James talks with Debbie D’Souza (co-writer/co-director) about the new film The Dragon’s Prophecy—why the project accelerated after Oct 7th, how Revelation 12’s “dragon” frames Israel’s story, what recent archaeology (City of David’s Pilgrimage Road, Pool of Siloam, Tel Dan, etc.) says about the Bible’s historicity, and why the filmmakers went on location near Gaza and at the Nova site. 

To get tickets to The Dragon's Prophecy, visit: www.thedragonsprophecyfilm.com. You can also find information about the upcoming opportunities to stream the movie at home on the site. 

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Dr. James Spencer sits down with Dr. Peter Y. Hong—federal prison chaplain and author of The Reconciliation of Humanity in Christ—to explore how a prison chapel became his living parable for our “shrinking” world. Peter describes ministry in a pluralistic, constrained space where Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Native American practitioners, and others share one room—and why respect, service, and patience often open gospel doors better than aggressive tactics. From the fall of the Berlin Wall to today’s digital interconnection, he distinguishes false globalization (forced unity without Christ) from true globalization (Eph 1:10—all things united in Christ). We talk nationalism, fundamentalism, and why the church should expect collaboration + conflict, yet persist with mercy, empathy, and hopeful witness. 

Buy the book: The Reconciliation of Humanity in Christ at amazon.com 

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Dr. James Spencer talks with Jonathan P. Walton—author of Beauty and Resistance and 12 Lies That Hold America Captive—about moving beyond “thinking Christian” to living as a Christian. Jonathan shares how grief, burnout, and hard family seasons pushed him from activism-on-adrenaline to formation and faithfulness: Sabbath as the minimum, annual “Dope Day” planning with his wife, building guardrails for generosity and time, embracing insignificance over platform, and choosing obedience even when it means visible losses. We unpack a practical pathway from pity → sympathy → empathy → compassion → incarnation, learning to mourn with others (and even empathize with “enemies”), plus simple, local practices that build communal good. A grounded, hopeful invitation to become the kind of person who can do the kinds of things Jesus commands.

Buy the book: Beauty and Resistance at ivpress.com (use code IVPPOD20 for a 20% discount)

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Dr. James Spencer talks with Peter Greer—CEO/President of HOPE International and author of How Leaders Lose Their Way (and How to Make Sure It Doesn’t Happen to You)—about why organizations drift when leaders first drift personally, and how to course-correct. Peter unpacks the danger of identity in achievement, the difference between mission vs. methods, and why the stat that only 1 in 3 leaders finish well should sober us. We get practical: constellation mentoring (real accountability that sticks), building structures that make good choices easy, adopting intentional downward mobility (foot-washing leadership), writing/reading your own eulogy, and slowing the “need for speed” so you can actually see warning lights. A hopeful, concrete path to long-term faithfulness—at home and at work.

Buy the book: How Leaders Lose Their Way at ivpress.com (use code IVPPOD20 for a 20% discount)

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For more resources to help you grow in faith and deepen your walk with Christ, visit Useful to God—where you'll find books, courses, podcasts, and more to equip you for faithful Christian living.

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Dr. James Spencer welcomes Dr. Mikel Del Rosario—theology professor at Moody Bible Institute, host of The Apologetics Guy podcast, and author of Did Jesus Really Say He Was God?—to explore Jesus’ divine self-understanding through both words and deeds. Rather than looking only for the exact phrase “I am God,” Mikel shows how Jesus acted and spoke as God in ways his opponents clearly grasped. We walk through Mark 2 (forgiving sins) and Mark 14 (Son of Man at God’s right hand; Daniel 7 + Psalm 110) to see why the charge of blasphemy makes historical sense—and how the resurrection vindicates those claims. We also hit multiple attestation, implicit vs. explicit claims, and why this matters for preaching, discipleship, and everyday conversations about Jesus.

Explore the book: Did Jesus Really Say He Was God? at ivpress.com (use code IVPPOD20 for a 20% discount)

Find ouf more about Dr. Rosario at www.theapologeticsguy.com.

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Dr. James Spencer welcomes Eun Strawser—author of You Were Never Meant to Lead Alone and co-vocational lead pastor of Ma Ke Ali o—to rethink church leadership through the lens of Ephesians 4–5. Instead of celebrity or solitary leaders, Nkei makes the case for polycentric/shared leadership that distributes authority, equips the saints, and embodies mutual submission. We unpack how different kinds of authority (positional, spiritual, relational) operate in churches, and why power must be examined (not ignored). We also touch on co-vocational models, local-context leadership (Hawai‘i), accountability frameworks, and why the true metric of health is a discipled people who imitate Jesus for the good of their neighbors.

Buy the book: You Were Never Meant to Lead Alone at ivpress.com (use code IVPPOD20 for a 20% discount)

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James and Nate unpack a recent Gallup poll on Americans’ views of capitalism—down from 60% (2021) to 54% (2025)favorable—and why that headline can mislead. Beneath it: strong support for free enterprise and small business, persistent dislike of big business, and sharp differences across age, gender, and party. Rather than picking teams (“capitalism vs. socialism”), they ask the more Christian question: where are we placing our hope? Drawing on 1 Samuel, the exile, and Daniel, they argue systems are provisional, reform is often wise, but obedience to Christ is the constant—“fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” The church’s political and economic posture should flow downstream from discipleship, not the other way around.

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🔗 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.

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If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to Thinking Christian so you never miss an insightful conversation!

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Dr. James Spencer welcomes Ryan Skoog—author of Lead with Prayer and president of Venture—for a wide-ranging conversation on prayer, discipleship, and the explosive growth of the global church. Ryan shares powerful stories from persecuted and unreached regions where God’s kingdom is breaking out through church-planting movements, miraculous healings, and courageous local believers. Together, James and Ryan explore why persecution forges unity, how oral cultures disciple through obedience and memorization, and what Western Christians can learn from the prayer lives of global leaders. Ryan also unpacks insights from interviewing over 100 leaders worldwide, showing how prayer is not an afterthought but the engine of fruitful leadership.

Learn how friendship with Jesus, crafting a day with God, and investing in prayer can transform your life and ministry.

For Lead with Prayer resources visit https://www.leadwithprayer.com. 

Purchase Lead with Prayer on amazon.com.

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Dr. James Spencer sits down with Will Acuff—author of No Elevator to Everest: Shift from Survive to Thrive through Spirit-Led Self-Awareness and cofounder of Corner to Corner (Nashville)—to explore how Christians can move from frantic survival to joyful, Spirit-led living. We talk practical rhythms (breathwork, journaling, contemplative prayer), why emotions are God-given “sensors,” and Will’s delete / delegate / do differently framework for designing your day. Will shares how Corner to Corner helps neighbors in historically low-income communities start and grow businesses because ownership ends poverty—with real stories of everyday entrepreneurs changing their families’ futures. We also press into discipleship that unites knowledge of God and knowledge of self, so our lives tune to the Spirit—and become life-giving to others.

To find out more about Corner to Corner visit: https://cornertocorner.org/team/will-acuff/

To purchase No Elevator to Everest, visit amazon.com.

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In this episode of the Thinking Christian Podcast, Dr. James Spencer is joined by Nate Giarratano reflect on recent political commentary surrounding the Israel–Gaza conflict. Instead of offering hot takes on a complex war, they examine how soundbites and slogans from public figures—like those from Marjorie Taylor Greene and Randy Fine—can distort, oversimplify, or inflame rather than inform.

The conversation emphasizes why Christians must resist being swept along by unsupported claims and polarized rhetoric. With humility, James and Nate point to a posture rooted in justice, compassion, and truth-seeking, reminding listeners that every conflict involves people made in the image of God. This episode challenges believers to ask deeper questions: How do we discern what’s right when information is incomplete? How can we lament both the tragedy of war and the misuse of words that fail to honor the gravity of human suffering?

Join us for a calm, theological exploration of why careful thinking and Christ-centered discernment matter more than ever in an age of political performance and digital noise.

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For more resources to help you grow in faith and deepen your walk with Christ, visit Useful to God—where you'll find books, courses, podcasts, and more to equip you for faithful Christian living.

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