Why Finding Your Calling Matters More Than You Think | Featuring Dr. Bryan Dik

Why Finding Your Calling Matters More Than You Think | Featuring Dr. Bryan Dik

Most people think of calling as a nice idea. The 2026 State of the Bible research suggests it's a lot more than that and the data might change how you think about the people in your church.In this episode, Dr. John Plake sits down with Dr. Brian Dik, professor of psychology at Colorado State University and one of the world's leading researchers on the psychology of calling and vocation. Together, they discuss how calling is not a single moment we catch or miss, but a lifelong journey. And why a sense of calling is integral to a fulfilling and flourishing life.Learn more about the State of the Bible research and download the latest chapter at stateofthebible.org.

Why Gen Z Wants AI for the Bible But Not the Pulpit | Featuring AI Expert Dr. K

New research from the 2026 State of the Bible report reveals a striking contradiction: Gen Z is the least Bible-engaged adult generation in America and the most likely to turn to AI for biblical insight. But they're also the generation most resistant to seeing that same tool in the hands of their pastor. What does that tell us about authenticity, trust, and spiritual formation in the age of AI?In this episode, Dr. John Plake sits down with Dr. K — AI consultant, ethicist, former US intelligence officer, theologian trained under Dallas Willard, and author of Hope's Horizon: From Chatbots to Jesus Return — to dig into what the data says and what it means for the church.Learn more about the State of the Bible research and download the latest chapter at stateofthebible.org.Chapters:00:30 - Meet Dr. K: AI ethicist, theologian, and former intelligence officer01:46 - Dr. K's journey from Vegas to the CIA to AI ethics08:24 - What the 2026 data says about American attitudes toward AI09:36 - Why AI optimism is growing and what's driving it13:33 - The Gen Z paradox: least Bible-engaged, most likely to use AI for scripture18:03 - Why Gen Z holds their pastor to a higher standard than a chatbot19:24 - Authenticity is the coin of the realm for Gen Z and Gen Alpha20:00 - Who's really using AI for Bible study and why it matters24:08 - This AI moment is a gospel moment28:08 - How the church should respond to the AI age29:46 - Should we benchmark AI models for Christian faithfulness?35:58 - Where AI helps a pastor and where it doesn't40:00 - Dr. Kay's conversion story: saved in a Vegas hair salon43:47 - What would Dallas Willard say about AI?48:11 - The wisdom gap and the church's opportunity50:02 - Hope's Horizon: from chatbots to Jesus' return53:25 - Closing and resources

Exhausted Moms, Open Dads, and the Bible Gap You Can Help Shrink | Featuring Kate Watson of Axis

New research from State of the Bible 2026 reveals a surprising pattern: young parents are significantly more likely to identify as Christian than their non-parenting peers but Bible engagement remains low. In this episode, Dr. John Plake sits down with Kate Watson, publisher at Axis, to unpack what's really driving faith engagement among millennial and Gen Z parents and what pastors and church leaders can do about it. Learn more about the State of the Bible research and download the latest chapter at stateofthebible.org.Chapters:00:29 - Meet Kate Watson of Axis02:02 - What the 2026 data says about young parents and faith03:18 - Does parenthood reopen faith or do faithful people have kids?08:04 - Encouragement for the exhausted mom10:03 - What pastors need to hear about moms in their congregation11:00 - Understanding the Movable Middle parent12:39 - One practical step pastors can take this week 15:34 - Making scripture part of everyday relationship16:20 - Overcoming the fear of giving your teen a Bible18:20 - Why parents pray with kids but don't read the Bible with them20:07 - Letting kids lead their own Bible engagement22:25 - What to do when you don't have all the answers23:15 - The gap after children's Bibles27:45 - What makes Gen Alpha different and why it matters for the church30:08 - The stakes of getting Gen Alpha right32:18 - Closing and resources

Why Openness to the Bible is Up (But Bible Reading is Down)

After a brief spike in 2025, Bible engagement has dropped back down to 2024 levels. What happened? We explore the growing Movable Middle, Gen Z's surprising reading habits, and the paradox of rising church attendance alongside falling Scripture use to help you close the discipleship gap. Join host Dr. John Plake, American Bible Society CEO Dr. Jennifer Holleran, and the State of the Bible research team—Dr. Jeff Fulks and Sandra Siggins—as they unpack the 2026 report. Chapters: 00:00 - The Discipleship Gap in America 01:06 - 2026 Returns to 2024 Levels 04:48 - The Growth of the "Movable Middle" 06:06 - Active vs. Occasional Bible Users 07:54 - Gen Z vs. Millennials 12:15 - Reaching Emerging Adults (Ages 18-35) 15:37 - Regional Shifts 20:00 - The Surprising Rise of Bible Neutrals 26:42 - How Much of the Bible Have Americans Actually Read? 29:28 - Why Print is Still King for Bible Reading 34:02 - Church Attendance Up, Bible Use Down 40:15 - Upcoming State of the Bible Topics Understand America's relationship with Scripture. Get your free copy of the data here: https://stateofthebible.org/ Get the spiritual X-ray for your church. Sign up for a free church assessment here: https://church.nextstep.bible/

How to Diagnose Your Church Health — The Spiritual X-Ray | Featuring Pastor Coach Cally Parkinson

It can be hard for pastors to see the invisible spiritual health of their church. In this episode; author, coach, and Reveal study co-author Cally Parkinson explains how church assessments can act as a spiritual X-ray. If you want to move past guesswork and truly measure your church's health, this conversation will show you how. Chapters: 00:00 - The top problems hiding in your church culture 04:50 - Why a pastor's gut feeling isn't enough to diagnose issues 06:50 - Why church activities don't drive growth 09:55 - How to use assessments as a spiritual X-ray 13:06 - Cally's journey from Allstate Insurance to the Reveal study 22:19 - Preaching vs. leadership 26:12 - Cally's mandate for pastors Get the spiritual X-ray for your church. Sign up for a free church assessment here: https://church.nextstep.bible/