15. Parents: How is Social Media Affecting Your Teen?
Teens, Tech & God
In this episode, Dr. John offers insights on the use of social media among teens in an effort to help parents understand the current situation and what to do to guide their teens.
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14. Why Is Teen Suicide on the Rise?
Teens, Tech & God
In this episode, Dr. John addresses the rise in teen suicide and shares an important message to help parents understand the current situation and what to do to help their teens. Plus: 10 ways to help your teen if they are dealing with possible suicidal ideation.
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13. What can I do if my teen is struggling with depression?
Teens, Tech & God
What can parents do if they think their teen is struggling with depression? Dr. John builds on content from the previous episode and offers 15 suggestions for parents to consider.
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12. Dealing with Teen Depression
Teens, Tech & God
In this episode, Dr. John addresses the growing problem of teen depression, which is being exasperated by the prevalence of and exposure to pornography. Dr. John will help parents identify if their teen could be suffering from depression.
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11. What Teens Need to Know About Sex from the Church
Teens, Tech & God
In this episode, Dr. John addresses the need for the church to speak to teens about sexuality as a part of a teen’s discipleship and within the context of the gospel narrative. You’ll also learn about 6 crucial ways the church can support parents in this effort.
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Part 3: A Digital Protection Plan for Parents | Episode 10
Teens, Tech & God
Dr. John shares an important message for parents: If you want to protect your children from developing an addiction to the computer, Internet, smartphone, or other digital influences, you need to have a clear plan of action.
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Part 2: Don't waste your real life on a virtual life
Teens, Tech & God
In this episode, we continue the conversation about digital technology themes found in the book “The Digital Invasion” by Dr. Archibald Hart and Dr. Sylvia Hart Frejd. Specifically, we’re going to look at how the digital invasion has reduced our capacity to live a “real life” and has robbed us of true meaning, pleasure, and fulfillment.
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Part 1: Four areas being affected by the digital invasion
Teens, Tech & God
The purpose of this broadcast is to share critical insights from The Digital Invasion, written by Dr. Archibald Hart and Dr. Sylvia Hart Frejd. In part 1 of this three-part series, Dr. John will share how the wave of digital technology is changing us from within, physically, mentally, and especially spiritually, and he will offer some biblical strategies to become good stewards of our digital lives.
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How to Help Your Teen Find Their Identity in Christ
Teens, Tech & God
The purpose of this broadcast is to share helpful insights in how to nurture and teach your teen about their spiritual identity. We will offer some biblical strategies to help teens become established in their identity in Christ.
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Help! I just discovered my teen has been looking at pornography.
Teens, Tech & God
What should parents do when they have just learned that their teen is viewing pornography? Are there some things not to do? What is the best way to initially respond? In this episode, Dr. John helps parents to know how to respond when they find out that their teen is viewing pornography. We will also address some of the most frequently asked questions from parents when they make this shocking and disturbing discovery.
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In this episode, Dr. John discusses more critical insights from the book “Rethinking Sexuality: God’s Design and Why It Matters,” by Dr. Juli Slattery of Authentic Intimacy, particularly in the area of sexual discipleship and the role the church should play in shaping sexual values.
Dr. Slattery’s book can be found here: https://www.amazon.com/Rethinking-Sexuality-Gods-Design-Matters/dp/0735291470/
Dr. Slattery’s ministry, Authentic Intimacy, can be found here: https://www.authenticintimacy.com/
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DID YOU KNOW
Recent findings from The Porn Phenomenon… https://www.barna.com/the-porn-phenomenon
- 70% of Christian youth pastors have had at least one teen ask them for help with dealing with porn in the past 12 months. Most often the teens were: High school boys 92%; middle school boys 57%; high school girls 23%; and middle school girls 10%.
- 21% of youth pastors and 14% of pastors admit they currently struggle with using porn.
- 12% of youth pastors and 5% of pastors say they are addicted to porn.
- 87% of pastors who say they use porn say they feel a great sense of shame about it.
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WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT
2:58: What is the definition of sexual discipleship?
“I think part of our dilemma is that we don’t have a sense of our sexuality being a part of our discipleship and followership with the Lord Jesus Christ.”
5:14: How has postmodernism grown so powerful in determining the sexual values of the culture?
6:27: In your view, why has the church failed to speak to these issues when the culture has been more compelling and effective in getting its message out?
8:08: Is sexuality a territory to be reclaimed by the church rather than a problem to be solved?
10:12: Juli Slattery wrote, “We have a mission. It’s not to convince people that sex outside of marriage is sinful…He told us to go and make disciples. Our mission is to exalt Jesus as Lord, Creator, and Savior of every aspect of our lives, including sexuality.” How do you respond to her comment?
“Jesus went out of his way to encounter people whose lives were broken.”
11:50: Do you think the church has been judgmental toward the issue of sexual sin and brokenness?
“You know what makes the church unique? We take the wounded and we shoot them.”
“Our priority is expressing the kindness and the mercy of our God toward people who have lives that are broken.”
15:00: How do you see the Bible addressing the issue of sexuality? Do you see anything especially noteworthy in the life of Jesus?
18:52: Are you suggesting that we in the church engage in sex education?
21:12: Let’s stop treating sexuality as a taboo subject in the church.
22:56: A closer look at a quote from Russell Moore’s book Onward: Engaging the Culture Without Losing the Gospel: “The sexual revolution, if we’re right about the universe, cannot keep its promises. Unhinged sexual utopianism can only go so far before it leaves the ground around it burned over, like every other utopianism. We need to be ready, after all that, to point toward older paths, toward water that can satisfy.”
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ACTION ITEM
How can parents help their teens to better understand the idea of sexual discipleship?
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RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
- The Porn Phenomenon, https://www.barna.com/the-porn-phenomenon/
- (Not mentioned, but worth exploring from PJ Media: https://pjmedia.com/faith/2017/01/28/barna-study-shocking-number-of-pastors-struggle-with-porn/ )
- Celebrate Recovery, https://www.celebraterecovery.com/
- Pure Desire, https://puredesire.org/
- Pure Desire Conqueror Series, https://puredesire.org/collections/conquer-series
- Russell Moore, https://www.russellmoore.com/ and also https://www.onward-book.com/
- Be Broken Ministries, https://2.bebroken.com/
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Teens, Tech & God is a podcast resource brought to you by Dr. John Thorington, director of Restoring Hearts Counseling in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and author of the book "Pure Teens." The podcast is dedicated to equipping parents with the tools and knowledge to raise kids committed to God's purpose for sexuality, the family, and the honorable use of all technology.