What are You
Thinking?
Steve Case
Institute of Youth Ministry
May, 2017
Cognitive
Development
What are young
people thinking?
Stages of Thinking
What can they think?
Stages of Thinking
2 SDA doctrines
What can they think?
Stages of Thinking
2 SDA doctrines
• Heavenly Sanctuary
What can they think?
Stages of Thinking
2 SDA doctrines
• Heavenly Sanctuary
• Forgiveness/Salvation
Stages of Thinking
Stage 1
• Ages Birth—2
• Sensory
• Object Permanence
SDA Doctrines
1. Heavenly Sanctuary
2. Forgiveness/Salvation
Stages of Thinking
Stage 2
• Ages 2—7
• Vivid Imagination
• Adults Highly Credible
• Ego-centric is Normal
• Inaccurate, but often cute
SDA Doctrines
1. Heavenly Sanctuary
2. Forgiveness/Salvation
Stages of Thinking
Stage 3
• Ages 7—11?
• Real = What I Experience
• Memory +, Understanding?
• Legalism is Natural Here
• Symbols Not Understood
SDA Doctrines
1. Heavenly Sanctuary
2. Forgiveness/Salvation
Stages of Thinking
Stage 4
• Gradually During Adolescence
• Abstract Thought Begins
• Logic is Possible
• From Principle to Application(s)
SDA Doctrines
1. Heavenly Sanctuary
2. Forgiveness/Salvation
What about after Adolescence?
Young Adult Faith
Young Adult Faith
• Black & White
• Right & Wrong
• Liberal & Conservative
Dualistic
SDA Doctrines
1. Heavenly Sanctuary
2. Forgiveness/Salvation
Young Adult Faith
• No Absolutes
• Questions are King
• Sophomoric
Relativism
Dualistic
SDA Doctrines
1. Heavenly Sanctuary
2. Forgiveness/Salvation
Young Adult Faith
Commitment
Relativism
Dualistic
• Weary of Relativism
• Setting Anchor
• Aware of Relativism
SDA Doctrines
1. Heavenly Sanctuary
2. Forgiveness/Salvation
Young Adult Faith
Conviction
Commitment
Relativism
Dualistic
• Settled
• Paradox Welcomed
• Tolerant
SDA Doctrines
1. Heavenly Sanctuary
2. Forgiveness/Salvation
Young Adult Faith
Conviction
Commitment
Relativism
Dualistic
Young Adult Faith
Conviction
Commitment
Relativism
Dualistic
External
Young Adult Faith
Conviction
Commitment
Relativism
Dualistic
External
Young Adult Faith
Conviction
Commitment
Relativism
Dualistic
External
Internal
Believing, Feeling, Belonging
Conviction
Commitment
Relativism
Dualistic
External
Internal
Believing, Behaving, Belonging
Believing, Behaving, Belonging
Believing, Behaving, Belonging
Dependent
Believing, Behaving, Belonging
Counter-Dependent
Dependent
Believing, Behaving, Belonging
Inner-Dependent
Counter-Dependent
Dependent
Believing, Behaving, Belonging
Interdependent
Inner-Dependent
Counter-Dependent
Dependent
Believing, Behaving, Belonging
Conventional
Believing, Behaving, Belonging
Diffuse
Conventional
Believing, Behaving, Belonging
Self-Selected
Diffuse
Conventional
Believing, Behaving, Belonging
Open to “Others”
Self-Selected
Diffuse
Conventional