In this episode of Thinking Christian, I sit down with Dr. Tanita Maddox—National Director of Generational Impact for Young Life and author of What Gen Z Really Wants to Know About God. Drawing from years of research and on-the-ground ministry, Tanita helps untangle the unique worldview of Gen Z and why many of our “classic” Christian explanations fall flat with today’s young people.

We explore how Gen Z understands concepts like truth, goodness, safety, and identity, and why shared vocabulary often hides radically different assumptions. Tanita explains how Gen Z’s hyper-personalized world shapes their beliefs, why many of their deepest questions begin with, “Is God good?”, and how shifting cultural definitions of safety and justice impact their view of the gospel.

Together, we talk through:


Why Gen Z sees truth as potentially harmful rather than stabilizing


How to share the gospel with a generation that starts their theology with experience


Why Gen Z is deeply communal—often more than previous generations


How to reframe sin, freedom, and human dignity in ways that make sense to them


Why listening—real, patient, non-defensive listening—is the most powerful apologetic tool we have


Practical steps for parents, pastors, and mentors who want to meaningfully engage the next generation

If you have Gen Z kids, work with youth, teach in a church, or simply want to understand the cultural moment shaping the next generation, this conversation offers insight, clarity, and a hopeful path forward.

Thinking Christian is hosted by Dr. James Spencer, president of the D. L. Moody Center and author of Digital Discernment (InterVarsity Press). Each conversation reads the Bible as the final authority for life and faith, questioning the assumptions of our culture, even our Christian culture, so that we don't settle for a narrower vision than God's word offers.

Unsettling convention. Cultivating conviction.
Episodes, articles, and questions: thinkingchristian.org
About James Spencer: thinkingchristian.org/james
The Thinking Christian Framework: thinkingchristian.org/framework
Order Digital Discernment: amazon.com

Subscribe: YouTube · Apple Podcasts · Spotify

Advertising and partnership inquiries: info@thinkingchristian.org

You can purchase What Gen Z Really Wants to Know About God at ivpress.com (use code IVPPOD20 for a 20% discount) 

In this episode of Thinking Christian, I sit down with Dr. Tanita Maddox&mdash;National Director of Generational Impact for Young Life and author of What Gen Z Really Wants to Know About God. Drawing from years of research and on-the-ground ministry, Tanita helps untangle the unique worldview of Gen Z and why many of our &ldquo;classic&rdquo; Christian explanations fall flat with today&rsquo;s young people.
We explore how Gen Z understands concepts like truth, goodness, safety, and identity, and why shared vocabulary often hides radically different assumptions. Tanita explains how Gen Z&rsquo;s hyper-personalized world shapes their beliefs, why many of their deepest questions begin with, &ldquo;Is God good?&rdquo;, and how shifting cultural definitions of safety and justice impact their view of the gospel.
Together, we talk through:
<ul data-start="951" data-end="1472">
<li data-start="951" data-end="1022">
Why Gen Z sees truth as potentially harmful rather than stabilizing
</li>
<li data-start="1023" data-end="1111">
How to share the gospel with a generation that starts their theology with experience
</li>
<li data-start="1112" data-end="1181">
Why Gen Z is deeply communal&mdash;often more than previous generations
</li>
<li data-start="1182" data-end="1264">
How to reframe sin, freedom, and human dignity in ways that make sense to them
</li>
<li data-start="1265" data-end="1366">
Why listening&mdash;real, patient, non-defensive listening&mdash;is the most powerful apologetic tool we have
</li>
<li data-start="1367" data-end="1472">
Practical steps for parents, pastors, and mentors who want to meaningfully engage the next generation
</li>
</ul>
If you have Gen Z kids, work with youth, teach in a church, or simply want to understand the cultural moment shaping the next generation, this conversation offers insight, clarity, and a hopeful path forward.
Thinking Christian is hosted by Dr. James Spencer, president of the D. L. Moody Center and author of Digital Discernment (InterVarsity Press). Each conversation reads the Bible as the final authority for life and faith, questioning the assumptions of our culture, even our Christian culture, so that we don't settle for a narrower vision than God's word offers.
Unsettling convention. Cultivating conviction. Episodes, articles, and questions: <a href="https://www.thinkingchristian.org/">thinkingchristian.org</a> About James Spencer: <a href="https://www.thinkingchristian.org/james">thinkingchristian.org/james</a> The Thinking Christian Framework: <a href="https://www.thinkingchristian.org/framework">thinkingchristian.org/framework</a> Order Digital Discernment: <a href="https://amzn.to/4zf0Xsm">amazon.com</a>
Subscribe: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@ThinkingChristian?sub_confirmation=1">YouTube</a> &middot; <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/thinking-christian-clear-theology-for-a-confusing-world/id1712162582">Apple Podcasts</a> &middot; <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3PCi6K1PjPXzhrNVGAPTLX">Spotify</a>
Advertising and partnership inquiries: <a href="mailto:info@thinkingchristian.org">info@thinkingchristian.org</a>
You can purchase What Gen Z Really Wants to Know About God at <a href="https://www.ivpress.com/what-gen-z-really-wants-to-know-about-god">ivpress.com</a> (use code IVPPOD20 for a 20% discount)&nbsp;

Thinking Christian is a podcast hosted by Dr. James Spencer, president of the D. L. Moody Center and author of Digital Discernment (InterVarsity Press), with co-host Dr. Ashish Varma. Reading the Bible as the final authority for life and faith means questioning the assumptions of our culture, even our Christian culture, so that we don't settle for a narrower vision than God's word offers.

James and Ashish talk with scholars, pastors, and authors about Scripture and theology, biblical manhood and discipleship, technology and AI, Christian nationalism and politics, church history, and faith and mental health. 

Unsettling convention. Cultivating conviction.

Episodes, transcripts, articles, and questions: https://www.thinkingchristian.org

Thinking Christian is a podcast hosted by Dr. James Spencer, president of the D. L. Moody Center and author of Digital Discernment (InterVarsity Press), with co-host Dr. Ashish Varma. Reading the Bible as the final authority for life and faith means questioning the assumptions of our culture, even our Christian culture, so that we don't settle for a narrower vision than God's word offers.
James and Ashish talk with scholars, pastors, and authors about Scripture and theology, biblical manhood and discipleship, technology and AI, Christian nationalism and politics, church history, and faith and mental health.&nbsp;
Unsettling convention. Cultivating conviction.
Episodes, transcripts, articles, and questions: https://www.thinkingchristian.org

Thinking Christian with Dr. James Spencer reads the Bible as the final authority for life and faith, questioning the assumptions of our culture, even our Christian culture, so that we don’t settle for a narrower vision than God’s word offers. Each week, James, co-host Dr. Ashish Varma, and guests (biblical scholars, theologians, pastors, and authors) take up the questions Christians face: politics and Christian nationalism, technology and AI, biblical manhood, suffering and mental health, how to read Scripture well, and what faithful discipleship looks like now. Calm, careful, and grounded in the text. Unsettling convention. Cultivating conviction. Episodes, transcripts, articles, and questions: thinkingchristian.org

Thinking Christian with Drs. James Spencer and Ashish Varma

Christians shouldn’t just think. They should think Christian. Join Dr. James Spencer and guests for calm, thoughtful, theological discussions about a variety of topics Christians face every day. The Thinking Christian Podcast will help you grow spiritually and learn theology as you seek to be faithful in a world that is becoming increasingly proficient at telling stories that deny Christ.

Find more from James at https://www.thinkingchristian.org/.

Christians shouldn&rsquo;t just think. They should think Christian. Join Dr. James Spencer and guests for calm, thoughtful, theological discussions about a variety of topics Christians face every day. The Thinking Christian Podcast will help you grow spiritually and learn theology as you seek to be faithful in a world that is becoming increasingly proficient at telling stories that deny Christ.
Find more from James at <a href="https://www.thinkingchristian.org/">https://www.thinkingchristian.org/</a>.