Episodes
In Reality: How Cultural Stories Hijack Biblical Interpretation
Are we letting culture shape our Christianity more than Christ? Today, on the PREPPED Podcast, host James Spencer, PhD, explores how cultural narratives—like individualism, consumerism, and political ideologies—can subtly dis...
In Reality: How Our Faith Becomes Untethered
Is your faith grounded in God’s Word—or shaped by cultural and personal preferences? In this episode of PREPPED, join us as host James Spencer, PhD, explores what it means to pursue a faith truly anchored in Scripture. As cul...
Christianity and Open-Mindedness
Can being open-minded actually lead us astray? Tune in to today’s episode of PREPPED, where host James Spencer, PhD, unpacks the balance between openness and conviction within Christian discipleship. Discover how true open-mi...
PREPPED Highlights: Wisdom, Faith, and Spiritual Growth
Join us for a special episode of PREPPED as we look back at some of the most thought-provoking and insightful moments from our top five most popular episodes so far. These curated highlights feature deep theological insights,...
False Teaching and False Teachers
How can a teaching feel true and still lead you away from God? In this episode of PREPPED join James Spencer, PhD, as we dissect the subtle dangers of false teaching—particularly the kind that offers comfort at the expense of...
Responding to God
What if the key to spiritual transformation lies not in our circumstances but in our responses to God? In this episode of PREPPED, join James Spencer, PhD, on an exploration of the power of response as a spiritual discipline....
Reorienting Attention
Your attention may be more than just a cognitive skill—have you ever considered that it could be a moral compass guiding your spiritual journey? In this episode of PREPPED, join host James Spencer, PhD, for an exploration of ...
Reordering Loves
What happens when we are led by our desires rather than by God's design? Today on PREPPED, join James Spencer, PhD, as we invite our listeners to explore the deep and transformative concept of reordering our loves—shifting ou...
The Unbalanced Life
Achieving a “balanced life” is a prevalent concept in our current age, but is it simply a mirage? In this episode of PREPPED, James Spencer, PhD, challenges this modern obsession with balance and productivity by inviting us t...
Spiritual Disciplines
The true measure of spiritual growth isn’t necessarily found in grand gestures—but rather in quiet, consistent moments of faithfulness. In this episode of PREPPED, join James Spencer, PhD, as we unpack the teachings of Matthe...
Justification by Faith: Romans 4 and James 2
Embracing a God-centered rhythm of decision-making will transform even the smallest of our choices into acts of faith. In this episode of PREPPED, James Spencer, PhD, is diving into this profound concept through examining Eli...
The Sons of Abraham: Galatians 3
What happens when we prioritize God's voice over the world's advice? In today’s episode of PREPPED, join James Spencer, PhD, as he invites us to challenge the cultural mantra of “follow your heart” by examining what it means ...
Abraham's Learning Curve: The Near-Sacrifice of Isaac
What does true obedience look like? In this episode of PREPPED, accompany James Spencer, PhD, as we journey through the challenging narrative of Genesis 22, where Abraham faces the ultimate test: the command to sacrifice his ...
Abraham's Learning Curve: Hagar and Ismael
Today on PREPPED, join James Spencer, PhD, as we unpack the complexities of Abraham’s journey, exploring how moments of tension, trust, and obedience shaped his legacy. From Abraham’s decision to father a child with Hagar to ...
So Only God Gets the Glory: Abram, the King of Sodom, and a Paradigm for Christian Decision-Making
Could a single act of courage redefine the course of faith and history? In this episode of PREPPED, join James Spencer, PhD, as he unpacks the remarkable narrative of Genesis 14, where Abram’s bold rescue of his nephew Lot re...
Abraham's Learning Curve: Sister-Wife Narratives (Egypt and Abimelech)
Uncover the intricate dance between faith and fear as we explore Abram's journey into Egypt, in today’s episode of PREPPED. By unpacking the events of Genesis 12:10-20, where Abram’s decision to present Sarai as his sister, J...
Enter Abram: God's Call of Abram as the Solution to the Problem of Independence
Today, on PREPPED, we’re exploring what happens when human ambition clashes with divine purpose. Listen in as James Spencer, PhD, contrasts the Tower of Babel narrative with God’s call to Abram, revealing two opposing paths—s...
Christians and Technology, Part 3: Technology and Self-Sufficiency—Reflecting on Dependence
How often do we let technology trick us into believing we're self-sufficient, drifting away from our dependence on God? In this episode of PREPPED, join our host, James Spencer. PhD, as we dig into this deep and sometimes unc...
Christians and Technology, Part 2: Misunderstanding Progress
True progress isn't just about the latest tech or societal milestones; it's about aligning with a higher purpose. Today, on PREPPED, join host James Spencer, PhD, as he challenges the conventional definitions of success, expl...
Christians and Technology, Part 1: Just Because We Can, Doesn't Mean We Should
Can technological advancement pull us away from our divine purpose? In this episode of PREPPED, James Spencer, PhD, is exploring how technology shapes our spiritual journey, using the Tower of Babel as a framework to examine ...
Unrestrained and Unguided: A Fresh Take on the Tower of Babel
Could it be possible that the Tower of Babel story isn’t really about the tower itself at all? Today on PREPPED, James Spencer, PhD, is challenging the conventional interpretations of Genesis 11, revealing that the real lesso...
Sons of God, Daughters of Men, and Nephilim
What if Genesis 6:1-4 holds the key to understanding humanity’s ancient struggle against divine order? In this episode of PREPPED, join us as James Spencer, PhD, unpacks one of the most enigmatic passages in Scripture, explor...
The Biblical Flood
Was the biblical flood truly global, or have we misunderstood its scope? In this episode of PREPPED, join James Spencer, PhD, in taking a fresh look at Genesis 6–9, challenging our traditional interpretations, and exploring t...
Discipleship and Christian Resistance
Is your life more aligned with the world’s distractions or with God’s will? In this episode of PREPPED, we explore discipleship as an act of defiance—an intentional pull away from societal conventions to focus on imitating Ch...