Media Alert!
September 2026
BLOG #82
Sue Summers
MediaSavvyKids.org
“Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.” Romans 12: 2 (The Message)
Who’s Writing Your Story?
Many people think circumstances beyond our control author our life’s story, and we just stumble in the direction our recent circumstances point us. The experiences from those circumstances transverse an entire continuum from ecstatic joy to bone-crushing tragedy. But, Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, 2000 years ago, knew the truth. We are not helpless in the authorship of our life’s story. He said, “You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.” (“I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13) Arriving at this truth is where our teens need help.
“45% of Gen Zers report lacking meaning, purpose or both in their lives. Gen Z is typically defined as those born between 1997 and 2012, making them roughly 14 to 29 years old in 2026.” (https://news.gallup.com/poll/711836/gen-zers-missing-sense-meaning-purpose-life.aspx)
“One of the most concerning influences of negative mental health… was the lack of ‘meaning or purpose,’ an emotional void nearly three in five young adults (58 percent) reported that they personally felt in the previous month. Half of the young people surveyed also reported feeling a ‘lack of direction’ in their lives.” (www.insidehighered.com/news)
Along with this is the fact that many teens and young adults are disengaged from any church involvement, a place where they might have developed a sense of worth based on hearing God’s Word and ongoing fellowship with believers.
“An estimated 35-40% of Gen Z identify as religiously unaffiliated, the highest rate for any generation at a comparable age.” (Pew Research Center, 2023)
One place where teens might learn that one individual life can touch many others and even change the direction of a culture is “biopics” – watching movies which dramatize the life of a particular person, typically a public or historical figure.
There are several biopics that are worth watching and discussing:
• 42 – In 1947, Jackie Robinson becomes the first African-American to play in Major League Baseball in the modern era when he was signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers and faces considerable racism in the process.
• The Miracle Worker – The story of Anne Sullivan’s struggle to teach the blind, deaf and mute child Helen Keller how to understand and communicate.
• The Blind Side – The story of Michael Oher, a homeless and traumatized boy who became an All-American football player and first-round NFL draft pick with the help of a caring woman and her family.
• Sully – When pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger lands his damaged plane on the Hudson River in order to save the flight’s passengers and crew, some consider him a hero while others think he was reckless.
• Temple Grandin – A biopic of Temple Grandin, an autistic woman who has become one of the top scientists in the humane livestock handling industry.
• Soul Surfer – Bethany Hamilton, a professional surfer, loses her left arm in a shark attack. Unwilling to pay attention to the gravity of her situation, Bethany decides to get back into the ocean and surf again.
• Pay It Forward – This movie is about a young boy who comes up with the idea of paying good deeds forward instead of just returning them.
• Wonder – Based on the New York Times bestseller, this movie tells the incredibly inspiring and heartwarming story of August Pullman, a boy with facial differences who enters the fifth grade, attending a mainstream elementary school for the first time.
• Erin Brockovich – The main character takes a new job at a law firm where she sniffs out a cover-up of contaminated water that has been poisoning nearby residents.
• The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind – A resourceful boy builds a windmill to save his village from famine, showing the impact of determination and ingenuity.
• Young George Washington – A young George Washington faces war, betrayal, and impossible choices that will forge a leader.
• The 6 Triple 8 – A 2024 American war drama film on the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, an all-black, all-female battalion, in World War II.
These true-life movies illustrate the truth of Aurelius’ quotation. And it’s not just his truth, it is The Truth. Romans 12:2: “Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind.” Good News Translation
Certainly parents, teachers, coaches, grandparents, and other adults who have established a rapport with teens can talk about scriptural encouragement from God’s Word and offer examples of choosing to believe God’s answers to “Who am I?” and “Why am I here?” But perhaps the best encouragement is letting them see you doing just that in your own life. Be transparent and they will learn from you.
Consider sharing these scriptures to start to build an understanding of why we were created:
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10
“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” Jeremiah 29:11
“Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalms 37:4
“In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will.” Ephesians 1:11
“We humans keep brainstorming options and plans, but God’s purpose prevails.” Proverbs 19:21
“We know that God makes all things work together for the good of those who love Him and are chosen to be a part of His plan.” Romans 8:28
So how can we help teens become media-savvy about the culture that surrounds them?
Developing a foundation of faith isn’t a one-step solution, of course, but is the result of realizing God’s provision is enough for us to be the author of our own story. Weave discussions about God’s will and purpose for each of us into appropriate conversations. Here are some discussion starters that can lead to profound conversations and meaningful dialog.
• Ask, “Why do you think God created man and woman with free will?” (Allow time for deeper thoughts rather just than quick responses.)
• Ask, “There are over 8 billion people on earth right now. Do you think God’s provision is proof He cares for each life He creates?”
• Share, “It seems hard to realize that there is a God who created mankind and cares about what happens in our lives. We understand only the natural world and what we can see. In fact, there is the supernatural which we sometimes struggle to comprehend. What evidence have you seen that there is a God who cares about you?
• Ask, “Do you think purpose is best seen looking forward or looking backward?”
• Share, “Let’s watch a ‘biopic’ together – a movie that illustrates the life of a real person who has made a difference. Then let’s discuss the impact of his or her life.”
• Share, “Trusting God’s Word will help you believe you have a purpose, and God knows what it is and will help you. Even if you feel certain about a purpose, it is God who knows the reason for which He created you and will direct your steps. Proverbs 16:9 says, “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.” (NIV) Ask a significant adult in your life if they have had that experience.”
• Share, “Let’s read this scripture and talk about it: “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” Jeremiah 29:11
• Share, “God has a plan for your life. Just as Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2), He will be advising you in the authorship and finishing of your story. Give yourself time to write your story. Don’t be impatient… God is molding you into someone special!”
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Sue Summers is a Christian media analyst, teacher, author, and speaker.
She is the Director of Media Alert!
Contact Info:
Blogs: MediaSavvyKids.org
Website: http://www.MediaAlert.org
Email: Sue@MediaAlert.org
#MediaSavvyKids, #ChristianParenting, #ChurchAndCulture, #YouthPastors, #YouthGroupCurriculum, #HelpForChristianParents, #TeensAndCulture, #AChangingCulture, #CriticalThinkingAndTeens, #IAmNotDefinedByTheCulture, #Who’sWritingYourStory?, #UseBiopicsToTeach, #God’sPlanForEachOfUs
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Sue’s newest book is a curriculum with 25 lessons for Christian teachers, youth pastors, homeschool parents, and Sunday School teachers. The lessons encourage teens to think about the culture that surrounds them and discover what God says about all of it.
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Lessons to Help Teens Stand for Christ in Today’s Culture
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Be sure to buy this curriculum for home-school families, youth pastors, or Christian middle- or high-school teachers.
© Sue Summers 2026
