Hello everyone! We hope you enjoy and benefit from this episode. If you notice some interesting edits, that is due to some technical difficulties we experienced. Even better, we didn’t realize those difficulties were happening until after we posted an episode that had a lot of choppy static, etc. All that to say—this is a shorter version of the OG 313, and we hope you still get something here! Thanks for your patience. If you ever notice bugs in an episode, please let us know so we can try to make improvement!

And…here is the episode:

The Thinklings Podcast — Episode 313 — Moral Purity, Social Media & Mortifying the Flesh

Welcome to Episode 313 of The Thinklings Podcast!

This week we share several upcoming Thinklings announcements before revisiting John Owen’s The Mortification of Sin. Our main conversation considers moral purity, social media, and whether seemingly harmless habits like endless scrolling can feed the flesh and prepare us for greater temptation. We conclude with James 1:1 and what it means to identify ourselves as servants of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.

⏱️ Chapters

0:00 — Welcome & Introduction

1:09 — Announcements

6:12 — Books & Business: The Mortification of Sin

9:01 — Main Content: Moral Purity & Social Media

16:31 — How Social Media Feeds the Flesh

20:30 — Proverbs 7: Walking Near Folly’s Corner

22:11 — Social Media as a Gateway to Impure Content

25:21 — When “For You” Isn’t Really for You

29:55 — Boredom, Scrolling & Endless Consumption

33:49 — Empty, Lonely, Anxious or Tired

35:38 — Final Meditation: James 1:1

📣 Announcements

Our September book giveaway is Understanding Christian Theology, and every Thinklings Substack subscription counts as an entry. We also preview the IRBC Young Adult Retreat on October 23–24, the upcoming Baptist Theology Bible Study app, and an Abounding Grace book event at Faith on October 8.

📚 Books & Business

📖 The Mortification of Sin — John Owen

We revisit Owen’s classic treatment of putting sin to death, especially his description of mortification as the “habitual weakening” of sinful desire. Rather than focusing only on the moment when we fall into sin, Owen helps us examine the smaller indulgences and desires that lead us there. We give the book an 8 on the Thinklings Goodness Scale and recommend returning to it regularly.

📖 Main Content

Moral Purity, Social Media & Feeding the Flesh

We ask whether Christians are taking the fight for moral purity seriously enough—particularly when it comes to social media, reels, shorts, and endless digital consumption. Using Proverbs 7’s picture of the young man walking near Folly’s corner, we consider how sexualized content, algorithms, boredom, and habitual scrolling can feed desires long before an obvious moral failure occurs.

Rather than merely asking, “What did I do wrong?”, we need to back up and ask what desires and habits were being cultivated beforehand. The goal is not merely avoiding one particular sin, but learning to recognize and mortify the flesh before it carries us farther down the road.

🌿 Final Meditation

James 1:1

We examine the simple but significant way James identifies himself: “a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.” Rather than emphasizing his status or connections, James identifies himself by the Master to whom he belongs. His introduction challenges us to remember that Christ owns our work, our decisions, and ultimately our lives.

🎧 Listen & Subscribe

Follow The Thinklings Podcast on Substack, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

Subscribe on Substack for show notes, updates, and future Thinklings content.

JOIN THE THINKLINGS ON SUBSTACK

@thethinklingspodcast@profstearns@timlittle00@thinklingcarter

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thinklingspodcast.com

Welcome to Episode 312 of The Thinklings Podcast!

This week we spend the bulk of the episode discussing Homer’s Iliad and asking a simple question: Why should a Christian read it? We consider the place of classic literature in the Christian life before exploring Achilles, Hector, anger, glory, mortality, virtue, and what Homer might be trying to teach us about the good man. We conclude in Ephesians 4 with a meditation on why truthfulness matters within the body of Christ.

⏱️ Chapters

* 0:00 — Welcome & Introduction

* 2:04 — Announcements

* 5:46 — Books & Business

* 17:39 — Main Content: Why Should a Christian Read the Iliad?

* 30:07 — The Story of the Iliad

* 36:19 — Achilles: Anger, Honor & Glory

* 42:00 — Hector: What Makes a Good Man?

* 49:41 — Priam, Achilles & the End of Wrath

* 54:31 — Virtue, Homer & the Christian Reader

* 1:00:11 — Final Meditation: Ephesians 4:25

📣 Announcements

Our September Substack giveaway is Understanding Christian Theology, edited by Charles Swindoll and Roy B. Zuck. Anyone subscribed to the Thinklings Podcast or one of our individual Substacks is automatically entered. We also give a reminder about the upcoming Young Adult Retreat at Iowa Regular Baptist Camp and our goal of seeing more than 100 young adults attend.

📚 Books & Business

📖 The Iliad — Homer📖 Animal Farm — George Orwell📖 Louis L’Amour: His Life and Trails

We share some current reading, including reflections on Animal Farm and its portrayal of power, propaganda, and rewriting history. We also discuss the remarkable life of Louis L’Amour and how his years of travel, work, reading, and real-world experience eventually shaped him as a writer.

🏛️ Main Content

Why Should a Christian Read the Iliad?

We ask what value an ancient pagan classic can have for Christians and why Homer has remained foundational to the Western literary tradition. Through Achilles and Hector, the Iliad forces us to wrestle with anger, honor, glory, mortality, grief, reconciliation, and the question of what actually makes a good man. Read alongside Scripture, these ancient questions can help us think more carefully about virtue while also revealing how much fuller the Christian answer is.

🌿 Final Meditation

Ephesians 4:25

We consider Paul’s command to put away falsehood and “speak truth” because believers are members of one another. Lying within the body of Christ damages our ability to serve, shepherd, counsel, parent, and care for one another well. As people united to Christ, we should examine where falsehood or careless words remain in our lives and deliberately choose to speak truth.

🎧 Listen & Subscribe

Follow The Thinklings Podcast on Substack, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

Subscribe on Substack for show notes, updates, and future Thinklings content.

JOIN THE THINKLINGS ON SUBSTACK

@thethinklingspodcast@profstearns@timlittle00@thinklingcarter

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thinklingspodcast.com

The Thinklings Podcast — Episode 311 — Archaeology & Trusting the Bible

Welcome to Episode 311 of The Thinklings Podcast!

This week we announce our August giveaway and upcoming IRBC Young Adult Retreat, share what we’ve been reading, and discuss archaeology and the reliability of the Bible. We close in Matthew 19 with the rich young ruler and Christ’s words that “many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

📣 Announcements

We’re continuing our August Substack giveaway with a copy of Robert Fagles’ translation of The Odyssey. We also announce the winners from the July diner mug and book giveaways, with several winners needing to send in mailing information.

We’ll also be speaking at the IRBC Young Adult Retreat on October 23–24. The goal is to have more than 100 young adults attend, and if we hit that number, we’re hoping to send everyone home with a Thinklings-related gift.

⏱️ Chapters

0:00 — Welcome & Introduction

3:19 — Nonsense & Frivolities

3:51 — Announcements & August Giveaway

7:03 — IRBC Young Adult Retreat

8:30 — Books & Business

24:32 — Main Content: Archaeology & Trusting the Bible

52:54 — Final Meditation: Matthew 19

📚 Books & Business

📖 Is God Disappointed With Me? — Mark Davis📖 The Iliad — Homer📖 How to Exasperate Your Wife📖 Leonardo da Vinci — Walter Isaacson

The guys discuss human weakness and finitude, Achilles sitting out the Trojan War, marriage, and Leonardo da Vinci.

🏺 Main Content

Archaeology & Trusting the Bible

How does evidence affect whether we consider something reliable? The guys compare claims from Mormonism with the Bible’s historical record and consider several archaeological discoveries connected to Scripture, including the Hittites, the Tel Dan inscription, Gallio, the Pool of Siloam, and Pontius Pilate.

The discussion emphasizes an important distinction: missing evidence is not the same as counter-evidence.

🌿 Final Meditation

Matthew 19:16–30

Beginning a short devotional series, the guys consider the rich young ruler, Peter’s response, and Jesus’ teaching about the first and the last. The discussion closes with a question for believers: What do I love, how much do I love it, and what am I living for?

🎧 Listen & Subscribe

Follow The Thinklings Podcast on Substack, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

Subscribe on Substack for show notes, updates, and future Thinklings content.

JOIN THE THINKLINGS ON SUBSTACK

@thethinklingspodcast@profstearns@timlittle00@thinklingcarter

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thinklingspodcast.com

The Thinklings Podcast — Episode 310— Baby Step Millionaires

Welcome to Episode 310 of The Thinklings Podcast!

This week we announce our August giveaway and the upcoming IRBC Young Adult Retreat before discussing Dave Ramsey’s Baby Step Millionaires. We consider how our beliefs about money shape our financial behavior—and how the same principle applies to our theology and Christian lives. We close in Ezekiel 18 with a call to personal responsibility and repentance.

⏱️ Chapters

0:00 — Welcome & Introduction

1:18 — August Substack Giveaway: The Odyssey

3:13 — IRBC Young Adult Retreat

4:16 — Nonsense & Frivolities

5:20 — Books & Business: Baby Step Millionaires

14:34 — How Our Beliefs Affect Our Behavior

20:02 — Final Meditation: Ezekiel 18

📚 Books & Business

📖 Baby Step Millionaires — Dave Ramsey

We discuss Ramsey’s seven “baby steps,” financial discipline, saving, debt, and the surprising difference between being a millionaire and a billionaire. More broadly, the conversation turns to how wrong beliefs produce wrong behavior—and how consistent, seemingly small choices can make a significant difference over time.

🌿 Final Meditation

Ezekiel 18

We consider Ezekiel’s repeated declaration that “the soul who sins shall die” and the individual responsibility each person has before God. Neither a godly nor ungodly upbringing determines how we must live today. The chapter concludes with God’s mercy and a simple call: repent, turn, and live.

🎧 Listen & Subscribe

Follow The Thinklings Podcast on Substack, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

Subscribe on Substack for show notes, updates, and future Thinklings content.

JOIN THE THINKLINGS ON SUBSTACK

@thethinklingspodcast@profstearns@timlittle00@thinklingcarter

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thinklingspodcast.com

The Thinklings Podcast — Episode 309 — Changed Into His Likeness

Welcome to Episode 309 of The Thinklings Podcast!

This week we announce our August Substack giveaway and an upcoming Thinklings appearance at the IRBC Young Adult Retreat. In Books & Business, we review Changed Into His Likeness by J. Gary Millar, discussing its biblical theology of sanctification, some helpful observations, and several significant theological concerns. We conclude with Romans 12 and what it means to offer our entire lives to God as living sacrifices.

⏱️ Chapters

* 0:00 — Welcome & Introduction

* 4:25 — August Substack Giveaway

* 5:17 — IRBC Young Adult Retreat Announcement

* 7:17 — Frivolities & Josh Update

* 8:11 — Books & Business: Changed Into His Likeness

* 20:13 — Final Meditation: Romans 12

📚 Books & Business

📖 Changed Into His Likeness: A Biblical Theology of Personal Transformation — J. Gary Millar

We work through Millar’s biblical theology of personal transformation and sanctification. While the book offers some helpful thoughts about the gospel, perseverance, and God’s work in changing believers, we raise concerns about its starting point, treatment of the Old Testament, and understanding of regeneration and the Holy Spirit. Ultimately, it receives a 1 on the Thinklings Goodness Scale.

🌿 Final Meditation

Romans 12:1–2

We consider Paul’s command to present our bodies as a “living sacrifice” to God. Unlike an Old Testament sacrifice, the Christian continues living—and therefore must continually choose to offer every part of life to God. The question for us is simple: Are we offering our whole lives to God?

🎧 Listen & Subscribe

Follow The Thinklings Podcast on Substack, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

Subscribe on Substack for show notes, updates, and future Thinklings content.

JOIN THE THINKLINGS ON SUBSTACK

@thethinklingspodcast@profstearns@timlittle00@thinklingcarter

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thinklingspodcast.com

The Thinklings Podcast — Episode 308 — The Total Money Makeover

Welcome to Episode 308 of The Thinklings Podcast!

This week the Thinklings welcome new listeners, announce the July Substack book giveaway, and spend the bulk of the episode discussing Dave Ramsey’s The Total Money Makeover. The conversation explores biblical stewardship, debt, generosity, and practical wisdom for managing money before concluding with a meditation from 1 Kings 1–2 on authority, mercy, and receiving God’s grace well.

⏱️ Chapters

* 0:00 — Welcome & Introduction

* 2:49 — Listener Spotlight & Podcast Updates

* 4:28 — July Substack Book Giveaway

* 6:15 — Frivolities & Josh Update

* 8:11 — Books & Business

* 20:45 — Final Meditation (1 Kings 1–2)

📚 Books & Business

Thinkling Carter📖 The Total Money Makeover — Dave Ramsey

Charlie revisits Dave Ramsey’s classic after nearly twenty years and explains why it has shaped the way he thinks about money. The discussion covers Ramsey’s “baby steps,” paying off debt, budgeting, generosity, and why financial stewardship is ultimately about honoring God rather than simply building wealth.

🌿 Final Meditation

1 Kings 1–2

Andy reflects on the transition from David to Solomon and Adonijah’s repeated attempts to seize the throne. The Thinklings discuss authority, mercy, and the consequences of rejecting grace. The episode closes by encouraging believers to receive God’s mercy with humility instead of continuing to pursue their own way.

🎧 Listen & Subscribe

Follow The Thinklings Podcast on Substack, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

Subscribe on Substack for show notes, updates, and future Thinklings content.

JOIN THE THINKLINGS ON SUBSTACK

@thethinklingspodcast@profstearns@timlittle00@thinklingcarter

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thinklingspodcast.com

Welcome to Episode 307 of The Thinklings Podcast!

This week, Tim reviews Douglas Wilson’s How to Exasperate Your Wife, leading to a practical discussion about biblical marriage, household leadership, parenting, love, respect, and masculine responsibility. The episode concludes with a meditation from Acts 7 on receiving biblical correction with humility.

⏱️ Chapters

* 0:00 — Welcome & Introduction

* 0:50 — Opening Conversation: Christian Art & Substack

* 6:02 — Announcements & July Book Giveaway

* 7:09 — Frivolities & Josh’s Absence

* 8:44 — Books & Business: How to Exasperate Your Wife

* 9:03 — The Wife as Ruler of the Home

* 14:05 — Should a Husband Do the Dishes?

* 20:21 — Teaching Boys Responsibility

* 22:54 — Love, Respect & Servant Leadership

* 25:28 — Strength, Tenderness & the “Two-by-Six” Husband

* 27:21 — Thinklings Goodness Scale

* 28:03 — Final Meditation: Receiving Correction from Acts 7

📚 Books & Business

Thinkling Little📖 How to Exasperate Your Wife — Douglas Wilson

Tim reviews Wilson’s practical book on marriage and gives it a 6 on the Thinklings Goodness Scale. The discussion focuses on the wife’s authority in managing the home, the husband’s responsibility to lead without constantly undermining her, and the difference between servant leadership and overbearing control. The Thinklings also discuss household responsibilities, raising boys to embrace greater responsibility, and the need for husbands to balance strength with tenderness.

🌿 Final Meditation

Acts 7

Andy reflects on Stephen’s sermon before the Sanhedrin and the leaders’ violent response to biblical correction. The passage raises a practical question: How do we respond when a pastor, mentor, parent, or faithful friend tells us something difficult but true? Humility is essential for sanctification, and believers should be willing to receive biblical correction rather than destroy relationships to avoid it.

🎧 Listen & Subscribe

Follow The Thinklings Podcast on Substack, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

Subscribe on Substack for show notes, updates, and future Thinklings content.

JOIN THE THINKLINGS ON SUBSTACK

@thethinklingspodcast@profstearns@timlittle00@thinklingcarter

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thinklingspodcast.com

The Thinklings Podcast — Episode 306

Abounding Grace, Great Books, & the Bitter Taste of Sin

Welcome to Episode 306 of The Thinklings Podcast!

This week the Thinklings celebrate the release of Abounding Grace, the Festschrift honoring Dr. Myron Houghton, reflect on his lifelong love of theology, great books, and Tolkien, and conclude with a meditation from Proverbs 5 on why temptation often appears sweet before revealing its bitter end.

⏱️ Chapters

* 0:00 — Welcome & Introduction

* 2:01 — Announcements

* 3:21 — Substack Giveaway

* 4:56 — Frivolities

* 6:49 — Books & Business

* 15:00 — Final Meditation (Proverbs 5)

📚 Books & Business

Thinkling Little📖 Abounding Grace: A Festschrift in Honor of Dr. Myron Houghton

Tim introduces the newly released Festschrift honoring Dr. Myron Houghton, highlighting its contributors, several standout chapters from Romans, and the influence Dr. Houghton had as a theologian, teacher, reader, and lifelong learner. The conversation also reflects on his remarkable library, his love for the Great Books and Tolkien, and the example he set of cultivating both the mind and the Christian life.

🌿 Final Meditation

Proverbs 5:3–5

Andy considers Solomon’s warning about temptation. Sin often appears attractive—its words are “sweeter than honey” and “smoother than oil”—but its end is bitter and destructive. Believers are encouraged to distrust the initial appeal of temptation, seek wise counsel, and remember that what looks pleasant in the moment often leads to regret if pursued apart from God’s wisdom.

🎧 Listen & Subscribe

Follow The Thinklings Podcast on Substack, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

Subscribe on Substack for show notes, updates, and future Thinklings content.

JOIN THE THINKLINGS ON SUBSTACK

* @thethinklingspodcast

* @profstearns

* @timlittle00

* @thinklingcarter

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thinklingspodcast.com

The Thinklings Podcast — Episode 305

Parenting, Great Books, & the Hobbit Verse

Welcome to Episode 305 of The Thinklings Podcast!

This week the Thinklings announce a new Substack giveaway, share a book recommendation on biblical parenting, reflect on the purpose of education, and conclude with Charlie’s “Hobbit verse” from 1 Thessalonians 4, encouraging believers to aspire to a quiet, servant-hearted life.

⏱️ Chapters

* 0:00 — Welcome & Introduction

* 1:33 — Substack Book Giveaway

* 2:28 — Announcements & Josh Update

* 3:26 — Books & Business

* 10:24 — Great Books & Education

* 13:37 — Final Meditation (1 Thessalonians 4)

📚 Books & Business

Thinkling Stearns📖 Parenting Essentials — Andreas & Margaret Köstenberger

Andy reviews this practical guide to biblical parenting, highlighting the importance of presence, loving leadership, and raising children with intentionality and wisdom.

🌿 Final Meditation

1 Thessalonians 4:9–12

Charlie reflects on Paul’s exhortation to “aspire to live quietly.” Far from encouraging laziness or isolation, Christians are called to pursue lives marked by humble service, faithful work, brotherly love, and a testimony that points others to Christ.

🎧 Listen & Subscribe

Follow The Thinklings Podcast on Substack, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

Subscribe on Substack for show notes, updates, and future Thinklings content.

JOIN THE THINKLINGS ON SUBSTACK

* @thethinklingspodcast

* @profstearns

* @timlittle00

* @thinklingcarter

If you subscribe to any of these Substack accounts in the month of July, you will be entered to win Abounding Grace—the Myron Houghton Festschrift! If you don’t want to do Substack, but you do want to buy a copy—head on over to FBBCbooks!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thinklingspodcast.com

Contentment Can Be Learned

Welcome to Episode 304 of The Thinklings Podcast!

This week the Thinklings catch up on summer projects, publications, and Fourth of July plans before Charlie reviews a book on biblical exegesis. The episode concludes with a meditation on Philippians 4 and the biblical secret of contentment.

JOIN THE THINKLINGS ON SUBSTACK:

The Thinklings Podcast (@thethinklingspodcast)Andy Stearns (@profstearns)Timothy Little (@timlittle00)Charlie Carter (@thinklingcarter)

WIN A THINKLINGS MUG

You can still tag us on social media with a picture of you and a non-thinklings mug, and you can win a new thinklings diner mug!

⏱️ Chapters

* 0:00 — Welcome & Introduction

* 0:21 — Substack Update

* 1:51 — Thinklings Diner Mug Giveaway

* 2:01 — Summer Updates & Announcements

* 4:58 — Books & Business

* 9:56 — Final Meditation

📚 Books & Business

Thinkling Carter📖 Biblical Exegesis: A Beginner’s Handbook — John H. Hayes & Carl R. Holladay

Charlie reviews the book from the perspective of a Bible teacher, discussing its strengths, concerns, and why discernment is important when reading academic biblical scholarship.

🌿 Final Meditation

Philippians 4:10–13

Charlie considers Paul’s famous statement, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” in its original context. Rather than a promise of unlimited achievement, Paul teaches that contentment is a virtue learned through trusting Christ in both abundance and need.

🎧 Listen & Subscribe

Follow The Thinklings Podcast on Substack, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

Subscribe on Substack for show notes, updates, and future Thinklings content.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thinklingspodcast.com