Youth Culture Matters - A CPYU Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Episode 141: "Work" with Dan Doriani Dec 01, 2021

Show notes

Remember Kevin Malone from The Office? The sitcom character once said, “I work hard all day. I like knowing that there’s going to be a break. Most days I just sit and wait for the break.” I laughed when Kevin said it. But for the Christian, work and our attitude toward it is to be something different. Sadly, most of us don’t know what that something different is. Too many of our kids are growing up without a working theology of vocation, calling, and work. And if we want to see our kids liberated from the cultural narrative of seeing work as a necessary evil, we need to educate them properly. Stick with us as I have a paradigm shifting chat with Dan Doriani about his new book, Work That Makes A Difference, on this episode of Youth Culture Matters.

Episode 140: "Squid Game" with Kevin Yi and Clark Fobes Nov 18, 2021

Show notes

There’s absolutely no way we can ignore it. The Netflix nine part series Squid Game is a big hit across cultures and generations. It’s especially popular among our kids. Since pop culture artifacts like Squid Game serve as a worldview forming and reflecting map for our kids , we need to pay attention. And that’s what we’re doing today as we chat with our friends Clark Fobes and Kevin Yi about Squid Game, it’s message, its meaning, and how to respond, on this episode of Youth Culture Matters.

Episode 139: "Cultivating Wisdom" with Brett McCracken Nov 04, 2021

Show notes

You most likely remember Paul McCartney taking the lead on the Beatles’ classic 1970 song, “Let It Be.” Devastated by the death of his mom Mary to breast cancer when he was only 14 years old, McCartney was paying homage to the memory of his mom’s best advice when he sang, "When I find myself in times of trouble, mother Mary comes to me, speaking words of wisdom, let it be.” Wisdom. It’s much needed and sadly, in short supply. We live in a world where social media and technology undermine our wisdom, and we are fattening up on foolishness. I’m grateful for Brett McCracken and his new book which provides an antidote to our current wisdom famine. Stick with us as we chat with Brett about his book, The Wisdom Pyramid: Feeding Your Soul In A Post-Truth Word, on this episode of Youth Culture Matters.

Episode 138: "Encouragement from Walt's First Youth Pastor" with Phil Douglass Oct 22, 2021

Show notes

1970 was a long, long time ago. In September of that year, Ford introduced the Pinto. The supersonic Concorde landed for the first time at Heathrow Airport. The first New York city marathon was held. Both the Mary Tyler Moore show and Monday Night Football premiered. And along with all of that, I was fourteen years old and starting my freshman year of high school. That was also the year when a new youth pastor showed up at our church. Fifty one years have passed since the day I met Phil Douglass, and I’m really excited to reconnect with Phil all these years later to talk about life and ministry, on this special episode of Youth Culture Matters.

Episode 137: "Sexual Attitudes and Practices of Evangelical Young Adults" with David Ayers Sep 24, 2021

Show notes

On the night before his death, Jesus prayed what’s now become known as his high priestly prayer. As he prayed the will of the Father for his disciples in all times and all places, he said, “I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is the truth.” For the follower of Jesus, our place is to be in, but not of the world. In today’s world, one place where our counter-cultural presence has been compromised is in the area of sex and marriage. We increasingly and willingly choose beliefs and behaviors that go with flow of the culture. What do young evangelical Christians believe about sex and marriage? And how can we guide them into God’s good and beautiful plan for their sexuality? Stick with us as we talk to Dr. David Ayers about his new book, Beyond the Revolution: Sex and the Single Evangelical, on this episode of Youth Culture Matters.

Episode 136: "A Student's Guide to Navigating Culture" Sep 09, 2021

Show notes

Way back in 1678, John Bunyan wrote the classic book, The Pilgrim’s Progress. The allegory brings to life the difficulties followers of Jesus face in navigating the challenges of living to God’s glory in this broken world. Even though the story is almost three hundred and fifty years old, Bunyan’s young protagonist, Christian, is not unlike our children and teens today. How can we equip our children and teens to navigate the unique set of pressures, dilemmas, challenges, choices, and expectations they face in today’s youth culture? Are there ways to facilitate the development of Christian wisdom and skills in cultural discernment that will serve them well for the rest of their lives? Join as we chat with two youth workers about a new resource from CPYU designed to help kids navigate today’s culture to the glory of God, on this episode of Youth Culture Matters.

Episode 135: "A Look Back at Episode 83 - Understanding Transgender in a Changing Culture" Aug 18, 2021

Show notes

Welcome to Youth Culture Matters, a podcast from the Center for Parent/Youth Understanding. We’ve taken a short break from recording new episodes, so today we want to go back into our archives to highlight a timely conversation. Today's episode is a look back at a discussion with Peter Lynas that aims to help us better understanding the transgender issues rapidly taking shape in today's culture. Listen in to a replay of Episode 83, titled "Understanding Transgender in a Changing Culture" with Peter Lynas. This episode was originally released on May 13, 2019.

Episode 134: "Integration of Faith and Sport" with Tim Sceggel Jul 15, 2021

Show notes

One of the most frequent concerns I hear from youth workers regarding the influence of today’s youth culture, are concerns related to the growing involvement of kids and families in youth sports. These days families are spending more time and more money on youth sports, sometimes pulling kids out of opportunities for spiritual growth. Even those of us who don’t play, but who watch college and pro sports, can easily develop idolatrous habits? What is it that’s driving our obsessions with sports? Can we engage with sport in healthy ways that bring glory to God? And how can we best minister to kids and families in our sports-obsessed world? Stick with us as we talk about integrating faith into the world of sport, with Dr. Tim Sceggel, a college athletic director, on this episode of Youth Culture Matters.

Episode 133: "Anxiety, Stress, and Fostering Resilience" with Marv Penner Jun 29, 2021

Show notes

You might remember Kanye West’s 2007 chart-topping single, “Stronger.” In the song West quotes the famous line from Fredrich Nietzsche, “that which does not kill us makes us stronger.” According to the Bible, that’s true. But in today’s world, we are told that the emerging generations increasingly believe the opposite, that what doesn’t kill you makes you weaker. Are our kids losing their ability to do hard things and endure difficulty? Are we coddling and protecting them out of healthy growth and development? And, what can we do to reverse the tide and begin to facilitate spiritual growth that leads to a life marked by resilience? Stay with us as I chat with my friend Marv Penner about resilience and how to foster it in our kids, on this episode of Youth Culture Matters.

Episode 132: "Grandparents and Prayer" with Tony Souder Jun 17, 2021

Show notes

On the day I became a father, everything changed. And then, on the day almost eight years ago when I became a grandfather, everything changed again. When I became a father, I earnestly prayed for my kids as I knew they were growing up in a world markedly different from the world that I grew up in. Now, as a grandfather, my prayers have increased as the challenges of growing up have ramped up even more. I am convinced that for kids growing up in today’s world, the role grandparents can and must play is more than necessary. And one of the greatest roles we can play is that of being a prayer champion for our grandkids. Youth workers and parents, listen in today as we talk with our friend Tony Souder about ways that you can resource grandparents to pray for their grandkids, on this episode of Youth Culture Matters.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Youth Culture Matters – A CPYU Podcast

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected