Shows / Thinking Christian: Bible, Theology, and Culture
Thinking Christian: Bible, Theology, and Culture
Unsettling convention. Cultivating conviction. Thinking Christian is a podcast about the Bible, theology, and culture for Christians who sense that something in today's church isn't working and want to understand why.
Reading the Bible as the final authority for life and faith means questioning the assumptions of our culture, even our Christian culture, so that we don't settle for a narrower vision of reality than God's word offers. Each conversation goes past the headlines to the ideas and…
Episodes
Thinking Christian: Bible, Theology, and CultureThe Practical Implications of Our Beliefs- A Conversation with Jeremy Slayden
In this episode, James speaks with Jeremy Slayden about Jeremy's research on dispensationalism. Jeremy and James discuss a variety of issues related to…
Thinking Christian: Bible, Theology, and CultureDealing with our Delusions- A Conversation with Laura Gallier
In this episode, James speaks with Laura Gallier author of the Delusion Series, a set of fictional novels highlighting the spiritual struggles that are too…
Thinking Christian: Bible, Theology, and CultureHow Do We Spend Time With God?
Marching forward requires an understanding of the direction that God wants us to go. In this special episode of “March or Die”, another Christian podcast on…
Thinking Christian: Bible, Theology, and CultureAn Interview with Brant Hansen- How Should Christians Think about Health, Healing, and the Proclamation of the Gospel
In this episode, James and co-host Nate Giarratano sit down with Brant Hanson to talk about Brant's life, career, and ministry. In particular, James, Nate, and…
Thinking Christian: Bible, Theology, and CultureHow Should Christians Think about Worship (and Politics)
In this episode, James follows up the interviews with Ayanda Khumalo and Dan Bremnes with a discussion of worship based on his new book Serpents and Doves…
Thinking Christian: Bible, Theology, and CultureHow Does God Lead Us? A Conversation with Dan Bremnes
In this episode Nate Giarratano and James Spencer sit down with Christian recording artist Dan Bremnes. We discuss Dan's winding road in the music industry and…
Thinking Christian: Bible, Theology, and CultureHow Should Christians Think about Worship? A Conversation with Ayanda Khumalo, Part 2
In this episode, James continues his conversation Ayanda Khumalo. Ayanda recently released his album titled In Jesus. He is also getting ready to release his…
Thinking Christian: Bible, Theology, and CultureHow Should Chrisitans Think about Worship? A Conversation with Ayanda Khumalo, Part 1
In this episode, James sits down with Ayanda Khumalo who recently released his album titled In Jesus . Ayanda and James discuss Ayanda's approach to worship…
Thinking Christian: Bible, Theology, and CultureHow Should Christians Think about Business and Money? A Conversation with Rylee Meek, Part 2
In this episode, James continues his conversation with Rylee Meek of The King's Council and The King's Council Podcast. James and Rylee discuss Rylee's…
Thinking Christian: Bible, Theology, and CultureHow Should Chrisitans Think about Money? A Conversation with Rylee Meek, Part 1
In this episode, James speaks with Rylee Meek of The King's Council and The King's Council Podcast. James and Rylee discuss Rylee's background and how his…
Thinking Christian: Bible, Theology, and CultureHow Do Entrepreneurs Think? A Conversation with Lowell Busenitz, Part 2
In this episode, James continues his conversation with Lowell Busenitz. They discuss the ways our mindsets are influenced by the gifts God has given us and how…
Thinking Christian: Bible, Theology, and CultureHow Do Entrepreneurs Think? A Conversation with Lowell Busenitz, Part 1
In this episode of Thinking Christian, James discusses entrepreneurship with Lowell Busenitz. Lowell completed his dissertation on the mindset of entrepreneurs…
Thinking Christian: Bible, Theology, and CultureHow Can Lament Transform Us?: A Conversation with Dr. Bryan Babcock, Pt 2
In this episode, James continues his conversation with Dr. Bryan Babcock, who contributed an essay on lament in the 2023 book titled A Praying People. James…
Thinking Christian: Bible, Theology, and CultureHow Can the Christian Life Be Enriched by Lament: A Conversation with Dr. Bryan Babcock, Pt 1
In this episode of Thinking Christian, James speaks with Dr. Bryan Babcock. Dr. Babcock contributed an essay on lament in the 2023 book titled A Praying…
Thinking Christian: Bible, Theology, and CultureDoes Doing the Little Things Really Matter: Serving Those Around You- A Conversation with Beth Runkle, Pt 2
In this episode, James continues his conversation with Beth Runkle, author of Another Move God?. Beth talks about the unique needs of military families and the…
Thinking Christian: Bible, Theology, and CultureStaying Focused on Serving God Despite Our Circumstances: A Conversation with Beth Runkle, Pt 1
In this episode, James sits down with Beth Runkle, author of the forthcoming book Another Move God?. Beth was a military wife for many years and talks about…
Thinking Christian: Bible, Theology, and CultureHow to Improve Your Relationships with Love and Respect: A Conversation with Emerson Eggerichs
How can we improve our relationships just by showing love and respect? How have changes in the culture changed the way we relate to one another? In this…
Thinking Christian: Bible, Theology, and CultureHow Love and Respect Can Improve Our Relationships: A Conversation with Emerson Eggerichs, Pt. 1
In this episode, James sits down with Dr. Emerson Eggerichs, author of Love and Respect and President of Love and Respect Ministries. They discuss Ephesians 5…
Thinking Christian: Bible, Theology, and CultureNew Opportunities to Be A Different Kind of Man: A Conversation with Nancy Pearcey, Pt 2
In this episode, James continues his conversation with Nancy Pearcey, author of The Toxic War on Masculinity. They discuss the ways remote work may be opening…
Thinking Christian: Bible, Theology, and CultureHow Should Christians Think about Masculinity- A Conversation with Nancy Pearcey, Part 1
In this episode, James sits down wit Nancy Pearcey to discuss her new book titled The Toxic War on Masculinity. Nancy shares her research and perspective on…
Thinking Christian: Bible, Theology, and CultureFrom Pain to Praise: Thinking Christian about Lament wtih May Young
In this episode, James speaks with Dr. May Young who authored a chapter in a book James co-edited titled A Praying People. Dr. Young is an expert on the topic…
Thinking Christian: Bible, Theology, and CultureHow Can the Church Play a Role in Government- Part 2
In this episode, James and Alin continue to discuss the role of the Church in the world and how individual Christians can participate in politics. Part 1…
Thinking Christian: Bible, Theology, and CultureHow Can the Church Play a Role in Government- Part 1
Is the church playing the wrong game? In this episode of Thinking Christian, James sits down with Alin Vrancila to discuss Religion's role in government. They…
Thinking Christian: Bible, Theology, and CultureKansas City Chiefs Mascot Dan Meers: His Life on the Road to the Super Bowl
On this episode, James Spencer sits down with Dan Meers...the KC Wolf. Dan talks about his career with the Chiefs, their hopes for the Super Bowl, and, most…
Thinking Christian: Bible, Theology, and CultureEvangelicals and the 2024 Election: The Iowa Caucus and the Evangelical Support of Trump
In this episode, James sits down with Alin Vrancila to discuss the recent results of the Iowa Caucus. They discuss how evangelicals might make their political…
Thinking Christian: Bible, Theology, and CultureShould the Government Declare the United States a Christian Nation?
In this episode, James Spencer is joined by Alin Vrancila to discuss Christian Nationalism. They continue to examine the Neighborly Faith survey on Christian…
Thinking Christian: Bible, Theology, and CultureHow Should Christians Think about Christian Nationalism: Should the Federal Government Advocate Uniquely Christian Values
In this episode, James and his guest Alin Vrancila discuss the Neighborly Faith research on Christian Nationalism that came out in December of 2023. They focus…
Thinking Christian: Bible, Theology, and CultureExamining Christian Nationalism: God, American Politics, and the Church
In this episode of Thinking Christian, we kick off a series of talks on Christian Nationalism. Using the Neighborly Faith survey on Christian Nationalism as a…
Thinking Christian: Bible, Theology, and CultureJesus and the Mission of the Church
In this episode James interviews Greg Finke who leads Dwelling 1:14 (www.dwelling114..org). They discuss the incarnation, Jesus's mission, and the way that…
Thinking Christian: Bible, Theology, and CultureThe Sanctity of Life and Pro-Love Ministries with Pam Whitehead
In this episode of Thinking Christian, guest host Maggie Hubbard continues her conversation with Pam Whitehead. Discover more Christian podcasts at…
Thinking Christian: Bible, Theology, and CultureThe Sanctity of Human Life: Abortion, Pro-Love Ministries, and Pam Whitehead
In this episode of Thinking Christian, our guest host Maggie Hubbard begins the first part of her conversation with Pam Whitehead about her experience with…
Thinking Christian: Bible, Theology, and CultureThe Sanctity of Life and Medical Assistance In Dying- Considering Canada’s MAID Policy
This episode is a replay of a conversation between James Spencer and Maggie Hubbard last year on the changes Canada made to its Medical Assistance in Dying…
Thinking Christian: Bible, Theology, and CultureMinistering to Christian Men with Brian Doyle
In this episode, guest host Maggie Hubbard talks with Brian Doyle from Iron Sharpens Iron. Bryan describes his ministry and talks about the importance of men…
Thinking Christian: Bible, Theology, and CultureBe Fruitful: A Biblical Discussion about the Sanctity of Human Life
In this episode, James and Richard discuss the sanctity of human life through the lens of Genesis and various other biblical passages. Discover more Christian…
Thinking Christian: Bible, Theology, and CultureThinking Christian about the Church
In this episode, James and Richard talk about church membership, why it’s important, and some of the factors that may lead people away from participating in a…
Thinking Christian: Bible, Theology, and CultureDoes God Change? Can God Learn? A Theological Discussion
In this episode, Dr. James Spencer and Richard Beattie discuss the issue of God and change. The address issues related to God and time and the way that…
Thinking Christian: Bible, Theology, and CultureThe Joy of Christmas- Reading The Story of Jesus’s Birth in Luke’s Gospel
In this episode, Dr. James Spencer reads the Christmas Story from the Gospel of Luke followed by a few thoughts on Luke’s narrative and the way God brings all…
Thinking Christian: Bible, Theology, and CultureThinking Christian about Harvard, Genocide, Israel, and the State of Higher Education
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…
Thinking Christian: Bible, Theology, and CultureThe Virgin Birth: Considering Matthew's Use of Isaiah 7
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…
Thinking Christian: Bible, Theology, and CultureDoes God Accept Worship from Other Religions?
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…
Thinking Christian: Bible, Theology, and CultureThinking Christian about Making and Keeping New Year's Resolutions
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…
Thinking Christian: Bible, Theology, and CultureThinking Christian about Leadership
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…
Thinking Christian: Bible, Theology, and CultureHow Can Christians Overcome Pornography: A Conversation with Sathiya Sam
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…
Thinking Christian: Bible, Theology, and CultureJoshua Broome: From Porn to Redemption
In this episode of Thinking Christian, guest host Maggie Hubbard interviews Joshua Broome. Joshua is an ex-porn star who came to faith in Jesus Christ and…
Thinking Christian: Bible, Theology, and CultureThinking Worship with Stephen McWhirter
Honesty, humility and a sense of humor are what makes Stephen Mcwhirter's story so inviting. In this episode, Stephen, James, and guest co-host Nate Giarratano…
Thinking Christian: Bible, Theology, and CultureReading Ecclesiastes with the Old and New Testaments in Mind with Russ Meek
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…
Thinking Christian: Bible, Theology, and CultureThinking Christian at NASCAR with Michael McDowell
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…
Thinking Christian: Bible, Theology, and CultureChristian Witness and the War in Ukraine: A Conversation with Josiah Venture missonary Lee Humerian
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…
Thinking Christian: Bible, Theology, and CultureChristians and Cancel Culture
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…
Thinking Christian: Bible, Theology, and CultureTolkien, Prayer, and Doing Theology with Ashish Varma
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…
Thinking Christian: Bible, Theology, and CultureChristians and Anxiety
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 should…
Thinking Christian: Bible, Theology, and CultureCaring for Others in South Sudan: A Conversation about Grain for Pain
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…
Thinking Christian: Bible, Theology, and CultureGrateful Beyond Thanksgiving
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…
Thinking Christian: Bible, Theology, and CultureGet Ready for Thanksgiving by Remembering the Giver of All Good Gifts
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…
Thinking Christian: Bible, Theology, and CultureLessons from the Life of Dwight Moody- Humility, Prayer, and Dependence
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…
Thinking Christian: Bible, Theology, and CultureWhat D. L. Moody's Life Teaches Us
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…
Thinking Christian: Bible, Theology, and CultureHow Should Christians Think About Transhumanism?
In this episode, James Spencer is joined by Alin Vrancila to discuss the Transhumanist Declaration from a biblical and theological perspective. They consider…
Thinking Christian: Bible, Theology, and CultureWhat's the Deal with Halloween and who's it for?
Another useful conversation about Halloween and seasons. Dr. James Spencer and producer Richard Beattie have a thoughtful conversation about who this season is…
Thinking Christian: Bible, Theology, and CultureAnother Problem with Halloween: Thinking Christian and Consumerism
Dr. James Spencer and producer/journalist, Richard Beattie, talk about Halloween and the globalization of seasons, consumerism, and regionalism. This came from…
Thinking Christian: Bible, Theology, and CultureHow Should Christians Think About Being Human?
What it means to be human--If you look at history it could be "to err," or to "empathetic," or sympathetic. Can your computer be human? And with that can we…