Episodes
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...
Why God Gave Ahaz a Baby, Not an Army: Isaiah 7:14 and the Virgin Bir…
At Christmas, Christians often quote Isaiah 7:14—“the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son”—but few pause to ask what that verse meant for King Ahaz before it pointed to Christ. In this episode of Thinking Christian ,...
Tanita Maddox | What Gen Z Really Wants to Know About God
In this episode of Thinking Christian , I sit down with Dr. Tanita Maddox—National Director of Generational Impact for Young Life and author of What Gen Z Really Wants to Know About God . Drawing from years of research and on...
Danny Zacharias & Christopher Hoklotubbe | Reading the Bible on Turtl…
In this episode of the Thinking Christian podcast, Dr. James Spencer is joined by Dr. Daniel (Danny) Zacharias and Dr. Christopher Hoklotubbe, co-authors of Reading the Bible on Turtle Island: An Invitation to North American ...
Sayitha Sam | Finding Freedom From Porn: Deep Clean Coaching, Addicti…
In this episode of the Thinking Christian podcast, Dr. James Spencer welcomes back Sathiya Sam—CEO and founder of Deep Clean Coaching—to talk about pornography addiction, sexual integrity, and the power of Christian community...
JR Briggs | The Art of Asking Better Questions- Christian Leadership,…
In this episode of the Thinking Christian podcast, Dr. James Spencer talks with J.R. Briggs—founder of Kairos Partnerships and author of The Art of Asking Better Questions: Pursuing Stronger Relationships, Healthier Leadershi...
Pieter Valk | Singleness, Manhood, and Sexual Discipleship
In this episode of Thinking Christian , I sit down with Pieter Valk—founder and director of Equip and a founding brother of an ecumenical monastery in Nashville—to talk about what it really means to follow Jesus as single men...
Denise Lester | From Outreach to Exit: How Rended Heart Walks With Su…
James sits down with Denise Lester , founder of Rended Heart (Kansas City, MO), to explore what sexual exploitation looks like today—and how her ministry stands in the 30-day gap between crisis and long-term recovery. Denise ...
David Green (Hobby Lobby) & Bill High | Building a Legacy Life: Faith…
In this episode of Thinking Christian , James Spencer talks with David Green , CEO of Hobby Lobby, and Bill High , CEO of Legacy Stone, about their new book Legacy Life: Leading Your Family to Make a Difference for Eternity ....
Carmen Joy Imes | Becoming God's Family: The Importance of Community
In this episode of Thinking Christian, Dr. James Spencer engages with Dr. Carmen Imes about her book 'Becoming God's Family: Why the Church Still Matters.' They explore the themes of identity, vocation, and belonging within t...