Faith For Exiles - Barna Digital · Faith For Exiles I believe living in relationship with Jesus is the only way to find fulfillment in life My relationship with Jesus brings me deep

FaithForExiles5 Ways a New Generation Can Follow Jesus in Digital Babylon

David Kinnaman &Mark Matlock

FaithForExiles

FaithForExiles

FaithForExiles

Digital Babylon &Resilient Exiles

FaithForExiles

“Jerusalem” “Babylon”* Faith at the center * Faith in the margins

* Monotheistic * Pluralistic

* Slower pace * Accelerated, frenetic

* Idol: false piety * Idol: fitting in, being up to speed

* Simple life * Bitter/sweet tension

We live in a complicated, accelerated culture.

FaithForExilesWeight of Digital Babylon v. Spiritual Input

n=1,514 18-29-year-olds who grew up as Christians | February 2018

FaithForExiles

Screens disciple.

FaithForExiles

Four Kinds of Exiles

18- to 29-year-olds who grew up as Christians


FaithForExiles

Christ followers who:

(1) attend church at least monthly and engage with their church more than just attending worship services;

(2) trust firmly in the authority of the Bible;

(3) are committed to Jesus personally and affirm he was crucified and raised from the dead to conquer sin and death; and

(4) express desire to transform the broader society as an outcome of their faith.

How We Defined Resilient Disciples


FaithForExiles

Experiencing Jesus

Cultural Discernment

Meaningful Relationships

Vocational Discipleship

Countercultural Mission

What Practices Distinguish Resilient Disciples?

FaithForExilesWhat Resilience Looks Like


FaithForExilesPressures Facing Today’s Exiles

Searching for Identity: Who am I, really?

Fighting Anxiety: How should I live in today’s world?

Experiencing Loneliness: Am I loved?

Harnessing Ambition: What’s my purpose?

Feeling Entitled: What matters beyond me?

FaithForExiles

Experiencing Jesus

Practice 1

FaithForExiles

Experiencing Jesus means clearing religious clutter for closeness with and joy in Christ.

FaithForExiles

Right now, what religious faith do youconsider yourself to be? Christian*

A follower of Jesus

A Christian

It’s Easy to Say You’re a Christian…


Identifying as Christian

Which of the following phrases best fits how you woulddescribe your faith to others? (completely or mostly)

ResilientDisciples

HabitualChurchgoers

Nomads /Unchurched

100%100%100%

61%79%

97%

58%81%

95%

* This question was used in part to define prodigals from the other three segments.

FaithForExiles

I believe living in relationship with Jesusis the only way to find fulfillment in life

My relationship with Jesus brings medeep joy and satisfaction

…but Less Common to Find Joy in Jesus


Finding Identity in Jesus Resilient

Disciples

HabitualChurchgoers

Nomads /Unchurched

90%49%

21%

25%48%

89%

24%51%

88%Following Jesus shapes my whole life:

body, mind, heart and soul

My relationship with Jesus impacts the way I live my life every day

25%41%

85%

FaithForExiles

I am

reen

ergi

zed

when

Isp

end

time w

ith Je

sus

Jesu

s spe

aks t

o m

e in

a way

that

is re

levan

t to

my l

ife

List

enin

g to

God

is a

big

part

of m

y pra

yer l

ife

Pray

er d

oes n

ot fe

el lik

e afo

rmal

rout

ine,

but a

vibr

ant

part

of m

y life

Talking with Jesus


ResilientDisciples

HabitualChurchgoers

Nomads /Unchurched

Prodigals /ex-Christians

85% 83%78%

64%

47% 43%48%

39%

23% 31% 21% 17%

10% 10% 12% 11%

FaithForExiles

CulturalDiscernment

Practice 2

FaithForExiles

Cultural discernment means taking part in a robust learning community under the authority of the Bible in order to wisely navigate an accelerated, complex culture.

FaithForExiles

Wisd

om fo

r how

to liv

e fa

ithfu

lly in

a se

cular

wor

ld

Wisd

om fo

r livi

ng w

ith p

eopl

ewh

o be

lieve

diff

eren

tly fr

om m

e

Help

with

livin

g wi

sely

when

it com

es to

sex a

nd se

xuali

ty

Help

with

livin

g wi

sely

when

it com

es to

tech

nolo

gy

Tool

s for

wise

ly m

anag

ing

my m

oney

How Churches Build Cultural Discernment

ResilientDisciples

HabitualChurchgoers

Nomads /Unchurched


Experiences at church, among those who attend


Question: Which of the following, if any, do you regularly experience in your church, parish, or faith community? Please mark any that apply. And if none apply, please feel free to mark that.

70%

56% 52% 50%43%44%

34%25%

20% 23%20% 17%

9% 7% 7%14%20%

11% 8% 12%

FaithForExiles

Bibl

e is t

he in

spire

d wo

rdof

God

and

cont

ains t

ruth

abou

t the

wor

ld

Read

ing

the B

ible

mak

esm

e fee

l clo

ser t

o Go

d

Bibl

e tea

chin

g I r

eceiv

e in

my

chur

ch is

relev

ant t

o m

y life

At ch

urch

I get

wisd

om fo

r how

the B

ible

appl

ies to

my l

ife

At ch

urch

I gain

gre

ater

love

for t

he B

ible

Bibl

e is t

he fo

unda

tion

ofall

teac

hing

at m

y chu

rch

Bibl

e is t

otall

y acc

urat

e in

allof

the p

rincip

les it

teac

hes

Bibl

e con

tain

s eve

ryth

ing

I nee

dto

know

to liv

e a m

eani

ngfu

l life

Building Lives on the Bible

ResilientDisciples

HabitualChurchgoers

Nomads /Unchurched


% who agree strongly with each statement


100%87% 86% 86% 85% 83%

49%44% 45%

52%47% 49%

29%21%

15%

26%21%

29%

8% 10% 8%15% 17%

11%

76% 74%

41% 39%

18% 17%

8% 7%

FaithForExilesHabits Matter: Resilient Disciples Digest Nearly

Double the Hours of Christian Content Annually

FaithForExiles

MeaningfulRelationships

Practice 3

FaithForExiles

Meaningful relationships means being devoted to fellow believers we want to be around and become.

FaithForExilesMeaningful Relationships


ResilientDisciples

HabitualChurchgoers

Nomads /Unchurched


The church is a place where I feel I belong88%

43%10%

5%

There is someone in my life whoencourages me to grow spiritually 31%

50%85%

23%

I am connected to a community ofChristians 7%

33%82%

7%When growing up, I had close personal

friends who were adults from my church,parish or faith community 31%

53%77%

27%

I admire the faith of my parents72%

45%29%

16%

I feel emotionally close to someone atmy church

64%30%

6%5%

FaithForExilesResilient Disciples Have Strong Networks


ResilientDisciples

HabitualChurchgoers

Nomads /Unchurched


I have at least one close friend I trust withmy secrets

83%51%

53%52%

When growing up, I had close personalfriends who were adults 60%

69%81%

62%I have someone in my life, other than family, who I can go to for advice on

personal issues 45%47%

77%

49%

My friends help me to be a better person 33%42%

67%

34%

I have friends and family who are honestwith me about my weaknesses

66%42%

34%33%

I am very content when I am by myself58%

41%37%

44%

I wish I had more close friendships43%

34%35%

28%

FaithForExilesThe Emotional Climate of Church


ResilientDisciples

HabitualChurchgoers

Loved and valued83%

50%

Like I am part of a family 47%76%

Connected with those older than me 31%65%

Relief from the anxiety of daily life 37%63%

Connected with my peers 62%36%

Enabled to deal with life’s challenges 59%32%

Understood for who I really am 54%29%

Supported by someone during a personalcrisis

Judged by others

Disappointed by the hypocrisy of Christians

Lonely and isolated

Not spiritual enough

54%28%

9%16%

11%12%

4%8%

10%14%

FaithForExiles

VocationalDiscipleship

Practice 4

FaithForExiles

Vocational discipleship means knowing and living God’s calling, especially in the arena of work, and right-sizing our ambitions to God's purposes.

FaithForExiles

I wan

t to

use m

y uni

que t

alent

s an

d gi

fts to

hon

or G

od

Chris

tians

are c

alled

to d

oth

eir w

ork w

ith in

tegr

ity,

no m

atte

r the

type

of w

ork

God

desig

ns ea

ch p

erso

n wi

tha u

niqu

e call

ing

for t

heir

life

I beli

eve t

hat a

ll the

wor

k I d

ois

impo

rtant

to G

od

I con

duct

mys

elf in

the

work

plac

e kno

wing

that

ot

hers

are w

atch

ing

me

My c

hurc

h do

es a

good

job

ofhe

lpin

g m

e und

erst

and

how

toliv

e out

my f

aith

in th

e wor

kplac

e

Vocational Discipleship

ResilientDisciples

HabitualChurchgoers

Nomads /Unchurched



94%89% 87%

82% 80%

51% 53% 56%46% 48%

31%37%

42% 32% 40%

13%17%

23%17%

37%

72%

41%

11%

7%

FaithForExiles

I bet

ter u

nder

stan

d m

y pu

rpos

e in

life

I hav

e lea

rned

to vi

ew m

ygi

fts an

d pa

ssio

ns as

par

tof

God

’s ca

lling

I hav

e lea

rned

how

the

Bibl

e app

lies t

o m

y fiel

dor

inte

rest

area

I am

bet

ter a

ble t

o liv

e out

my f

aith

in th

e wor

kplac

e

I hav

e rec

eived

help

ful in

put

from

a pa

stor

or c

hurc

hwo

rker

abou

t my e

duca

tion

I bec

ame f

riend

s with

som

eone

who

has h

elped

gui

de m

ypr

ofes

siona

l dev

elopm

ent

I rec

eived

gui

danc

e on

what

scho

ols o

r col

leges

to at

tend

I hav

e acc

ess t

o lea

ders

hip

train

ing

for m

y job

thro

ugh

my c

hurc

h

How Churches Shape a Sense of Calling

ResilientDisciples

HabitualChurchgoers

Nomads /Unchurched



Question: Which of the following, if any, have you personally experienced in your church, parish orfaith community? Please mark any that apply. And if none apply, please feel free to mark that.I h

ave r

eceiv

ed a

scho

larsh

ipfo

r col

lege t

hrou

gh m

y chu

rch

74%67%

57% 56%

43%46%

35%26% 29%

19%27%

21%14%

9%

24%19%

10%

13% 11%

40%

22%15%

14%

28% 25%19% 15%

9% 8%9% 6%

11%13%

4%4%12%

*excludes those who never go to church

FaithForExiles

Connecting Desired Careers with God’s Design for WorkVocational discipleship involves being aware of the career aspirations of teens and young adults in our communities, and helping them to connect those goals with how God de-signed work. Nearly half of teens and young adults are interested entrepreneurial careers. About half aspire to science-minded careers. And one-third say they’d like to pursue a creative career such as journalism, art, music, graphic design, culinary arts, fashion, interior design, and so on.*

Skye Jethani+ points out that, according to the book of Genesis, God ordains work to accomplish three things: to generate abundance, to bring order, and to cultivate beauty.

What if the Christian community helps young people to bet-ter understand God’s design for work and helps young Chris-tians push against the distortions of work gone wrong?

*People can aspire to more than one career, which is why the total equals more than 100%.

+See Futureville (Thomas Nelson, 2014).

Entrepreneurial CreativeScience-minded

Vocational Aspirations of Practicing Christian Teens

Three Ways God Designed Work for Good

Abundance

Beauty

Order

IG_4 Kinds - changedfonts.indd 2 4/26/19 13:37

(Unpublished manuscript—copyright protected Baker Publishing Group)(Unpublished manuscript—copyright protected Baker Publishing Group)

_KinnamanMatlock_FaithForExiles_KK_wo.indd 156 5/1/19 09:04

Connecting Desired Careers with God’s Design for Work

Connecting Desired Careers with God’s Design for WorkVocational discipleship involves being aware of the career aspirations of teens and young adults in our communities, and helping them to connect those goals with how God de-signed work. Nearly half of teens and young adults are interested entrepreneurial careers. About half aspire to science-minded careers. And one-third say they’d like to pursue a creative career such as journalism, art, music, graphic design, culinary arts, fashion, interior design, and so on.*

Skye Jethani+ points out that, according to the book of Genesis, God ordains work to accomplish three things: to generate abundance, to bring order, and to cultivate beauty.

What if the Christian community helps young people to bet-ter understand God’s design for work and helps young Chris-tians push against the distortions of work gone wrong?

*People can aspire to more than one career, which is why the total equals more than 100%.

+See Futureville (Thomas Nelson, 2014).

Entrepreneurial CreativeScience-minded

Vocational Aspirations of Practicing Christian Teens

Three Ways God Designed Work for Good

Abundance

Beauty

Order

IG_4 Kinds - changedfonts.indd 2 4/26/19 13:37

(Unpublished manuscript—copyright protected Baker Publishing Group)(Unpublished manuscript—copyright protected Baker Publishing Group)

_KinnamanMatlock_FaithForExiles_KK_wo.indd 156 5/1/19 09:04

FaithForExiles

CounterculturalMission

Practice 5

FaithForExiles

Participating in countercultural mission means serving as a faithful presence by trusting in God’s power and living differently from cultural norms.

FaithForExilesResilient Disciples Have a Deep Sense of

Mission


ResilientDisciples

HabitualChurchgoers

Nomads /Unchurched


I want others to see Jesus reflected in methrough my words and actions 29%

50%90%

11%

I, personally, have a responsibility to tellothers about my religious beliefs 11%

34%76%

7%

I am excited by the mission of the churchin today’s world 8%

32%67%

5%

A major part of my purpose in life is toserve others

66%35%

20%21%

FaithForExiles

49%

56%

64%

73%

How Churches Contribute to CounterculturalMission Part 1


Courage to live my faith in public

Courage to tell others about what I believe

Wisdom for living with people who believedifferently from me

Preparation for having difficultconversations with others

What resilient disciples experience at church

Building Courage & Readiness


Prayer specifically for the challenges ofliving faithfully in a post-Christian culture 55%

FaithForExilesHow Churches Contribute to Countercultural

Mission Part 2


I better understand the needs of the poor 65%I had the opportunity to serve the poor

in my community 58%I have found a cause or issue that I’m

passionate about 53%I better understand what is happening for

the poor globally 50%

I better understand social justice 44%I better understand the needs of

marginalized people 37%


Stoking Compassion


FaithForExiles

48%

57%

73%

How Churches Contribute to CounterculturalMission Part 3


I am given real chances to contributeto my church

I have learned what it feels like to be partof a team

I have access to leadership training forministry through my church


Giving Real Opportunities to Contribute


FaithForExiles

• Exiles live for the sake of others.

• Exiles take epic risks for the sake of what’s right.

• Exiles make prayer a mission.

• One mandate for exiles is faithfulness, or holiness.

• God is at work for good, even in exile.

• Exiles find their home in God himself.

What We Can Learn from Exiles

FaithForExiles

Exiles are instrumental to God’s purposes in times of change.

FaithForExiles5 Ways a New Generation Can Follow Jesus in Digital Babylon

David Kinnaman &Mark Matlock

Documents

Faith For Exiles - Barna Digital · Faith For Exiles I believe living in relationship with Jesus is the only way to find fulfillment in life My relationship with Jesus brings me deep