Christian Parent, Crazy World

Christian Parent, Crazy World

Catherine Segars

Bridging the Generation Gap: 5 Keys to Reaching the Next Generation w/ Dr. Jonathon Morrow - Archive Ep. 54

May 19, 2025   ●   41 min

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How do we reach a generation that speaks an entirely different language—one shaped by screens, skepticism, and seismic cultural shifts? For Christian parents, grandparents, and youth leaders, it’s the challenge—and opportunity—of our age.

In this compelling “best of” episode, Catherine sits down with renowned Christian apologist Dr. Jonathan Morrow to unlock the secrets of relating to Gen Z and Gen Alpha. As Director of Cultural Engagement and Student Discipleship at Impact 360 Institute, adjunct professor at Biola University, and the author of celebrated apologetics books, Jonathan brings nearly two decades of front-line experience equipping young people for lasting faith in a post-Christian world.

Together, Catherine and Jonathan dive deep into five essential insights every adult needs to know about Gen Z:

  1. Why Gen Z are true “screenagers”—and how the digital world is dramatically accelerating and intensifying the questions of identity, meaning, and truth.
  2. How Gen Z is now thoroughly post-Christian, with only 4% holding a biblical worldview—what that means for sharing faith, and why “business as usual” discipleship just won’t work.
  3. The rise of “safe spaces,” intellectual bubble wrap, and the urgent need to introduce challenge and opposing ideas—inside the safety of Christian love and guidance.
  4. The paradox of safety: why today’s students crave safe spaces yet feel more unsafe, anxious, and mentally strained than ever before—and how parents can provide real security and hope.
  5. The opportunity and challenge of unprecedented diversity—what the Bible says about ethnicity, and how to navigate the subtle pitfalls of secular approaches to justice and inclusion.

Throughout the episode, Jonathan shares real-world examples and tested strategies including immersive learning, intentional worldview training, and how to disciple students for life in “Babylon,” not Jerusalem.

“There’s a world we want, and there’s the world that is—and they’re not the same world,” Jonathan observes, urging parents: “If we’re not intentionally helping them understand that truth exists and you can know it, they’re going to become Christian relativists.”

This episode is a must-listen for anyone who wants to faithfully guide the next generation to lasting faith—while respecting their unique struggles and leveraging their immense potential. Every generation faces its intersection with culture—this is ours.

Notable Episode Moments:

  • The hilarious nostalgia of card catalogs and how research has changed forever
  • Practical advice for introducing “bad ideas” in healthy, guided ways—building spiritual and intellectual muscle
  • Why anxiety, depression, and loneliness are skyrocketing, and where young people can find lasting safety
  • A clear-eyed look at diversity: its beautiful biblical roots and how to celebrate differences without embracing every passing trend

Are you proactively training your kids for the world as it is—or the world you wish it was? What is one step you can take this week to intentionally disciple your child amid the pressures and possibilities of Gen Z’s reality?

Tune in for a conversation packed with actionable hope, fresh perspective, and the tools every Christian parent needs for today’s crazy world.

About the Guest:
Jonathan Morrow holds master’s degrees in divinity and philosophy of religion and ethics, a doctorate in worldview and culture, and serves as Director of Cultural Engagement at Impact 360 Institute. He’s the author of Welcome to College, Questioning the Bible: 11 Major Challenges to the Bible's Authority, and Is God Just a Human Invention, and has trained thousands of young believers to build a lasting, reasonable, and robust faith.

Resources & Next Steps:

  • Learn more about Impact 360’s life-changing programs at impact360.org
  • Grab Jonathan’s free resource, The Case for Christianity in Four Words, and discover his course for parents at jonathanmorrow.org
  • Subscribe for more parenting resources at catherinesegars.com
  • Share this episode with a fellow parent or leader navigating the Gen Z gap

Let’s raise a generation that owns their faith and shines in the “crazy world” they’ve inherited—by God’s design, and for His glory.

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

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