Episodes
How Can Christians Be Good Neighbors? Thinking through the Good Samaritan
In this episode, James considers the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10. He discusses the Old Testament background of love for neighbor in Leviticus and what it might mean for us to show mercy in today's world. For more...
How Can Christians Think about Politics and Culture?
In this episode, James and Nate discuss a Pew Research study titled "Cultural Issues and the 2024 Election." They talk about how Christians might approach specific cultural issues, the differences between the roles of the sta...
Thinking Christian about Mental Illness and Suffering: A Conversation with Chris Morris
In this episode, James welcomes Chris Morris author of Resilient and Redeemed: Lessons about Suicidality and Depression from the Psych Ward. James and Chris have a candid conversation about mental illness and discuss ways the...
Thinking Christian about Jesus's Temptation
In this episode, James discusses Jesus's baptism and subsequent temptation in the gospel of Matthew. He considers each of the temptation's Jesus faces and the lessons that Christians can learn from Matthew 4. For more from Ja...
How Should Christians Think about the Public Display of the Ten Commandments? Louisiana's New Legislation
In this bonus episode, James considers the recent legislation passed in the state of Louisiana. He suggests that Christians recognize the challenges of American civil religion without creating an "us versus them" mentality. F...
David Richardson
In this episode, James speaks with David Richardson of The Assumptions Institute. James and David talk about critical thinking, the necessity of questioning assumptions, and the importance of pointing other toward reality. Th...
How Matthew 6 Can Help Us Think about the Things We Do (and How We Do Them)
In this week's devotional, James considers Matthew 6 and its potential to help Christians think through the various practices in which they are engaged. James encourages us not just to ask whether or not we should engage in a...
Thinking Christian about Social Media (and Technology) with the Surgeon General
In this episode of Thinking Christian, James interacts with an essay published on June 17, 2024, in which the surgeon general calls for warning labels on social media. James discusses the importance of this call and the need ...
Thinking about Theology and the Creative Process: An Interview with Jason Gray
In this episode, James and Nate welcome Jason Gray. Jason is a Christian recording artist and deep thinker. James, Nate, and Jason discuss the creative process, Jason's musical influences, and the way that Jason goes about wr...
Thinking about Distractions with Mary, Martha, and Jesus
In this first weekly devotional, James discusses distractions and the way they hinder us from listening to the teachings of Jesus. Considering Luke 10:38-42, James encourages listeners to recognize that Jesus is infinitely mo...
How Should Christians Think about Human Flourishing: A Conversation with Joshua Jipp
In this episode, James welcomes Joshua Jipp. Joshua is Professor of New Testament and Director of the Henry Center for Theological Understanding. He is also the author of Pauline Theology as a Way of Life: A Vision of Human F...
Announcement about Upcoming Episodes of Thinking Christian
Beginning June 17th, James will be releasing weekly devotionals every Monday as part of the Thinking Christian line-up. Subscribe to Thinking Christian on your favorite podcasting platform or visit www.thinkingchristianpodcas...
Thinking about Our Fast-Paced Lives: A Conversation with Jody Grubbs
In this episode, James hosts author and slow-living activist Jodi Grubbs to discuss her book titled Live Slowly: A Gentle Invitation to Exale. Jodi and James discuss the various ways our world pushes us to move more quickly a...
How Should Christians think about the "Bro Code": A Conversation with Katelyn Beaty
In this episode, James sits down with journalist, author, and podcaster Katelyn Beaty to discuss her series of essays on her substack "The Beaty Beat" about the "Evangelical Bro Code." They consider the various components of ...
Thinking about the Awkward Conversation of Prayer: A Conversation with John Koessler
In this episode, James sits down with his friend John Koessler to talk about prayer. In addition to being a retired faculty emiritus from the Moody Bible Institute, John is an award-winning writer and podcaster whose work has...
Thinking about Evangelizing and Discipling Men: A Conversation with Erin Alexandrino
In this episode, James is joined by co-host Nate Giarratano and special guest Erin Alexandrino. Erin works with Chrisitan and non-Chrisitan men as part of his High Value Man coaching program. Erin, James, and Nate discuss the...
What Are We Missing about God: A Conversation with Dr. Grace Ji-Sun Kim
In this episode, James speaks with Grace Ji-Sun Kim, professor of theology at Earlham School of Religion, host of the Madang podcast, and author of When God Became White. James and Grace discuss her book, the challenge of nav...
Why the Basics of the Faith Matter: A Discussion with Evangelist and BMX Rider Vic Murphy
In this episode, James and co-host Nate Giarratano sit down with Vic Murphy. Vic shares his story of getting invovled in skateboarding and BMX as a young man in Alaska, being evangelized by his grandmother, and ultimately com...
What Are the Biggest Questions Christians Are Asking: A Conversation with Shea Houdman
In this episode, James sits down with president of GotQuestions.org Shea Houdman. Shea and James talk about the genesis of gotquestions.org, how Shea and his team deal with the difficulties of answering questions online, and ...
How Should Christians Think about Islam: A Conversation with Jeff King
In this episode, Jeff King, president of International Chrsitian Concern and author of Islam Uncensored, joins James to discuss Isalm. James and Jeff consider the various interviews Jeff includes in his book, as well as the u...
How Do Faith and Fitness Relate? A Conversation with Stephen Covert
In this episode, James sits down with Stephen Covert, a natural bodybuilder and owner of Iron Thearpy Club, an explicitly Christian clothing brand and community. Stephen and James talk about fitness, the challenges of fitness...
Thinking about God and Evil: A Conversation with Ingrid Faro, PhD
In this episode, James discusses evil and suffering with Ingrid Faro, PhD. Ingrid is professor of Old Testament at Northern Seminary in Lisle, IL, and author of Demystifying Evil: A Biblical and Personal Exploration. They dis...
What Does It Mean to Be a Person? A Conversation with Paul Louis Metzger
In this episode, James discusses personhood with Paul Louis Metzger author of More Than Things: A Personalist Ethics for a Throwaway Culture. James and Paul dive into the idea of personalism, how it intersects with technology...
How Should We Think about Kids and Technology: A Conversation with David Eaton
In this episode, James sits down with co-host Maggie Hubbard and special guest David Eaton. David is Co-founder and CEP of Axis, an organization that provides resources to parents seeking to navigate cultural issues, technolo...