Type “teenagers” into Google, then spend 30 minutes browsing the links. I did this the other day and was confronted (over and over) by one overriding reality—Gen Z teenagers are suffering from more depression, anxiety, and stress than ever before. EVER before.…
It’s a question philosophers, poets, and songwriters have pondered endlessly, yet a universal answer is still hard to find. What is love? And would it become less complicated if we started by seeking and embracing the greatest love of all? Join Rick and Becky as they continue a series exploring life’s essential questions and the ways Jesus answers them.…
I’m going to be honest and say I have not mastered what I’m about to share with you. I’m in the middle of this one-sided wrestling match with you. The school year will soon begin. Youth groups across the country will soon be having or are planning kickoff events.…
Harry Potter, yoga, meditation, and Dungeons and Dragons—for some Christ-followers, these are fun, entertaining, and healthy activities. Others firmly believe they’re a gateway to evil. Which view is correct? Join Rick and Steph as they explore what it means to “open yourself to dark influences.” Using Paul’s advice to the Corinthian church as a guide, let’s discuss why activities are acceptable to some Christians, but not for others.…
Low motivation is a classic meme in adolescence. But it’s a stereotype we can shatter if we understand how to ignite kids’ passion. We can’t cajole or bribe them into passion, but we can help them discover it… 1. Finding their passion. …
Contemporary Christian music is positive, uplifting, and full of songs talking about prayer and purpose. It’s populated by music referencing joy, peace, and God, so there couldn’t possibly be a negative consequence to listening to it…right? Join Rick and Steph as they discuss reinventing the basics of our faith.…
We live in an age where the line between the truth and lies has been blurred with the rise of “fake news.” Whether in the church or our personal lives, it can be hard to discern the truth. During these challenges, what would it look like to lean into Jesus, the source of all truth?…
Spider-Man is legit. Teenagers love him. Parents giggle at him. Youth workers recognize him. He’s a bumbling, awkward 16-year-old named Peter Parker trying to have an ordinary life though he’s been given extraordinary gifts and responsibilities. Kind of like the tension our teenagers often feel.…
We all know that a cockroach is hard to kill… After the atomic-bomb blasts in Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of World War II, the military reported that the only living things to survive the blast zone were these disgusting little pests.…
The world is currently facing an epidemic with anxiety, depression, and suicide. While the most recent generations are the most affluent ever, something is still missing. What would it look like to turn our attention toward Jesus for the answer? Join Rick and his daughter Lucy for a series exploring the essential questions everyone has and the ways Jesus can answer them.…
 Essential Questions—What Is Love?){kind=link}
 Best of PRATJ: Is Harry Potter Evil?){kind=link}
 Best of PRATJ: The Dirty Little Secret About Christian Music){kind=link}
 Essential Questions—What Is Truth?){kind=link}
 Essential Questions—Will Everything Be Okay?){kind=link}