Why do so many teens seem to lose spiritual interest, disconnect from faith, or drift into apathy? And what can parents do about it?

In this episode of the Upside-Down Parenting Podcast from Summit Ministries, hosts Matt Jones and Janel Greig open with real-life stories to highlight the surprising moments when God uses ordinary experiences to shape our kids' hearts.

Then they dive into the rising challenge of spiritual apathy among teens. Instead of simply blaming attitude or immaturity, Matt and Janel explore the deeper heart issues behind apathy and unpack key reasons today's teens disengage spiritually. They discuss how parents can use these reasons as "heart check-ups" to understand what's really going on beneath the surface.

Along the way, they discuss practical parenting stories—humility in parenting, asking forgiveness without excuses, heart-motivation conversations, managing fear when a teen pulls away, and creating rhythms of honesty, grace, and discipleship in the home.

But there is hope! apathy doesn't happen overnight, and neither does growth—but God meets parents and teens in the middle of the mess. Next week, they'll turn to what parents can do to help reignite a teen's desire for God.

If you have a question you'd like answered on a future Q&A episode, email [email protected] and include "Upside-Down Parenting" in the subject line.