Tag Archives: parenting

Wondering if your middle schooler or high schooler is ready to defend the truth of Christianity in an increasingly secular world? My coauthor, Sean McDowell, and I have talked to a lot of parents in our roles as Christian educators, youth pastors, and speakers. We’re parents as well, and at …

We’ve all seen it before. That inattentive expression in the eyes of our teens (or pre-teens) when someone starts talking about God or Christianity. Maybe it’s subtle, maybe it’s more pronounced, but we recognize it: our kids are often be distracted, unengaged or apathetic when it comes to spiritual issues. …

As a youth bi-vocational youth pastor, I quickly learned the difference between teaching and training, especially when it comes to preparing the next generation of Christians to grow in their confidence and spiritual maturity. While teaching provides an opportunity to learn truth, training directs this effort toward a tangible challenge. …

Have you ever struggled to communicate the truth of Christianity to your teen (or pre-teen) children? You’re not alone. Even those of us who feel properly equipped to understand what Christianity teaches, sometimes struggle to transfer our knowledge and passion for Christianity to our kids. My coauthor, Sean McDowell, and …

My colleague at Biola University, Robert Marriot, recently wrote a book entitled, A Recipe For Disaster: Four Ways Parents and Churches Prepare Individuals to Lose Their Faith And How They Can Instill a Faith That Endures. Given that this topic is near and dear to my heart, I asked him …

Fewer people celebrated Father’s Day than ever before, a fact that may have less to do with the nature of the holiday than it does with the nature of American families. A recent U.S. census found that the percentage of children living in single parent households increased from 12% in …

Devastating storms, killer earthquakes, record-setting fires and horrific acts of evil dominate recent news headlines. Why would an all-loving, all-powerful God allow these things to happen? Is God just unable to stop this kind of evil? If so, why call Him all-powerful? Is God unwilling to stop this kind of …

If you’ve raised your children to believe Christianity is true, you probably want them to continue to believe it’s true, especially through their critical university years. There are good reasons to be concerned for young Christians once they leave our care. Statistically, most will walk away from the Church (and …

If you’re paying attention to what’s happening in America today, you’re probably aware of the challenges facing young Christians in their teens and twenties. It’s a simple fact: most young Christians will walk away from the Church during (or before) their college years. Like other Christian parents, I’m animated to …

The statistics are alarmingly clear: Young Christians are leaving the Church in increasing numbers and when polled, most cite some form of intellectual skepticism as the chief cause of their departure. If you’re a parent, listen to the words offered by young ex-believers (excerpted from recent studies): “It didn’t make …