To keep younger generations engaged, ensure that sermons and lessons connect with their real-world challenges. Teens (13–17) in the survey rated the relevance of church teaching to their life around 7.5/10, while adults over 40 rated it about 9/10. In other words, youth are feeling a relevance gap . Church communicators should adapt their language and topics to address issues Gen Z faces (mental health, pur- pose, social issues, etc.), use stories or media that resonate with youth culture, and invite interaction. Emphasizing practical application of biblical principles will help young people see church teaching as meaningful and actionable in their daily lives. When participants were asked how relevant church teaching felt to their lives, the vast majority gave neutral or noncommittal responses, while only about 2–3% explicitly rated teaching as “not relevant.ˮ This silence is meaningful—it suggests that for many, church messages donʼt consistently connect to their lived experience. For teens and college-age respondents, the gap is even wider: only a minority rated biblical teaching as highly applicable to modern issues such as anxiety, purpose, or social justice. The data reflects what many pastors already sense: while young people still attend church, the message often fails to meet them where they are, emotionally and culturally. This isnʼt a rejection of truth but a desire for truth that feels alive and applicable. Respondents who found teaching relevant were typically those already engaged in prayer and Bible study, indicating that spiritual disciplines increase oneʼs Key Point: Make church teachings relevant to everyday life
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