Gen Z Speaks: Bridging the Generational Gap

Welcome to Peniel CrossRoads, where we embrace Jesus’s heart and together live out the call to biblical unity!

My name is Kyle, and I am currently a sophomore in college. I am thankful for the opportunity to share some of my perceptions as a young Christian! I want to share an example of how I’ve seen God connect the older and younger generations of the Church.

A few years ago, my home church hosted a Sunday class called Bridge Builders. The goal of the class was to combine the youth and older generations into mixed small groups. This gave the younger and older generations the opportunity to find common ground through faith. It was an amazing opportunity to combine the wisdom and experience of the older generation with the new perspective and fresh insight of the younger generation! This experience also built our church community, as I made so many new friends within the older generations of my church.

I have some main takeaways from this experience that I would like to highlight and share with biblical evidence to support them:

First, it’s clear that the younger generations and older generations of the church yearn to understand and connect with each other. However, I believe that the younger and older generations have different misconceptions of each other based on less-than-ideal experiences they’ve had with an individual. It’s important for both sides to make efforts to connect with each other. I believe that both sides are open to connection. It only takes ONE person to step out in faith and connect to change another person’s life.

Philippians 2:2 says, “Then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.”

Second, we need encouragement, encouragement, ENCOURAGEMENT!

The world has changed greatly since Gen X and Baby Boomers were young. Christian teens and young adults now deal with a lot of different pressures and new challenges. The greatest thing the older generation can do for the younger generation is to encourage them and love on them as much as they can. It may not always be easy--and they may not always accept it--but it is so important! One of the things I remember the most about the Bridge Builders class is how encouraged I felt by the testimonies of the older people who spoke to my group.

As 1 Thessalonians 5:11 says, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”

Last, empowering the younger generations will lead to cultural and generational change. One of the biggest things I see about the younger generations is a battle for their minds. The younger generations struggle a lot with identity, and the best way to combat that is to empower and confirm their identity, not in themselves but in Christ alone. It is important for the young people in the church to understand what they believe and why they believe it. The older generations have so much wisdom and advice to offer that can better the lives of those all around them. All of this encouragement and empowerment will continue to impact and positively influence the lives of young Christians every day.

Acts 1:8 reminds us, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Reaching the younger generation may be a struggle for some older adults. Even if it seems that young people want to be independent and have nothing to do with the older generations, this should not stop the older generations from seeking to encourage and love them.

by Kyle Neuber

Psalm 71:18 - “Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come.”

Father, You truly are our dwelling place for all generations! We ask You to inspire both younger and older to have hearts to encourage one another. Please begin, Lord, with me!

COMING UP: Next week we will continue the “Gen Z Speaks” series, inviting young people “who have not bowed a knee” to the spirit of this world to share words the Lord has given them.