Thinking Christian: Clear Theology for a Confusing World
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://usefultogod.com/.
Episodes
When faith leaders gathered at the White House for an Easter luncheon, the prayers offered weren't just politically awkward — they were theologically problematic. In this episode, Dr. James Spencer and Dr. Ashish Varma move past the headlines to examine the deeper issues: What happens when national identity absorbs Christian identity? What does the Bible actually say about kings, suffering, and God's purposes for nations? And...
Is the way we view church leadership actually doing more harm than good? In this episode of Thinking Christian, Dr. James Spencer sits down with Dr. Christa L. McKirland—Dean of Faculty at Carey Baptist College and author of A Theology of Autho...
How can local churches maintain a historic Christian sexual ethic while still being a place where anyone can belong, ask tough questions, and encounter Jesus?
In this episode of Thinking Christian, Dr. James Spencer welcomes back Pieter Valk, a licensed clinical counselor and the director of Equip. Together, they tackle the ...
“Have a safe summer!” “Travel safe!” “Stay safe!” 🛡️ In today’s world, safety isn’t just a wish—it’s a multi-billion dollar industry and a modern obsession. But as Christians, are we sacrificing our mission at the altar of security?
In this episode of
What happens when a life shaped by violence, poverty, and abandonment meets consistent love, purpose, and the message of the Gospel?
In this powerful episode of Thinking Christian, Dr. James Spencer sits down with Greg Harris, Executive Director of Counteract International, to explore the realities facing incarcerated youth in...
In this episode of Thinking Christian, Dr. James Spencer is joined by Dr. Jillian Ross, professor of biblical studies at Liberty University, to discuss her article in JETS titled “Let Mercy Triumph Over Judgment: A Theology of Law i...
In this episode of Thinking Christian, Dr. James Spencer is joined by Rev. Dr. Andrew Hale, pastor, author, and host of CBF Conversations and Clergy Confessions, to discuss his new book Read more
In this episode of Thinking Christian, Dr. James Spencer is joined by John Stonestreet, president of the Colson Center, to discuss the Truth Rising Project—a collaboration between the Colson Center and Focus on the Family.
John explains how Truth Rising emerged from a growing realization: many of the cultural “hypotheticals” Christians debated decades ago have become lived realities. The project frames our mo...
What if the most spiritually formative season of the Christian year isn’t Advent or Lent—but the long stretch of ordinary time in between?
In this episode of the Thinking Christian Podcast, Dr. James Spencer is joined by
The abortion conversation in the church is often framed as a political battle—pro-life versus pro-choice, red versus blue. But what if that framing itself is the problem? In this episode of the Thinking Christian Podcast, Dr. James Spencertalks with
Was America founded as a “new Israel”? And if so, what happens when biblical conquest narratives are used to justify colonization, displacement, and violence? In this episode of the Thinking Christian Podcast, Dr. James Spencer speaks with Dr. Daniel Hawk, prof...
Can Christians pursue success in business without sidelining their faith—or turning God into just another “box” in life? In this episode of the Thinking Christian Podcast, Dr. James Spencer sits down with Andrea Anderson, Christian business coach and author of ...
What do you do when faith feels dry, confusing, or emotionally barren—when God seems absent, or even uncomfortably near? In this episode of the Thinking Christian Podcast, Dr. James Spencer talks with Dr. Noelle Forlini-Byrte, author of Read more
What if a major driver of today’s mental health crisis isn’t simply “more disorders,” but more people who feel unseen, unheard, and alone? In this episode of the Thinking Christian Podcast, Dr. James Spencer talks with Read more
In this final episode of our German Reformation series, Dr. James Spencer and Dr. Greg Quiggle step back from the 16th century to ask a pressing modern question: what does it actually mean to be Protestant today—and what have we gained (and lost) since the Reformation?
Greg frames Protestantism with a memorable realism: it isn’t perfect—it’s the “least problematic&rdq...
In this episode of our German Reformation series, Dr. James Spencer and Dr. Greg Quiggle pivot to one of the defining features of Protestant tradition: the Reformation Solas—and why they still matter for Christians today.
Rather than beginning with a list of “five solas,” Greg frames the Reformation around three theological questions that generated the solas:
- What ...
In this episode of our German Reformation series, Dr. James Spencer and Dr. Greg Quiggle begin exploring what happens after the attempt to reform the Catholic Church breaks down and the division becomes permanent: What does Protestantism look like under Luther once it’s no longer simply a reform movement?
The conversation opens with a key structural issue: the evolving relationship...
In this episode of our German Reformation series, Dr. James Spencer and Dr. Greg Quiggle linger in Wittenbergbefore the Diet of Worms and Wartburg Castle to unpack the moment everyone knows—but few understand: Luther’s 95 Theses.
Greg begins with the real backstory: indulgence-selling tied to the fundraising machine behind the rebuilding of St. P...
In this episode of Thinking Christian, Dr. James Spencer and Dr. Greg Quiggle pick up the story after Luther’s intensifying crisis of conscience. If the monastery wasn’t bringing peace—what could? Luther’s mentor, Johann von Staupitz, attempts an intervention, first by sending Luther to Rome, hoping the pilgrimage and the center of the Church might relieve the pressure.
Instead, Rome does the oppos...
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