Thinking Christian: Clear Theology for a Confusing World

Dr. James Spencer sits down with Dr. Peter Y. Hong —federal prison chaplain and author of The Reconciliation of Humanity in Christ —to explore how a prison chapel became his living parable for our “shrinking” world. Peter describes ministry in a pluralistic, constrained space where Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Native American practitioners, and others share one room&m...

Dr. James Spencer talks with Jonathan P. Walton —author of Beauty and Resistance and 12 Lies That Hold America Captive —about moving beyond “thinking Christian” to living as a Christian. Jonathan shares how grief, burnout, and hard family seasons pushed him from activism-on-adrenaline to formation and faithfulness : Sabbath as the minimum , annual “ Dope Day ” p...

Dr. James Spencer talks with Peter Greer —CEO/President of HOPE International and author of How Leaders Lose Their Way (and How to Make Sure It Doesn’t Happen to You) —about why organizations drift when leaders first drift personally , and how to course-correct. Peter unpacks the danger of identity in achievement , the difference between mission vs. methods , and why the stat tha...

Dr. James Spencer welcomes Dr. Mikel Del Rosario —theology professor at Moody Bible Institute , host of The Apologetics Guy podcast, and author of Did Jesus Really Say He Was God? —to explore Jesus’ divine self-understanding through both words and deeds. Rather than looking only for the exact phrase “I am God,” Mikel shows how Jesus acted and spoke as God in ways his...

Dr. James Spencer welcomes Eun Strawser —author of You Were Never Meant to Lead Alone and co-vocational lead pastor of Ma Ke Ali o —to rethink church leadership through the lens of Ephesians 4–5 . Instead of celebrity or solitary leaders, Nkei makes the case for polycentric/shared leadership that distributes authority, equips the saints, and embodies mutual submission . We unpack...

James and Nate unpack a recent Gallup poll on Americans’ views of capitalism —down from 60% (2021) to 54% (2025) favorable—and why that headline can mislead. Beneath it: strong support for free enterprise and small business , persistent dislike of big business , and sharp differences across age, gender, and party . Rather than picking teams (“capitalism vs. socialism”...

Dr. James Spencer welcomes Ryan Skoog —author of Lead with Prayer and president of Venture —for a wide-ranging conversation on prayer, discipleship, and the explosive growth of the global church. Ryan shares powerful stories from persecuted and unreached regions where God’s kingdom is breaking out through church-planting movements, miraculous healings, and courageous local believ...

Dr. James Spencer sits down with Will Acuff —author of No Elevator to Everest: Shift from Survive to Thrive through Spirit-Led Self-Awareness and cofounder of Corner to Corner (Nashville)—to explore how Christians can move from frantic survival to joyful, Spirit-led living. We talk practical rhythms (breathwork, journaling, contemplative prayer), why emotions are God-given “senso...

In this episode of the Thinking Christian Podcast , Dr. James Spencer is joined by Nate Giarratano reflect on recent political commentary surrounding the Israel–Gaza conflict. Instead of offering hot takes on a complex war, they examine how soundbites and slogans from public figures—like those from Marjorie Taylor Greene and Randy Fine—can distort, oversimplify, or inflame rather...

In a culture obsessed with self-optimization and curated spirituality, Joshua S. Porter offers a counterintuitive call: come and die . In this episode, James Spencer sits down with the punk-rocker-turned-pastor to discuss Porter’s new book, How to Die: Chaos, Morality, and the Scandal of Christian Discipleship . Together, they unpack what it means to reject a domesticated God, embrace an unt...

In this episode of Thinking Christian , Dr. James Spencer hosts Jeremy Stalnecker of the March or Die podcast. They discuss Jeremy's ministry to veterans, the challenges facing those coming back from combat, and leadership.  To find out more about Jeremy, visit www.jeremystalnecker.com Subscribe to Our YouTube Channel ! 🔗 Learn more about Useful to God: www.usefultogod.com 📢 Stay Connected...

What makes temptation so compelling? In this episode of Thinking Christian's Prepped Series, Dr. James Spencer takes us deep into one of Scripture's most foundational passages—the fall narrative in Genesis 3:1-7. Far from a simple story of disobedience, James reveals the sophisticated dynamics at play: the serpent's calculated ambiguity, the woman's thoughtful but tragic reasoning, and the r...

In this episode of Thinking Christian , Dr. James Spencer and Nate dive into the recent Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) vote addressing Christian nationalism. They explore what makes Christian nationalism problematic from a biblical perspective, distinguishing it from both healthy political engagement and American civil religion. With examples ranging from Ten Commandments in classrooms to Do...

What does it truly mean to be a "helper"? In this episode of Thinking Christian's Prepped Series, Dr. James Spencer challenges common misconceptions surrounding the Hebrew word ezer , often translated as "helper" in Genesis 2:18. Moving beyond traditional hierarchical interpretations, James explores how ezer is used throughout the Old Testament, revealing its profound connection to strength, suppo...

What if the tabernacle, the Garden of Eden, and the Great Commission are all telling the same story? In this episode of Thinking Christian's Prepped Series , Dr. James Spencer uncovers the theological thread that weaves from Genesis to Revelation—a sacred space built not of bricks and curtains, but of God’s presence dwelling among His people. Moving through Eden, the Israelite temple s...

What does it actually mean to be made in the image of God? In this episode of Thinking Christian's Prepped Series , Dr. James Spencer dives deep into one of the Bible’s most profound claims about humanity. Exploring five major views—the substantive, functional, relational, filial, and Christological—James traces how each contributes to our understanding of human worth, purpose, a...

In today’s episode of Thinking Christian , host Dr. James Spencer welcomes sports ministry veterans Ed Uszynski and Brian Smith to discuss their new book, Away Game: A Christian Parent's Guide to Navigating Youth Sports . As youth sports evolve into a high-stakes, billion-dollar industry, Christian parents are faced with a unique challenge: how do we stay engaged in sports culture without co...

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...

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...

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,...

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,...

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 g...

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 bi...

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...

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 e...