In this episode of Thinking Christian, I sit down with Dr. Tanita Maddox—National Director of Generational Impact for Young Life and author of What Gen Z Really Wants to Know About God. Drawing from years of research and on-the-ground ministry, Tanita helps untangle the unique worldview of Gen Z and why many of our “classic” Christian explanations fall flat with today’s young people.

We explore how Gen Z understands concepts like truth, goodness, safety, and identity, and why shared vocabulary often hides radically different assumptions. Tanita explains how Gen Z’s hyper-personalized world shapes their beliefs, why many of their deepest questions begin with, “Is God good?”, and how shifting cultural definitions of safety and justice impact their view of the gospel.

Together, we talk through:

• Why Gen Z sees truth as potentially harmful rather than stabilizing

• How to share the gospel with a generation that starts their theology with experience

• Why Gen Z is deeply communal—often more than previous generations

• How to reframe sin, freedom, and human dignity in ways that make sense to them

• Why listening—real, patient, non-defensive listening—is the most powerful apologetic tool we have

• Practical steps for parents, pastors, and mentors who want to meaningfully engage the next generation

If you have Gen Z kids, work with youth, teach in a church, or simply want to understand the cultural moment shaping the next generation, this conversation offers insight, clarity, and a hopeful path forward.

You can purchase What Gen Z Really Wants to Know About God at ivpress.com (use code IVPPOD20 for a 20% discount)

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To read James's article on this topic, check out his author page on Christianity.com.

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In this episode of the Thinking Christian podcast, Dr. James Spencer is joined by Dr. Daniel (Danny) Zacharias and Dr. Christopher Hoklotubbe, co-authors of Reading the Bible on Turtle Island: An Invitation to North American Indigenous Interpretation. Together they explore how Indigenous perspectives can help Christians read Scripture more faithfully on this land we often call North America—but which many Indigenous peoples know as “Turtle Island.”

Danny and Chris explain the story of Turtle Island and why naming the land this way matters for Christian theology, discipleship, and biblical interpretation. They introduce “Turtle Island hermeneutics,” a way of reading the Bible that takes land, place, people, and history seriously—built on asset-based theology and the conviction that God was already present and active among Indigenous peoples long before European missionaries arrived.

The conversation dives into:

• What “Turtle Island hermeneutics” is and how the medicine wheel shapes their approach

• Why it’s theologically flawed to act as if God was absent from North America before colonization

• How Indigenous creation stories and traditions can sit alongside Scripture without replacing it

• Reading Naboth’s vineyard as a lens on land theft, treaties, and the Doctrine of Discovery

• Parallels between the Trail of Tears, Babylonian exile, and Psalm 137

• Babylon and boarding schools: how forced assimilation tried to erase Indigenous identity and memory

• How songs, stories, and ceremony preserve hope, faith, and cultural resilience

• Why discipleship must focus not only on doctrine, but on practices, place, and how we actually live

This episode is for pastors, Bible teachers, seminary students, and everyday Christians who want to understand Indigenous theology, Native North American perspectives, and contextual Bible interpretation without abandoning a high view of Scripture.

Reading the Bible on Turtle Island is published by IVP; check the show notes for a discount link and more information about NAITS, Acadia Divinity College, and the work Danny and Chris are doing to serve the church on Turtle Island.

You can purchase Reading the Bible on Turtle Island at ivpress.com (use code IVPPOD20 for a 20% discount)

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In this episode of the Thinking Christian podcast, Dr. James Spencer welcomes back Sathiya Sam—CEO and founder of Deep Clean Coaching—to talk about pornography addiction, sexual integrity, and the power of Christian community in lasting recovery. Sathiya shares his own story of breaking free from pornography after years of struggle as a pastor’s kid, ministry leader, and researcher—and how that journey led to the creation of Deep Clean, a ministry now helping thousands of men pursue freedom and wholeness.

Sathiya introduces Deep Clean’s newest resource: the Deep Clean Inner Circle, a structured, community-centered program designed to help men overcome pornography through biblically grounded principles, expert coaching, and a safe, supportive network.

In this candid and practical conversation, James and Sathiya explore:

• Why porn is uniquely addictive: the “3 A’s” — affordable, accessible, anonymous

• How early exposure, social dynamics, and tech use fuel addiction

• Why freedom is possible—and why streak counting doesn’t work

• The Deep Clean system: self-awareness, heart healing, and identity transformation

• How tracking trends (not just streaks) helps build real, lasting change

• The powerful role of community, accountability, and coaching

• Real stories of men finding hope, rebuilding marriages, and restoring integrity

• What relapse can reveal, and how to “leverage” it rather than spiral in shame

• Why pornography addiction is deeply tied to distorted identity—and how Scripture reframes it

• How biblical wisdom and Christian discipleship principles can help people break any destructive pattern

Whether you're a pastor, parent, college student, or simply someone wanting to understand addiction from a Christian perspective, this episode offers clear insight and genuine hope.

Learn more about Deep Clean Coaching, the Inner Circle program, and Sathiya’s podcast The Man Within at https://www.sathiyasam.com/ or https://deepcleancoaching.com/.

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In this episode of the Thinking Christian podcast, Dr. James Spencer talks with J.R. Briggs—founder of Kairos Partnerships and author of The Art of Asking Better Questions: Pursuing Stronger Relationships, Healthier Leadership, and Deeper Faith. Together they explore why the questions we ask of God, ourselves, and others shape the quality of our lives, leadership, and discipleship.

J.R. shares how his own experience of isolation in ministry led him to ask three haunting questions—“Who pastors the pastor? Who shepherds the shepherd? Who leads the leader?”—and how those questions birthed Kairos Partnerships to serve overwhelmed and lonely Christian leaders. He and James unpack:

• Why leaders should be “chief question askers,” not just answer-givers

• How good questions build trust, connection, and healthier teams

• The difference between questions for information and questions for connection

• How Jesus used over 300 questions in the Gospels—and what that means for our discipleship

• Four essentials of asking great questions: curiosity, wisdom, humility, and courage

• Practical ways to stay curious in tense or antagonistic conversations

• Why the Book of Daniel and practice-oriented discipleship are crucial for the church today

If you’re a pastor, ministry leader, or follower of Jesus who wants stronger relationships, healthier leadership, and deeper faith, this conversation will help you learn the art of asking better questions.

You can purchase The Art of Asking Better Questions at ivpress.com (use code IVPPOD20 for a 20% discount)

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In this episode of Thinking Christian, I sit down with Pieter Valk—founder and director of Equip and a founding brother of an ecumenical monastery in Nashville—to talk about what it really means to follow Jesus as single men and women in the church. Pieter shares how his ministry equips churches and parents to care well for people who experience same-sex attraction or gender incongruence while embracing a historic Christian sexual ethic.

We explore the biblical vision for vocational singleness versus the default of “common singleness,” how marriage and singleness can actually reinforce one another, and why the church often feels ill-equipped to walk with LGBT+ Christians. Pieter also explains mixed-orientation marriage, challenges reductions of marriage to a “sexual outlet,” and helps reframe both marriage and singleness as vocations ordered toward spiritual fruitfulness.

We close by reflecting on the political battles around sexuality and gender, how those debates have often distorted Christian witness, and what it might look like for the church to lead with discipleship, clarity, and hope instead of just echoing partisan talking points. If you’re a pastor, parent, or disciple trying to think more faithfully about sexuality, singleness, and manhood, this conversation will give you categories, language, and practical direction to move forward.

Find out more about Pieter and his ministry at https://www.pieterlvalk.com.

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James sits down with Denise Lester, founder of Rended Heart (Kansas City, MO), to explore what sexual exploitation looks like today—and how her ministry stands in the 30-day gap between crisis and long-term recovery. Denise shares her journey from NYC to KC, early work with Exodus Cry, street and club outreach, and why most trafficking now hides offline and online. They discuss highways I-35/I-70, drug dependency, the legal hurdles of proving force, fraud, or coercion, how porn and grooming shape demand, and the slow, relational work of trust, detox, documents, and dignity. A powerful story of a child’s rescue and adoption shows hope in action—and Denise offers concrete ways listeners can help.

To learn more about Rended Heart visit www.rendedheart.org.

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!

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.

Quotable

• “I’m not here to rescue you—I’m here to support you if you’re ready to walk out.”

• “You can leave anytime; we won’t hold you—but count the cost of what you’re surrendering.”

Chapter Markers

• 00:28 — Denise’s journey & launch of Rended Heart

• 03:35 — Street/club outreach & the shift online

• 05:28 — The 30-day gap and why exits stall

• 07:53 — Hospitals, law enforcement, interstate cases, immigration

• 11:42 — A child rescued: court orders, sheriff retrieval, adoption

• 15:30 — KC’s geography (I-35/I-70), drugs, grooming, and porn’s role

• 20:08 — Legal hurdles: proving force/fraud/coercion for adults

• 23:06 — Trust, phones, and the hard work of starting over

• 37:20 — Volunteers, housing, and how you can help

Links

• Rended Heart: rendedheart.org

• Contact: 816-343-4558

Note: If you suspect exploitation, contact local law enforcement or the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline (888-373-7888) or text “HELP” to 233733.

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In this episode of Thinking Christian, James Spencer talks with David Green, CEO of Hobby Lobby, and Bill High, CEO of Legacy Stone, about their new book Legacy Life: Leading Your Family to Make a Difference for Eternity.

Together they explore what it really means to live a legacy life—one rooted not in wealth or success, but in faithfulness, purpose, and generational discipleship.

• Reframing legacy as something you set in motion, not just leave behind
• Rethinking retirement as a season of renewed ministry
• Building family mission, vision, and values to strengthen future generations
• Embracing brokenness and redemption as part of every family story
• Why intentionality is essential to sustaining a godly legacy

If you care about family, faith, and finishing well, this conversation will inspire you to lead your loved ones toward eternal impact—not just earthly success.

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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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In this episode of Thinking Christian, Dr. James Spencer engages with Dr. Carmen Imes about her book 'Becoming God's Family: Why the Church Still Matters.' They explore the themes of identity, vocation, and belonging within the context of the church, discussing the significance of ecclesia and its roots in the Old Testament. The conversation emphasizes the continuity of God's people from the Old Testament to the New Testament, the importance of community in faith, and the call for believers to actively participate in the church despite its imperfections. Dr. Imes invites listeners to recognize their role in the church and the blessings that come from being part of a community of faith.

Read more from Carmen Joy Imes on Substack or view her YouTube channel.

Buy the book: Becoming God's Family: Why the Church Still Matters at ivpress.com (use code IVPPOD20 for a 20% discount)

🔗 Learn more about Useful to God: www.usefultogod.com

📢 Stay Connected & Keep Growing!

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

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.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Series of Books
02:54 Exploring the Theme of Identity, Vocation, and Belonging
06:05 Understanding Ecclesia and the Church's Roots
08:55 Continuity of God's People: Old Testament to New Testament
12:02 The Family Language in the New Testament
15:10 The Multicultural Family of God
17:57 The Exodus: From Serving Pharaoh to Serving God
24:19 The Call to Faithfulness Over Success
30:10 Incorporating the Outsider: A Familial Metaphor
33:27 The Church's Role in Community and Conflict
39:11 Sacrifice and Service in the Church
41:55 An Invitation to Engage with the Church

Keywords

church, community, belonging, identity, vocation, ecclesia, Old Testament, New Testament, God's family, faith

Takeaways

The church is a community that reflects God's character.
Belonging to the church requires active participation and commitment.
The theme of identity, vocation, and belonging is central to understanding faith.
Ecclesia has roots in the Old Testament, emphasizing community gathering.
The church is not just a place for individual growth but a family.
God's people have always included a diverse, multicultural community.
The New Testament emphasizes unity among believers despite differences.
Faithfulness is more important than success in the Christian life.
Church hurt should not deter us from engaging with the community.
The church is called to reflect God's love and grace to the world.

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