling across the country. Culture literally went through Radiator Springs, but that changed when the interstate bypassed the town. The residents of the town had visions of improved business and were ready to welcome the increased traffic. They soon discovered those traveling in the fast lane had no time to visit their quaint little town. By the time the famous race car Lighting McQueen finds himself lost in the town, it has been reduced to a shell of its former self. The few eccentric residents still living there spend their time talking about the good old days and wondering why no one comes to visit anymore.

In many ways, mainline churches are like the town of Radiator Springs. At one time the main road of culture ran through the church. Evangelism did not need to be a high priority. People came to us as they traveled through life. Infant baptism and confirmation were part of the culture in many churches. Even if young travelers sought other paths, they eventually returned when they were ready. All was well because churches were vibrant and alive. But times have changed. Those living in the fast lane pass right by us without noticing.

Instead of a scenic town, we have a life-saving message. We offer people the gospel of Jesus Christ and the hope of eternal life. We have a great message, but nobody notices. What is left are many churches that are a shadow of what they once were. Sanctuaries are half-filled on Sunday mornings, and the numbers of children and youth are declining. In the process, it is easy for those of us remaining to gather around the coffeepot during the fellowship time to talk about the dwindling numbers and why no one visits us anymore.

*    *    *

The seeds for this book were planted in January 2014. I was invited to be one of the keynote speakers at the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod Youth Ministry Symposium. Joining me on the programs were Hilary Davidson and Patricia Snell Herzog, two members of the team of researchers who authored the book Lost in Transition: The Dark Side of Emerging Adulthood. I was assigned the task of helping the participants use the data and apply it to their situations. In my opening remarks, I noted that we have a life-saving lesson. In my opinion, it is a message that is still relevant in today’s culture. It is also a message that speaks directly to the needs of today’s teens and young adults. The segment of our society born during the last two decades of the twentieth century has been labeled the millennials. As a generation, they are vastly different from any group before them. They also will soon outnumber any other generational group. They are a voice that must be listened to, loved, and accepted. They are also a group that needs Jesus.

If our message is still relevant and is something they need, what is it that keeps us from being effective? While the first part of this book talks about the relevance of our message, the second half will address the obstacles that inhibit our attempts to reach millennials.

To put things in perspective, let us consider the parable