Thinking Christian: Clear Theology for a Confusing World

In this premiere episode of Thinking Christian's Prepped Series, Dr. James Spencer takes us to the beginning—not just of the Bible, but of everything. But instead of debating science or timelines, he asks three essential questions: Who is God? Who are we? And what kind of life flows from that relationship? Drawing out the deep theological significance of Genesis 1:1–2:3, James explores God's sovereign, wise, and benevolent nature, the purpose of human life, and how creation’s rhythm calls us to live in sync with God’s Word. If you’re tired of shallow takes and craving something rich, this 20-minute dive into Scripture will challenge your assumptions and offer a fresh lens through which to understand your place in God's story. Subscribe to Our YouTube Channel! 🔗 Learn more about Useful to God: www.usefultogod.com 📢 Stay Connected & Keep Growing! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to Thinking Christian so you never miss an insightful conversation! For more resources to help you grow in faith and deepen your walk with Christ, visit Useful to God—where you'll find books, courses, podcasts, and more to equip you for faithful Christian living. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

What happens when a culture unplugs from the constraints that once helped us listen well? In this episode of Thinking Christian, James Spencer and Nate reflect on the slow disappearance of AM radio from new vehicles—a shift that signals more than just a tech upgrade. Together, they explore what we lose when we trade shared, time-bound listening experiences for algorithm-driven curation, and how the changing media landscape impacts the way we disciple, learn, and encounter God. From microfiche and cassette tapes to podcasts and AI-powered seminaries, this conversation spans the nostalgic and the now. With wit, clarity, and spiritual insight, James and Nate ask: Can digital platforms ever replicate the coordinated, regional, and Spirit-disruptive role of radio? And what does this all mean for the local church, the future of Christian education, and the daily habits of believers navigating a sea of unlimited choice? If you’ve ever wondered how mediums shape messages—and how those messages shape you—this episode will give you more than static. 🔗 Learn more about Useful to God: www.usefultogod.com 📢 Stay Connected & Keep Growing! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to Thinking Christian so you never miss an insightful conversation! For more resources to help you grow in faith and deepen your walk with Christ, visit Useful to God—where you'll find books, courses, podcasts, and more to equip you for faithful Christian living. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Can we read the Bible without reducing it to a rulebook, a road map, or a political weapon? In this episode of Thinking Christian, James Spencer sits down with pastor and author Zach Lambert to explore his new book Better Ways to Read the Bible. Together, they unpack four common but harmful lenses—literalism, apocalypticism, moralism, and hierarchy—and replace them with a healthier, Christ-centered, Spirit-guided approach grounded in humility, flourishing, and fruitfulness. This wide-ranging, incisive conversation covers everything from the misuse of Revelation and American foreign policy to the liberation theology debate, Rachel Held Evans, Jordan Peterson, and the way Jesus reframes the Old Testament. With warmth, nuance, and pastoral insight, James and Zach wrestle with how to let Scripture breathe—and how to read it not for confirmation, but for transformation. Purchase Better Ways to Read the Bible here. 🔗 Learn more about Useful to God: www.usefultogod.com 📢 Stay Connected & Keep Growing! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to Thinking Christian so you never miss an insightful conversation! For more resources to help you grow in faith and deepen your walk with Christ, visit Useful to God—where you'll find books, courses, podcasts, and more to equip you for faithful Christian living. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

What does dim sum have to do with discipleship? In this deeply personal and thought-provoking episode, James Spencer talks with author and spiritual formation leader Jenn Suen Chen about her book Dim Sum and Faith: How Our Stories Form Our Souls. From round tables with lazy Susans to the spiritual weight of saying goodbye, Jenn shares how her Chinese American heritage, years of overseas ministry, and story-shaped spirituality reveal a theology of presence, hospitality, and healing. Together, they explore what it means to be formed not only in solitude with God but around the messy, beautiful table of community. They also discuss the power of naming, the nuances of “undoing” vs. deconstruction, and how paying attention to our past helps us love more freely and faithfully in the present. If you're looking for a conversation that combines theology, culture, story work, and soul care, this one's for you. Explore the book: Dim Sum and Faith at ivpress.com (use code IVPPOD20 for a 20% discount) 🔗 Learn more about Useful to God: www.usefultogod.com 📢 Stay Connected & Keep Growing! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to Thinking Christian so you never miss an insightful conversation! For more resources to help you grow in faith and deepen your walk with Christ, visit Useful to God—where you'll find books, courses, podcasts, and more to equip you for faithful Christian living. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Can we still spot the truth in a world that specializes in counterfeits? In this episode of Thinking Christian, James Spencer and Nate unpack the unsettling implications of the internet’s influence on our minds, our trust, and our discipleship. Sparked by a recent conversation between Jordan Peterson and Sam Harris, this discussion explores digital phoniness, the collapse of institutional gatekeepers, and what it means to be spiritually discerning in an era of deepfakes, dopamine loops, and constant distraction. From TikTok’s "time to take a break" alerts to the moral hazards of algorithmic influence, James and Nate reflect on personal habits, cultural decay, and the need for sufficient constraints—not to restrict, but to preserve wisdom, sanity, and faithfulness. They also draw provocative comparisons between digital chaos and the clarity of Christian doctrine, challenging listeners to anchor themselves in truth that isn’t memeable. 🔗 Learn more about Useful to God: www.usefultogod.com 📢 Stay Connected & Keep Growing! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to Thinking Christian so you never miss an insightful conversation! For more resources to help you grow in faith and deepen your walk with Christ, visit Useful to God—where you'll find books, courses, podcasts, and more to equip you for faithful Christian living. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In this thought-provoking episode of Thinking Christian, Dr. James Spencer welcomes Alex Kocman—missions leader and co-host of the Missions Podcast—for a wide-ranging conversation on immigration, national identity, and how Christians should engage politically without losing sight of Christ’s lordship. Together, they explore Augustine’s ordo amoris (order of loves), the biblical significance of borders and sovereignty, and the tension between compassion for the nations and faithfulness to one's own. Can Christians love both neighbor and nation rightly? Should the Church be silent on political issues—or speak with prophetic clarity? And what does the Great Commission demand of us in an age of global mobility and moral confusion? This episode doesn’t offer sound bites—it offers rooted reflection. Listen to the Missions Podcast here. Find out more about Alex at alexkocman.com 🔗 Learn more about Useful to God: www.usefultogod.com 📢 Stay Connected & Keep Growing! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to Thinking Christian so you never miss an insightful conversation! For more resources to help you grow in faith and deepen your walk with Christ, visit Useful to God—where you'll find books, courses, podcasts, and more to equip you for faithful Christian living. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

What if the sacred-secular divide is more imagined than real? In this episode of Thinking Christian, Dr. James Spencer sits down with sociologist Elaine Howard Ecklund (Rice University) and business professor Denise Daniels (Wheaton College) to unpack insights from their groundbreaking book Working for Better: A New Approach to Faith at Work. Drawing on the largest-ever study on faith in the U.S. workplace, they explore why so few Christians view their work as a calling, how churches may be failing to equip their congregants, and what systemic structures shape (or stifle) a sense of spiritual vocation. From strip clubs to CEO suites, gig workers to mission-minded healthcare, this is a conversation that will challenge you to see your work—and the work of others—through a new theological lens. Explore the book: Working for Better at ivpress.com (use code IVPPOD20 for a 20% discount) 🔗 Learn more about Useful to God: www.usefultogod.com 📢 Stay Connected & Keep Growing! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to Thinking Christian so you never miss an insightful conversation! For more resources to help you grow in faith and deepen your walk with Christ, visit Useful to God—where you'll find books, courses, podcasts, and more to equip you for faithful Christian living. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

What if our dating struggles, friendship breakdowns, and even church conflicts trace back not to technique—but to theology? In this episode of Thinking Christian, Dr. James Spencer sits down with Erin Moniz—Anglican deacon, Baylor chaplain, and author of Knowing and Being Known—to rethink Christian relationships from the ground up. They tackle purity culture’s lingering effects, the idolization of marriage, the crisis of friendship in the local church, and how consumerism has crept into everything from dating to discipleship. At the heart of the conversation is a bold, refreshing claim: intimacy isn’t a bonus feature of the Christian life. It’s central to knowing God. Explore the book: Knowing and Being Known at ivpress.com (use code IVPPOD20 for a 20% discount) 🔗 Learn more about Useful to God: www.usefultogod.com 📢 Stay Connected & Keep Growing! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to Thinking Christian so you never miss an insightful conversation! For more resources to help you grow in faith and deepen your walk with Christ, visit Useful to God—where you'll find books, courses, podcasts, and more to equip you for faithful Christian living. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

What if the crushing weight of modern life isn't a bug in the system but a feature of a false belief? In this episode of Thinking Christian, Dr. James Spencer is joined by Dr. Alan Noble to explore his compelling book, You Are Not Your Own. Together, they unpack why our culture's demand to “define yourself” leads to despair, and how belonging to Christ—not ourselves—is the good news we’ve been trained to forget. Drawing from the Heidelberg Catechism, zoocosis, and Sylvia Plath, this conversation dives deep into anthropology, social pressure, identity, and the role of the Church in resisting cultural formation. A quietly radical episode that reminds us that true freedom isn’t found in self-expression, but in surrender. Explore the book: You Are Not Your Own at ivpress.com (use code IVPPOD20 for a 20% discount) 🔗 Learn more about Useful to God: www.usefultogod.com 📢 Stay Connected & Keep Growing! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to Thinking Christian so you never miss an insightful conversation! For more resources to help you grow in faith and deepen your walk with Christ, visit Useful to God—where you'll find books, courses, podcasts, and more to equip you for faithful Christian living. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

What do a detective novelist, a WWII radio drama, and a blockbuster film have in common? According to Dr. Crystal Downing — everything. In this episode of Thinking Christian, I’m joined by Dr. Crystal Downing, former co-director of the Marion E. Wade Center and author of The Wages of Cinema, to explore what it means to see Christianly. Drawing on the often-overlooked theology of Dorothy L. Sayers, we challenge the idea that film is just a vehicle for a message. Instead, we unpack how film — like the Incarnation — is about form, flesh, and the fullness of expression. We talk about why reducing movies to “good messages” is a kind of cinematic Docetism, how Sayers’ Trinitarian model of creativity reframes Christian art, and why Christians should stop watching movies passively and start engaging them as embodied works of meaning. Expect commentary on Birdman, Bridge on the River Kwai, The Matrix, and yes… even Dodgeball. This conversation is a deep dive into media, theology, and why Christians need to become more attentive critics — not just consumers — of the stories that shape us. 🎬 Explore the book: The Wages of Cinema at ivpress.com (use code IVPPOD20 for a 20% discount) 🔗 Learn more about Useful to God: www.usefultogod.com 📢 Stay Connected & Keep Growing! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to Thinking Christian so you never miss an insightful conversation! For more resources to help you grow in faith and deepen your walk with Christ, visit Useful to God—where you'll find books, courses, podcasts, and more to equip you for faithful Christian living. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.