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The voices of the world offer young people today every possible alternative to biblical truth. Many teens and young adults are wrestling with real doubts about God or with apathy to a faith that seems out of touch with their world. In this episode, John Bailey is joined by Evan Wilkerson to discuss the ways in which church leaders and families can successfully engage with their children’s doubts and apathy. Both these obstacles are actually opportunities to show young people the glory of God.
Key Points from the Podcast
• Engaging with young adults’ struggles, rather than shutting down conversations because they’re uncomfortable, is the best way to help lead them back to a biblical understanding of their struggles.
• Building up and cultivating a teenager’s faith starts with open channels of communication and invitations for them to really dig into why they think what they do. This gives parents and pastors avenues to guide teens to solid biblical beliefs.
• Modern culture is much more emotions-led than facts-led, and this has deeply impacted most young adults. The church needs to have nuanced responses to how this underlying assumption colors teen’s beliefs about themselves and the world.
• Good teaching in church and fun activities for teens are nice, but these things won’t prepare young adults to filter through the constant cultural messages they receive. Only intentional discipleship will prepare them with discernment as they face the world’s voices.
• Parents or pastors who are confronted with a young person’s apathy toward faith can respond by taking that teen or young adult outside of the church to serve others in ways that demonstrate how people need God and how God’s power meets our needs.
• People can’t be forced to be passionate about God or the Bible. We can do everything in our power to point young adults toward Christ; but at a certain point, we have to trust God to reach their hearts.
Bible Verses Referenced in the Podcast
Jeremiah 17:9
Resources Mentioned in the Podcast
About Evan Wilkerson
Evan Wilkerson is the son of Gary Wilkerson, President of World Challenge. In 2013, Evan felt the Lord’s call to be a minister and evangelist, preaching and teaching the Word of God. He earned his bachelor’s degree in biblical studies from Colorado Christian University and currently works at World Challenge as Director of NextGen Ministries where he lives out his passion to bring sound doctrine and apologetics to the next generation. Evan and his wife, Carmen, have two children and live in Colorado Springs, CO.
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About John Bailey
Pastor John Bailey serves as the Chief Operating Officer at World Challenge. John came to know Christ in jail after some difficult struggles as a young man, and God has done a powerful work of transformation since! Spending 13 years in Next Gen ministry, he excelled in discipleship and helping young leaders discover giftings to serve God. John was called next to serve as a missionary and pastor in Western Europe. John and his family then returned to plant the Springs Church in Jacksonville, Florida. Today, the church is a thriving body of believers excelling in outreach and missions. John has now brought his giftings and vision to World Challenge, accelerating the spread of the gospel in America and around the World.