Thinking Christian: Clear Theology for a Confusing World

James Spencer - Christian Theology Author and Speaker
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Semiweekly

Christians shouldn’t just think. They should think Christian. Join Dr. James Spencer and guests for calm, thoughtful, theological discussions about a variety of topics Christians face every day. The Thinking Christian Podcast will help you grow spiritually and learn theology as you seek to be faithful in a world that is becoming increasingly proficient at telling stories that deny Christ. Find more from James at https://www.thinkingchristian.org/.

  1. 2d ago

    👥 Shadow vs. Substance: How the Book of Hebrews Unlocks Old Testament Law

    🤔 What if Old Testament laws aren’t outdated rules to follow, but a deep, tangible story we are invited to practice? 🎙️ In this episode of Thinking Christian, host James Spencer is joined once again by Rebecca Josberger and Renee Duffy from the Bible Unbranded podcast to tackle one of the most debated topics in biblical study: how to interpret Old Testament law through a theological framework. 🗺️ Using the command of the Sabbath as their core anchor ⚓, the team unpacks how the ancient laws in Deuteronomy and Exodus are designed to reveal the incomparable character of God rather than construct a human utopia. Together, they build essential "theological guardrails" 🚧 to avoid the common trap of "time snobbery"—the evolutionary fallacy that modern believers have simply moved past ancient struggles. ⏳ From navigating the tension of Christological readings to contrasting the "shadow and substance" themes in the Book of Hebrews 🦅, this conversation offers deep theological exploration paired with a refreshing framework for how the church can embody sacred order in a chaotic social landscape today. 🏛️✨ What You’ll Discover in This Episode: 🚧 The Guardrail of "Time Snobbery": Why modern culture isn’t fundamentally more advanced than ancient biblical communities when it comes to understanding God. 👤 Shadows vs. Substance: How the imagery of Hebrews bridges old revelations with post-resurrection realities without diminishing the Old Testament. 📖 Law as Practiced Story: Shift your perspective from rigid legalism to an active, physical rehearsal of God's character. 🌅 The Convergence of Creation and Exodus: Unpacking why Exodus links the Sabbath to creation, while Deuteronomy anchors it in liberation. Get early access and a bonus with a Patreon membership. Subscribe to our YouTube channel To read James's article on this topic, check out his author page on Christianity.com. 📢 Stay Connected & Keep Growing! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to Thinking Christian so you never miss an insightful conversation! Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

    1h 6m
  2. 🔋We treat the Sabbath as a rigid restriction on our freedom! Reclaiming Sabbath as a radical declaration of God’s provision and our trust.

    5d ago

    🔋We treat the Sabbath as a rigid restriction on our freedom! Reclaiming Sabbath as a radical declaration of God’s provision and our trust.

    s the Old Testament Law a heavy burden to be avoided, or a guide to the heart of the Lawgiver? 📜🤔 In this installment of our crossover series with the Bible Unbranded podcast, Dr. James Spencer, Renee Duffy, and Dr. Rebekah Josberger tackle the common misconceptions surrounding Biblical Law. Far from being an obsolete set of rules, the law—and specifically the Sabbath command—reveals deep theological truths about who God is and how He cares for His creation. In this episode, we discuss: Rehabilitating the Law: Moving past the idea that the Law is "passe" to see it as a vital revelation of God's character. 🧐 The Logic of the Sabbath: Exploring why a "day of rest" is actually a theological statement about God’s sovereignty and provision. Trust vs. Effort: How the Sabbath forces us to confront our own "limitless" desire to provide for ourselves instead of trusting God. ⚓ The Beauty of Boundaries: Why God’s instructions are designed to protect and bless us, helping us fall in love with Him more deeply. Practical Rhythm: Navigating what it looks like to find rest and "Sabbath moments" in a modern, 24/7 world. 🔋✨ Stop seeing the Law as a list to check off and start seeing it as an invitation to rest in the Creator. Join us as we explore the life-giving nature of God's commands. ⚓🙌 Get early access and a bonus with a Patreon membership. Subscribe to our YouTube channel To read James's article on this topic, check out his author page on Christianity.com. 📢 Stay Connected & Keep Growing! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to Thinking Christian, so you never miss an insightful conversation! #ThinkingChristian #BibleUnbranded #Sabbath #OldTestament #BibleStudy #Theology #ChristianRest #GodsCharacter #Scripture #LawAndGospel Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

    58 min
  3. 📜We treat the Old Testament as a dry list of rules. Discovering Deuteronomy as the "Heart" of God’s love and provision.

    Jun 18

    📜We treat the Old Testament as a dry list of rules. Discovering Deuteronomy as the "Heart" of God’s love and provision.

    For many Christians, the Book of Deuteronomy feels like a dense wilderness of repetitive laws and ancient regulations that seem disconnected from a vibrant relationship with Jesus. 📜📉 In this episode of Thinking Christian, Dr. James Spencer sits down with Renee Duffy and Dr. Rebekah Josberger from the Bible Unbranded podcast to flip the script. They reveal that Deuteronomy isn't a burden—it’s the "backbone" of the Bible. By exploring the specific "if-then" commands and Moses' final heartfelt sermons, they show how these laws are actually windows into God’s character, designed to help us fall in love with Him more deeply. ⚓✨ In this episode, we discuss: Law as Revelation: Why the instructions in Deuteronomy are meant to show us who God is, not just what to do. 🧐 The Theological Backbone: How this book supports the narrative of the entire Old Testament. Love vs. Fear: Balancing the referential awe of God with the intimacy of His provision. Provision Logic: What ancient agricultural laws teach us about trusting God today. Get early access and a bonus with a Patreon membership. Subscribe to our YouTube channel To read James's article on this topic, check out his author page on Christianity.com. 📢 Stay Connected & Keep Growing! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to Thinking Christian, so you never miss an insightful conversation! #ThinkingChristian #BibleUnbranded #Deuteronomy #OldTestament #BibleStudy #GodsHeart #Scripture #ChristianPodcast #Theology101 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

    58 min
  4. 🛤️Trying to raise "perfect" kids by following rigid rules? Shifting from religious checklists to a Spirit-led walk in wisdom.

    Jun 15

    🛤️Trying to raise "perfect" kids by following rigid rules? Shifting from religious checklists to a Spirit-led walk in wisdom.

    Is there a "secret recipe" for biblical fatherhood, or have we been looking at the wrong map? 🗺️🧔 In this special Father's Day episode of Thinking Christian, Dr. James Spencer and Dr. Ashish Varma sit down to discuss the weight and wonder of Christian fatherhood. Moving beyond cultural stereotypes, they dive into Ephesians 5 and 6 to explore how a father’s role is rooted not in dominance, but in the wisdom of the Spirit and the mutual submission of the household. In this episode, we discuss: Walking in Wisdom: Breaking down Ephesians 5:15-21 and why "making the most of the time" is the foundation of a father’s leadership. ⏳ Beyond the Recipe: Why parenting is an exercise in wisdom, not a set of predictable "inputs and outputs." Mutual Submission: How the command to "submit to one another" in the Spirit reshapes the way fathers relate to their families. 🤝 Statecraft as Soulcraft: Understanding that how you manage your home is the ultimate training ground for your own spiritual formation. Individualized Love: The call to recognize each child’s unique personality and needs rather than forcing a uniform standard. 🧩 Fatherhood isn't about being the "boss"—it's about being a disciple who leads by following. Join us for a candid conversation about the challenges and joys of raising the next generation. ⚓✨ Get early access and a bonus with a Patreon membership. Subscribe to our YouTube channel To read James's article on this topic, check out his author page on Christianity.com. 📢 Stay Connected & Keep Growing! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to Thinking Christian, so you never miss an insightful conversation! #ThinkingChristian #BiblicalFatherhood #ChristianParenting #Ephesians5 #Wisdom #Fatherhood #Discipleship #FaithInTheHome #SpiritFilledLiving Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

    49 min
  5. Redefining Toughness: How Ancient Philosophy & Scripture Shape the Male Soul ⚓

    Jun 11

    Redefining Toughness: How Ancient Philosophy & Scripture Shape the Male Soul ⚓

    Is our modern definition of "toughness" actually biblical, or is it just a shadow of the ancient world? 🏛️💭 In this intellectually stimulating episode of Thinking Christian, Dr. James Spencer and Dr. Ashish Varma explore the intersection of virtue ethics and theology. They look back at how the ancient world understood masculinity and femininity in relation to the virtues and ask: How did the early church transform these ideas into a call for all disciples? In this episode, we discuss: Virtue Epistemology: Moving beyond "what we know" to "who we are" as a prerequisite for truth. 🧠 The Classical Map of Virtue: How concepts like courage, fortitude, and restraint were gendered in the ancient world. Redefining Toughness: Shifting from a "claspable" understanding of physical toughness to the spiritual grit of the person of Jesus. ⚓ The Universal Call: Why virtues like courage and restraint are not gender-exclusive but are intended for everyone conformed to the image of Christ. Character over Culture: Navigating the current cultural tide by rooting our identity in the character of God rather than social stereotypes. Join us as we bridge the gap between ancient philosophy and modern discipleship to find a more robust way to live as men and women of faith. ✨🙌 Get early access and a bonus with a Patreon membership. Subscribe to our YouTube channel To read James's article on this topic, check out his author page on Christianity.com. 📢 Stay Connected & Keep Growing! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to Thinking Christian, so you never miss an insightful conversation! #ThinkingChristian #VirtueEthics #Discipleship #Theology #AncientWisdom #ChristianLiving #Masculinity #FaithAndIntellect #Philosophy Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

    59 min
  6. 🛡️ The narrow "Biblical Manhood" checklist is failing us. Reclaiming overseer and deacon traits as the blueprint for every disciple.

    Jun 8

    🛡️ The narrow "Biblical Manhood" checklist is failing us. Reclaiming overseer and deacon traits as the blueprint for every disciple.

    Is 1 Timothy 3 a list of "manly" traits, or a calling for the entire Body of Christ? 📋🤔 In this episode of Thinking Christian, Dr. James Spencer and Dr. Ashish Varma dive into one of the most cited texts in the "biblical manhood" debate: 1 Timothy 3. They challenge the common assumption that the characteristics of overseers and deacons are exclusively masculine, demonstrating how these same virtues are applied to women and the broader community throughout the New Testament. In this episode, we discuss: The Shared Vocabulary of Virtue: Exploring how terms like "above reproach" and "respectable" are applied to both men and widows in the early church. 🔍 The "Able to Teach" Dilemma: Analyzing female instruction in the New Testament and how it fits into the leadership paradigm. Statecraft as Soulcraft: Why the management of a household is the ultimate training ground for the household of God. 🏠 The Gospel Connection: Understanding Paul’s "inverse argument" in 1 Timothy 3:16 and how our daily behavior manifests Christ in the flesh. Breaking the Checklist: Moving away from gendered checklists and toward a unified vision of Christian faithfulness. ⚓ Stop looking for "male" characteristics and start looking for Christlike ones. Join us as we redraw the map of biblical leadership. ✨🙌 Get early access and a bonus with a Patreon membership. Subscribe to our YouTube channel To read James's article on this topic, check out his author page on Christianity.com. 📢 Stay Connected & Keep Growing! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to Thinking Christian, so you never miss an insightful conversation!  #ThinkingChristian #1Timothy3 #BiblicalManhood #ChurchLeadership #Discipleship #Theology #BibleStudy #ChristianLiving #GospelCentered Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

    48 min
  7. 🏗️ Filling the Void: What Comes After "Biblical Manhood"?

    Jun 4

    🏗️ Filling the Void: What Comes After "Biblical Manhood"?

    If we move past the confusing labels of "biblical manhood," what are we actually left with? 🗺️❓ In the final visionary installment of this series on Thinking Christian, Dr. James Spencer and Dr. Ashish Varma address the "void" left behind when we deconstruct faulty masculinity frameworks. If "biblical manhood" as a standalone category is unclear and often unhelpful, what is the concrete path forward for men in the church? In this episode, we discuss: The "Void" Problem: Why taking away a flawed boundary requires us to put a better, biblical foundation in its place. Faithfulness vs. Masculinity: The "impossible" task of separating faithful Christian behavior from gendered behavior in the lives of biblical figures. The Danger of Arbitrary Lines: How setting "manhood standards" (like weightlifting or specific hobbies) creates unnecessary barriers to the Gospel. Imitation over Idealization: Shifting from trying to be an "ideal man" to imitating the self-giving love of Jesus Christ. A Clear Command: Returning to the simple, powerful calling of Matthew 28: learning to live under the authority of Christ. It’s time to stop chasing a "masculinity" that the Bible doesn't define and start pursuing the Discipleship that it clearly commands. Join us for a final look at how we build the body of Christ together. ⚓✨ Get early access and a bonus with a Patreon membership. Subscribe to our YouTube channel To read James's article on this topic, check out his author page on Christianity.com. 📢 Stay Connected & Keep Growing! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to Thinking Christian, so you never miss an insightful conversation! #ThinkingChristian #Discipleship #BiblicalManhood #FaithOverForm #ChristianLiving #MaleDiscipleship #RedrawingTheMap #ChurchCommunity Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

    55 min
  8. 🛤️ Patterns Over Principles: A New Framework for Biblical Manhood

    Jun 1

    🛤️ Patterns Over Principles: A New Framework for Biblical Manhood

    Are we following Jesus, or just a "masculine" version of ourselves? 🗺️🤔 In this episode of Thinking Christian, Dr. James Spencer and Dr. Ashish Varma dismantle the common "mapping" errors in the biblical manhood conversation. They argue that many modern frameworks for masculinity are actually "second-order" cultural reactions rather than "first-order" biblical truths. In this episode, we discuss: How to Lie with Maps: Understanding how the "abbreviations" we use to define manhood can lead to unintentional deception. The Discipleship Anchor: Why true manhood is found in learning to live under the authority of Christ (Matthew 28:18-20) rather than cultural prototypes. The "Machismo" Caricature: Addressing the danger of rereading Jesus’ life to fit an "uber-masculine" mold. Individual Maleness: How the "strategic guy" and the "sensitive guy" both reflect the image of Christ within a community. Patterns vs. Principles: Why looking for recurring biblical "patterns" of relating to God is more useful than seeking "timeless" abstractions. Shift your focus from fitting a mold to following a Savior. Join us as we start the work of redrawing the map. ⚓✨ Get early access and a bonus with a Patreon membership. Subscribe to our YouTube channel To read James's article on this topic, check out his author page on Christianity.com. 📢 Stay Connected & Keep Growing! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to Thinking Christian, so you never miss an insightful conversation! #ThinkingChristian #BiblicalManhood #Discipleship #ChristianLiving #Masculinity #FaithAndCulture #RedrawingTheMap Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

    46 min
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3 Ratings

About

Christians shouldn’t just think. They should think Christian. Join Dr. James Spencer and guests for calm, thoughtful, theological discussions about a variety of topics Christians face every day. The Thinking Christian Podcast will help you grow spiritually and learn theology as you seek to be faithful in a world that is becoming increasingly proficient at telling stories that deny Christ. Find more from James at https://www.thinkingchristian.org/.

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