WEBVTT 00:00:01.199 --> 00:00:04.160 When is the last time you heard someone talk 00:00:04.160 --> 00:00:07.860 about Gen Z or millennials and then talked about 00:00:07.860 --> 00:00:11.240 great news, what God was doing, how there's change 00:00:11.240 --> 00:00:14.400 and hope, and it's dramatic? Well, if you haven't 00:00:14.400 --> 00:00:16.600 heard that lately, you need to stick around because 00:00:16.600 --> 00:00:18.879 today you're going to hear some really good news. 00:00:21.780 --> 00:00:24.120 Thank you for being with us for this edition 00:00:24.120 --> 00:00:27.210 of Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram. Chip 00:00:27.210 --> 00:00:29.609 serves as our Bible teacher for this global teaching 00:00:29.609 --> 00:00:32.070 and discipleship ministry, helping Christians 00:00:32.070 --> 00:00:35.130 develop an authentic faith. Today, you'll hear 00:00:35.130 --> 00:00:37.090 the remainder of Chip's insightful discussion 00:00:37.090 --> 00:00:40.109 with our friend Aaron Pierce. Last time, Aaron 00:00:40.109 --> 00:00:42.570 talked about the origin of his ministry, Steiger, 00:00:42.670 --> 00:00:45.170 and how they're continuing to reach the global 00:00:45.170 --> 00:00:47.850 youth with the gospel. Today, they'll look back 00:00:47.850 --> 00:00:50.570 at the impact of Aaron's book, Not Beyond Reach, 00:00:50.729 --> 00:00:53.289 and highlight a new tool created specifically 00:00:53.289 --> 00:00:56.130 for churches and small groups to reach the young 00:00:56.130 --> 00:00:58.590 people in their communities. So if you're ready, 00:00:58.649 --> 00:01:00.270 here's the second half of their conversation, 00:01:00.549 --> 00:01:03.270 Great News, How You Can Reach Your Next -Gen 00:01:03.270 --> 00:01:06.250 Loved Ones. Chip begins by recalling how he and 00:01:06.250 --> 00:01:10.430 Aaron first met. I think I was doing a pastor's 00:01:10.430 --> 00:01:13.980 conference in Dallas. and I taught on something. 00:01:14.060 --> 00:01:16.099 I think it was at Bent Tree, if I remember right. 00:01:16.439 --> 00:01:18.719 It was good to great, good to great in God's 00:01:18.719 --> 00:01:20.959 eyes. Yeah, you know, one of my most favorite. 00:01:21.480 --> 00:01:23.819 People who become more and more like Jesus, they 00:01:23.819 --> 00:01:25.819 think great thoughts, and they pray great prayers, 00:01:25.920 --> 00:01:28.920 and they take great risks, and all those things 00:01:28.920 --> 00:01:31.159 that were near and dear to me, and you came up 00:01:31.159 --> 00:01:34.379 afterwards, and we talked a little bit, and then 00:01:34.379 --> 00:01:37.439 I forget, shortly after, I found myself on a 00:01:37.439 --> 00:01:40.000 podcast with you and your brother, and we're 00:01:40.000 --> 00:01:42.920 just talking about things, I just remember thinking, 00:01:43.120 --> 00:01:45.439 you know, because I saw your dad on one of those, 00:01:45.500 --> 00:01:47.480 and he's got these dreadlocks, you know, down 00:01:47.480 --> 00:01:50.519 to the middle of his back. And for those of you 00:01:50.519 --> 00:01:53.019 that can't picture in your mind what I'm picturing 00:01:53.019 --> 00:01:56.719 in my mind, Aaron's dad is, in the most sanctified 00:01:56.719 --> 00:02:00.140 way I can say it, he is crazy. But I mean, he's 00:02:00.140 --> 00:02:04.019 like crazy for God. He is radical. If you met 00:02:04.019 --> 00:02:06.540 him, you would look at him and go, whoa, where's 00:02:06.540 --> 00:02:09.340 this guy coming from? And, well, I'll tell you 00:02:09.340 --> 00:02:11.900 what, he's coming from Jesus' heart. And all 00:02:11.900 --> 00:02:14.939 of a sudden, I'm listening, like, these guys 00:02:14.939 --> 00:02:18.800 are in the thick of it in places that no one 00:02:18.800 --> 00:02:22.979 else goes, and they're theologically sound. And 00:02:22.979 --> 00:02:26.900 as a result of that, I went to Germany. And, 00:02:26.900 --> 00:02:29.960 you know, that's really your center, your headquarters, 00:02:30.219 --> 00:02:33.419 and there's a training center there. And so all 00:02:33.419 --> 00:02:35.199 your staff came in from all around the world 00:02:35.199 --> 00:02:38.259 for about a week. You know, of course, I taught 00:02:38.259 --> 00:02:41.780 through Romans 12, you know, because that's the 00:02:41.780 --> 00:02:45.259 only chapter I really know. But I taught, this 00:02:45.259 --> 00:02:47.919 is what a disciple looks like. And, you know, 00:02:47.919 --> 00:02:49.620 as all these young people are coming to Christ, 00:02:49.699 --> 00:02:51.599 they need the profile of a disciple and learn 00:02:51.599 --> 00:02:55.219 to grow. And I got to see you all pray in ways 00:02:55.219 --> 00:02:59.020 that just humbled me and worship with such reckless 00:02:59.020 --> 00:03:02.740 abandon and just meet people from all around 00:03:02.740 --> 00:03:04.639 the world that have come to Christ through your 00:03:04.639 --> 00:03:07.229 ministry and are now leading it. And I realized, 00:03:07.469 --> 00:03:12.090 Aaron, God's shown you guys some truth that needs 00:03:12.090 --> 00:03:14.729 to really get codified and put in a way that 00:03:14.729 --> 00:03:18.069 we can get that to everyone. And that's how we 00:03:18.069 --> 00:03:21.330 launched the book, Not Beyond Reach. But that 00:03:21.330 --> 00:03:25.349 then led to sort of phase two, where you guys 00:03:25.349 --> 00:03:27.030 had a vision because you're working in churches 00:03:27.030 --> 00:03:30.229 all across America too. But hey, why don't we 00:03:30.229 --> 00:03:33.669 turn this into a... small group video where we 00:03:33.669 --> 00:03:35.770 can train churches and pastors how to reach their 00:03:35.770 --> 00:03:38.889 own kids and the young people in their cities. 00:03:39.090 --> 00:03:42.750 And so that's the story. So good, Chip. I guess 00:03:42.750 --> 00:03:45.009 the only thing I would add is in my early days 00:03:45.009 --> 00:03:48.349 of ministry, I really felt like you were someone 00:03:48.349 --> 00:03:51.250 that was discipling me through the teaching and 00:03:51.250 --> 00:03:54.250 the broadcast. And that played a big role in 00:03:54.810 --> 00:03:58.330 the foundation that I now stand on. And so I'm 00:03:58.330 --> 00:04:00.550 very grateful for that. And I know there are 00:04:00.550 --> 00:04:02.650 many other people that are, you know, that you'll 00:04:02.650 --> 00:04:06.050 never hear those stories, but that also were 00:04:06.050 --> 00:04:08.169 impacted by your teaching. So I just want... 00:04:08.319 --> 00:04:10.900 you to be encouraged. And sometimes the fruit 00:04:10.900 --> 00:04:12.860 of, of what God calls us to do, we don't get 00:04:12.860 --> 00:04:15.620 to see it and hear it. And, and it's always encouraging 00:04:15.620 --> 00:04:18.399 to know that God is using the things that we 00:04:18.399 --> 00:04:20.500 do so much beyond what we could ever take credit 00:04:20.500 --> 00:04:23.579 for. But you've been a huge encouragement in 00:04:23.579 --> 00:04:27.160 my life and God has used what you have implanted 00:04:27.160 --> 00:04:30.300 in my heart to have a big impact. A lot of the, 00:04:30.319 --> 00:04:32.699 what I've taught and what I, how I understand 00:04:32.699 --> 00:04:34.980 the word of God has come from things that I've 00:04:34.980 --> 00:04:37.360 learned from you. So yeah, it's encouraging and 00:04:37.360 --> 00:04:41.009 God. is doing something really powerful. I've 00:04:41.009 --> 00:04:44.970 encountered so many pastors, so many parents 00:04:44.970 --> 00:04:47.790 and grandparents, so many young adults who are 00:04:47.790 --> 00:04:50.930 followers of Jesus that really desire to see 00:04:50.930 --> 00:04:53.730 their friends reached. And this resource that 00:04:53.730 --> 00:04:55.129 we've been able to produce together has been 00:04:55.129 --> 00:04:58.550 such an encouragement and such a tool of hope. 00:04:59.120 --> 00:05:01.240 for people. I think more than anything, I think 00:05:01.240 --> 00:05:03.259 one of the things that the enemy wants to say 00:05:03.259 --> 00:05:07.120 to us, especially the older generation is, you 00:05:07.120 --> 00:05:09.800 know, this generation is beyond reach. You might 00:05:09.800 --> 00:05:11.779 as well just give up. Might as well just go to 00:05:11.779 --> 00:05:14.279 Florida, relax, enjoy yourself and not engage 00:05:14.279 --> 00:05:17.120 this next generation. And it's a lie because 00:05:17.120 --> 00:05:19.220 this generation is actually quite hungry and 00:05:19.220 --> 00:05:23.139 open and we need everyone in the game. And so 00:05:23.139 --> 00:05:26.779 I've heard so many stories. transformation. I 00:05:26.779 --> 00:05:31.220 had a couple who are friends of mine, older couple 00:05:31.220 --> 00:05:33.779 that have young adult children and their son, 00:05:33.959 --> 00:05:35.620 their oldest son had walked away from the Lord, 00:05:35.680 --> 00:05:38.899 deconstructed, gotten very entangled in political 00:05:38.899 --> 00:05:41.439 things and was very hostile to the church. And 00:05:41.439 --> 00:05:44.620 it had really broken down their relationship 00:05:44.620 --> 00:05:47.699 with their son. And of course, when I would talk 00:05:47.699 --> 00:05:50.480 to them, they were filled with just a sense of 00:05:50.480 --> 00:05:53.910 regret. Of like, did we do things wrong? What 00:05:53.910 --> 00:05:56.290 could we have done different? And my heart just 00:05:56.290 --> 00:05:59.329 broke for them. And so then when this book came 00:05:59.329 --> 00:06:02.449 out, my friend got it and read it and consumed 00:06:02.449 --> 00:06:04.410 it. And he was like, man, that was so good. And 00:06:04.410 --> 00:06:07.209 then he and his wife, the thing that they really 00:06:07.209 --> 00:06:11.310 were drawn to is to seek God, to pray with a 00:06:11.310 --> 00:06:14.740 new level of intensity. And so they just committed. 00:06:14.819 --> 00:06:16.040 He and his wife, they were like, we're going 00:06:16.040 --> 00:06:18.879 to do this. And so they sought the Lord, kind 00:06:18.879 --> 00:06:21.680 of that widow and the judge approach, just sought 00:06:21.680 --> 00:06:23.420 the Lord. We need a breakthrough in our son's 00:06:23.420 --> 00:06:26.279 life. And they were praying for several weeks 00:06:26.279 --> 00:06:29.939 and months for their son. And then one day their 00:06:29.939 --> 00:06:32.939 son called and said, hey, have you guys been 00:06:32.939 --> 00:06:35.899 praying for me? And then he began to share some 00:06:35.899 --> 00:06:38.379 personal things that he was wrestling with. And 00:06:38.379 --> 00:06:41.959 the spiritual. kind of bigger questions of life 00:06:41.959 --> 00:06:46.420 that that provoked. And it changed their relationship 00:06:46.420 --> 00:06:49.959 and in a sense restored it and opened their son 00:06:49.959 --> 00:06:51.579 up to the gospel. And they've been walking with 00:06:51.579 --> 00:06:54.779 him. And it was really the product of committing 00:06:54.779 --> 00:06:58.439 themselves to seek God desperately and then approaching 00:06:58.439 --> 00:07:02.860 their son in a different way. The political thing 00:07:02.860 --> 00:07:05.220 was always this barrier and they were able to 00:07:05.220 --> 00:07:08.699 get around that. and open, restore the relationship 00:07:08.699 --> 00:07:10.839 and have those spiritual conversations. And so 00:07:10.839 --> 00:07:12.620 that was just one, in that case, it was like 00:07:12.620 --> 00:07:15.259 someone really close to me that saw a personal 00:07:15.259 --> 00:07:17.139 breakthrough. So there's just countless stories 00:07:17.139 --> 00:07:20.860 like that. Well, I have many similar ones and 00:07:20.860 --> 00:07:24.399 you really identified coming to God with a sense 00:07:24.399 --> 00:07:28.959 of real desperation. I can't do this. I can't 00:07:28.959 --> 00:07:31.279 figure it out. I can't break through. Yes, my 00:07:31.279 --> 00:07:34.639 heart is broken. My grandson, my nephew, my niece, 00:07:34.800 --> 00:07:37.459 my daughter, you know, they grew up in a Christian 00:07:37.459 --> 00:07:40.459 home. They've rejected Christ. They don't go 00:07:40.459 --> 00:07:43.040 to church anymore. We're on the opposite sides 00:07:43.040 --> 00:07:45.600 of all the things in terms of values, politics, 00:07:45.720 --> 00:07:48.959 all of it. And I don't know what to do. And that 00:07:48.959 --> 00:07:52.560 first stage of seeking God, it's the version 00:07:52.560 --> 00:07:55.709 of going into the forest. like your dad did, 00:07:55.829 --> 00:07:58.870 and saying, I'm broken. And God is near to the 00:07:58.870 --> 00:08:00.990 brokenhearted, and he saves those that are crushed 00:08:00.990 --> 00:08:03.870 in spirit. And I have one of my closest, it's 00:08:03.870 --> 00:08:06.550 a family member, it's a relative, and they really 00:08:06.550 --> 00:08:09.069 walk with God. They're very faithful. They're 00:08:09.069 --> 00:08:11.430 a little older, the kind of people that really 00:08:11.430 --> 00:08:13.089 care about what's going on in the world, but 00:08:13.089 --> 00:08:15.930 they're not evangelists, to say the least. And 00:08:15.930 --> 00:08:17.790 as they read the book, they happened to move 00:08:17.790 --> 00:08:20.620 into a new neighborhood. And so they went around. 00:08:20.720 --> 00:08:22.860 They put lights. They live where there's a lot 00:08:22.860 --> 00:08:24.620 of little communities. They put lights on the 00:08:24.620 --> 00:08:26.839 golf cart. And they decided, you know, we're 00:08:26.839 --> 00:08:29.519 new. And they made a gift for everyone. And they 00:08:29.519 --> 00:08:31.579 went around to every single neighbor and knocked 00:08:31.579 --> 00:08:34.340 on the door, about like 22 different ones, and 00:08:34.340 --> 00:08:35.379 just said, hey, we're going to have a little 00:08:35.379 --> 00:08:38.159 party at our house. We just got here. We'd just 00:08:38.159 --> 00:08:40.580 love to meet our neighbors. Twenty of the 22 00:08:40.580 --> 00:08:44.159 neighbors came. They just had food. They built 00:08:44.159 --> 00:08:47.379 a relationship. It was, we're going to meet these 00:08:47.379 --> 00:08:50.049 people where they're at. And what that book did 00:08:50.049 --> 00:08:55.230 was gave people a clear pathway of how us ordinary, 00:08:55.330 --> 00:08:59.889 regular people, possibly with no gift whatsoever 00:08:59.889 --> 00:09:03.710 in evangelism, but a heart for people could actually 00:09:03.710 --> 00:09:08.190 open the door, build relationships, care about 00:09:08.190 --> 00:09:11.769 them, find some common ground. And then as the 00:09:11.769 --> 00:09:14.529 spiritual conversations lead to gospel conversations. 00:09:15.370 --> 00:09:17.549 This is who Jesus is. And I love what you guys 00:09:17.549 --> 00:09:19.850 do. You have a Bible study for non -Christians. 00:09:20.009 --> 00:09:23.830 And it's just been so exciting to see how God 00:09:23.830 --> 00:09:27.210 has used the book. But now we wanted to go to 00:09:27.210 --> 00:09:30.610 the next level because as you go across America 00:09:30.610 --> 00:09:33.690 or across churches around the world, it's a lot 00:09:33.690 --> 00:09:36.549 of gray hair. And there's almost no young people. 00:09:36.929 --> 00:09:41.049 And pastors who care, what do we do? And God 00:09:41.049 --> 00:09:44.269 put on your heart, why don't we take? the content 00:09:44.269 --> 00:09:48.029 of this book, and why don't we get it in a small 00:09:48.029 --> 00:09:52.690 group video format that churches could use here 00:09:52.690 --> 00:09:55.710 and all around the world. The whole idea is how 00:09:55.710 --> 00:09:58.649 do we make this accessible? And also, I love 00:09:58.649 --> 00:10:01.350 the small group concept because I don't believe 00:10:01.350 --> 00:10:03.730 we're called to do life alone, and I don't think 00:10:03.730 --> 00:10:06.820 we're called to do evangelism alone. We have 00:10:06.820 --> 00:10:09.460 this kind of Lone Ranger mindset when it comes 00:10:09.460 --> 00:10:12.059 to evangelism. And for a lot of us, that's intimidating 00:10:12.059 --> 00:10:14.320 and we don't resonate with that. And we're like, 00:10:14.360 --> 00:10:17.440 that's for those weird extroverted people. That's 00:10:17.440 --> 00:10:20.840 not me. But when you do it together, when you 00:10:20.840 --> 00:10:24.980 live on mission together, it's powerful. Amen. 00:10:25.419 --> 00:10:27.259 Right? Because you've got a sense of accountability. 00:10:27.460 --> 00:10:30.220 You've got a sense of shared and complementary 00:10:30.220 --> 00:10:33.139 gifts coming together. It's the sense of when 00:10:33.139 --> 00:10:35.639 I'm strong and you're weak, I can lift up your 00:10:35.639 --> 00:10:38.419 arms. And so the idea of doing it in a small 00:10:38.419 --> 00:10:40.879 group context I think is probably the most profound 00:10:40.879 --> 00:10:44.460 way to do it. And so doing this 10 -week video 00:10:44.460 --> 00:10:47.159 series where you really wrestle through the concepts, 00:10:47.299 --> 00:10:50.299 but also we give you practical steps of engaging. 00:10:50.519 --> 00:10:52.779 One of the things we offer early on that I really 00:10:52.779 --> 00:10:55.259 encourage people to do to do is to go and do 00:10:55.259 --> 00:10:58.379 a prayer walk in their city. And as a small group, 00:10:58.440 --> 00:11:01.559 it's kind of this prayer and observation. And 00:11:01.559 --> 00:11:04.100 doing that together as a small group is a powerful 00:11:04.100 --> 00:11:06.720 thing. So the small group is designed not only 00:11:06.720 --> 00:11:09.379 to be watching a video and discussing it in the 00:11:09.379 --> 00:11:10.879 comfort of your living room, but actually to 00:11:10.879 --> 00:11:13.899 go and take steps. And as you take those steps, 00:11:14.019 --> 00:11:17.240 God begins to do things. You see his power. So 00:11:17.240 --> 00:11:19.059 that's the whole idea behind this. It really 00:11:19.059 --> 00:11:22.649 gets practical in its application. Well, it's 00:11:22.649 --> 00:11:25.629 all digital. You can literally download it, and 00:11:25.629 --> 00:11:28.529 then there's the participant's guide that is 00:11:28.529 --> 00:11:31.850 really, really well done, by the way, but also 00:11:31.850 --> 00:11:34.210 a leader's guide because whether we like it or 00:11:34.210 --> 00:11:37.649 not, the small groups kind of rise and fall with 00:11:37.649 --> 00:11:39.750 the level of the leadership. I don't mean you've 00:11:39.750 --> 00:11:42.149 got to be a great leader. You just need to know 00:11:42.149 --> 00:11:45.009 how to facilitate a group. Great small group 00:11:45.009 --> 00:11:47.389 leaders aren't people that give all the answers, 00:11:47.549 --> 00:11:50.570 control the group. They're people that understand 00:11:50.570 --> 00:11:54.129 this is what God wants to do in this group. How 00:11:54.129 --> 00:11:56.929 do I create a safe area? How do I ask the right 00:11:56.929 --> 00:11:59.350 questions? How do I help those people that want 00:11:59.350 --> 00:12:02.129 to talk all the time to share but not too much? 00:12:02.330 --> 00:12:04.850 How do I draw out those two people that haven't 00:12:04.850 --> 00:12:08.070 said anything in the first half hour? And then 00:12:08.070 --> 00:12:11.049 how do I orchestrate this in such a way, cooperating 00:12:11.049 --> 00:12:13.909 with the Holy Spirit, that what we ask is not 00:12:13.909 --> 00:12:16.370 what are we going to eat afterwards or what teams 00:12:16.370 --> 00:12:18.250 are playing? Because that happens in a lot of 00:12:18.250 --> 00:12:21.129 small groups. But what they really lead us to 00:12:21.129 --> 00:12:25.029 is, so what are we going to do in obedience to 00:12:25.029 --> 00:12:27.950 where God has spoken to us and then helps them 00:12:27.950 --> 00:12:30.629 take baby steps to do that? And when that happens, 00:12:30.649 --> 00:12:33.450 small groups, I mean, amazing things start happening. 00:12:33.649 --> 00:12:37.409 Amen. We want to see lost young people come to 00:12:37.409 --> 00:12:40.230 know Jesus. We want this culture reach with the 00:12:40.230 --> 00:12:44.379 gospel. So this isn't a product. This is a resource 00:12:44.379 --> 00:12:47.620 for you to go and utilize it. And that's the 00:12:47.620 --> 00:12:49.620 heart's desire behind all of this. That's why 00:12:49.620 --> 00:12:51.720 we're partnering with Living on the Edge. And 00:12:51.720 --> 00:12:54.620 it's available for free for your small group 00:12:54.620 --> 00:12:57.519 right now. And I would also encourage pastors, 00:12:57.840 --> 00:13:00.860 go through this with your staff. Yes. We've had 00:13:00.860 --> 00:13:03.100 a lot of pastors and church staff go through 00:13:03.100 --> 00:13:06.279 it together. It's like you said, it's about leadership 00:13:06.279 --> 00:13:09.220 and you can't lead your people to do something 00:13:09.220 --> 00:13:11.379 that you or yourself are not doing. So start 00:13:11.379 --> 00:13:14.200 with your staff and take it seriously. I've had 00:13:14.200 --> 00:13:16.620 so many pastors that have been encouraged by 00:13:16.620 --> 00:13:18.399 this because sometimes when you're a pastor, 00:13:18.440 --> 00:13:21.379 there's so much work to be done and running the 00:13:21.379 --> 00:13:23.740 machine and caring for all the people. And then 00:13:23.740 --> 00:13:26.789 to get back to that. frontline work of reaching 00:13:26.789 --> 00:13:29.590 those that are far from God, man, it's invigorating 00:13:29.590 --> 00:13:32.029 your faith. It's going to bring all sorts of 00:13:32.029 --> 00:13:35.470 new illustrations to your sermons. And so I really 00:13:35.470 --> 00:13:38.370 encourage you as pastors, start with yourselves 00:13:38.370 --> 00:13:41.409 and then bring it to your whole church. Well, 00:13:41.529 --> 00:13:43.649 I couldn't affirm that more. I have a heart for 00:13:43.649 --> 00:13:45.950 pastors. Being one, and I just know it's a really, 00:13:45.990 --> 00:13:48.250 really tough job. And one of the things I say 00:13:48.250 --> 00:13:50.850 to them is you just have to get out from behind 00:13:50.850 --> 00:13:54.519 the screen. Pastors are to shepherd. And candidly, 00:13:54.519 --> 00:13:57.820 life ends up being meetings and in front of a 00:13:57.820 --> 00:14:01.100 screen doing all kinds of things. And you got 00:14:01.100 --> 00:14:03.679 to be with people. And I would just say to every 00:14:03.679 --> 00:14:06.899 pastor, every church leader, you care about young 00:14:06.899 --> 00:14:09.500 people. You care about the next generation. I 00:14:09.500 --> 00:14:11.320 mean, you see what's happening in the culture, 00:14:11.360 --> 00:14:14.220 in the world. Just say to a handful of people, 00:14:14.360 --> 00:14:18.120 would you be willing once a week to get with 00:14:18.120 --> 00:14:21.399 me? And spend an hour and 90 minutes and go through 00:14:21.399 --> 00:14:24.700 a study. And let's just let God speak to us. 00:14:24.860 --> 00:14:28.919 And when he puts on our heart what's on his heart, 00:14:29.039 --> 00:14:33.259 amazing things happen. And I think this study 00:14:33.259 --> 00:14:36.779 that we're so glad and proud and encouraged to 00:14:36.779 --> 00:14:40.159 be a part of takes people on a journey. And it's 00:14:40.159 --> 00:14:41.820 with one another. You know, because the fact 00:14:41.820 --> 00:14:44.740 of the matter is, you know, toward the end, you 00:14:44.740 --> 00:14:47.789 guys cover some stuff that's like. Are you kidding 00:14:47.789 --> 00:14:51.929 me? I mean, so transgender comes up. LGBTQ comes 00:14:51.929 --> 00:14:54.350 up. Politics on the right and on the left come 00:14:54.350 --> 00:14:58.289 up. Evolution comes up. How do you handle all 00:14:58.289 --> 00:15:01.490 those things and not just shut down the relationships? 00:15:02.149 --> 00:15:06.190 What I love is I think you guys model, well, 00:15:06.309 --> 00:15:09.750 here's how to do that. Tell me some stories about 00:15:09.750 --> 00:15:13.429 how the small group is going and maybe some pastors 00:15:13.429 --> 00:15:15.769 or churches that are experiencing God working 00:15:15.769 --> 00:15:18.440 as a result of it. What I think is encouraging 00:15:18.440 --> 00:15:21.340 to me is that it's gone in every kind of church 00:15:21.340 --> 00:15:23.480 context that you can imagine. Big church, small 00:15:23.480 --> 00:15:26.960 church, Sunday school classes. Christian education 00:15:26.960 --> 00:15:30.960 networks where teachers are using it and then 00:15:30.960 --> 00:15:33.820 integrating that with their work. We've seen 00:15:33.820 --> 00:15:36.259 it as part of like Christian crisis pregnancy 00:15:36.259 --> 00:15:38.720 centers where they're integrating it because 00:15:38.720 --> 00:15:40.539 they have the opportunity to share the gospel 00:15:40.539 --> 00:15:43.460 with these young girls that are coming with these 00:15:43.460 --> 00:15:46.500 pregnancies. We've seen it in Christian colleges, 00:15:46.600 --> 00:15:48.899 Christian business professional networks, all 00:15:48.899 --> 00:15:51.940 sorts of contexts. And I think that's the beauty 00:15:51.940 --> 00:15:56.500 of this is that it allows anyone. to be a missionary 00:15:56.500 --> 00:15:59.500 in their sphere of influence. I mean, for me, 00:15:59.519 --> 00:16:02.019 what I love about it is like the crisis pregnancy 00:16:02.019 --> 00:16:03.720 center. That is something that's very dear to 00:16:03.720 --> 00:16:05.299 my heart, but that's not what God has called 00:16:05.299 --> 00:16:08.549 me. to be actively leading in terms of ministry. 00:16:08.730 --> 00:16:11.429 But the fact that now I know that there are staff 00:16:11.429 --> 00:16:13.889 at these crisis pregnancy centers that are learning 00:16:13.889 --> 00:16:16.370 how to more relevantly share the gospel with 00:16:16.370 --> 00:16:18.169 these young girls who are in the state of crisis 00:16:18.169 --> 00:16:21.409 and show them the hope of Jesus, man, it's so 00:16:21.409 --> 00:16:24.049 encouraging. So there's been just all the different 00:16:24.049 --> 00:16:27.210 expressions of how it's utilized. I think that's 00:16:27.210 --> 00:16:28.850 been one of the most encouraging things for me. 00:16:29.129 --> 00:16:32.830 And I know one of your values is, let's not reinvent 00:16:32.830 --> 00:16:36.039 the wheel. I've been in ministry for now, 40 00:16:36.039 --> 00:16:38.799 years. And I go to some place and there's this 00:16:38.799 --> 00:16:40.700 group doing something and another group doing 00:16:40.700 --> 00:16:42.980 the same thing. And another group comes into 00:16:42.980 --> 00:16:44.779 that country and they're doing the same thing. 00:16:45.059 --> 00:16:47.399 And they don't help each other. They don't know 00:16:47.399 --> 00:16:51.340 each other. And so when we partner, you are doing 00:16:51.340 --> 00:16:53.379 things that we'll never be able to do at Living 00:16:53.379 --> 00:16:55.799 on the Edge the way that you do them. The average 00:16:55.799 --> 00:16:59.139 Living on the Edge listener. is probably not 00:16:59.139 --> 00:17:01.620 going to be at the next gay pride parade handing 00:17:01.620 --> 00:17:04.160 out water and building relationships. They're 00:17:04.160 --> 00:17:07.059 probably not going to do a Bible study with people 00:17:07.059 --> 00:17:10.819 far from God to explore who Jesus is. But because 00:17:10.819 --> 00:17:14.140 of our partnership with you, we feel like we 00:17:14.140 --> 00:17:16.619 get to be a part of that. We don't want to reinvent 00:17:16.619 --> 00:17:19.180 the wheel. Now, we want to learn from you because 00:17:19.180 --> 00:17:21.619 what you're doing isn't like, oh, only Steiger 00:17:21.619 --> 00:17:24.400 can do this. No, absolutely not. It's what Jesus 00:17:24.400 --> 00:17:27.440 did. Exactly. And what I saw when I was in Germany 00:17:27.440 --> 00:17:31.059 was actually very convicting. I mean, people 00:17:31.059 --> 00:17:34.960 were face down as we prayed, crying out to God 00:17:34.960 --> 00:17:37.400 for those that didn't know Jesus. When I was 00:17:37.400 --> 00:17:39.880 there and you got your different regents from 00:17:39.880 --> 00:17:41.339 around the world and said, we're going to spend 00:17:41.339 --> 00:17:44.460 some time praying. Oh, okay. Maybe 10, 15 minutes, 00:17:44.519 --> 00:17:49.180 whatever. I mean, 35, 45 minutes, an hour later 00:17:49.180 --> 00:17:53.500 and people, oh God, oh. God. And people were 00:17:53.500 --> 00:17:57.140 praying with such passion and intensity. And 00:17:57.140 --> 00:17:58.759 some of them had only been Christians three or 00:17:58.759 --> 00:18:02.440 four years. I went away going, God, would you 00:18:02.440 --> 00:18:05.940 give me more of their heart? Amen. And if I could 00:18:05.940 --> 00:18:08.819 just say one more word of encouragement, God 00:18:08.819 --> 00:18:12.599 is raising up a new generation of young missional 00:18:12.599 --> 00:18:15.519 leaders. And we're seeing that take shape around 00:18:15.519 --> 00:18:17.119 the world, but we're seeing it take shape here 00:18:17.119 --> 00:18:20.950 in the U .S. And so, I want you to be encouraged 00:18:20.950 --> 00:18:23.309 that as we're resourcing you with these tools 00:18:23.309 --> 00:18:25.809 to reach your sons and daughters and those around 00:18:25.809 --> 00:18:29.190 you, God is also raising up a generation to go 00:18:29.190 --> 00:18:31.950 after your kids. Yes. We're seeing that happen. 00:18:32.359 --> 00:18:34.339 And the vision that we believe God's put on our 00:18:34.339 --> 00:18:36.259 heart is a thousand burning arrows, young missional 00:18:36.259 --> 00:18:38.759 leaders that are going to be sent to fuel these 00:18:38.759 --> 00:18:40.539 missions, movements and cities around the world. 00:18:40.660 --> 00:18:43.599 And the U .S. is part of that. Just a month and 00:18:43.599 --> 00:18:46.140 a half ago, we had 100 young adults from all 00:18:46.140 --> 00:18:49.660 over the country come to Austin, Texas, to participate 00:18:49.660 --> 00:18:52.180 in basically this intensive training boot camp 00:18:52.180 --> 00:18:55.180 that was. 10 days long and took place during 00:18:55.180 --> 00:18:58.099 South by Southwest. And it was this intense time 00:18:58.099 --> 00:19:01.200 of seeking God, prayer, teaching, and action, 00:19:01.259 --> 00:19:04.059 and learning how to share the gospel. And it 00:19:04.059 --> 00:19:06.839 was life transformative. And just from that, 00:19:06.980 --> 00:19:10.720 there's already six new movements in cities around 00:19:10.720 --> 00:19:13.920 the countries led by these young leaders that 00:19:13.920 --> 00:19:16.799 are grassroots evangelism movements that are 00:19:16.799 --> 00:19:19.960 going after our sons and daughters. We're hearing 00:19:19.960 --> 00:19:22.680 stories of parents. praying over their kids, 00:19:22.779 --> 00:19:25.940 and then people on our team reaching those kids 00:19:25.940 --> 00:19:28.859 and seeing that prayer answered in that way. 00:19:29.019 --> 00:19:32.660 And so I just believe this mission is a shared 00:19:32.660 --> 00:19:35.180 mission and we're all playing our part. And God 00:19:35.180 --> 00:19:37.880 is raising up a generation of Jesus followers 00:19:37.880 --> 00:19:41.019 that are going after their peers, their friends. 00:19:41.240 --> 00:19:44.990 And I just see something. starting and birthing. 00:19:45.069 --> 00:19:47.329 And I'm just praying that God would continue 00:19:47.329 --> 00:19:50.470 to move and he would use us in any way he wants. 00:19:50.569 --> 00:19:52.869 And he would use all of us collectively in any 00:19:52.869 --> 00:19:55.069 way he wants. But I just want to encourage our 00:19:55.069 --> 00:19:57.529 listeners that God is moving in this country. 00:19:57.609 --> 00:20:00.630 We're seeing something fresh taking shape. Well, 00:20:00.730 --> 00:20:03.410 Aaron, the research actually supports what you're 00:20:03.410 --> 00:20:06.089 saying. I read an article just recently where 00:20:06.089 --> 00:20:10.410 Bible sales are skyrocketing and the people that 00:20:10.410 --> 00:20:14.079 are buying them are Gen Z. And can I say something 00:20:14.079 --> 00:20:17.299 just off the cuff here? Stop watching so much 00:20:17.299 --> 00:20:20.539 of the news. Amen. Okay? Amen. And I don't care 00:20:20.539 --> 00:20:25.789 where it's MSNBC or Fox or ABC or NBC. Stop watching 00:20:25.789 --> 00:20:28.890 so much of the news. You will have a worldview 00:20:28.890 --> 00:20:32.150 of doom and gloom. All you're going to hear each 00:20:32.150 --> 00:20:34.470 and every night is who got shot, who got killed, 00:20:34.650 --> 00:20:36.970 what the terrible things the Democrats did, what 00:20:36.970 --> 00:20:39.349 terrible things the Republicans did. And you're 00:20:39.349 --> 00:20:41.849 going to end up sitting around and living in 00:20:41.849 --> 00:20:46.529 a fog of negativity. All it does is get you angry 00:20:46.529 --> 00:20:49.630 inside, get you discouraged inside, and make 00:20:49.630 --> 00:20:51.750 you anxious. And that's not just me talking. 00:20:52.349 --> 00:20:56.410 We've got research of the joy factor, the happiness 00:20:56.410 --> 00:20:58.410 factor, and the emotions of people who watch 00:20:58.410 --> 00:21:01.849 the news or even hear a newscast for five to 00:21:01.849 --> 00:21:04.990 ten minutes. And it's unbelievable the negative 00:21:04.990 --> 00:21:09.349 impact. Get in your Bible and read that. Preach. 00:21:09.670 --> 00:21:12.690 So, that was all unplanned, but that was for 00:21:12.690 --> 00:21:17.200 free. And I went off on a rant. Partnering with 00:21:17.200 --> 00:21:19.880 you has made a huge difference in our commitment 00:21:19.880 --> 00:21:22.180 to reach the next generation, and especially 00:21:22.180 --> 00:21:25.420 young adults. I think that's the real key. From 00:21:25.420 --> 00:21:28.900 those late teens into the early 20s, that zone 00:21:28.900 --> 00:21:31.500 is where people were making up their mind. Yep. 00:21:31.759 --> 00:21:35.299 And so in the fall, we are launching a whole 00:21:35.299 --> 00:21:38.900 new strategy about reaching directly the next 00:21:38.900 --> 00:21:41.700 generation. You guys go where they are physically. 00:21:41.880 --> 00:21:44.259 We're going to go where they are digitally. We 00:21:44.259 --> 00:21:47.019 have to get God's word to them where they get 00:21:47.019 --> 00:21:50.380 their information, Instagram, TikTok. And it's 00:21:50.380 --> 00:21:53.319 not in 40 -minute messages. It's in a three -minute 00:21:53.319 --> 00:21:56.019 here and a five -minute there. God has brought 00:21:56.019 --> 00:21:58.740 an incredible new director of marketing that's 00:21:58.740 --> 00:22:02.819 young and has a Bible background. And in the 00:22:02.819 --> 00:22:05.839 fall, we're going to be launching tremendous 00:22:05.839 --> 00:22:09.299 outreach to the next generation. And by the way, 00:22:09.359 --> 00:22:12.259 I really want them to hear from younger communicators 00:22:12.259 --> 00:22:15.460 like yourself who have an understanding and a 00:22:15.460 --> 00:22:18.339 niche and a way to reach and communicate. to 00:22:18.339 --> 00:22:22.200 young adults in a way that I can't. And so we're 00:22:22.200 --> 00:22:24.359 really excited about that birthing in the fall. 00:22:24.539 --> 00:22:27.619 Any suggestions you would give to those listening 00:22:27.619 --> 00:22:30.279 today who are thinking, hey, this is hopeful. 00:22:30.420 --> 00:22:33.619 I'm encouraged. I think God's at work. Yeah, 00:22:33.640 --> 00:22:37.680 I think it's get in the game. God is moving and 00:22:37.680 --> 00:22:42.319 he uses all of us. And he's not looking for super 00:22:42.319 --> 00:22:45.200 talented, highly charismatic people. He's looking 00:22:45.200 --> 00:22:47.950 for those fully surrendered. offering all that 00:22:47.950 --> 00:22:50.029 they have, the five loaves and two fish and saying, 00:22:50.069 --> 00:22:52.029 Lord, it's not enough, but I give you all I got. 00:22:52.549 --> 00:22:55.509 And so that's my encouragement. Get in the game. 00:22:55.549 --> 00:22:58.049 Don't listen to the lies that God can't use you. 00:22:58.269 --> 00:23:01.910 He can and he will. And it starts with that desperate 00:23:01.910 --> 00:23:05.069 prayer and broken heart. But yeah, get in the 00:23:05.069 --> 00:23:08.109 game. And I want to say a word as we close to 00:23:08.109 --> 00:23:11.450 maybe those that are midlife and especially those 00:23:11.450 --> 00:23:14.440 little beyond midlife. I remember sitting with 00:23:14.440 --> 00:23:17.140 your dad. It was an outdoor courtyard in Germany. 00:23:17.859 --> 00:23:21.299 There is as much fire in your dad's heart, in 00:23:21.299 --> 00:23:23.839 your mom's heart today. I mean, it was like there's 00:23:23.839 --> 00:23:26.140 times when you get talking to him, he gets not 00:23:26.140 --> 00:23:28.960 just emotional, he gets very declarative. And 00:23:28.960 --> 00:23:31.680 it was like, Chip, this is what we've got to 00:23:31.680 --> 00:23:36.019 do. And how old is he, by the way? 72. 72. I 00:23:36.019 --> 00:23:39.500 knew he was in his 70s. And I just, I thought, 00:23:39.619 --> 00:23:43.099 we don't have to lose our passion. And I want 00:23:43.099 --> 00:23:45.460 to say to those in your 60s and those in your 00:23:45.460 --> 00:23:50.299 70s and beyond, I met a man who reminded me that 00:23:50.299 --> 00:23:53.559 it's not how old you are. It's how you think 00:23:53.559 --> 00:23:55.940 and where's your heart and your passion. Amen. 00:23:56.119 --> 00:23:59.740 And you tell your dad, by God's grace, I want 00:23:59.740 --> 00:24:01.980 to be more and more like him. And I want to care 00:24:01.980 --> 00:24:05.859 about lost people the way he does. And I want 00:24:05.859 --> 00:24:08.319 to be bold and declare because the power is in 00:24:08.319 --> 00:24:10.880 the message, not the messenger. Amen. Lord, we 00:24:10.880 --> 00:24:14.220 thank you for this time. God, you so care as 00:24:14.220 --> 00:24:16.579 your eyes go to and fro throughout the whole 00:24:16.579 --> 00:24:19.799 earth, and you see young people that are hurting 00:24:19.799 --> 00:24:22.440 and lost, and they've been taught so many things. 00:24:22.799 --> 00:24:26.220 They've been so indoctrinated, but none of that 00:24:26.220 --> 00:24:28.680 changes their loneliness or their hurt or their 00:24:28.680 --> 00:24:32.619 confusion. Almighty, ever -living God, we ask 00:24:32.619 --> 00:24:36.720 you, will you please empower us and every single 00:24:36.720 --> 00:24:40.019 person listening to our voices right now? to 00:24:40.019 --> 00:24:43.039 be broken for those that are lost. Would you 00:24:43.039 --> 00:24:45.640 grant us the grace not to judge and criticize 00:24:45.640 --> 00:24:48.819 and, Lord, we don't have to compromise the truth 00:24:48.819 --> 00:24:52.900 to feel the pain and the hurt behind some of 00:24:52.900 --> 00:24:56.019 those actions and some of those values. God, 00:24:56.140 --> 00:24:59.900 would you, by your grace, give us your love for 00:24:59.900 --> 00:25:02.400 everyone, but especially young people that don't 00:25:02.400 --> 00:25:04.900 know you. Would you help us to build the kind 00:25:04.900 --> 00:25:07.259 of relationships that would open their heart? 00:25:07.849 --> 00:25:10.190 So that you could speak to them about how precious 00:25:10.190 --> 00:25:12.690 they are to you. And that your son, the Lord 00:25:12.690 --> 00:25:15.869 Jesus, died and paid for their sin and rose from 00:25:15.869 --> 00:25:19.829 the dead. And there is new life now. And it can 00:25:19.829 --> 00:25:23.250 be forever and ever. That's our prayer. We ask 00:25:23.250 --> 00:25:27.869 it boldly and confidently in Jesus' name. Amen. 00:25:28.029 --> 00:25:35.250 Amen. This is Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram. 00:25:35.579 --> 00:25:37.180 And you've been listening to the encouraging 00:25:37.180 --> 00:25:39.619 conclusion of Chip's conversation with Aaron 00:25:39.619 --> 00:25:42.220 Pierce from Steiger. Now, if you missed the first 00:25:42.220 --> 00:25:44.579 half of their discussion, go back and catch up 00:25:44.579 --> 00:25:48.079 at livingontheedge .org or through the Chip Ingram 00:25:48.079 --> 00:25:51.319 app. As we close, if this conversation motivated 00:25:51.319 --> 00:25:53.839 you or renewed a sense of hope in your heart 00:25:53.839 --> 00:25:56.319 about reaching this next generation, think about 00:25:56.319 --> 00:25:58.980 partnering with us. Because between now and June 00:25:58.980 --> 00:26:02.339 30th, every gift we receive will be doubled for 00:26:02.339 --> 00:26:04.990 greater impact. So if you want to join us during 00:26:04.990 --> 00:26:08.630 our mid -year match, go to livingontheedge .org 00:26:08.630 --> 00:26:13.910 or call us at 888 -333 -6003. And please know 00:26:13.910 --> 00:26:16.789 how much we appreciate your support. Well, from 00:26:16.789 --> 00:26:18.890 all of us here, I'm Dave Drewy, thanking you 00:26:18.890 --> 00:26:20.990 for listening to this edition of Living on the 00:26:20.990 --> 00:26:23.529 Edge, and I hope you'll join us again next time.