Episodes
Becoming Pro-Grace: A Christian Response to Abortion Beyond Politics …
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 , ...
Joshua, America, and the Myth of Innocence: Undoing Manifest Destiny …
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 Spen...
Christian Business Without Compartmentalization: Faith, Success, and …
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 , C...
Acedia, Purgation, and Faith That Lasts: God in the Desert (Noelle Fo…
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-Byrt...
The Listening Church: Loneliness, Mental Health, and the Skills Every…
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 Dr. ...
The Legacy of the Reformation: Freedom, Fragmentation, and Accountabi…
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...
Protestantism Isn’t Individualism: The Solas, Catechesis, and Authori…
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. Ra...
Protestantism Under Luther: Authority, Chaos, and the Cost of “Bible …
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 P...
Luther’s 95 Theses: What He Meant to Do—and What Actually Happened
In this episode of our German Reformation series, Dr. James Spencer and Dr. Greg Quiggle linger in Wittenberg before the Diet of Worms and Wartburg Castle to unpack the moment everyone knows—but few understand: Luther’s 95 Th...
Luther Goes to Rome: Corruption, Crisis, and the Breakthrough in Roma…
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...
Before Wittenberg: Luther’s Erfurt Years and the Weight of Judgment
In this episode of Thinking Christian , Dr. James Spencer is joined by Dr. Greg Quiggle to continue the German Reformation series—this time focusing on Martin Luther’s years in Erfurt and the startling turn that led him into ...
Why the Reformation Happened: Germany Before Luther (Greg Quiggle)
In this first episode of a new Thinking Christian series on the German Reformation , Dr. James Spencer is joined by Dr. Greg Quiggle —a historian, former Moody Bible Institute professor, and leader of Tours for Ten —to set th...
Multiculturalism in the Church: A Biblical Theology of Unity Without …
What does it look like for Christians to pursue multicultural unity without flattening real differences—or turning ethnicity into an ultimate identity? In this episode of the Thinking Christian Podcast , Dr. James Spencer is ...
Counseling and the Church: How Pastors and Congregations Should Work …
Pastors are carrying more emotional and spiritual weight than most congregations realize—and many churches still treat counseling and discipleship as if they’re separate worlds. In this episode of the Thinking Christian Podca...
Rediscover Prayer: From Performance to Presence (Addison Bevere)
Why do so many Christians feel like they’re “bad at prayer”? In this episode of the Thinking Christian Podcast , Dr. James Spencer sits down with Addison Bevere (President of Messenger International ) to talk about prayer as ...
The Holy Spirit and Discipleship: Why Growth Isn’t Just Human Effort …
Is discipleship mainly about trying harder—or is it something God does in us? In this short, focused segment on the Thinking Christian Podcast , Roger Ross explains why the Holy Spirit is the prime mover in the entire work of...
Unmuted: From Silence to Testimony (Nick Sash) | Ordinary Faith, Disc…
What happens when God confronts the “two lives” we’re living—and calls us out of the background and into honest testimony? In this episode of the Thinking Christian Podcast , Dr. James Spencer is joined by Nick Sash (a longti...
Raising Wise Kids in a Sexually Broken World with Lori Krieg | Parent…
How do Christian parents raise kids with wisdom in a culture shaped by pornography, confusion about gender, and broken ideas about relationships—without living in “hair-on-fire” panic? In this episode of the Thinking Christia...
Songs Before the Manger: Mary, Zechariah, and the Deep Theology of Ch…
Before angels sing over Bethlehem in Luke 2, two other voices break into song—Mary and Zechariah. In this episode of Thinking Christian , Dr. James Spencer continues the “Thinking Christian about Christmas” series by walking ...
Dr. Christine Jeske | Learning to Hope Differently: Racial Justice fo…
What kind of hope can actually sustain racial justice work over decades—not just months? In this episode of Thinking Christian , Dr. James Spencer is joined by anthropologist and author Dr. Christine Jeske to talk about her n...
Incarnation in a Disincarnate Age: Jesus, The Matrix, and Our Technol…
As technology offers us endless ways to be “present” without actually being there, what does it mean for Christians to imitate the incarnation of Christ? In this episode of Thinking Christian , Dr. James Spencer explores the ...
Do Evangelicals Still Believe Evangelical Things? Exploring the 2025 …
Every two years, Ligonier Ministries and Lifeway Research release The State of Theology —a massive survey that reveals what Americans (including evangelicals) actually believe about God, the Bible, Jesus, and culture. The 202...
Kickflips & the Great Commission: Varsity Skateboarding and Skate Chu…
James welcomes Dylan (founder of Varsity Skateboarding & leader of Skate Church KC ) and co-host Nate to unpack how skateparks have become mission fields. They cover why skating is exploding post-Olympics, what makes a skatep...
Recovering Wonder: A Fresh Reading of the Christmas Story
In a season filled with noise, outrage, and “cancel culture,” is there still room for real joy? In this Christmas episode of Thinking Christian , Dr. James Spencer invites you to slow down, listen, and remember. He begins wit...