In this episode, James offers a perspective on Halloween that highlights its role in promoting discontentment. He discusses the challenges of being Chrisitan in a consumer society and encourages God's people to rethink the holidays so that they become times for conforming more closely to Christ. 

In this episode, James offers a perspective on Halloween that highlights its role in promoting discontentment. He discusses the challenges of being Chrisitan in a consumer society and encourages God's people to rethink the holidays so that they become times for conforming more closely to Christ.

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>

Thinking Christian about Halloween

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

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!

Thinking Christian about Halloween

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