Episodes

In this episode, James and Richard discuss the state of higher education through the lens of the recent challenges at Harvard, MIT, and the University of Pennsylvania. Having served as an administrator in higher education for...

In this episode, Dr. James Spencer considers Philippians 2. While it isn't a traditional "Christmas" text, Phillippians 2 offers some important backgrount regarding Jesus's decisions prior to the incarnation. The text offers ...

In this episode, Dr. James Spencer discusses the virgin birth and Matthew's use of Isaiah 7:14. Beginning with an analysis of the Isaiah 7:14 in its Old Testament context, Dr. Spencer moves on to consider various issues of in...

James and Richard sit down and discuss the results of the State of Theology Report. In this episode, they consider the statement: "God accepts the worship of all religions, including Christianity, Judaism, and Isalam." 56% of...

In this episode, James and Richard discuss New Year's Resolutions. They discuss various topics based on James' background as a personal trainer and offer tips about when to start a New Year's resolution, what sort of strategy...

In this episode, James sits down with Craig Hendrickson who is the new President of Arrow Leadership. They discuss the use of the Bible and, in particular, Jesus's life as portrayed in the gospels to encourage Christian leade...

Pornography is a problem. No matter how you slice it, the widespread accessibility of pornography is impacting our society. In this episode, James sits down with Sathiya Sam of Deep Clean to talk about the challenges associat...

In this episode of Thinking Christian, guest host Maggie Hubbard interviews Joshua Broom. Joshua is an ex-porn star who came to faith in Jesus Christ and became a pastor. They discuss his experience in the pornography industr...

Honesty, humility and a sense of humor are what makes Stephen McWirther's story so inviting. In this episode, Stephen, James, and guest co-host Nate Giarrantano discuss Stephen's story, what its like to be a worship leader, ...

Russell Meek is an Old Testament Scholar and author of Ecclesiastes and the Search for Meaning in an Upside-Down World. He and Dr. James Spencer discuss the book of Ecclesiastes, how it relates to the broader patterns of the ...

James and guest host Nate Giarranto sit down with Michael McDowell to discuss his testimony, his career in NASCAR, and how he lives out his faith today. Michael McDowell won the Dayton 500 in 2021 and appeared in the NASCAR C...

In this episode, James sits down with Lee Humerian, a missionary with Josiah Ventures serving in Ukraine. They discuss the current situation in Ukraine and the opportunities the church has to serve in the context of war. We d...

In this episode of Thinking Christian, we tackle the issue of "cancel culture." We consider the dangers of cheap participation and the limitations of social media advocacy. We also offer tips on how to think Chrisitan about t...

What does it mean to be a praying people? How do Tolkien's writings relate to prayer? On this episode of Thinking Christian, James Spencer and Ashish Varma dive into Ashish's essay titled "A Home Among the Trees: Prayer from ...

Another useful conversation between Dr. James Spencer and Richard Beattie. The question of anxiety and fear today runs rampant. How do I let the world's stories capture reality and hinder my walk? What can we embrace and what...

What can sound louder than bullets and tanks, louder than machine guns and entire villages being burned to the ground? What can last longer than scars on someone’s face or heart? What can change a human heart that is determin...

Like in so many American Holidays- Gratitude is often regulated to weeks before, and gets reduced to a thing called, "Turkey Day." If we were to really think Christian about it- we would probably give thanks- on a daily basis...

James offers some insights into thankfulness from the book of Deuteronomy and the history of Israel. He then has a brief time of prayer to help Christians cultivate a heart of gratitude. Discover more Christian podcasts at li...

This episode continues the conversation with Dr. Gregg Quiggle about Dwight Moody's enduring significance. We discuss Dwight Moody's "secret sauce" and the way God used him to reach the world. Discover more Christian podcasts...

It's hard to find a place to break in the story of Brian Sumner. Every time he fell, fought, cursed or got caught up in the thrill, something kept him going. This is the continuing story from Part 1, when Dr. James Spencer as...

Brian Sumner shares his story of growing up in Liverpool, becoming a professional skateboarder, and coming to Jesus Christ. James, Brian, and special guest host Nate Giarratano discuss Brian's life, explore the Great Commissi...

In this episode, James has a discussion with Dr. Gregg Quiggle. Dr. Quiggle is a D. L. Moody expert who contributed to A Praying People, a new book edited by James Spencer and Ashish Varma. He and James talk about who Dwight ...

In this episode, James Spencer is joined by Alin Vrancila to discuss the Transhumanist Declaration from a biblical and theological perspective. They consider the problems with pursuing immortality through human means and dis...

Another useful conversation about Halloween and seasons. Dr. James Spencer and producer Richard Beattie have a thoughtful conversation about who this season is for and what are ways to mark the change of seasons in a producti...