Posted on Wednesday,

The Biggest Issue Facing the Church Today

10 Barriers to Biblical Authority

What is the biggest issue facing the church today?

If you ask most people you will probably get answers like sexuality, gender, justice, tribalism, threats to religious liberty, cancel culture, consumerism, screen and social media addiction, and relativism—just to name a few.

And they’re not wrong. Those are significant issues.

But they are not THE issue.

Underneath ALL of those issues is the issue that I believe is the greatest challenge for the church today—authority.

As I teach and disciple high school, college, and graduate students year-round at Impact 360 Institute and study the next generation, I am more convinced than ever that the number 1 topic that must be addressed for the church is biblical authority.

Our Culture Has an Authority Problem

If the broader culture has an authority problem then it’s not surprising the church has a biblical authority problem.

Christians have drifted so far away from biblical authority. And it’s not just in progressive Christian circles that champion deconstruction.

Culture is simply what you come to see as normal without having to think about it. And it has become normal for people to see themselves as authoritative as I will unpack below.

10 Barriers to Biblical Authority Today

As I look around, I see 10 cultural challenges that are undermining Biblical Authority.

I will list them and comment briefly below but fully recognize that entire books could be written about each topic. In fact, I have addressed several of these challenges in depth in my book Questioning the Bible: 11 Major Challenges to the Bible’s Authority. As you read through this list, you will see how many of these build on each other.

1. Culture of Corruption & Abuse of Power. Everywhere you look there are scandals, cover-ups, and abuse of power. Scandal sells. And the entertainment news cycle is buying so it can drive clicks to create controversy and sell ad space. Sadly some high-profile Christian leaders and churches have been in the news for these reasons as well. The result is that you see a general institutional distrust setting in–especially in Gen Z. And if we’re honest, it’s not hard to see why some people are wary of authority. (more…)

Posted on Wednesday,

#31: Christian Quick Guide to Life in Coronavirus Quarantine

How should Christians uniquely approach our circumstances right now during the Coronavirus pandemic? What should our posture be? I’ll share 3 quick do’s and 3 dont’s, some fun things amidst the hard and my favorite quote from C.S. Lewis that helps us navigate these times. Make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss a podcast! Listen below…

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Posted on Thursday,

What Parents Need to Know About Gen Z as Digital Natives

My recent conversation with David Kinnaman of the Barna Group about GEN Z

As parents and those who care about teenagers, what do we need to know about Gen Z as Digital Natives?

Over the past 18 months, I have had the privilege of leading our GEN Z study at Impact 360 Institute with the wonderful team at the Barna Group and David Kinnaman. The research findings are about to be released. (Sign up to watch the free Livestream here).

This will be the most comprehensive research to date on the worldview, attitudes, beliefs, spiritual and moral views, and cultural impact of Gen Z (the generation after Millenials). I have been writing about these issues and how to train students to build a lasting faith (Get your teenager ready). It’s what I wake up thinking about each day.

From the focus groups to the research design, it has been a fascinating experience! If you have a middle schooler or high schooler right now then they are a part of GEN Z. As parents, you will want to know what the world (and worldview) of the next generation is shaping up to be and what that means for how you parent your kids in today’s culture.

Here is just a short video conversation I had with David Kinnaman as we get ready to launch this research.

Check out these awesome, life-changing experiences for your teenagers!

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Posted on Thursday,

3 Social Media Challenges Every Parent Needs To Help Their Teenager Navigate

And the 3 Key Questions to Ask...

Can you imagine a world without social media? No Facebook, Instagram, Twitter. It’s hard right?

The reality is that while Social Media has profoundly shaped us as adults, it is completely reinventing what it means to come of age as a teenager.

As someone who has the privilege of teaching and mentoring students in the areas of Biblical worldview, apologetics, and culture, I get a front row seat to the opportunities and challenges facing our young people.

The irony is we are a culture that longs for connection and intimacy, but we hide behind our devices because they give us the illusion of control. We are afraid of being known.

So as the social media revolution continues, we need to (more…)