The biggest problem facing preteens and teenagers is their view of Jesus Christ. The next generation is holding onto a “Little Jesus.”
It is convenient to view Jesus as small enough to fit in your pocket. However, the problem with this way of thinking is that if Jesus is small enough to fit in your pocket and only be pulled out when needed, then He is small enough to be put right back into the pocket and forgotten.
Preteens and teenagers have a weak view of the Messiah, and guess who gave it to them? You and me. We have lived in front of these students with a weak faith and an inadequate view of Christ. This weak faith is leading them to walk away from church at an alarming rate. Now, the view that we have passed on to them has put the future of their faith and the Church in jeopardy.
For a better understanding of the faith of preteens and teenagers, I encourage you to read this article on the research from the National Study of Youth and Religion at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
So what is the solution to this problem?
The solution is a “Big Jesus.” The solution is to help the Church—students and adults—to unpack who Jesus really is. Talk about it, teach it, live it. Do everything to help them see the full glory of Christ. When we find out who Jesus really is, it changes everything.
So, who is your Jesus—big or small?
How do we teach preteens and teenagers to view Christ as who he really is?
(Want to understand more about the Supremacy of Christ, start with reading Hebrews 1)
