Book Review: So the Next Generation Will Know by Sean McDowell & J. Warner Wallace

“I don’t believe that anymore” is one phrase Christian parents fear most. Unfortunately, Christian parents are hearing these words in greater numbers than before. Is there a way to help prevent these words from being spoken? Yes. And that’s exactly what apologists Sean McDowell and J.Warner Wallace do in their new book So the Next Generation Will Know.

So the Next Generation Will Know was written: “to show you how to teach the truth of Christianity to the next generation, the special challenges they face and their unique identity.”[1] Their goal is not to teach you what is true. Rather, they aim to teach you how to teach what is true to the next generation. That’s what makes this book unique.

Here are some quick stats of Gen Zers from the book:

·         33% believe gender is how a person feels, not their birth sex.

·         49% believe happiness is defined by financial success.

·         34% believe lying is morally wrong..

·         28% believe science and church teachings are complementary.

·         58% believe many religions can lead to eternal life, as there is no one true religion.[2]

The book is broken up into two sections: Section 1: Do you love me? Making young people our priority. Section 2: Will you show me? Preparing young people for the future.

Section 1 begins with a bold challenge: “Prioritizing young people will require us to defer our desires to do what’s best for them, even if it might be inconvenient for us at the time.”[3] They are exactly right. We as pastors and parents must never let go of historic, biblical truth, but we must let go of our sacred cows. That’s the “how” of it.

Section 1 provides a current picture of Generation Z and the uniqueness of this generation. According to the authors, Gen Zers are digital natives, researchers, multitaskers, impatient, racially diverse, justice oriented, lonely, and more. Their development of these traits is helpful in approaching this group with love and sincerity.

Section 2 contains some of the most practical insights on how to reach Gen Zers. Not to give too much away, but the biggest takeaway for me was the encouragement to provide two “whys” for every “what.”

As an apologist, I’ve challenged our church and others to know what they believe and why they believe it. The authors back this up. “If we want to increase the passion of young people have for God and Christianity, we’ll have to help students see that Christianity is demonstrably (and evidentially) true.”[4] The first “why” is the evidence for the truth claim. In other words, why it is true. The authors take it one step further by adding one additional “why.” The second “why” is why it matters. Many of us neglect this second “why.”

Throughout the whole book, the authors carve out practical insights and advice for pastors, youth pastors, parents, and educators.  

So the Next Generation Will Know is a must have for all Christian educators, parents, pastors, youth pastors and evangelists who desire to see the next generation come to Christ and hold tightly to their faith.

Pick up your copy of So The Next Generation Will Know on Amazon now. 

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[1] Sean McDowell, So the Next Generation Will Know: Training Young Christians in a Challenging World (Colorado Springs, CO: David C Cook, 2019), 26.

[2] Ibid. 85.

[3] Ibid., 24.

[4] Ibid. 102.