Episodes

Have you ever been in the middle of a busy, successful season only to be hit by a sudden, creeping feeling that none of it matters? You aren’t alone. In this episode of Thinking Christian , Dr. James Spencer and Dr. Ben Mathe...

Are we living in a "Truman Show" world? 🎬 In this episode of Thinking Christian , Dr. James Spencer and Dr. Ben Mathew (Professor of Counselor Education) dive into the "Social Leg" of their three-legged stool model for mental...

Is mental health just "all in your head," or is there something deeper happening within our physical design? In the premiere of this series, Dr. James Spencer sits down with Dr. Ben Mathew, Professor of Counselor Education, t...

Are we living in a "paid friend" culture? 🛋️ As mental health awareness skyrockets, the Church is at a crossroads. We’re seeing more counseling centers, more pastoral care roles, and more conversations about anxiety than ever...

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 p...

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...

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...

“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 se...

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 Harri...

What should Christians do with the hardest laws in the Bible—texts about slavery, sexual violence, capital punishment, and social inequality? Should they be explained away… or even crossed out? In this episode of the Thinking...

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...

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 Mending the Fracturing Church: How t...

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...

What should Christians do with the hardest laws in the Bible—texts about slavery, sexual violence, capital punishment, and social inequality? Should they be explained away… or even crossed out? In this episode of the Thinking...

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 Dr....

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 , ...

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...

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...

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...

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. ...

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...

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...

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...

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...