A Christian Response to Gen Z's Mental Health Crisis

The Russell Moore Show

“There is so much grace.”

That’s what Melissa B. Kruger, Bible teacher, author of several books including Parenting with Hope, and vice president of discipleship programming at The Gospel Coalition wants families with teens to know. Not only that, it's what she hopes all who care about the next generation will bear in mind.

On this episode of The Russell Moore Show, Kruger shares insights gained from her years of raising three now-adult children. She talks about the importance of emphasizing relationships with Jesus and one another over a formulaic approach to faith or parenting. Moore and Kruger discuss practical issues in teen life, including mental health concerns, smartphone usage, and how families may be unintentionally raising young people to be “curated…rather than dearly beloved.”

Kruger and Moore offer hope for families that are struggling and encourage parents to think about preparing their children to encounter risks in the real world with wisdom and hope.

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

• Melissa B. Kruger
• The Gospel Coalition
• Parenting with Hope: Raising Teens for Christ in a Secular Age by Melissa B. Kruger
• “Jonathan Haidt’s Way Forward for an Anxious Generation”
• "An Update to The Anxious Generation with Jonathan Haidt"
• Reformed Theological Seminary
• The Price of Privilege: How Parental Pressure and Material Advantage Are Creating a Generation of Disconnected and Unhappy Kids by Madeline Levine, Ph.D.
• The Gift of Good Land: Further Essays Cultural and Agricultural by Wendell Berry

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“The Russell Moore Show” is a production of Christianity Today

Executive Producers: Erik Petrik, Russell Moore, and Mike Cosper

Host: Russell Moore

Producer: Ashley Hales

Associate Producers: Abby Perry and McKenzie Hill

Director of Operations for CT Media: Matt Stevens

Audio engineering by Dan Phelps

Video producer: Abby Egan

Theme Song: “Dusty Delta Day” by Lennon Hutton

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