Thinking Christian: Bible, Theology, and Culture

James Spencer

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 inconspicuous patterns underneath them: how we read Scripture, what shapes our politics, how technology shapes us, what faithful discipleship looks like, and where familiar Christian habits don’t fit the patterns emerging from the biblical text.

Hosted by Dr. James Spencer, president of the D. L. Moody Center and author of Digital Discernment (InterVarsity Press), with co-host Dr. Ashish Varma. Episodes include guided series on Scripture, theology, and church history alongside conversations with scholars, pastors, and authors.

Calm, careful, and theological conversations for uncompromising faith.

Episodes, articles, and questions: thinkingchristian.org

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Thinking Christian about Family and Technology Use (Krista Boan)
May 8, 2024 - 61 min
A Fresh Way to Memorize Scripture (Natalie Abbott)
May 7, 2024 - 37 min
How Can Christians Step Away from Technology: (Re)Introducing the Go Dark, Shine Bright Campaign
May 6, 2024 - 20 min
What about Discipleship: A Conversation with Ron Tewson
May 3, 2024 - 69 min
Thinking about the Image of God: A Conversation with Carmen Joy Imes
May 1, 2024 - 56 min
Considering the Power of God's Redemptions: A Conversation with Ryan Ries
April 29, 2024 - 65 min
"The Chief" Legendary skateboarder Jamie Thomas shares his story and recalls what it was like to live in a small southern town to becoming one of the most famous street skaters in the world. Find out how God invaded his heart and life!
April 23, 2024 - 58 min
Thinking Christian about Religious Influence
April 22, 2024 - 36 min
For King and County’s Story: An Interview with Luke Smallbone
April 19, 2024 - 22 min
Speaking with Unspoken: Talking Ministry and Music with Chad Mattson and Jon Lowry
April 18, 2024 - 56 min
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Meet Your Host
James Spencer earned his Ph.D. in Theological Studies from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He believes discipleship will open up opportunities beyond anything God’s people could accomplish through their own wit and wisdom. As such, James seeks to help believers think Christianly about social, cultural, and political assumptions. His desire is to see Christians test God by trusting God so that they conform ever more closely to the image of Christ.

In addition to being a regular contributor to Christianity.com and Washingtontimes.com, James has published multiple works, including Christian Resistance: Learnign to Defy the World and Follow Christ, Useful to God: Eight Lessons from the Life of D.L. Moody, Thinking Christian: Essays on Testimony, Accountability, and the Christian Mind, and Trajectories: A Gospel-Centered Introduction to Old Testament Theology.

James currently serves as president of the D. L. Moody Center, an adjunct instructor at Wheaton College Graduate School, and faculty member at Right On Mission.

You can find out more about James at his personal website www.jamesspencer.com.
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