Aim it at the teens

Just got back from preaching at the gig which I turned up at last night, finally got there with me and a congregation tonight!
It was a Eucharist specifically aimed at young people and I prepared accordingly. As it happened there were a vast range of ages there but I spoke specifically in a way that would engage the teens. Really good evening and the teens were involved in the service including all the music, readings and the like.
The Bloggable bit is this: Great reaction from the adults, they were really really enthusiastic about the preach. It seems to me that adult-format sermons impact some of the adults and none of the teens. A teen-format sermon engages the teens and a lot of the adults.
I know that this is a huge generalisation but look at how many adults turn up to youth-led services! Why?

2 Replies to “Aim it at the teens”

  1. Here’s a theory. The adults know what it’s like to be a teenager, so probably find youth type services vaguely familiar, or at least relatable-to. The teenagers, on the other hand, don’t know what it’s like being an adult, and so the reverse is true for them. Aside from that, youth services are always more fun – fact. And any adult who tells you that they’d rather have a serious and more theologically challenging sermon rather than one which deliberately engages them in culturally relevant ways is probably fibbing. And, of course, “culturally relevant” shouldn’t mean “not theologically challenging”. P.S. ‘Cool but weird’ shall be updated soon – am having a small period of blogger’s block. Added to this, I have a 3rd year dissertation to be planning!

  2. Aim it at the teens
    can’t speak for all adults but most feel insecure about what’s being taught these days and I am this intimidating for the teens for there too many adults there , like we’re being censored man. Because the adults wants to be involved for a couple of reasons ,and nunmber # 1 is they’re still a kid themselves with lots of mixed up fellings, so their inner kid gets ministered to too and allow to grow up.

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