Sharing Christ with a digital and diverse generation
May 31, 2025 | Berrien Springs, Michigan, United States | Rodney Palmer, Adventist Review
In giving the Great Commission, Jesus charged the disciples to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matt. 28:19, 20, NIV). This command has not changed, but every generation presents new challenges in carrying out this gospel mandate. One such generation with which the church must effectively share the gospel is Generation Z (Gen Z), which James Emery White describes as “the most influential religious force in the West and the heart of the missional challenge facing the Christian church.”1
Who are they?
Born roughly between the mid-1990s and early 2010s,2 Gen Z “is the most racially and ethnically diverse generation of American adults to date. Not only do more identify as Black, Hispanic, or Asian, but there are more multiracial Gen Zers than in any previous generation. Gen Z will likely be the last generation where any one racial group is in the majority in the United States.”3 This generation is described as digital natives because they were exposed to the internet and digital devices from a tender age. Their tech-savvy upbringing has significantly influenced their communication style, learning patterns, and information consumption habits. Unlike previous generations who might have been closely tied to Christian values, Gen Z is less likely to have a Christian background and may not feel strongly connected to traditional religious institutions, such as churches. Gen Z identifies as spiritual, prioritizing a personal relationship with God or a transcendent being over adherence to a structured set of beliefs, practices, rituals, or formalized religion.
Reaching Gen Z with the gospel
Based on the characteristics of Generation Z, there is an obvious need for an intentional strategy to communicate the gospel to them. The church must go beyond traditional methods to reach this generation while maintaining sound biblical principles.
Establish authentic relationships: Gen Z is known for its authenticity-seeking nature, and it’s only through genuine relationships and personal connections that the church can build and maintain trust with this generation. These authentic and intentional connections open the door to sharing the gospel in a way that resonates with them. One of the best ways to do this is by creating a space where they feel safe to ask tough questions—without worrying about being judged. Barna advises, “Churches must be a safe haven for wrestling with doubts and difficult questions, a place where the next generation can seek truth and learn together.”4 Furthermore, although Gen Z dedicates much of their time to establishing online connections, they still crave in-person human connections. Many of these young people struggle with questions of meaning, mental health, and purpose, and need spiritual guides who will walk alongside them, offering guidance, support, and encouragement. As Ellen White notes: “Christ’s method alone will give true success in reaching the people. The Saviour mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then He bade them, ‘Follow Me.’ ”5 By following Christ’s example, the church can establish authentic relationships with Gen Z and show them that we care, ultimately opening the door for deeper conversations about faith.
Show and tell: Those who seek to share the gospel with Gen Z must practice what they preach. This is in keeping with James’s call for believers to be “doers of the word, and not hearers only” (James 1:22). The trustworthiness of the message is enhanced when Christians are credible witnesses to the gospel they seek to communicate. Gen Z is always watching and can spot hypocrisy a mile away. How we engage with those who hold differing views and respond to challenges as professing Christians will open doors for gospel conversations with Gen Z or close them. Ultimately, your actions speak louder than your words.
Tell stories: Storytelling is a powerful tool for sharing the gospel with Gen Z. This generation is eager to explore how their stories connect with those of others and the grand story of the Bible. Through the art of storytelling, Gen Z will come to understand that the God of the Bible is personal and present and longs to be powerfully active in their lives. The 2024 UCLA Gen Z report reveals that Gen Z prioritizes “uplifting and inspiring content, consistently selecting stories about ‘beating the odds’ as their favorite storyline. For the third consecutive year, these ‘hopeful’ and ‘inspirational’ themes outpaced topics like romance or societal issues, emphasizing a generational preference for resilience and optimism in storytelling.”6 Based on these findings, there is an excellent opportunity for sharing the gospel by telling stories of faith, perseverance, and transformation that align with Gen Z’s desire for hope and inspiration. Use biblical narratives to tell stories of individuals who overcame adversity, such as Joseph, Ruth, and Paul. Here is also a great time to share our personal testimonies of God’s ongoing work in our lives.
Contextualize the message: Contextualization of the gospel is essential when sharing the message with Gen Z. We need to understand their worldview, meet them where they are, and share the gospel in authentic and relational ways that connect with their daily experiences. Avoid using complex theological concepts and jargon that they will not readily understand, as this generation has a high rate of biblical illiteracy. In sharing the gospel, use real-life examples and relatable language while emphasizing the present benefits, joy, hope, peace, and purpose of living in a relationship with Jesus. YouTube and TikTok are practical tools for sharing the gospel with Gen Z, who value these social media platforms for their “relatable, unscripted content that aligns with how [they] see themselves and their world.”7 Sound contextualization will serve as a bridge that connects biblical teachings with the contemporary concerns of Gen Z.
Equip them: Churches should provide Gen Z with the necessary resources to support their spiritual growth. Through intentional small group activities, healthy multigenerational connections, and a vibrant discipleship program, this generation will be empowered to take ownership of their faith journeys and, in turn, articulately share their faith with their peers and others. As Ellen White points out: “With such an army of workers as our youth, rightly trained, might furnish, how soon the message of a crucified, risen, and soon-coming Savior might be carried to the whole world.”8 In the final analysis Gen Zers are best equipped to share the gospel with their peers.
Pray, pray, and pray: The entire process of sharing the gospel with Gen Z must be grounded in prayer. When we pray, we must ask the Lord to open opportunities for us to share the gospel and for the Holy Spirit to bring about conviction in the lives of these adolescents. Ben Jack advises that we must “pray for opportunity, pray for wisdom, pray for clarity, pray for salvation, pray for healing, pray for forgiveness, pray for discernment, pray for compassion, pray for boldness . . . pray for humility. Pray, pray, pray.”9 Such patience and persistence in prayer is essential, as each Gen Zer is at a unique stage in their faith journey. While some will respond quickly to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, others will take longer to commit their lives to Christ.
A final challenge
Although sharing the gospel with Gen Z presents many challenges, the church has an excellent opportunity to share the gospel with this generation. In reaching Gen Z for Christ, the church must be willing to adapt its approach without compromising the eternal truths of the gospel. Christ is depending on us to pass the baton of faith to Generation Z. We cannot afford to let it fall. May it never be said of us what was said of Israel: “After a while the people of Joshua’s generation died, and the next generation did not know the Lord or any of the things he had done for Israel” (Judges 2:10, CEV).10 Instead, let us prayerfully rise to the challenge of ensuring that Gen Z not only hears the gospel but also experiences the transforming power of Christ in their lives.
Rodney Palmer is an associate professor of religion (special emphasis on preaching and practical theology) and chair of the Department of Religion and Biblical Languages at Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Michigan.
1 James E. White, MeetGenerationZ:UnderstandingandReachingtheNewPost-Christian World (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker, 2017), p. 11.
2 According to the Barna Research Group, Gen Z includes individuals born between 1999 and 2015, while the Pew Research Center defines the generation as those born between 1997 and 2012.
3 Jean M. Twenge, Generations: The Real Differences Between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers,andSilents—andWhatTheyMeanforAmerica’sFuture (New York: Atria Books, 2023), p. 346.
4 Barna Group, Gen Z: Volume 2 (United States, Barna Group, 2021), p. 60.
5 Ellen G. White, The Ministry of Healing (Mountain View, Calif.: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1905), p. 143.
6 https://www.britopian.com/generation/gen-z-ucla-study/
7 Ibid.
8 Ellen G. White, Education (Mountain View, Calif.: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1903), p. 271.
9 Ben Jack, If Jesus Is the Answer, What Is the Question? (Sandycroft, U.K.: Equipping the Church, 2021), p. 5.
10 Scripture quotations identified CEV are from the Contemporary English Version. Copyright © American Bible Society 1991, 1995. Used by permission.