Page 50 - Finding Jesus with Good News report A5 WEB

What most drew them to the gospel?

Timothy Keller, in his book Center Church, describes six ‘appeals of the gospel’,
which he argues appeal to different people. We asked people which one or two
most powerfully drew them to faith. (We also added in an option about church
community.) The results were striking.

What most drew you to the gospel?

That Jesus loves me 48%

That I could have hope and a purpose for my life and beyond 46%
That the gospel is true, profound and beautiful 34%

That Jesus could help me with my problems and pain 32%

That I need no longer fear death and judgement 21%

That my shame and burdens could be lifted 20%
I wanted to belong to a church community 14%

In a society of broken relationships and an ‘epidemic of loneliness’, people’s desire
to be loved was very clear (48%). So too was a longing for hope and wanting their
lives to have meaning (46%). While those were chosen most commonly across
the board, again there were important nuances which might impact the way we
communicate the gospel in different contexts.
The promise of hope was particularly powerful for those from lower incomes (60%
chose it). Often facing personal challenges and bleak prospects, the idea that
things can and will change is deeply appealing.
There were two groups for whom the truth, beauty and profundity of the gospel
was most significant: those 65+ (46%) and, strikingly, those under 25. Half of those
under 25 (49%) chose these aspects of the gospel as equally important to the
promise of hope for the future (49%), followed by being loved. This suggests that in
an anxious world of disinformation, fake news, subjectivity and huge uncertainty,
rather than wanting to ‘create their own truth’, young adults are increasingly
looking for facts and certainty and want to know whether the gospel is credible and
can be trusted. This is a significant cultural shift and one we should pay attention
to. Apologetics, history and the credibility of scripture are all crucial. Young adults
want to both know and feel the truth of the gospel.
50 Finding Jesus