So The Next Generation Will Know: Preparing Young Christians for a Challenging World

By Sean McDowell and J. Warner Wallace

It’s embarrassing to admit this – I have been a parent for just over nine years now but I didn’t start reading parenting books until two years ago.

I know. I am an avid reader and a self-proclaimed bookworm since I started reading back in first grade. I’m aware…it’s no bueno.

The irony is that my first seven years of parenting were full of many mistakes, distractions, and lack of intention mostly fueled by my three deadliest sins – impatience, selfishness and anger. Likewise, I didn’t fully embrace my role as a mother until a few years ago when I felt the Lord calling me to dedicate 2017 as a year to seek wisdom. Little did I know where my journey of seeking wisdom would lead me but ultimately, it began with accepting my position of mother to my (then) three young children.

The summer of 2017 also brought me an opportunity to unite my love of books and reading along with my passion for writing. The very first book sent to me to review was from Baker Publishing Group. It was called Fearless Parenting by Jimmy Myers and George Barna. If you’ve been following me for a while, you know this book fired me up and was one of my favorite parenting book to recommend.

In 2019 I was presented with a book I knew nothing about but was immediately intrigued by. It is called So The Next Generation Will Know: Preparing Young Christians for a Challenging World by Sean McDowell and J. Warner Wallace. Friends, it is sooooooo good!

It is similar to Fearless Parenting in that it uses culture and statistics to convey a message but it is different in that it offers practical ways to engage, instruct, lead and guide the next generation of image bearers. The book focuses specifically on Gen Z (roughly, children born from 2000-present) and is geared towards Christian leaders/pastors, educators, parents, and anyone who desires to change the world by training up and guiding the next generation of Christ followers.

The Next Generation Will Know brilliantly exhibits love about all things and uses each chapter to address different topics that are each wrapped in love – such as, how love responds, understands, relates, equips, demonstrates, ignites, trains, explores, and engages. Additional subjects include understanding Gen Z and their uniqueness, examining the specific challenges faced with parenting Gen Z in today’s culture, how to connect with Gen Z and shape their worldview, how to prepare Gen Z for the future, and how to effectively and intentionally disciple this generation, amongst many other themes and applications.

I absolutely loved this book and found it both encouraging and insightful. As a mom, I felt inspired but not overwhelmed with the amount of information or teaching methods presented because every thing presented seems very practical. Throughout this book, I felt like my eyes were opened even wider than they were several years ago when my family experienced some rough hits from culture while living in Scottsdale, AZ. However, after I finished So The Next Generation Will Know I felt motivated that I can (and Lord-willing, will) lead my children to live a life that both honors God and adapts a biblical worldview.

So The Next Generation Will Know has empowered me to “make a difference” and I think it will empower you, too. As a parent and follower of Jesus, we need more Christian resources like this and influencers like Sean McDowell and J. Warner Wallace but for now, I will praise this book for the life-impacting potential it possesses for those closest to me.

If you feel discouraged by the things you witness day-to-day in the media, online or in every day life, I hope you will feel led to carry your cross and do your part to enlighten the world. As a millennial and a parent to Gen Zers, I truly believe our culture is at a crossroads – we can continue on the path we’ve been traveling on for the last few decades or we can rise up and light up the world. In my heart of hearts, I am praying and working towards a revolution. I hope you and those in your sphere of influence will join me in investing in the young souls who outnumber the rest of our population.

* I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.