How To Form Lasting Faith In The Next Gen 💬

Next Generation Discipleship

Matt Markins is the CEO of Awana and co-founder of the Child Discipleship Forum

They have been researching lasting faith and spiritual formation among children and adolescents over the last number of years and found that when these factors are present in environments the likelihood of lasting faith increases. 

Here are 3 primary factors that form lasting faith shared by Matt Markins via the youngadultstoday podcast: (listen here) (watch here)

The life of Jesus is a remarkable model for discipleship: 

Highly Relational: Fostering environments where kids belong are loved, seen, and known. 

Deeply Scriptural: Commitment to believing the Word of God just like Jesus continually brought the Old Testament back into the conversation.

Truly Experiential: Mobilizing young people to become who God has called them to be and demonstrating ways that they can live out their faith in the world around them.

Reflection + Discussion Question: 

• Which of these have you experienced in your own discipleship journey? 
  

• What other factors would you add that need to be present for successful discipleship?
  

• Do you think the order of these matters? Which do people experience first? 
  

• What else are you learning about spiritual formation? I'd love to hear from you - comment on this blog post, share it with your network, or send me a comment!