You Lost Me Rough Draft
Introduction
David Kinnaman’s You Lost Me: Why Young Christians Are Leaving Church… and Rethinking
Faith discusses serious issues amoung young believers that detatch from their faith. David
Kinnman has done a lot of research and intervirews with young people. He looks at the
challengers this generation faves and features the rising disconnect between traditional church
and the current culture. Young people of this generation have experienved lots of changes in
technology, society and a;sp spiritualoity. Children and teens today do not know what life is like
without a computer or smart phone device. All of lifes answrs can be found in an instant.
Although there have many been changes and advnaces, a large portion of churches have not kept
up with the current culture. There has been a disconnect as the gap in understanding has grown.
There is a struggle to connect with the nect generation which just gets perpetuated to even the
next generation after that.
Summary
One of the issues is noamds- people who wander from the church becsuse their questions aren’t
answered or they are searching for answers and cant find them. Big questions about life and
Christianity weigh on their minds
The prodigals are ones who are tired of the hypocrisy and judgment they experience from people
in the church. It is hard to attend church when you see people preach one thing and behave
another way yet they are judgmental towards others. It is not that they don’t believe but they
don’t want to attend church because of the way people act.
The exiles- the young Christians who keep their faith but have a hard time finding community
within the church community. Need a sense of purpose to use their gifts in the church
This book gives church leaders, elders and parents the facts while presenting them with ways to
develop real relationships with young people by intentionally building relaitonships through
connection and discipleship. David Kinnaman brings many reasons to bridge the gap between the
yonger and older generations.
This book urges(find another word) to look at their dynamics and to look at changing their
strategies(use another word) to better communicate with the current culture.
Personal Response
Two out of the three issues I have experienved in my life and the third my husband has
experienced. My husband grew up in a strong Catholic family and attended Catholic school. He
was kicked out because he asked questions and the leaders did not like it. My husband was
“In a culture skeptical of every kind of earthly authority, where information is dirt cheap and
where institutions and leaders so often disappoint, we need God-given wisdom. Wisdom is the
spiritual, mental, and emotional ability to relate rightly to God, to others, and to our culture.”
David Kinnaman and Aly Hawkins, You Lost Me: Why Young Christians Are Leaving Church … and
Rethinking Faith(Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2011), 210.
justtrying to make sense of the practices because he was actually studying the Bible. As he got
older he becamse a Chrsitian and found answers to most of his questions. Even though he has
been a believer for many years, he is still learning, but now he isn’t afraid to ask questions
anymore.
I grew up as a ministers kid. I was in church my whole entire life. I was heavily involved in my
church until I went away to college. My sernior year of highschool I saw and experienced some
horrible things in my church home. My family and I were mistreated and it left scars for many
eyars. I have since let all that go, forgiven and moved on. But for several years, including college
and early to mid twenties, I barely attended church. I was in a religious major in college but I
could not stand the hypocrisy and poor treatment I received from other people professing to
follow Jesus. After I had children, I wanted to raise my kids in church and decided I wasn’t
unhappy with Jesus, I was unhappy with imperfect people who needed jesus.
I currently am experience the feeling of exile. I am the Children’s Minsitry Director at my
churchs so I am involved and known by most people. Even though I know everyone I have a
hard time connecting because I am always with the kids. Although that’s my job and calling, I
would like to make better connections and experience community within the church body.
Conclusion
Through research and interviews David Kinnaman has brought thought provoking issues to lifht.
These issues need to be addressed and the practives need to be reviewed. Just because something
has worked for forty years doesn’t mean it needs to continue.With a new generation, new issues
arise. This book focuses on solutions and change by offereing ways to fix this such as real
relationships and giving young believers ways to live out their faith and to make a difference. By
looking at issues that may have been overlooked for decades, it allows people to be honest and
have serious conversations that may require a change of action.
