What does Job teach us about suffering, trauma, and faith?

In this episode of Thinking Christian, Dr. James Spencer welcomes Dr. Michelle Keener, Associate Research Fellow at the Kirby Laing Center for Public Theology and Director of Discipleship at her church in Las Vegas. Dr. Keener is the author of Comfort in the Ashes: Explorations in the Book of Job to Support Trauma Survivors, and together, they dive deep into:

📌 Key Topics:
✅ Why Job’s story is one of the most misunderstood books in the Bible
✅ How trauma studies help us understand Job’s suffering
✅ What Job’s friends got wrong—and how we often do the same
✅ Why God’s response to Job is NOT what we expect
✅ How churches can better support trauma survivors
✅ Discipleship beyond conversion: What we’re missing
✅ Balancing personal faith with Christian community

🎧 If you’ve ever wrestled with suffering, questioned God’s justice, or wondered how to support those in pain, this episode is for you.

🔗 Resources & Links:
📖 Get the Book:Comfort in the Ashes –ivpress.com (use IVPPOD20 for a 20% discount). 

🔗 Learn more about Useful to God:www.usefultogod.com

📢 Stay Connected & Keep Growing!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to Thinking Christian so you never miss an insightful conversation!

For more resources to help you grow in faith and deepen your walk with Christ, visit Useful to God—where you'll find books, courses, podcasts, and more to equip you for faithful Christian living.

What does Job teach us about suffering, trauma, and faith?
In this episode of Thinking Christian, Dr. James Spencer welcomes Dr. Michelle Keener, Associate Research Fellow at the Kirby Laing Center for Public Theology and Director of Discipleship at her church in Las Vegas. Dr. Keener is the author of Comfort in the Ashes: Explorations in the Book of Job to Support Trauma Survivors, and together, they dive deep into:
📌 Key Topics: ✅ Why Job&rsquo;s story is one of the most misunderstood books in the Bible ✅ How trauma studies help us understand Job&rsquo;s suffering ✅ What Job&rsquo;s friends got wrong&mdash;and how we often do the same ✅ Why God&rsquo;s response to Job is NOT what we expect ✅ How churches can better support trauma survivors ✅ Discipleship beyond conversion: What we&rsquo;re missing ✅ Balancing personal faith with Christian community
🎧 If you&rsquo;ve ever wrestled with suffering, questioned God&rsquo;s justice, or wondered how to support those in pain, this episode is for you.
🔗 Resources &amp; Links: 📖 Get the Book: Comfort in the Ashes &ndash;<a href="https://www.ivpress.com/comfort-in-the-ashes">ivpress.com</a> (use IVPPOD20 for a 20% discount).&nbsp;
🔗 Learn more about Useful to God: <a href="https://www.usefultogod.com/">www.usefultogod.com</a>
<hr>
📢 Stay Connected &amp; Keep Growing!
If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to Thinking Christian so you never miss an insightful conversation!
For more resources to help you grow in faith and deepen your walk with Christ, visit <a href="https://www.usefultogod.com/">Useful to God</a>&mdash;where you'll find books, courses, podcasts, and more to equip you for faithful Christian living.

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>

Dr. Michelle Keener | Suffering, Faith & the Book of Job

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 Indigenous Interpretation. Together they explore how Indigenous perspectives can help Christians read Scripture more faithfully on this land we often call North America—but which many Indigenous peoples know as “Turtle Island.”

Danny and Chris explain the story of Turtle Island and why naming the land this way matters for Christian theology, discipleship, and biblical interpretation. They introduce “Turtle Island hermeneutics,” a way of reading the Bible that takes land, place, people, and history seriously—built on asset-based theology and the conviction that God was already present and active among Indigenous peoples long before European missionaries arrived.

The conversation dives into:


What “Turtle Island hermeneutics” is and how the medicine wheel shapes their approach


Why it’s theologically flawed to act as if God was absent from North America before colonization


How Indigenous creation stories and traditions can sit alongside Scripture without replacing it


Reading Naboth’s vineyard as a lens on land theft, treaties, and the Doctrine of Discovery


Parallels between the Trail of Tears, Babylonian exile, and Psalm 137


Babylon and boarding schools: how forced assimilation tried to erase Indigenous identity and memory


How songs, stories, and ceremony preserve hope, faith, and cultural resilience


Why discipleship must focus not only on doctrine, but on practices, place, and how we actually live

This episode is for pastors, Bible teachers, seminary students, and everyday Christians who want to understand Indigenous theology, Native North American perspectives, and contextual Bible interpretation without abandoning a high view of Scripture.

Reading the Bible on Turtle Island is published by IVP; check the show notes for a discount link and more information about NAITS, Acadia Divinity College, and the work Danny and Chris are doing to serve the church on Turtle Island.

You can purchase Reading the Bible on Turtle Island at ivpress.com (use code IVPPOD20 for a 20% discount) 

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!

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 Indigenous Interpretation. Together they explore how Indigenous perspectives can help Christians read Scripture more faithfully on this land we often call North America&mdash;but which many Indigenous peoples know as &ldquo;Turtle Island.&rdquo;
Danny and Chris explain the story of Turtle Island and why naming the land this way matters for Christian theology, discipleship, and biblical interpretation. They introduce &ldquo;Turtle Island hermeneutics,&rdquo; a way of reading the Bible that takes land, place, people, and history seriously&mdash;built on asset-based theology and the conviction that God was already present and active among Indigenous peoples long before European missionaries arrived.
The conversation dives into:
<ul data-start="1133" data-end="1885">
<li data-start="1133" data-end="1222">
What &ldquo;Turtle Island hermeneutics&rdquo; is and how the medicine wheel shapes their approach
</li>
<li data-start="1223" data-end="1323">
Why it&rsquo;s theologically flawed to act as if God was absent from North America before colonization
</li>
<li data-start="1324" data-end="1425">
How Indigenous creation stories and traditions can sit alongside Scripture without replacing it
</li>
<li data-start="1426" data-end="1520">
Reading Naboth&rsquo;s vineyard as a lens on land theft, treaties, and the Doctrine of Discovery
</li>
<li data-start="1521" data-end="1594">
Parallels between the Trail of Tears, Babylonian exile, and Psalm 137
</li>
<li data-start="1595" data-end="1698">
Babylon and boarding schools: how forced assimilation tried to erase Indigenous identity and memory
</li>
<li data-start="1699" data-end="1781">
How songs, stories, and ceremony preserve hope, faith, and cultural resilience
</li>
<li data-start="1782" data-end="1885">
Why discipleship must focus not only on doctrine, but on practices, place, and how we actually live
</li>
</ul>
This episode is for pastors, Bible teachers, seminary students, and everyday Christians who want to understand Indigenous theology, Native North American perspectives, and contextual Bible interpretation without abandoning a high view of Scripture.
Reading the Bible on Turtle Island is published by IVP; check the show notes for a discount link and more information about NAITS, Acadia Divinity College, and the work Danny and Chris are doing to serve the church on Turtle Island.
You can purchase Reading the Bible on Turtle Island&nbsp;at<a href="https://www.ivpress.com/reading-the-bible-on-turtle-island"> ivpress.com</a> (use code IVPPOD20 for a 20% discount)&nbsp;
Subscribe to our <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@Useful_toGod">YouTube channel</a>
🔗 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 <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 subscribe to Thinking Christian so you never miss an insightful conversation!

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 welcomes back Sathiya Sam—CEO and founder of Deep Clean Coaching—to talk about pornography addiction, sexual integrity, and the power of Christian community in lasting recovery. Sathiya shares his own story of breaking free from pornography after years of struggle as a pastor’s kid, ministry leader, and researcher—and how that journey led to the creation of Deep Clean, a ministry now helping thousands of men pursue freedom and wholeness.

Sathiya introduces Deep Clean’s newest resource: the Deep Clean Inner Circle, a structured, community-centered program designed to help men overcome pornography through biblically grounded principles, expert coaching, and a safe, supportive network.

In this candid and practical conversation, James and Sathiya explore:


Why porn is uniquely addictive: the “3 A’s” — affordable, accessible, anonymous


How early exposure, social dynamics, and tech use fuel addiction


Why freedom is possible—and why streak counting doesn’t work


The Deep Clean system: self-awareness, heart healing, and identity transformation


How tracking trends (not just streaks) helps build real, lasting change


The powerful role of community, accountability, and coaching


Real stories of men finding hope, rebuilding marriages, and restoring integrity


What relapse can reveal, and how to “leverage” it rather than spiral in shame


Why pornography addiction is deeply tied to distorted identity—and how Scripture reframes it


How biblical wisdom and Christian discipleship principles can help people break any destructive pattern

Whether you're a pastor, parent, college student, or simply someone wanting to understand addiction from a Christian perspective, this episode offers clear insight and genuine hope.

Learn more about Deep Clean Coaching, the Inner Circle program, and Sathiya’s podcast The Man Within at https://www.sathiyasam.com/ or https://deepcleancoaching.com/. 

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!

&nbsp;In this episode of the Thinking Christian podcast, Dr. James Spencer welcomes back Sathiya Sam&mdash;CEO and founder of Deep Clean Coaching&mdash;to talk about pornography addiction, sexual integrity, and the power of Christian community in lasting recovery. Sathiya shares his own story of breaking free from pornography after years of struggle as a pastor&rsquo;s kid, ministry leader, and researcher&mdash;and how that journey led to the creation of Deep Clean, a ministry now helping thousands of men pursue freedom and wholeness.
Sathiya introduces Deep Clean&rsquo;s newest resource: the Deep Clean Inner Circle, a structured, community-centered program designed to help men overcome pornography through biblically grounded principles, expert coaching, and a safe, supportive network.
In this candid and practical conversation, James and Sathiya explore:
<ul data-start="1166" data-end="1983">
<li data-start="1166" data-end="1249">
Why porn is uniquely addictive: the &ldquo;3 A&rsquo;s&rdquo; &mdash; affordable, accessible, anonymous
</li>
<li data-start="1250" data-end="1318">
How early exposure, social dynamics, and tech use fuel addiction
</li>
<li data-start="1319" data-end="1383">
Why freedom is possible&mdash;and why streak counting doesn&rsquo;t work
</li>
<li data-start="1384" data-end="1469">
The Deep Clean system: self-awareness, heart healing, and identity transformation
</li>
<li data-start="1470" data-end="1547">
How tracking trends (not just streaks) helps build real, lasting change
</li>
<li data-start="1548" data-end="1612">
The powerful role of community, accountability, and coaching
</li>
<li data-start="1613" data-end="1696">
Real stories of men finding hope, rebuilding marriages, and restoring integrity
</li>
<li data-start="1697" data-end="1778">
What relapse can reveal, and how to &ldquo;leverage&rdquo; it rather than spiral in shame
</li>
<li data-start="1779" data-end="1875">
Why pornography addiction is deeply tied to distorted identity&mdash;and how Scripture reframes it
</li>
<li data-start="1876" data-end="1983">
How biblical wisdom and Christian discipleship principles can help people break any destructive pattern
</li>
</ul>
Whether you're a pastor, parent, college student, or simply someone wanting to understand addiction from a Christian perspective, this episode offers clear insight and genuine hope.
Learn more about Deep Clean Coaching, the Inner Circle program, and Sathiya&rsquo;s podcast The Man Within at <a href="https://www.sathiyasam.com/">https://www.sathiyasam.com/</a> or <a href="https://deepcleancoaching.com/">https://deepcleancoaching.com/</a>.&nbsp;
Subscribe to our <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@Useful_toGod">YouTube channel</a>
🔗 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 <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 subscribe to Thinking Christian so you never miss an insightful conversation!

Sayitha Sam | Finding Freedom From Porn: Deep Clean Coaching, Addiction Recovery & Christian Identity

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 Leadership, and Deeper Faith. Together they explore why the questions we ask of God, ourselves, and others shape the quality of our lives, leadership, and discipleship.

J.R. shares how his own experience of isolation in ministry led him to ask three haunting questions—“Who pastors the pastor? Who shepherds the shepherd? Who leads the leader?”—and how those questions birthed Kairos Partnerships to serve overwhelmed and lonely Christian leaders. He and James unpack:


Why leaders should be “chief question askers,” not just answer-givers


How good questions build trust, connection, and healthier teams


The difference between questions for information and questions for connection


How Jesus used over 300 questions in the Gospels—and what that means for our discipleship


Four essentials of asking great questions: curiosity, wisdom, humility, and courage


Practical ways to stay curious in tense or antagonistic conversations


Why the Book of Daniel and practice-oriented discipleship are crucial for the church today

If you’re a pastor, ministry leader, or follower of Jesus who wants stronger relationships, healthier leadership, and deeper faith, this conversation will help you learn the art of asking better questions.

You can purchase The Art of Asking Better Questions at ivpress.com (use code IVPPOD20 for a 20% discount) 

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!

In this episode of the Thinking Christian podcast, Dr. James Spencer talks with J.R. Briggs&mdash;founder of Kairos Partnerships and author of The Art of Asking Better Questions: Pursuing Stronger Relationships, Healthier Leadership, and Deeper Faith. Together they explore why the questions we ask of God, ourselves, and others shape the quality of our lives, leadership, and discipleship.
J.R. shares how his own experience of isolation in ministry led him to ask three haunting questions&mdash;&ldquo;Who pastors the pastor? Who shepherds the shepherd? Who leads the leader?&rdquo;&mdash;and how those questions birthed Kairos Partnerships to serve overwhelmed and lonely Christian leaders. He and James unpack:
<ul data-start="883" data-end="1457">
<li data-start="883" data-end="956">
Why leaders should be &ldquo;chief question askers,&rdquo; not just answer-givers
</li>
<li data-start="957" data-end="1024">
How good questions build trust, connection, and healthier teams
</li>
<li data-start="1025" data-end="1106">
The difference between questions for information and questions for connection
</li>
<li data-start="1107" data-end="1200">
How Jesus used over 300 questions in the Gospels&mdash;and what that means for our discipleship
</li>
<li data-start="1201" data-end="1288">
Four essentials of asking great questions: curiosity, wisdom, humility, and courage
</li>
<li data-start="1289" data-end="1362">
Practical ways to stay curious in tense or antagonistic conversations
</li>
<li data-start="1363" data-end="1457">
Why the Book of Daniel and practice-oriented discipleship are crucial for the church today
</li>
</ul>
If you&rsquo;re a pastor, ministry leader, or follower of Jesus who wants stronger relationships, healthier leadership, and deeper faith, this conversation will help you learn the art of asking better questions.
You can purchase The Art of Asking Better Questions at <a href="https://www.ivpress.com/the-art-of-asking-better-questions?srsltid=AfmBOoqTyXIRolP3IlaWO5UrXN0Raxf-V7p5JOGkfl_4iOeAWFtVvCQH">ivpress.com</a> (use code IVPPOD20 for a 20% discount)&nbsp;
Subscribe to our <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@Useful_toGod">YouTube channel</a>
🔗 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 <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 subscribe to Thinking Christian so you never miss an insightful conversation!

Dr. Michelle Keener | Suffering, Faith & the Book of Job

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