In this episode, Dr. James Spencer considers Philippians 2. While it isn't a traditional "Christmas" text, Phillippians 2 offers some important backgrount regarding Jesus's decisions prior to the incarnation. The text offers insights into the nature of the incarnation and the characteristics Christians should adopt as they model their lives after Christ. 

If you are interested in supporting the Thinking Christian podcast or just getting a unique, seven lesson resource on Christian decision-making, click here. 

You can also find more resources at usefultogod.com.

In this episode, Dr. James Spencer considers Philippians 2. While it isn't a traditional "Christmas" text, Phillippians 2 offers some important backgrount regarding Jesus's decisions prior to the incarnation. The text offers insights into the nature of the incarnation and the characteristics Christians should adopt as they model their lives after Christ.&nbsp;
If you are interested in supporting the Thinking Christian podcast or just getting a unique, seven lesson resource on Christian decision-making, click&nbsp;<a href="https://www.salemoffers.com/campaign/making-everyday-decisions-2">here</a>.&nbsp;
You can also find more resources at <a href="https://www.usefultogod.com">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.

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>

Jesus's Incarnation: What Happened Before the Christmas Story (and Why It Matters to Us)

How do Christian parents raise kids with wisdom in a culture shaped by pornography, confusion about gender, and broken ideas about relationships—without living in “hair-on-fire” panic?

In this episode of the Thinking Christian Podcast, James Spencer sits down with Lori Krieg, co-author (with Matt Krieg) of Raising Wise Kids in a Sexually Broken World (IVP) and Director of Parent Programs & Discipleship at the Center for Faith, Sexuality and Gender. Lori explains why so many Christian families become reactionary—only talking about sexuality when a crisis hits—and what it looks like to build a foundation from ages 0–12.

You’ll hear practical, parent-tested guidance on shaping kids to see people as image-bearers rather than consumers, navigating technology and porn culture, and teaching body safety in age-appropriate ways. The conversation also explores the often-missed biblical connection between marriage and singleness, and why the church must recover a bigger vision of the Christian life: mission before marriage.

In this episode, we cover:


Why parents don’t have to wait until the teen years to talk about sexuality


How technology fragments relationships—and what it’s doing to kids’ formation


A Christian framework for porn prevention: moving from “rules” to mindset


What “sexual brokenness” includes (more than the headlines)


Teaching kids body safety and boundaries without shame or fear


Why discipleship—not stereotypes—should shape how we think about gender


Helping kids see their purpose as advancing God’s kingdom, not “marry and settle down”

You can purchase Raising Wise Kids in a Sexually Broken World 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!

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/ 

How do Christian parents raise kids with wisdom in a culture shaped by pornography, confusion about gender, and broken ideas about relationships&mdash;without living in &ldquo;hair-on-fire&rdquo; panic?
In this episode of the Thinking Christian Podcast, James Spencer sits down with Lori Krieg, co-author (with Matt Krieg) of Raising Wise Kids in a Sexually Broken World (IVP) and Director of Parent Programs &amp; Discipleship at the Center for Faith, Sexuality and Gender. Lori explains why so many Christian families become reactionary&mdash;only talking about sexuality when a crisis hits&mdash;and what it looks like to build a foundation from ages 0&ndash;12.
You&rsquo;ll hear practical, parent-tested guidance on shaping kids to see people as image-bearers rather than consumers, navigating technology and porn culture, and teaching body safety in age-appropriate ways. The conversation also explores the often-missed biblical connection between marriage and singleness, and why the church must recover a bigger vision of the Christian life: mission before marriage.
In this episode, we cover:
<ul data-start="1623" data-end="2166">
<li data-start="1623" data-end="1702">
Why parents don&rsquo;t have to wait until the teen years to talk about sexuality
</li>
<li data-start="1703" data-end="1784">
How technology fragments relationships&mdash;and what it&rsquo;s doing to kids&rsquo; formation
</li>
<li data-start="1785" data-end="1866">
A Christian framework for porn prevention: moving from &ldquo;rules&rdquo; to mindset
</li>
<li data-start="1867" data-end="1930">
What &ldquo;sexual brokenness&rdquo; includes (more than the headlines)
</li>
<li data-start="1931" data-end="1997">
Teaching kids body safety and boundaries without shame or fear
</li>
<li data-start="1998" data-end="2073">
Why discipleship&mdash;not stereotypes&mdash;should shape how we think about gender
</li>
<li data-start="2074" data-end="2166">
Helping kids see their purpose as advancing God&rsquo;s kingdom, not &ldquo;marry and settle down&rdquo;
</li>
</ul>
You can purchase Raising Wise Kids in a Sexually Broken World at<a href="https://www.ivpress.com/raising-wise-kids-in-a-sexually-broken-world?srsltid=AfmBOopTkN6_UIXe9F7zMUaIto3B5GOZPEprOkfOOiNRrb0NqOFg5mJW"> 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!
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;

Raising Wise Kids in a Sexually Broken World with Lori Krieg | Parenting, Porn, Gender & Discipleship

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/29f26ad1-f7c6-4830-ae9d-b3d20020a1af/transcript

Before angels sing over Bethlehem in Luke 2, two other voices break into song—Mary and Zechariah. In this episode of Thinking Christian, Dr. James Spencer continues the “Thinking Christian about Christmas” series by walking through Luke 1:39–79, where Mary visits Elizabeth, John the Baptist leaps in the womb, and two rich, Scripture-saturated songs frame what God is doing in the birth of Christ.

James explores how the Magnificat and Zechariah’s prophecy function as “nexus passages,” pulling together themes from across the Old Testament—God’s mercy to those who fear Him, His concern for the humble and marginalized, the reversal of the proud and powerful, and the fulfillment of His covenant promises to Abraham and Israel. He shows how John’s role as forerunner and Jesus’ role as saving light are already anticipated before Jesus is even born, and why Luke wants us to see Christmas as a moment of both fulfillment and ongoing expectation.

If you’ve ever rushed past Luke 1 to “get to the Christmas story,” this episode will slow you down, help you hear the songs before the manger, and deepen your grasp of what—and whom—we’re really celebrating at Christmas.

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!

Before angels sing over Bethlehem in Luke 2, two other voices break into song&mdash;Mary and Zechariah. In this episode of Thinking Christian, Dr. James Spencer continues the &ldquo;Thinking Christian about Christmas&rdquo; series by walking through Luke 1:39&ndash;79, where Mary visits Elizabeth, John the Baptist leaps in the womb, and two rich, Scripture-saturated songs frame what God is doing in the birth of Christ.
James explores how the Magnificat and Zechariah&rsquo;s prophecy function as &ldquo;nexus passages,&rdquo; pulling together themes from across the Old Testament&mdash;God&rsquo;s mercy to those who fear Him, His concern for the humble and marginalized, the reversal of the proud and powerful, and the fulfillment of His covenant promises to Abraham and Israel. He shows how John&rsquo;s role as forerunner and Jesus&rsquo; role as saving light are already anticipated before Jesus is even born, and why Luke wants us to see Christmas as a moment of both fulfillment and ongoing expectation.
If you&rsquo;ve ever rushed past Luke 1 to &ldquo;get to the Christmas story,&rdquo; this episode will slow you down, help you hear the songs before the manger, and deepen your grasp of what&mdash;and whom&mdash;we&rsquo;re really celebrating at Christmas.
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!

Songs Before the Manger: Mary, Zechariah, and the Deep Theology of Christmas

What kind of hope can actually sustain racial justice work over decades—not just months? In this episode of Thinking Christian, Dr. James Spencer is joined by anthropologist and author Dr. Christine Jeske to talk about her new book, Racial Justice for the Long Haul: How White Christian Advocates Persevere and Why.

Christine explains how anthropological research actually works—long interviews, deep listening, and time spent in “ordinary” spaces—and how she used it to study white Christians commended by leaders of color as faithful, long-term advocates. From there, the conversation dives into:


Delusional vs. resilient hope – why optimism that avoids suffering inevitably collapses, and how Christians can cultivate a cruciform hope forged in hardship.


Incremental change without complacency – how to celebrate small wins without pretending the deeper injustices are solved.


Privilege as undeserved gifts – not just a slogan, but a way of naming what we’ve received and how grace calls us to respond, not just feel guilty.


Habitus and formation – how our environments, narratives, and “moving walkways” of culture quietly shape us toward either withdrawal or engagement.


Perseverance in practice – from Sisyphus and his “muscles” to Beverly Daniel Tatum’s moving walkway, to concrete next steps for listeners who feel overwhelmed and don’t know where to begin.

If you’re a Christian who feels the weight of racial injustice but wrestles with burnout, defensiveness, or simply not knowing what to do next, this conversation offers a theologically rich, practical vision for persevering in hope—without denial, without despair, and with your eyes fixed on Christ.

You can purchase Racial Justice for the Long Haul at ivpress.com (use code IVPPOD20 for a 20% discount) 

You can also read more from Christine Jeske at christinejeske.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!

What kind of hope can actually sustain racial justice work over decades&mdash;not just months? In this episode of Thinking Christian, Dr. James Spencer is joined by anthropologist and author Dr. Christine Jeske to talk about her new book, Racial Justice for the Long Haul: How White Christian Advocates Persevere and Why.
Christine explains how anthropological research actually works&mdash;long interviews, deep listening, and time spent in &ldquo;ordinary&rdquo; spaces&mdash;and how she used it to study white Christians commended by leaders of color as faithful, long-term advocates. From there, the conversation dives into:
<ul data-start="750" data-end="1554">
<li data-start="750" data-end="916">
Delusional vs. resilient hope &ndash; why optimism that avoids suffering inevitably collapses, and how Christians can cultivate a cruciform hope forged in hardship.
</li>
<li data-start="917" data-end="1046">
Incremental change without complacency &ndash; how to celebrate small wins without pretending the deeper injustices are solved.
</li>
<li data-start="1047" data-end="1202">
Privilege as undeserved gifts &ndash; not just a slogan, but a way of naming what we&rsquo;ve received and how grace calls us to respond, not just feel guilty.
</li>
<li data-start="1203" data-end="1358">
Habitus and formation &ndash; how our environments, narratives, and &ldquo;moving walkways&rdquo; of culture quietly shape us toward either withdrawal or engagement.
</li>
<li data-start="1359" data-end="1554">
Perseverance in practice &ndash; from Sisyphus and his &ldquo;muscles&rdquo; to Beverly Daniel Tatum&rsquo;s moving walkway, to concrete next steps for listeners who feel overwhelmed and don&rsquo;t know where to begin.
</li>
</ul>
If you&rsquo;re a Christian who feels the weight of racial injustice but wrestles with burnout, defensiveness, or simply not knowing what to do next, this conversation offers a theologically rich, practical vision for persevering in hope&mdash;without denial, without despair, and with your eyes fixed on Christ.
You can purchase Racial Justice for the Long Haul at<a href="https://www.ivpress.com/racial-justice-for-the-long-haul"> ivpress.com</a> (use code IVPPOD20 for a 20% discount)&nbsp;
You can also read more from Christine Jeske at <a href="https://christinejeske.com">christinejeske.com</a>.
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. Christine Jeske | Learning to Hope Differently: Racial Justice for the Long Haul

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/55e0a84b-17e3-42ed-8ff2-b3b00161b83c/transcript

Jesus's Incarnation: What Happened Before the Christmas Story (and Why It Matters to Us)

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