Emerging Adults and the Elusiveness of Commitment

Abstract

This thesis highlights the lack of responsible commitment among emerging adults and proposes biblical analyses and direction toward fostering an authentic commitment in emerging adults in the context of mentoring and discipleship.

The thesis begins with an introduction of the emerging adult and how this social construct developed among young people ages 18 to 29. Further, generational trends and patterns are explored to illuminate the lack of responsible commitment and to direct attention towards the need for biblically based solutions of formidable commitment.

Specifically, David Powlison’s Comprehensive Internal framework is discussed and utilized in order to provide a structure and lens for critical biblical analysis. Additional resources are employed in order to provide specific direction for Christian mentoring and discipleship for emerging adults in order to foster and develop responsible commitment to forge the proper path to full adulthood.