Episodes
Kickflips & the Great Commission: Varsity Skateboarding and Skate Church KC
James welcomes Dylan (founder of Varsity Skateboarding & leader of Skate Church KC ) and co-host Nate to unpack how skateparks have become mission fields. They cover why skating is exploding post-Olympics, what makes a skatep...
Recovering Wonder: A Fresh Reading of the Christmas Story
In a season filled with noise, outrage, and “cancel culture,” is there still room for real joy? In this Christmas episode of Thinking Christian , Dr. James Spencer invites you to slow down, listen, and remember. He begins wit...
Why God Gave Ahaz a Baby, Not an Army: Isaiah 7:14 and the Virgin Birth
At Christmas, Christians often quote Isaiah 7:14—“the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son”—but few pause to ask what that verse meant for King Ahaz before it pointed to Christ. In this episode of Thinking Christian ,...
Tanita Maddox | What Gen Z Really Wants to Know About God
In this episode of Thinking Christian , I sit down with Dr. Tanita Maddox—National Director of Generational Impact for Young Life and author of What Gen Z Really Wants to Know About God . Drawing from years of research and on...
Danny Zacharias & Christopher Hoklotubbe | Reading the Bible on Turtle Island: Indigenous Christian Hermeneutics with
In this episode of the Thinking Christian podcast, Dr. James Spencer is joined by Dr. Daniel (Danny) Zacharias and Dr. Christopher Hoklotubbe, co-authors of Reading the Bible on Turtle Island: An Invitation to North American ...
Sayitha Sam | Finding Freedom From Porn: Deep Clean Coaching, Addiction Recovery & Christian Identity
In this episode of the Thinking Christian podcast, Dr. James Spencer welcomes back Sathiya Sam—CEO and founder of Deep Clean Coaching—to talk about pornography addiction, sexual integrity, and the power of Christian community...
JR Briggs | The Art of Asking Better Questions- Christian Leadership, Loneliness & Deeper Discipleship
In this episode of the Thinking Christian podcast, Dr. James Spencer talks with J.R. Briggs—founder of Kairos Partnerships and author of The Art of Asking Better Questions: Pursuing Stronger Relationships, Healthier Leadershi...
Pieter Valk | Singleness, Manhood, and Sexual Discipleship
In this episode of Thinking Christian , I sit down with Pieter Valk—founder and director of Equip and a founding brother of an ecumenical monastery in Nashville—to talk about what it really means to follow Jesus as single men...
Denise Lester | From Outreach to Exit: How Rended Heart Walks With Survivors of Sexual Exploitation
James sits down with Denise Lester , founder of Rended Heart (Kansas City, MO), to explore what sexual exploitation looks like today—and how her ministry stands in the 30-day gap between crisis and long-term recovery. Denise ...
David Green (Hobby Lobby) & Bill High | Building a Legacy Life: Faith, Family, and Eternal Purpose
In this episode of Thinking Christian , James Spencer talks with David Green , CEO of Hobby Lobby, and Bill High , CEO of Legacy Stone, about their new book Legacy Life: Leading Your Family to Make a Difference for Eternity ....
Carmen Joy Imes | Becoming God's Family: The Importance of Community
In this episode of Thinking Christian, Dr. James Spencer engages with Dr. Carmen Imes about her book 'Becoming God's Family: Why the Church Still Matters.' They explore the themes of identity, vocation, and belonging within t...
Beth Felker Jones | Why I’m Protestant: Scripture, Catholicity, and a Church That’s Still Being Reformed
Dr. James Spencer sits down with Beth Felker Jones (Professor of Theology, Northern Seminary) to talk about her new IVP book Why I Am Protestant . Beth lays out how Protestant distinctives—especially Scripture as the norming ...
The Authority of the Septuagint: What the Apostles Quoted—and Why It Matters
Dr. James Spencer welcomes Gregory R. Lanier (RTS Orlando, NT) and William A. Ross (RTS Charlotte, OT), co-editors of The Authority of the Septuagint: Biblical, Historical & Theological Approaches (IVP Academic). What is the ...
Gregg Quiggle and Jerry Root | The English Reformation and C. S. Lewis
In this episode of Thinking Christian, Dr. James Spencer engages with Dr. Greg Quiggle and Dr. Jerry Root to discuss an upcoming study tour focused on the English Reformation and the works of C.S. Lewis. The conversation delv...
Georgette Beck | Junk to Jewels: Beauty from Ashes
Dr. James Spencer welcomes Georgette Beck —author of Junk to Jewels: A Journey from Brokenness and Despair to Beauty and Delight and founder of the Bella Healing Hearts Foundation . Georgette shares her path from low self-wor...
Debbie D'Souza | The Dragon’s Prophecy Film
James talks with Debbie D’Souza (co-writer/co-director) about the new film The Dragon’s Prophecy —why the project accelerated after Oct 7th, how Revelation 12’s “dragon” frames Israel’s story, what recent archaeology (City of...
Peter Y. Hong | True Globalization: Reconciling Humanity in Christ
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 des...
Jonathan P. Walton | Beauty & Resistance: Practicing a Life That Forms You
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, an...
Peter Greer | How Leaders Lose Their Way—and Finish Well Instead
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 pe...
Mikel Del Rosario | Did Jesus Really Say He Was God? Claims, “Blasphemy,” and Historical Evidence
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 ...
Eun K. Strawser | You Were Never Meant to Lead Alone: Shared Power, and Discipleship-First Leadership
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 soli...
Capitalism, Socialism, and the Christian’s Hope: Reading the Gallup Poll Like Disciples
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 ,...
Ryan Skoog | Lead with Prayer: Lessons from the Global Church
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 ...
Arianna Molloy | Healthy Calling: Breaking Free from Workaholism and Finding True Rest
What does it truly mean to live out your calling? In this special crossover episode from the Thinking Christian podcast, Dr. James Spencer is joined by Dr. Arianna Molloy, professor of organizational communication at Biola Un...