Is discipleship mainly about trying harder—or is it something God does in us?

In this short, focused segment on the Thinking Christian Podcast, Roger Ross explains why the Holy Spirit is the prime mover in the entire work of Christian discipleship. If spiritual growth becomes merely human effort, Roger argues, we’ve missed the point of how God actually transforms people.

Using growth as a concrete example, Roger describes how the Holy Spirit opens our minds and hearts to what God wants to teach us—often through ordinary means like books, worship, relationships, and even painful experiences. God can use any moment as a formative “teaching point,” and mature disciples learn to recognize when something they’re hearing or experiencing is a clear prompt: “That was for me. I need to pay attention.”

This episode will encourage you to rethink spiritual formation—not as self-powered improvement, but as Spirit-led transformation that can happen through every circumstance of life.

In this episode, you’ll learn:


Why the Holy Spirit—not discipline alone—is the engine of discipleship


How God uses ordinary and difficult experiences to produce spiritual growth


What it means to be spiritually attentive to God’s “this is for you” moments


How to avoid turning discipleship into self-help Christianity

You can purchase Kinda Christian: From Curious to Serious about Jesushere.

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/ 

Is discipleship mainly about trying harder&mdash;or is it something God does in us?
In this short, focused segment on the Thinking Christian Podcast, Roger Ross explains why the Holy Spirit is the prime mover in the entire work of Christian discipleship. If spiritual growth becomes merely human effort, Roger argues, we&rsquo;ve missed the point of how God actually transforms people.
Using growth as a concrete example, Roger describes how the Holy Spirit opens our minds and hearts to what God wants to teach us&mdash;often through ordinary means like books, worship, relationships, and even painful experiences. God can use any moment as a formative &ldquo;teaching point,&rdquo; and mature disciples learn to recognize when something they&rsquo;re hearing or experiencing is a clear prompt: &ldquo;That was for me. I need to pay attention.&rdquo;
This episode will encourage you to rethink spiritual formation&mdash;not as self-powered improvement, but as Spirit-led transformation that can happen through every circumstance of life.
In this episode, you&rsquo;ll learn:
<ul data-start="1523" data-end="1822">
<li data-start="1523" data-end="1597">
Why the Holy Spirit&mdash;not discipline alone&mdash;is the engine of discipleship
</li>
<li data-start="1598" data-end="1677">
How God uses ordinary and difficult experiences to produce spiritual growth
</li>
<li data-start="1678" data-end="1758">
What it means to be spiritually attentive to God&rsquo;s &ldquo;this is for you&rdquo; moments
</li>
<li data-start="1759" data-end="1822">
How to avoid turning discipleship into self-help Christianity
</li>
</ul>
You can purchase Kinda Christian: From Curious to Serious about Jesus <a href="https://amzn.to/4aUSAJD">here</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!
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;

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>

The Holy Spirit and Discipleship: Why Growth Isn’t Just Human Effort (Roger Ross)

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/877cff8b-283e-4b50-8deb-b3d20024bc82/transcript

Why do so many Christians feel like they’re “bad at prayer”? In this episode of the Thinking Christian Podcast, Dr. James Spencer sits down with Addison Bevere (President of Messenger International) to talk about prayer as presence, not performance—and why shame and distraction keep God’s people from the intimacy they were made for.

Addison shares the origin story behind RediscoverPrayer.com and a pivotal conversation with his dad that reshaped his view of prayer: “I pray for about 15 minutes… and then I just listen.” That moment helped expose a common misconception—many people assume prayer is a spiritual performance, a transaction, or a checklist. But Scripture invites something deeper: constant prayer as constant receptivity, lived from a place of rest and God-consciousness rather than self-consciousness.

James and Addison discuss how modern life trains our attention toward anxiety and control, and how rebuilding a prayerful “cadence” can reorient our entire day. Addison explains why attention is a real sacrifice, why the first hour of the morning can have a disproportionate impact, and how prayer energizes every other spiritual discipline instead of merely being one more item on the list.

They also explore:


Why “pray without ceasing” isn’t a burden, but an invitation to ongoing intimacy


The difference between formulas and frameworks for prayer


How the enemy uses shame to turn prayer into a place of disqualification


How prayer changes us—even when we’re messy, distracted, or unsure what to say


Why the church needs to recover the sacredness of God’s presence in community to make disciples today

Addison’s newest resource, Words with God Prayer Journal, is designed as a practical framework to help people reflect, recenter, rest, receive, ask, and respond—building a life of prayer that carries into every moment.

Resources mentioned:


Purchase Words with God Prayer Journal here.


RediscoverPrayer.com


MessengerX.com (Messenger International’s discipleship app)

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/ 

Why do so many Christians feel like they&rsquo;re &ldquo;bad at prayer&rdquo;? In this episode of the Thinking Christian Podcast, Dr. James Spencer sits down with Addison Bevere (President of Messenger International) to talk about prayer as presence, not performance&mdash;and why shame and distraction keep God&rsquo;s people from the intimacy they were made for.
Addison shares the origin story behind RediscoverPrayer.com and a pivotal conversation with his dad that reshaped his view of prayer: &ldquo;I pray for about 15 minutes&hellip; and then I just listen.&rdquo; That moment helped expose a common misconception&mdash;many people assume prayer is a spiritual performance, a transaction, or a checklist. But Scripture invites something deeper: constant prayer as constant receptivity, lived from a place of rest and God-consciousness rather than self-consciousness.
James and Addison discuss how modern life trains our attention toward anxiety and control, and how rebuilding a prayerful &ldquo;cadence&rdquo; can reorient our entire day. Addison explains why attention is a real sacrifice, why the first hour of the morning can have a disproportionate impact, and how prayer energizes every other spiritual discipline instead of merely being one more item on the list.
They also explore:
<ul data-start="1904" data-end="2328">
<li data-start="1904" data-end="1990">
Why &ldquo;pray without ceasing&rdquo; isn&rsquo;t a burden, but an invitation to ongoing intimacy
</li>
<li data-start="1991" data-end="2060">
The difference between formulas and frameworks for prayer
</li>
<li data-start="2061" data-end="2137">
How the enemy uses shame to turn prayer into a place of disqualification
</li>
<li data-start="2138" data-end="2220">
How prayer changes us&mdash;even when we&rsquo;re messy, distracted, or unsure what to say
</li>
<li data-start="2221" data-end="2328">
Why the church needs to recover the sacredness of God&rsquo;s presence in community to make disciples today
</li>
</ul>
Addison&rsquo;s newest resource, Words with God Prayer Journal, is designed as a practical framework to help people reflect, recenter, rest, receive, ask, and respond&mdash;building a life of prayer that carries into every moment.
Resources mentioned:
<ul data-start="2579" data-end="2711">
<li data-start="2579" data-end="2616">
Purchase Words with God Prayer Journal <a href="Words%20with%20God%20Prayer%20Journal">here</a>.
</li>
<li data-start="2617" data-end="2645">
RediscoverPrayer.com
</li>
<li data-start="2646" data-end="2711">
MessengerX.com (Messenger International&rsquo;s discipleship app)
</li>
</ul>
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;

Rediscover Prayer: From Performance to Presence (Addison Bevere)

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/18786e54-def1-4f39-85db-b3d2002903fb/transcript

What happens when God confronts the “two lives” we’re living—and calls us out of the background and into honest testimony?

In this episode of the Thinking Christian Podcast, Dr. James Spencer is joined by Nick Sash (a longtime friend and the host of the Foundational Fathers Podcast) to talk about Nick’s new book, Unmuted: From Silence to Testimony, and the story behind it. Nick shares how years of hiding, silence, and “keep your emotions in check” masculinity gave way to a defining moment: God’s ultimatum to stop living divided and start living surrendered.

Nick explains why so many Christians feel safest staying unseen and unheard—and why that “quiet” approach eventually harms us and the people we love. Together, James and Nick explore what it means to live an ordinary faith—not sugarcoated, not performative, not built on hype—just daily obedience rooted in God’s Word.

They also discuss the importance of preparation and humility, the role of Scripture in discipleship, and how the church can form believers who don’t just hear the Word—but actually do it.

In this episode, we cover:


Nick’s testimony: from divided living to surrendered discipleship


Why many men learn silence—and how God reshapes that story


The message of Unmuted: moving from hiding to honest witness


“Ordinary faith” vs. relevance-driven Christianity


Why Scripture must shape the church more than trends or “bells and whistles”


The Foundational Fathers Podcast vision (including taking the show on the road)


What it looks like to share your story faithfully—one conversation at a time

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/ 

What happens when God confronts the &ldquo;two lives&rdquo; we&rsquo;re living&mdash;and calls us out of the background and into honest testimony?
In this episode of the Thinking Christian Podcast, Dr. James Spencer is joined by Nick Sash (a longtime friend and the host of the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@FoundationalFathersPodcast">Foundational Fathers Podcast</a>) to talk about Nick&rsquo;s new book, <a href="https://amzn.to/4sFFpma">Unmuted: From Silence to Testimony</a>, and the story behind it. Nick shares how years of hiding, silence, and &ldquo;keep your emotions in check&rdquo; masculinity gave way to a defining moment: God&rsquo;s ultimatum to stop living divided and start living surrendered.
Nick explains why so many Christians feel safest staying unseen and unheard&mdash;and why that &ldquo;quiet&rdquo; approach eventually harms us and the people we love. Together, James and Nick explore what it means to live an ordinary faith&mdash;not sugarcoated, not performative, not built on hype&mdash;just daily obedience rooted in God&rsquo;s Word.
They also discuss the importance of preparation and humility, the role of Scripture in discipleship, and how the church can form believers who don&rsquo;t just hear the Word&mdash;but actually do it.
In this episode, we cover:
<ul data-start="1670" data-end="2172">
<li data-start="1670" data-end="1739">
Nick&rsquo;s testimony: from divided living to surrendered discipleship
</li>
<li data-start="1740" data-end="1802">
Why many men learn silence&mdash;and how God reshapes that story
</li>
<li data-start="1803" data-end="1873">
The message of Unmuted: moving from hiding to honest witness
</li>
<li data-start="1874" data-end="1928">
&ldquo;Ordinary faith&rdquo; vs. relevance-driven Christianity
</li>
<li data-start="1929" data-end="2009">
Why Scripture must shape the church more than trends or &ldquo;bells and whistles&rdquo;
</li>
<li data-start="2010" data-end="2093">
The Foundational Fathers Podcast vision (including taking the show on the road)
</li>
<li data-start="2094" data-end="2172">
What it looks like to share your story faithfully&mdash;one conversation at a time
</li>
</ul>
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;

Unmuted: From Silence to Testimony (Nick Sash) | Ordinary Faith, Discipleship & Finding Your Voice

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/6913d3f7-07b1-4b0f-ae25-b3d20022cf75/transcript

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

The Holy Spirit and Discipleship: Why Growth Isn’t Just Human Effort (Roger Ross)

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