In this episode, James sits down with co-host Nate Giarratano and special guest Ryan Ries to discuss Ryan's story. Ryan was a pro-skateboarder who gave his life to Christ and began to proclaim the gospel. 

For more about Ryan and his ministry go to https://ryan-ries.com/.

In this episode, James sits down with co-host Nate Giarratano and special guest Ryan Ries to discuss Ryan's story. Ryan was a pro-skateboarder who gave his life to Christ and began to proclaim the gospel. 
For more about Ryan and his ministry go to <a href="https://ryan-ries.com/">https://ryan-ries.com/</a>.

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://usefultogod.com/.

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 <a href="https://usefultogod.com/">https://usefultogod.com/</a>.

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.

Thinking Christian: Clear Theology for a Confusing World

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 <a href="https://usefultogod.com/">https://usefultogod.com/.</a>

Considering the Power of God's Redemptions: A Conversation with Ryan Ries

In this episode of Thinking Christian, Dr. James Spencer and Dr. Greg Quiggle pick up the story after Luther’s intensifying crisis of conscience. If the monastery wasn’t bringing peace—what could? Luther’s mentor, Johann von Staupitz, attempts an intervention, first by sending Luther to Rome, hoping the pilgrimage and the center of the Church might relieve the pressure.

Instead, Rome does the opposite. Luther returns disillusioned by the moral and spiritual decay he sees—corruption, scandal, and a religious economy saturated with spiritual “transactions.” Rather than loosening Luther’s burden, Rome deepens the problem.

The turning point comes through Luther’s move to Wittenberg, where rigorous study of Scripture in the original languages (and in the intellectual wake of the Renaissance and renewed interest in Greek texts) forces Luther to confront a question that had been crushing him: How can an unrighteous sinner stand before a righteous God?

Greg explains how Luther’s breakthrough forms as he wrestles with texts like Psalm 31 and then Romans 1—and begins to grasp righteousness not as something he can achieve, but something God can give. Luther’s language for this is striking: “alien righteousness”—a righteousness that belongs to God, received by faith, and credited to the believer.

The episode also highlights a key detail that becomes explosive: Luther starts noticing where the Church’s claims don’t match the text itself—especially when he reads Scripture in Greek. The famous early example is the shift from “do penance” to “repent” (metanoia)—a translation issue with massive theological consequences.

This segment ends by setting up what comes next: the 95 Theses, the Diet of Worms, and why Luther’s translation work (and his commitment to Scripture as final authority) becomes the fuse that ignites the Reformation.

Quotelos Travel offers small, expert-led “Tours for Ten” that provide an intimate and unforgettable way to explore church history and culture with guides who truly know the locations. Learn more at quotelostravelservice.com, and check out their upcoming trips to Germany, England, and Switzerland.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel

🔗 Download a free resource "Making Everyday Decisions So That God Gets the Glory" from Useful to God:www.usefultogod.com

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!

This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management. “Whether we’re helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments, Trinity has the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk. Call us at 1-800-793-8548 | https://trinitycredit.org/ 

In this episode of Thinking Christian, Dr. James Spencer and Dr. Greg Quiggle pick up the story after Luther&rsquo;s intensifying crisis of conscience. If the monastery wasn&rsquo;t bringing peace&mdash;what could? Luther&rsquo;s mentor,&nbsp;Johann von Staupitz, attempts an intervention, first by sending Luther to&nbsp;Rome, hoping the pilgrimage and the center of the Church might relieve the pressure.
Instead, Rome does the opposite. Luther returns disillusioned by the moral and spiritual decay he sees&mdash;corruption, scandal, and a religious economy saturated with spiritual &ldquo;transactions.&rdquo; Rather than loosening Luther&rsquo;s burden, Rome deepens the problem.
The turning point comes through Luther&rsquo;s move to&nbsp;Wittenberg, where rigorous study of Scripture in the original languages (and in the intellectual wake of the Renaissance and renewed interest in Greek texts) forces Luther to confront a question that had been crushing him:&nbsp;How can an unrighteous sinner stand before a righteous God?
Greg explains how Luther&rsquo;s breakthrough forms as he wrestles with texts like&nbsp;Psalm 31&nbsp;and then&nbsp;Romans 1&mdash;and begins to grasp righteousness not as something he can&nbsp;achieve, but something God can&nbsp;give. Luther&rsquo;s language for this is striking:&nbsp;&ldquo;alien righteousness&rdquo;&mdash;a righteousness that belongs to God, received by faith, and credited to the believer.
The episode also highlights a key detail that becomes explosive: Luther starts noticing where the Church&rsquo;s claims don&rsquo;t match the text itself&mdash;especially when he reads Scripture in Greek. The famous early example is the shift from&nbsp;&ldquo;do penance&rdquo;&nbsp;to&nbsp;&ldquo;repent&rdquo;&nbsp;(metanoia)&mdash;a translation issue with massive theological consequences.
This segment ends by setting up what comes next: the&nbsp;95 Theses, the&nbsp;Diet of Worms, and why Luther&rsquo;s translation work (and his commitment to Scripture as final authority) becomes the fuse that ignites the Reformation.
Quotelos Travel offers small, expert-led &ldquo;Tours for Ten&rdquo; that provide an intimate and unforgettable way to explore church history and culture with guides who truly know the locations. Learn more at&nbsp;<a href="https://quotelostravelservice.com/">quotelostravelservice.com</a>, and check out their upcoming trips to&nbsp;Germany, England, and Switzerland.
Subscribe&nbsp;to our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@Useful_toGod">YouTube channel</a>
🔗&nbsp;Download a free resource "Making Everyday Decisions So That God Gets the Glory" from Useful to God:<a href="https://www.usefultogod.com/">www.usefultogod.com</a>
To read James's article on this topic, check out his author page on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.christianity.com/author/james-spencer/">Christianity.com</a>.
📢 Stay Connected &amp; Keep Growing!
If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to&nbsp;subscribe&nbsp;to&nbsp;Thinking Christian&nbsp;so you never miss an insightful conversation!
This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management.&nbsp;&ldquo;Whether we&rsquo;re helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments, Trinity has the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk.&nbsp;Call us at&nbsp;1-800-793-8548&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://trinitycredit.org/">https://trinitycredit.org/</a>&nbsp;

Luther Goes to Rome: Corruption, Crisis, and the Breakthrough in Romans

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/b0c4a035-e88a-40fb-a1ae-b3e801621579/transcript

In this episode of Thinking Christian, Dr. James Spencer is joined by Dr. Greg Quiggle to continue the German Reformation series—this time focusing on Martin Luther’s years in Erfurt and the startling turn that led him into the Augustinian monastery.

Luther wasn’t headed toward ministry. He was a brilliant student on track for law, positioned to become his father’s “golden ticket” in a world with no social safety net. But beneath the surface, Luther’s life was haunted by a question that medieval Europe could not escape: What happens when I die—and how can I stand before a holy God?

Greg places Luther’s fear and guilt inside the lived world of late medieval Germany—where death was constant, God was often imagined as perpetually angry, and the Church shaped the calendar, the culture, and the imagination of everyday life. The episode then centers on the famous storm moment: Luther, terrified by lightning, cries out to St. Anne and makes a vow—“Help me, and I will become a monk.” Unlike so many foxhole vows, Luther follows through.

From there, James and Greg explore what life in Erfurt’s Augustinian monastery likely entailed: regulated prayer, ascetic discipline, study, and the grinding pressures that could intensify Luther’s already sensitive conscience. The discussion highlights the deep irony of Luther’s early story: the monastery was supposed to bring peace—but for Luther, the spiritual “solutions” only made the struggle worse.

The episode ends by setting up the next move in the narrative: the relationship between Augustinian theology, Luther’s extreme ascetic practices, and the transition toward Wittenberg under the guidance of his mentor/confessor, Johann von Staupitz—where the next stage of Luther’s transformation begins.

Quotelos Travel offers small, expert-led “Tours for Ten” that provide an intimate and unforgettable way to explore church history and culture with guides who truly know the locations. Learn more at quotelostravelservice.com, and check out their upcoming trips to Germany, England, and Switzerland.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel

🔗 Download a free resource "Making Everyday Decisions So That God Gets the Glory" from Useful to God:www.usefultogod.com

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!

This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management. “Whether we’re helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments, Trinity has the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk. Call us at 1-800-793-8548 | https://trinitycredit.org/ 

In this episode of&nbsp;Thinking Christian, Dr. James Spencer is joined by Dr. Greg Quiggle to continue the German Reformation series&mdash;this time focusing on&nbsp;Martin Luther&rsquo;s years in Erfurt&nbsp;and the startling turn that led him into the&nbsp;Augustinian monastery.
Luther wasn&rsquo;t headed toward ministry. He was a brilliant student on track for law, positioned to become his father&rsquo;s &ldquo;golden ticket&rdquo; in a world with no social safety net. But beneath the surface, Luther&rsquo;s life was haunted by a question that medieval Europe could not escape:&nbsp;What happens when I die&mdash;and how can I stand before a holy God?
Greg places Luther&rsquo;s fear and guilt inside the lived world of late medieval Germany&mdash;where death was constant, God was often imagined as perpetually angry, and the Church shaped the calendar, the culture, and the imagination of everyday life. The episode then centers on the famous storm moment: Luther, terrified by lightning, cries out to&nbsp;St. Anne&nbsp;and makes a vow&mdash;&ldquo;Help me, and I will become a monk.&rdquo;&nbsp;Unlike so many foxhole vows, Luther follows through.
From there, James and Greg explore what life in Erfurt&rsquo;s Augustinian monastery likely entailed: regulated prayer, ascetic discipline, study, and the grinding pressures that could intensify Luther&rsquo;s already sensitive conscience. The discussion highlights the deep irony of Luther&rsquo;s early story: the monastery was supposed to bring peace&mdash;but for Luther, the spiritual &ldquo;solutions&rdquo; only made the struggle worse.
The episode ends by setting up the next move in the narrative: the relationship between&nbsp;Augustinian theology, Luther&rsquo;s extreme ascetic practices, and the transition toward&nbsp;Wittenberg&nbsp;under the guidance of his mentor/confessor,&nbsp;Johann von Staupitz&mdash;where the next stage of Luther&rsquo;s transformation begins.
Quotelos Travel offers small, expert-led &ldquo;Tours for Ten&rdquo; that provide an intimate and unforgettable way to explore church history and culture with guides who truly know the locations. Learn more at&nbsp;<a href="https://quotelostravelservice.com/">quotelostravelservice.com</a>, and check out their upcoming trips to&nbsp;Germany, England, and Switzerland.
Subscribe&nbsp;to our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@Useful_toGod">YouTube channel</a>
🔗&nbsp;Download a free resource "Making Everyday Decisions So That God Gets the Glory" from Useful to God:<a href="https://www.usefultogod.com/">www.usefultogod.com</a>
To read James's article on this topic, check out his author page on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.christianity.com/author/james-spencer/">Christianity.com</a>.
📢 Stay Connected &amp; Keep Growing!
If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to&nbsp;subscribe&nbsp;to&nbsp;Thinking Christian&nbsp;so you never miss an insightful conversation!
This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management.&nbsp;&ldquo;Whether we&rsquo;re helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments, Trinity has the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk.&nbsp;Call us at&nbsp;1-800-793-8548&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://trinitycredit.org/">https://trinitycredit.org/</a>&nbsp;

Before Wittenberg: Luther’s Erfurt Years and the Weight of Judgment

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/2641ed03-ed6d-405f-90a8-b3e801620ffa/transcript

In this first episode of a new Thinking Christian series on the German Reformation, Dr. James Spencer is joined by Dr. Greg Quiggle—a historian, former Moody Bible Institute professor, and leader of Tours for Ten—to set the stage for the world that produced Martin Luther and the Lutheran Reformation.

Before you can understand Luther, you have to understand the world Luther lived in: a late-medieval Germany marked by constant death, recurring plague, widespread poverty, church corruption, and spiritual fear. Greg helps listeners reconstruct the medieval imagination—where God was often perceived as perpetually angry, life expectancy was low, child mortality was staggering, and the question “How can I stand before a holy God?” was not theoretical but urgent.

Greg also clarifies an often-missed point: there wasn’t one Reformation, but multiple Reformations—Germany (Luther), Switzerland (Zwingli and Calvin), England (Henry VIII), and the Radical movements—each emerging from distinct contexts and theological pressures. This series focuses specifically on the German stream and its implications for Protestantism today.

In this conversation, you’ll hear about:
The split between Eastern (Orthodox) and Western (Latin/Catholic) Christianity (1054)
Why “Reformation” is really Reformations (Germany, Switzerland, England, Radicals)
The medieval experience of death: plague, famine, and childhood mortality
How the church often failed to provide spiritual comfort or clarity
Why fear of judgment and purgatory shaped daily religious behavior
The role of literacy, sermons, Latin worship, and “sheep without a shepherd”
The core question driving Luther: certainty before God through Christ

This episode lays the foundation for the rest of the series, where James and Greg will move from context into Luther’s theology, the 95 Theses, indulgences, justification by faith, and the long-term effects of the German Reformation on modern Protestant life.

Related: Want to experience Reformation history on location? Greg leads small-group “Tours for Ten” through Germany (and beyond). Links are in the show notes.

Quotelos Travel offers small, expert-led “Tours for Ten” that provide an intimate and unforgettable way to explore church history and culture with guides who truly know the locations. Learn more at quotelostravelservice.com, and check out their upcoming trips to Germany, England, and Switzerland.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel

🔗 Download a free resource "Making Everyday Decisions So That God Gets the Glory" from Useful to God:www.usefultogod.com

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!

This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management. “Whether we’re helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments, Trinity has the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk. Call us at 1-800-793-8548 | https://trinitycredit.org/ 

In this first episode of a new&nbsp;Thinking Christian&nbsp;series on the&nbsp;German Reformation,&nbsp;Dr. James Spencer&nbsp;is joined by&nbsp;Dr. Greg Quiggle&mdash;a historian, former Moody Bible Institute professor, and leader of&nbsp;Tours for Ten&mdash;to set the stage for the world that produced Martin Luther and the Lutheran Reformation.
Before you can understand Luther, you have to understand the world Luther lived in: a late-medieval Germany marked by&nbsp;constant death, recurring plague, widespread poverty, church corruption, and spiritual fear. Greg helps listeners reconstruct the medieval imagination&mdash;where God was often perceived as perpetually angry, life expectancy was low, child mortality was staggering, and the question&nbsp;&ldquo;How can I stand before a holy God?&rdquo;&nbsp;was not theoretical but urgent.
Greg also clarifies an often-missed point: there wasn&rsquo;t&nbsp;one&nbsp;Reformation, but multiple&nbsp;Reformations&mdash;Germany (Luther), Switzerland (Zwingli and Calvin), England (Henry VIII), and the Radical movements&mdash;each emerging from distinct contexts and theological pressures. This series focuses specifically on the&nbsp;German&nbsp;stream and its implications for Protestantism today.
In this conversation, you&rsquo;ll hear about:
<ul>
<li>The split between Eastern (Orthodox) and Western (Latin/Catholic) Christianity (1054)</li>
<li>Why &ldquo;Reformation&rdquo; is really&nbsp;Reformations&nbsp;(Germany, Switzerland, England, Radicals)</li>
<li>The medieval experience of death: plague, famine, and childhood mortality</li>
<li>How the church often failed to provide spiritual comfort or clarity</li>
<li>Why fear of judgment and purgatory shaped daily religious behavior</li>
<li>The role of literacy, sermons, Latin worship, and &ldquo;sheep without a shepherd&rdquo;</li>
<li>The core question driving Luther:&nbsp;certainty before God through Christ</li>
</ul>
This episode lays the foundation for the rest of the series, where James and Greg will move from context into Luther&rsquo;s theology, the 95 Theses, indulgences, justification by faith, and the long-term effects of the German Reformation on modern Protestant life.
Related:&nbsp;Want to experience Reformation history on location? Greg leads small-group &ldquo;Tours for Ten&rdquo; through Germany (and beyond). Links are in the show notes.
Quotelos Travel offers small, expert-led &ldquo;Tours for Ten&rdquo; that provide an intimate and unforgettable way to explore church history and culture with guides who truly know the locations. Learn more at&nbsp;<a href="https://quotelostravelservice.com">quotelostravelservice.com</a>, and check out their upcoming trips to&nbsp;Germany, England, and Switzerland.
Subscribe&nbsp;to our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@Useful_toGod">YouTube channel</a>
🔗&nbsp;Download a free resource "Making Everyday Decisions So That God Gets the Glory" from Useful to God:<a href="https://www.usefultogod.com/">www.usefultogod.com</a>
To read James's article on this topic, check out his author page on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.christianity.com/author/james-spencer/">Christianity.com</a>.
📢 Stay Connected &amp; Keep Growing!
If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to&nbsp;subscribe&nbsp;to&nbsp;Thinking Christian&nbsp;so you never miss an insightful conversation!
This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management.&nbsp;&ldquo;Whether we&rsquo;re helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments, Trinity has the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk.&nbsp;Call us at&nbsp;1-800-793-8548&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://trinitycredit.org/">https://trinitycredit.org/</a>&nbsp;

Why the Reformation Happened: Germany Before Luther (Greg Quiggle)

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/7a5112fd-46e0-4259-b70e-b3e80164826d/transcript

Considering the Power of God's Redemptions: A Conversation with Ryan Ries

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