•Research Related to Spiritual Life of Teenagers:

•Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives

of American Teenagers
Christian Smith and Melinda Lundquist Denton,
Oxford University Press, 2005
•Book Findings: The majority of teenagers
are incredibly inarticulate about their faith,
religious beliefs and practices, and its place in
their lives.
• The State of Theology
Ligonier Ministries and Lifeway Research (2015)
• Study Findings: In this survey of theological beliefs,
researchers asked self-professing Christians to respond to a
series of statements related to classic, historic Christian
doctrine. In every answer offered related to these
theological beliefs, young people between the ages of 18
and 34 consistently held heretical views at a higher
percentage than older respondents. Young people who
identify themselves as Christians, are far more likely to
hold views that aren’t Christian.
• America’s Changing Religious Landscape
Pew Research Center (2015)
• Study Findings: “The percentage of adults (ages 18
and older) who describe themselves as Christians has
dropped by nearly eight percentage points in just
seven years, from 78.4% in an equally massive Pew
Research survey in 2007 to 70.6% in 2014. Over the
same period, the percentage of Americans who are
religiously unaffiliated – describing themselves as
atheist, agnostic or “nothing in particular” – has
jumped more than six points, from 16.1% to 22.8%.”
• Why Christian Kids Leave the Faith
Tom Bisset, Discovery House Publishers (1997)
• Book Findings: In this very early study, Tom Bisset
interviewed people and asked them when, why, and how
they abandoned their faith. He identified four prominent
reasons:
• 1. They left because they had troubling, unanswered
questions about the faith.
2. They left because their faith was not “working” for them.
3. They left because they allowed other things to take
priority.
4. They left because they never personally owned their faith.
•Southern Baptist Convention Data
Pinkney, T.C., Remarks to the Southern Baptist
Convention Executive Committee, Nashville,
Tennessee (2001)
•Study Findings: Data from the Southern Baptist
Convention indicates that they are currently
losing 70-88% of their youth after their freshman
year in college. 70% of teenagers involved in
church youth groups stop attending church
within two years of their high school graduation.
•The Southern Baptist Convention’s
Family Life Council
Southern Baptist Council on Family Life
report to Annual Meeting of the
Southern Baptist Convention (2002)
•Study Findings: 88% of the children in
evangelical homes leave church at the
age of 18
•Only Half of Kids Raised Southern
Baptist Stay Southern Baptist
•Analysis: The bigger factor behind
the SBC’s decline isn’t the struggle
to gain new converts; it’s keeping
their own.
•While close to 1 in 10
Americans identified as
Southern Baptist in 1987, that
number has been cut in half
to 1 in 20 (4.8%) in 2018.
•The Southern Baptist Convention’s
Family Life Council
Southern Baptist Council on Family Life
report to Annual Meeting of the
Southern Baptist Convention (2002)
•Study Findings: 88% of the children in
evangelical homes leave church at the
age of 18
•Revolution
George Barna, Tyndale House
Publishers, Carol Stream, IL (2005)
•Book Findings: If current trends in the
belief systems and practices of the
younger generation continue, in ten
years, church attendance will be half
the size it is today.
•Revolution
George Barna, Tyndale House
Publishers, Carol Stream, IL (2005)
•Book Findings: If current trends in the
belief systems and practices of the
younger generation continue, in ten
years, church attendance will be half
the size it is today.
• Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American
Teenagers
Christian Smith and Melinda Lundquist Denton, Oxford University
Press (2005)
• Book Findings: Students leave faith behind primarily because of
intellectual doubt and skepticism (page 89). “Why did they fall away
from the faith in which they were raised?” This was an open-ended
question there were no multiple-choice answers. 32% said they left
faith behind because of intellectual skepticism or doubt. (“It didn’t
make any sense anymore.” “Some stuff is too far-fetched for me to
believe.” “I think scientifically and there is no real proof.” “Too many
questions that can’t be answered.”)
• Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American
Teenagers
Christian Smith and Melinda Lundquist Denton, Oxford University
Press (2005)
• Book Findings: Students leave faith behind primarily because of
intellectual doubt and skepticism (page 89). “Why did they fall away
from the faith in which they were raised?” This was an open-ended
question there were no multiple-choice answers. 32% said they left
faith behind because of intellectual skepticism or doubt. (“It didn’t
make any sense anymore.” “Some stuff is too far-fetched for me to
believe.” “I think scientifically and there is no real proof.” “Too many
questions that can’t be answered.”)
•“Most Twentysomethings Put Christianity
on the Shelf…”
Barna Study (2006)
•Study Findings: A majority of twenty-
somethings – 61% of today’s young adults –
had been churched at one point during their
teen years but they are now spiritually
disengaged.
•The Last Christian Generation
Josh McDowell, David H. Bellis, Green Key Books
(2006)
•Book Findings: 63% of teenaged Christians don’t
believe that Jesus is the Son of the one true God.
51% don’t believe that Jesus rose from the dead.
68% don’t believe that the Holy Spirit is a real
entity. Only 33% of churched youth have said
that the church will play a part in their lives when
they leave home.
• LifeWay Research Study
LifeWay Research and Ministry Development (2007)
• Study Findings: 70% will leave the faith in college. Only 35%
eventually return. 7 in 10 Protestants ages 18 to 30 – both
evangelical and mainline – who went to church regularly in high
school said they quit attending by age 23. 34% of those said they
had not returned, even sporadically, by age 30. That means about
one in four Protestant young people have left the church. “The
most frequent reason for leaving church is, in fact, a self-imposed
change, ‘I simply wanted a break from church’ (27%).” “The path
toward college and the workforce are also strong reasons for young
people to leave church: ‘I moved to college and stopped attending
church’ (25%) and ‘work responsibilities prevented me from
attending’ (23%).”
• Gen Z: The Culture, Beliefs and Motivations Shaping the Next
Generation
Barna Research Group (2018)
• Study Findings: Barna’s most comprehensive research study
investigating the perceptions, experiences and motivations of 13- to
18-year-olds in Generation Z, reports the following:
• 1. 59% of students in this age group Identify as Christian or Catholic
(down from 75% for “Elders”). 21% say they are atheist or agnostic
(up from 11% for “Elders’). 14% say they have no religious affiliation
(up from 9% for “Elders”)
2. Students in this age group offer the following “barriers to faith”:
• a. “I have a hard time believing that a good God would allow so
much evil or suffering in the world” (29%)
b. “Christians are hypocrites” (23%)
2. Students in this age group offer the following “barriers to
faith”:
• a. “I have a hard time believing that a good God would allow
so much evil or suffering in the world” (29%)
b. “Christians are hypocrites” (23%)
c. “I believe science refutes too much of the Bible” (20%)
d. “I don’t believe in fairy tales (19%)
e. “There are too many injustices in the history of
Christianity” (15%)
f. “I used to go to church but it’s not important to me
anymore” (12%)
g. “I had a bad experience at church with a Christian” (6%)
• 5. Students in this age group hold negative perceptions of
the church in the following areas:
• a. The church seems to reject much of what science tells us
about the world (495)
b. The church is overprotective of teenagers (38%)
c. The people at church are hypocritical (36%)
d. The church is not a safe place to express doubts (27%)
e. The faith and teaching I encounter at church seem rather
shallow (24%)
f. The church seems too much like an exclusive club (17%)
2. Students in this age group offer the following “barriers to
faith”:
• a. “I have a hard time believing that a good God would allow
so much evil or suffering in the world” (29%)
b. “Christians are hypocrites” (23%)
c. “I believe science refutes too much of the Bible” (20%)
d. “I don’t believe in fairy tales (19%)
e. “There are too many injustices in the history of
Christianity” (15%)
f. “I used to go to church but it’s not important to me
anymore” (12%)
g. “I had a bad experience at church with a Christian” (6%)
• How Religious are America’s College and University
Professors?
Neil Gross, Solon Simmons (2006)
• Study Findings: About 25% of college professors are
professing atheists or agnostics (5-7% of the general
population is atheistic or agnostic). Only 6% of college
professors said the Bible is “the actual word of God”.
51% described it as “an ancient book of fables,
legends, history and moral precepts.” 75% believe
religion does not belong in public schools.
The Top 10 Issues
Facing Christians
Families Today
•A two-round survey conducted by
the Internet strategies department
of LifeWay Christian Resources
found that modern families struggle
with a variety of issues.
•The Internet strategies department of
LifeWay, an entity of the Southern Baptist
Convention, began soliciting participation in
the Top 10 Issues Facing Today’s Family
online research project.
•10. Materialism. “Materialism is being
hurled at us in every television,
billboard, radio, and internet screen we
encounter, not to mention peer
pressure. Too often parents substitute
“presents” for “presence” which, I think,
lead children to value things more than
people.” Vickie, Springfield GA
•10. Materialism. “We suffer from
Affluenza in this country – we have so
much, and kids are learning to want
more and more and more, without
assessing the true value if things in life,
or the fact that so many do without.
Patty F Henderson, NV.
•Mar 10:23 At lumingap si Jesus sa
palibotlibot, at sinabi sa kaniyang mga
alagad, Kay hirap na magsipasok sa kaharian
ng Dios ang mga may kayamanan!
•Mar 10:24 At nangagtaka ang mga alagad sa
kaniyang mga salita. Datapuwa't si Jesus ay
muling sumagot at nagsabi sa kanila, Mga
anak, kay hirap na magsipasok sa kaharian ng
Dios ang mga magsisiasa sa mga kayamanan!
•Mar 10:25 Magaan pa sa isang
kamelyo ang dumaan sa butas
ng isang karayom, kay sa isang
mayaman ang pumasok sa
kaharian ng Dios.
•9. Balance of Work and Family. “Mom
comes home tired, dad comes home
tired. Family life suffers . . . kids must
make decisions for themselves that
parents should make for them. Too
much emphasis on material things, not
on Godly things” Diane, Guyton GA
•9. Balance of Work and
Family. “Children are spending
more and more time away from
busy moms and dads which is
hurting their mental and spiritual
growth.
•9. Balance of Work and
Family. “The rising pressure to
invest more of one’s energy in work
at the expense of family.
•9. Balance of Work and Family.
Psa 90:12 Kaya ituro mo sa amin ang
pagbilang ng aming mga kaarawan,
upang kami ay mangagtamo sa amin
ng pusong may karunungan.
•9. Balance of Work and Family.
• Mat 11:28 Magsiparito sa akin, kayong lahat na
nangapapagal at nangabibigatang lubha, at kayo'y
aking papagpapahingahin.
• Mat 11:29 Pasanin ninyo ang aking pamatok, at
magaral kayo sa akin; sapagka't ako'y maamo at
mapagpakumbabang puso: at masusumpungan ninyo
ang kapahingahan ng inyong mga kaluluwa.
• Mat 11:30 Sapagka't malambot ang aking pamatok, at
magaan ang aking pasan.
•8. Negative Media Influences. “We
are being desensitized daily to what
one should tolerate to the point of
not recognizing sin as sin but
accepting it as the way things are.”
Tara, Huber Heights OH
•8. Negative Media Influences. “The
media continues to increase in
promoting not just entertainment
but also a worldly agenda.
•8. Negative Media Influences. “Php 4:8
Katapustapusan, mga kapatid, anomang
bagay na katotohanan, anomang bagay na
kagalanggalang, anomang bagay na matuwid,
anomang bagay na malinis, anomang bagay
na kaibigibig, anomang bagay na mabuting
ulat; kung may anomang kagalingan, at kung
may anomang kapurihan, ay isipin ninyo ang
mga bagay na ito.
•7. Lack of Communication. “Cell
phones, the Internet, digital satellite
systems, and playstations are
becoming substitutes for
relationships.” Robert, Bogart GA
•7. Lack of
Communication. “Families cannot
communicate effectively because of
text messaging or using a cellphone
talking to someone rather than
being with the person in physical
proximity.” Robert, Bogart GA
•7. Lack of Communication. “Perhaps no
other activity provides the intimate
sharing and conversation time as a
calm, comfortable meal together. The
rush of today’s schedules prevent
families from having this provision”.
•7. Lack of
Communication. ”The near
elimination of meaningful
family member interaction”
•7. Lack of Communication.
•Eph 6:1 Mga anak, magsitalima kayo sa
inyong mga magulang sa Panginoon:
sapagka't ito'y matuwid.
•Eph 6:2 Igalang mo ang iyong ama at
ina (na siyang unang utos na may
pangako),
•7. Lack of Communication.
•Eph 6:3 Upang yumaon kang mabuti, at
ikaw ay mabuhay na malaon sa lupa.
•Eph 6:4 At, kayong mga ama, huwag
ninyong ipamungkahi sa galit ang inyong
mga anak: kundi inyong turuan sila ayon
sa saway at aral ng Panginoon.
•6. Financial Pressures. “Living costs
are rising rapidly, especially in terms
of health care, prescriptions, and
health insurance premiums. It is
hard to stay on budget when living
costs rise significantly faster than
income.” Osborne, Blandon PA
•6. Financial Pressures. “The pressure
felt by many people to “have” so much
“stuff” is overwhelming and credit is an
easy way to fulfill the wants and
perceived needs. However, its long term
anxiety and frustration when the bills
can’t paid and the spending must be
stopped”
•6. Financial Pressures. “The
chronic misuse of debt and/or
mismanagement of financial
resources.
•6. Financial Pressures. 1Ti 6:17 Ang
mayayaman sa sanglibutang ito, ay
pagbilinan mo na huwag
magsipagmataas ng pagiisip, at huwag
umasa sa mga kayamanang di
nananatili, kundi sa Dios na siyang
nagbibigay sa ating sagana ng lahat ng
mga bagay upang ating ikagalak;
•6. Financial Pressures. 1Ti 6:18 Na
sila'y magsigawa ng mabuti, na sila'y
magsiyaman sa mabuting gawa, na sila'y
maging handa sa pamimigay, maibigin
sa pamamahagi;
•1Ti 6:19 Na mangagtipon sa kanilang
sarili ng isang mabuting kinasasaligan
para sa panahong darating, upang sila'y
•6. Financial Pressures. 1Ti 6:19 Na
mangagtipon sa kanilang sarili ng isang
mabuting kinasasaligan para sa
panahong darating, upang sila'y
makapanangan sa buhay na tunay na
buhay.
•5. Lack of
Discipline. “Without discipline
and respect in the home,
there is none in the world.”
Karen, Marshall TX
•5. Lack of Discipline. “Two sides
of the same coin are self-
discipline and self respect.
Children do not see the modeling
of these attributes in parents or
adults, therefore they grow into
self-absorbed and selfish adults.
•5. Lack of Discipline. “The
death of respectful behavior
as a norm in our schools,
churches, and families.
•5. Lack of Discipline. Heb 12:11 Lahat
ng parusa sa ngayon ay tila man din
hindi ikaliligaya kundi ikalulungkot;
gayon ma'y pagkatapos ay namumunga
ng bungang mapayapa ng katuwiran sa
mga nagsipagsanay sa pamamagitan
nito.
•5. Lack of Discipline. Col 3:20 Mga
anak, magsitalima kayo sa inyong
magulang sa lahat ng mga bagay,
sapagka't ito'y totoong nakalulugod sa
Panginoon.
•4. Father Figure. “If the fathers
in our families do not take the
spiritual leadership, how will our
children learn to follow God,
their heavenly father’s
leadership?” Ranita, Woodward
OK
•4. Father Figure.
Eph 6:4 At, kayong mga ama,
huwag ninyong ipamungkahi sa
galit ang inyong mga anak: kundi
inyong turuan sila ayon sa saway
at aral ng Panginoon.
•3. Busyness. “Satan uses
busyness to think we are being
productive, meanwhile, our
relationships, our families, our
churches are faltering.” Tom,
Bowie MD
•3. Busyness. “We are too busy to
spend time with God. Consequently,
we don’t know God who God is
which means we don’t know who
we are. We then try to establish our
value ourselves through fame or
fortune which causes us to be busy
•3. Busyness. Isa 40:29 Siya'y nagbibigay
ng lakas sa mahina; at ang walang
kapangyarihan ay pinananagana niya sa
kalakasan.
•Isa 40:30 Pati ng mga kabinataan ay
manlalata at mapapagod, at ang mga
binata ay lubos na mangabubuwal:
•3. Busyness. Isa 40:31 Nguni't silang
nangaghihintay sa Panginoon ay
mangagbabagong lakas; sila'y
paiilanglang na may mga pakpak na
parang mga aguila; sila'y magsisitakbo,
at hindi mangapapagod; sila'y
magsisilakad, at hindi manganghihina.
•2. Divorce. “Divorce seems to be
on the increase, even among
Christian families, leaving many
to wonder (especially children)
what commitment really
means.” Sherri, Simpsonville SC
•2. Divorce. “The ongoing
wave of broken marriages
and families within the
church and without.
•2. Divorce. “Books have been written, movies
have been produced, and studies have been
conducted and still the ravages of divorce
continue to reach depths unheard of among
Americans. While adults are suffering,
children are hurt so deeply that most will
continue the divorce cycle into their own
marriages.
•2. Divorce. Mat 19:3 At nagsilapit sa kaniya
ang mga Fariseo, na siya'y tinutukso nila, at
kanilang sinasabi, Naaayon baga sa kautusan
na ihiwalay ng isang lalake ang kaniyang
asawa sa bawa't kadahilanan?
•Mat 19:4 At siya'y sumagot at sinabi, Hindi
baga ninyo nabasa, na ang lumalang sa kanila
buhat sa pasimula, ay sila'y nilalang niya na
lalake at babae,
•2. Divorce. Mat 19:5 At sinabi, Dahil dito'y
iiwan ng lalake ang kaniyang ama at ina, at
makikisama sa kaniyang asawa; at ang
dalawa ay magiging isang laman?
•Mat 19:6 Kaya nga hindi na sila dalawa,
kundi isang laman. Ang pinapagsama nga ng
Dios, ay huwag papaghiwalayin ng tao.
•Mat 19:7 Sinabi nila sa kaniya, Bakit nga
ipinagutos ni Moises na magbigay ng
•2. Divorce. MaMat 19:7 Sinabi nila sa kaniya,
Bakit nga ipinagutos ni Moises na magbigay
ng kasulatan sa paghihiwalay, at ihiwalay ang
babae?
•Mat 19:8 Sinabi niya sa kanila, Dahil sa
katigasan ng inyong puso ay ipinaubaya sa
inyo ni Moises na inyong hiwalayan ang
inyong mga asawa: datapuwa't buhat sa
pasimula ay hindi gayon.
•1. Anti-Christian Culture. “Fewer
and fewer of my children’s friends
from school have a Christian
upbringing, knowledge of God’s
Word and how it applies to them.
Many of the parents don’t even
care.” Allison, Clearwater FL.
•1. Anti-Christian Culture. “When church
members don’t have a Christian
worldview they will readily accept and
live according to ideas that are
unbiblical and even anti-Christian. Thus
they are not the salt and light which will
influence non-believers to become
believers.
•1. Anti-Christian Culture. “The stripping
away of Christian heritage and
traditional values.
•1. Anti-Christian Culture.
•Mat 5:13 Kayo ang asin ng lupa: nguni't kung
ang asin ay tumabang, ay ano ang
ipagpapaalat? wala nang ano pa mang
kabuluhan, kundi upang itapon sa labas at
yurakan ng mga tao.
•Mat 5:14 Kayo ang ilaw ng sanglibutan. Ang
isang bayan na natatayo sa ibabaw ng isang
bundok ay hindi maitatago
•1. Anti-Christian Culture.
•Mat 5:15 Hindi rin nga pinaniningasan ang isang
ilawan, at inilalagay sa ilalim ng isang takalan,
kundi sa talagang lalagyan ng ilaw; at
lumiliwanag sa lahat ng nangasa bahay.
•Mat 5:16 Lumiwanag na gayon ang inyong ilaw
sa harap ng mga tao; upang mangakita nila ang
inyong mabubuting gawa, at kanilang luwalhatiin
ang inyong Ama na nasa langit.
• Families and Faith: How Religion is Passed Down Across
Generations
Vern L. Bengtson. Norella M. Putney, Susan Harris, Oxford
University Press (2013)
• Book Findings: Several key findings were discovered in this
35-year study of families, focusing on the question of how
religion is passed across generations:
• 1. Parents continue to be the single greatest influence on
their children’s faith.
2. When a child sees and hears that faith actually makes a
difference in Mom and Dad’s lives, they’re much more likely
to follow suit.
• Families and Faith: How Religion is Passed Down Across
Generations

3. Young adults are more likely to share their parents’

religious beliefs and participation if they feel that they have
a close relationship with those parents.
4. Young Christians who leave the faith are far more likely to
return when parents have been patient and supportive –
and perhaps more tolerant and open than they had been
before the prodigal’s departure.
• Nothing Less: Engaging Kids in a Lifetime of Faith
Jana Magruder and Ben Trueblood (2018)
• Book / Study Findings: A study was conducted by Shelby
Systems in preparation for the publication of this book. The
study surveyed 2,000 Protestant and nondenominational
churchgoers who attended services at least once a month
and have adult children ages 18 to 30 who are still believers.
They found the following “Predictors of Spiritual Health for
Young Adults”:
• Child regularly read the Bible while growing up.
Child regularly spent time in prayer while growing up.
Child regularly served in church while growing up.
• Nothing Less: Engaging Kids in a Lifetime of Faith
Child regularly read the Bible while growing up.
Child regularly spent time in prayer while growing up.
Child regularly served in church while growing up.
Child listened primarily to Christian music.
Child participated in church mission trips/projects.
• In addition, they found that parents who had successfully
passed on their faith to their children typically were involved
in the following activities:
• Reading the Bible several times a week.
Taking part in a service project or church mission trip as a
family.
• Nothing Less: Engaging Kids in a Lifetime of Faith

Sharing their faith with unbelievers.

Encouraging teenagers to serve in church.
Asking forgiveness when they messed up as parents.
Encouraging their children’s unique talents and interests.
Taking annual family vacations.
Attending churches with teaching that emphasized what the
Bible says.
Teaching their children to tithe.