The Thinklings Podcast — Episode 050An Interview with Tim Challies
Welcome to Episode 50 of The Thinklings Podcast!
For this milestone episode, the Thinklings are joined by special guest Tim Challies—author, blogger, pastor, and one of the most influential voices in contemporary evangelical writing. Tim shares insights from nearly two decades of daily blogging, discusses his writing habits, reflects on ministry and family life, and offers wisdom on productivity, suffering, character, and Christian faithfulness. Along the way, the conversation covers everything from Tim Hortons and Lord of the Rings to church history, books, and the challenges of maintaining a public ministry over many years.
Thanks for joining us for this special conversation!
📚 Books & Business
Carter — Worldliness by C.J. Mahaney
Charlie discusses Mahaney’s examination of worldliness from 1 John, appreciating the book’s focus on heart-level transformation rather than merely external behaviors.
Stearns — A Little Book for New Theologians by Kelly Kapic
Andy highlights Kapic’s encouragement to read theology through the lens of Scripture and shares memorable reflections on God speaking through His Word.
Little — Interpreting Old Testament Wisdom Literature edited by David Firth and Lindsay Wilson
Tim reflects on several essays related to Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Ruth, especially connections between wisdom literature and the structure of the Hebrew Bible.
Tim Challies — The Death of Porn by Ray Ortlund
Tim recommends Ortlund’s pastoral approach to helping men pursue victory over pornography, praising the book’s combination of encouragement, accountability, and practical wisdom.
🎙️ Main Conversation
A Conversation with Tim Challies
Topics include:
* How Tim began blogging in 2002 and developed a daily writing discipline
* The role of technology and computing in his career
* Why he prefers Apple devices and uses the writing app Ulysses
* Developing productive habits and routines
* Balancing writing, ministry, and family responsibilities
* The origins of his book Do More Better
* Reading widely and sustaining creativity as a writer
* Lessons learned from decades of blogging
* The challenges and blessings of Christian publishing
* Why character matters more than influence, numbers, or platform growth
Tim repeatedly emphasizes that faithfulness, content, and character should always outweigh popularity, platform size, or audience metrics.
🌍 Church History & Epic
The Thinklings also discuss Tim’s ambitious Epic project, which involved traveling through more than twenty countries to explore significant locations in Christian history.
Highlights include:
* Researching church history around the world
* Visiting key sites connected to the Reformation
* Exploring England’s rich Christian heritage
* Reflections on travel, storytelling, and historical preservation
* Behind-the-scenes moments from filming the documentary series
💔 Writing Through Grief
One of the most meaningful portions of the conversation centers on suffering and loss.
Tim shares reflections on:
* The unexpected death of his father
* The tragic loss of his son, Nick
* How writing became a form of meditation and spiritual processing
* Finding comfort through reading Christian authors from previous centuries who had experienced similar grief
* Trusting God through profound suffering
His testimony offers encouragement to pastors, ministry leaders, and anyone walking through seasons of sorrow.
👩👦 Godly Mothers & Christian Formation
The conversation turns to Tim’s book Devoted: Great Men and Their Godly Moms.
Topics include:
* The spiritual influence of Christian mothers throughout church history
* Lessons from figures such as Augustine, John Newton, Hudson Taylor, and John Piper
* The impact Tim’s own mother had on his faith and spiritual development
* Encouragement for mothers seeking to disciple their children faithfully
📖 Knowing and Enjoying God
Tim also discusses his devotional book Knowing and Enjoying God and explains:
* How the project grew out of quote graphics he shared online
* The relationship between truth, beauty, and Christian reflection
* Practical ways believers can know God through Scripture, prayer, and life in the local church
* The importance of delighting in God rather than merely knowing facts about Him
🌿 Final Thoughts
The episode concludes with Tim’s advice to his younger self:
Focus on content and character far more than numbers, influence, or platform growth.
He encourages aspiring writers, podcasters, pastors, and ministry leaders to pursue faithfulness before fame and to prioritize godliness above visibility.
🎧 Listen & Subscribe
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