Should Christians celebrate Halloween? What did C.S. Lewis think about demons, frightening stories, and the spiritual world?

In Episode 321, the Thinklings explore the writings of C.S. Lewis, the origins of The Screwtape Letters, and the relationship between fear, imagination, and Christian faith. The conversation concludes with a discussion about Halloween, Reformation Day, and how Christians should approach cultural traditions with biblical discernment.

Along the way, we play a game of Screwtape or Swifty?, challenging the Thinklings to distinguish between C.S. Lewis and Taylor Swift.

Episode Chapters

0:00 — Welcome & Introduction

1:15 — Announcements: November Book Giveaway

1:41 — Books & Business: Charlie — Moby-Dick by Herman Melville

3:51 — Books & Business: Tim — The Men We Need by Brant Hansen

6:46 — Books & Business: Andy — Bible Study App, Writing & C.S. Lewis on Originality

14:15 — Main Content: C.S. Lewis & Spooky Season

18:41 — Screwtape or Swifty? A Quote-Guessing Game

23:00 — The Background and Origins of The Screwtape Letters

57:00 — Should Christians Celebrate Halloween?

1:10:26 — Final Meditation: Christ’s Victory Over Death (1 Corinthians 15)

Books & Business

Charlie — Moby-Dick by Herman Melville

Charlie discusses his early impressions of Moby-Dick, including its unusual combination of storytelling, whaling history, and detailed descriptions of life at sea.

Tim — The Men We Need by Brant Hansen

Tim revisits a book on masculinity, appreciating its practical encouragement for men while questioning its limited engagement with Scripture and biblical theology.

Andy — Bible Study, Writing & C.S. Lewis

Andy discusses work on a Bible study app and shares C.S. Lewis’s reflections on originality from The Weight of Glory. The conversation considers why pursuing truth and developing good writing habits matter more than pursuing originality for its own sake.

Main Content — C.S. Lewis & Spooky Season

The Thinklings explore several aspects of Lewis’s writings and perspectives:

• The historical background of The Screwtape Letters and Lewis’s literary career.

• The value of frightening stories and fairy tales for children.

• Lewis’s portrayal of demons and the spiritual world.

• The use of imagination, symbolism, and satire to communicate truth.

• Different Christian approaches to Halloween, including participation, abstinence, and alternative celebrations.

• The significance of Reformation Day and the importance of exercising biblical discernment.

Final Meditation — 1 Corinthians 15

The episode concludes with a reflection on Christ’s resurrection and victory over death. Whatever Christians decide about Halloween, our ultimate hope rests in the risen Savior, who will defeat every enemy, including death itself.

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Read good books, talk about them with your friends, and always continue to cultivate your mind!

What does it actually mean to walk in the Spirit? And how do we recognize the fruit of the Spirit in our lives?

In Episode 320, we conclude our two-part discussion of Galatians 5 by turning from the works of the flesh to the fruit of the Spirit. We examine the virtues Paul identifies, their biblical meanings, and how genuine Christian growth comes through submission to the Holy Spirit rather than mere behavioral modification.

But first, we discuss Alice Cooper’s Christian testimony, an original sonnet, and the relationship between chivalry and biblical masculinity.

⏱️ Episode Chapters

0:00 — Welcome & Introduction

1:49 — Announcements & Substack Giveaway

2:53 — Books & Business: Andy Stearns — Alice Cooper & Tim Challies

6:49 — Books & Business: Charlie Carter — An Original Sonnet

11:22 — Books & Business: Tim Little — Masculinity, Chivalry & Dating

19:59 — Main Content: Understanding the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23)

34:25 — Love, Joy & Peace: Understanding the First Three Virtues

44:30 — Patience, Kindness, Goodness & the Remaining Fruit

1:02:00 — Practical Application: Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit

📚 Books & Business

Andy Stearns — Alice Cooper & Tim Challies (2:53)

Andy discusses an article by Tim Challies reviewing a biography of rock musician Alice Cooper. The conversation considers Cooper’s religious background, his public profession of Christianity, and the relationship between that profession and his continued performances.

Andy emphasizes the importance of defining terms accurately, particularly words such as Christian, conversion, and church. The discussion connects to the previous episode’s emphasis on understanding biblical language and recognizing the works of the flesh.

Charlie Carter — An Original Sonnet (6:49)

Charlie shares an original sonnet inspired by observing a plant reaching toward sunlight in a coffee shop.

The poem contrasts the natural world, human creativity, and mankind’s search for meaning. Just as a plant reaches toward the light for life and growth, humanity must ultimately look to God and His Word for genuine spiritual life.

The conversation also explores the differences between human inventions and living things, along with the value of poetry as a means of communicating truth.

Tim Little — Masculinity, Chivalry & Dating (11:22)

Tim continues his reading and research into biblical masculinity, discussing a book by Fuller and its treatment of chivalry, male responsibility, friendships, and relationships.

The discussion considers whether chivalry is inherently patronizing or whether it can be understood as an expression of meekness—strength exercised with restraint for the protection and good of others.

Tim also examines the book’s treatment of dating and discusses the distinction between modern relationship expectations and biblical categories of commitment and marriage.

These books are helping inform his own developing work on biblical masculinity.

📖 Main Content: Understanding the Fruit of the Spirit

In Galatians 5:22–23, Paul identifies nine characteristics that describe the fruit of the Spirit:

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Continuing our discussion from Episode 319, we explore what these virtues mean and how they relate to Christian sanctification.

A central question guides our discussion: Is spiritual growth simply a matter of trying harder to become a better person?

We consider why the fruit of the Spirit must be understood as the result of walking in submission to the Holy Spirit, not merely an exercise in self-discipline.

We also examine the biblical meanings of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and goodness, including how these virtues shape our relationships with God and others.

💭 Practical Application

Understanding the fruit of the Spirit gives us a biblical framework for evaluating our spiritual lives.

We encourage listeners to study each virtue individually, trace its meaning throughout Scripture, and consider how it should appear in everyday circumstances.

Rather than treating these characteristics as a checklist of good behaviors, we must recognize the deeper issue: Are we submitting our desires and decisions to the Spirit of God?

Christian growth requires humility, obedience, and a willingness to follow the Spirit rather than the flesh.

🎧 Listen & Subscribe

Thanks for joining us for this two-part study of Galatians 5!

If you have questions, feedback, or topics you’d like us to discuss, reach out through Substack or email us at thinklingspodcast@gmail.com.

Remember: read good books, talk about them with your friends, and always continue to cultivate your mind.

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Welcome to Episode 319 of The Thinklings Podcast!

What exactly does Paul mean by the “works of the flesh” in Galatians 5? This week, we examine the sins Paul identifies, consider their biblical meanings, and discuss why understanding sin accurately is essential to Christian growth.

Along the way, we share some good books, discuss poetry, and offer a few announcements!

⏱️ Episode Chapters

0:00 — Welcome, Coffee & Lord of the Rings Banter

2:51 — Announcements: IRBC Young Adult Retreat & October Book Giveaway

6:07 — Books & Business: Biblical Counseling, Poetry & Bible Study

23:00 — Main Content: Understanding the Works of the Flesh (Galatians 5)

28:00 — Sexual Immorality, Impurity & Sensuality

42:00 — Idolatry, Sorcery & False Worship

46:00 — Enmity, Strife, Jealousy, Anger & Divisions

53:20 — Drunkenness, Debauchery & Learning to Recognize Sin

📚 Books & Business

We discuss several books and literary selections, including:

• The Pastor and Counseling — Jeremy Pierre and Deepak Reju

• Poetry and the value of reading good literature

We also consider how careful Bible study helps us recognize the meaning and application of Scripture.

📖 Main Content: Understanding the Works of the Flesh

In Galatians 5:19–21, Paul identifies behaviors and attitudes that characterize the works of the flesh. But do we understand what these terms actually mean?

We work through Paul’s list, discussing sexual immorality, impurity, idolatry, sorcery, jealousy, anger, rivalries, divisions, drunkenness, and other sins.

Throughout the conversation, we consider how biblical definitions sometimes challenge our cultural assumptions. We also discuss the relationship between inward desires and outward behavior, and why we must avoid redefining sin according to personal preferences.

Our goal is simple: to understand what God calls sin so that we can recognize it, put it off, and walk in the Spirit.

📢 Announcements

IRBC Young Adult Retreat: Join us for the upcoming retreat at Iowa Regular Baptist Camp! Visit IRBC.org for registration information.

October Book Giveaway: We’re giving away a copy of the Holy Land Illustrated Bible (CSB). Subscribe to the podcast or any of our individual Substack accounts to be entered.

🎧 Listen & Subscribe

Join us each week as we read good books, discuss meaningful ideas, and seek to renew our minds with the Word of God.

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Welcome to Episode 318 of The Thinklings Podcast!

This week, we continue our discussion of moral purity by examining the life of Solomon. Through 1 Kings, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes, we explore the dangers of sexual immorality, the importance of pursuing a godly spouse, and why the greatest danger of impurity is that it draws our hearts away from God.

⏱️ Chapters

0:00 — Welcome & Introduction
1:29 — Announcements
3:23 — Books & Business
14:06 — Main Content: Moral Purity & Solomon’s Downfall
25:12 — Proverbs: Finding a Prudent Wife
33:18 — Sexual Sin as a Deep Pit
41:54 — The Narrow Well: Why Immorality Never Satisfies
52:25 — Ecclesiastes 7:26: Pleasing God & Escaping the Snare
55:10 — Practical Applications & Closing

📣 Announcements

Our October Substack giveaway is a CSB Holy Land Illustrated Bible! Anyone who follows or subscribes to the podcast or any of our individual Substack accounts is automatically entered. Existing subscribers are already entered.

We also mention the upcoming IRBC Young Adult Retreat, October 23–24.

📚 Books & Business

We begin with Invitation to Biblical Theology by Jeremy Kimble and Ched Spellman, discussing their interpretation of Genesis 1–2 and whether their argument for a creation covenant commits an exegetical word-study fallacy.

We also reflect on Galatians 5 and the observable nature of the works of the flesh, share an account of an Iowa–Michigan football game, and discuss the completion of our devotional writing for the Baptist Theology Bible Study app.

📖 Main Content

Moral Purity: Lessons from Solomon

Our discussion begins in 1 Kings 11:1–13, where Solomon’s many wives turn his heart away from the Lord. Although Solomon’s sexual immorality is significant, the passage emphasizes something even more serious: his heart was no longer wholly devoted to God.

This becomes the controlling theme of our discussion. The greatest danger of sexual sin is not simply its earthly consequences, but the way it draws us away from our relationship with the Lord.

We then examine several passages from Proverbs:

• Proverbs 18:22 — Finding a wife is a good thing and a blessing from the Lord.

• Proverbs 19:13–14 — A prudent wife comes from God, while foolishness and quarreling bring ruin.

• Proverbs 22:14 — The forbidden woman’s mouth is described as a deep pit, illustrating the entrapment of sexual sin.

• Proverbs 23:26–28 — The adulteress is compared to a narrow well, providing a picture of immorality that promises satisfaction but continually leaves a person wanting more.

These passages challenge us to think about purity not merely as avoiding forbidden behavior, but as cultivating a heart that genuinely loves and seeks to please God.

🌿 Final Meditation

Pleasing God and Escaping the Snare — Ecclesiastes 7:26

We conclude with Solomon’s description of a woman whose heart is snares and nets, and whose hands are fetters. The passage contrasts the person who pleases God and escapes her with the sinner who is captured.

The practical application is straightforward: prioritize your relationship with God.

If you are trapped in sexual sin, seek help, accountability, repentance, and reconciliation. If you desire a godly marriage, focus first on becoming someone who genuinely loves and seeks to please the Lord.

Our relationship with God must remain our highest priority, because sexual purity is ultimately about more than avoiding sin. It is about remaining faithful to Him.

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This week we dig into deception in James 1. James uses different Greek words that English translations render as “deceive,” and those differences help us understand how we wander from truth, mischaracterize God, and even reason ourselves into disobedience.

⏱️ Chapters

0:00 — Welcome & Lord of the Rings Opener
4:13 — Announcements
5:55 — Books & Business
13:31 — Main Content: Deception in James 1
17:03 — “Do Not Be Deceived” — James 1:16
20:39 — Wisdom & Walking the Right Path
27:14 — Wandering From the Path
31:49 — “Be Doers of the Word” — James 1:22
36:48 — Mischaracterizing God & Mischaracterizing Yourself
40:46 — How Do We Keep From Being Deceived?
46:10 — The Word of God as a Mirror
52:22 — Hearing Without Doing Is Self-Deception
53:31 — Closing

📣 Announcements

The Baptist Theology Bible Study app has launched. Use the code thinklingspod for 15% off.

For October, our Substack giveaway is a Holy Land Illustrated Bible. Anyone subscribed to the podcast or one of our individual Substacks is entered.

We also mention the Abounding Grace book event on October 8 and the IRBC Young Adult Retreat on October 23–24. The retreat theme is “Living Sacrifice” from Romans 12.

📚 Books & Business

We begin with a brief update on The Odyssey before discussing work on Gendered by Design, including the long-running debate over 1 Timothy 2:11–15 and interactions between Douglas Moo and Philip Payne.

We also discuss David Mathis’s Workers for Your Joy, particularly three elements involved in pastoral ministry: a man must aspire to the work, meet the biblical qualifications, and have an opportunity providentially provided by God to serve.

📖 Main Content

Deceiving Yourself

James 1 repeatedly warns about deception—but the English word “deceive” represents different Greek words. We explore those differences and how they contribute to James’s larger picture of wisdom, truth, and obedience.

In James 1:16, deception carries the picture of being led astray or wandering from the path. In context, one way we wander is by mischaracterizing God during trials and temptation. God is not our tempter; our own desires draw us toward sin.

James 1:22 gives another warning: “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” Here the picture involves reasoning or calculating alongside the truth. We can hear what God has said and then effectively reason our way around obeying it.

🪞 The Word as a Mirror

James compares Scripture to a mirror. God’s Word allows us to see things about ourselves that we otherwise might miss.

But seeing is not enough. If we hear the Word but don’t do what it says, James says we deceive ourselves. We can study Scripture, listen to sermons, and accumulate biblical knowledge without actually walking farther down the path of wisdom.

The answer is not less Bible study. It is approaching Scripture with a heart prepared to believe and obey what we see.

🌿 Final Meditation

This episode does not contain a separate Final Meditation, but the closing application brings the discussion directly to the listener.

James’s warning is straightforward: hearing the Word and not doing it is self-deception. Wherever we encounter Scripture, we should pray that the Word will take root, grow, and cultivate obedience in our lives.

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Welcome to Episode 316 of The Thinklings Podcast!

What does the Bible actually mean when it talks about the heart? We often use “heart” primarily to describe emotions, but Scripture presents a much bigger picture. This week we examine how the heart thinks, understands, plans, believes, desires, obeys, fears, and ultimately serves as the source from which our lives flow.

⏱️ Chapters

0:00 — Welcome & Introduction
1:32 — Announcements
5:00 — Books & Business
6:56 — Playlist Theology: If Not Unison, Then Harmony
10:40 — Main Content: What Does the Bible Mean by “Heart”?
16:59 — “Follow Your Heart” in Popular Culture
18:25 — What Does the Bible Say About the Heart?
19:02 — The Heart Thinks & Understands
21:06 — The Heart Questions, Plans & Intends
25:26 — The Heart Believes & Doubts
27:33 — Obedience From the Heart
30:40 — Why Does the Bible Use “Heart”?
33:43 — The Heart Trusts, Desires & Feels
37:20 — Our Words Flow From the Heart
38:42 — Guarding the Source of Life
40:11 — The Heart as the Internal Person
41:05 — Practical Application: Changing From the Inside Out
44:03 — Closing

📣 Announcements

The Baptist Theology Bible Study app officially launches this week, including Thinklings devotional content. Use the code thinklingspod for 15% off.

We also give a final reminder about the September giveaway of Understanding Christian Theology, the Seminary Q&A on October 5, the Abounding Grace event on October 8, and the IRBC Young Adult Retreat on October 23–24.

📚 Books & Business

We talk about the devotional writing and study that has occupied much of our reading time—including work in James and sanctification—as well as a little Louis L’Amour.

📖 Playlist Theology: If Not Unison, Then Harmony — Ben Everson

We spend some time discussing Everson’s approach to Christian music and his movement away from simplistic rules and arguments based merely on association. Instead, the book emphasizes developing biblical discernment when evaluating music.

📖 Main Content

What Does the Bible Mean by “Heart”?

Our culture often treats the heart as primarily the home of our feelings: “follow your heart,” trust your intuition, or do what feels right. But when we survey Scripture, the biblical picture is considerably broader.

The heart thinks, understands, questions, plans, intends, believes, doubts, obeys, desires, trusts, fears, loves, and speaks. Rather than simply describing our emotions, “heart” can describe the internal person—who we are on the inside and the source of what eventually appears in our outward lives.

❤️ Guard Your Heart

Proverbs 4:23 tells us:

“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.”

External safeguards can be wise and necessary, but lasting change cannot come merely from modifying external behavior. We have to consider the beliefs, desires, loves, intentions, and motivations underneath our actions.

Whether we’re fighting habitual sin or struggling to do what is right, the question isn’t merely “How do I change my behavior?” We also need to ask what is happening in the heart that produces that behavior.

The goal is change from the inside out.

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Welcome to Episode 315 of The Thinklings Podcast!

This week we consider the importance of family lines, descendants, and inheritance in the Old Testament—and how understanding that ancient context helps us better understand Ruth, the Levirate Law, and the Bible’s treatment of adultery.

⏱️ Chapters

0:00 — Welcome & Coffee from Washington
2:16 — Books & Business
12:59 — The Odyssey
14:31 — Main Content: Family, Genealogies & Children
23:24 — The Levirate Law
29:24 — Ruth, Boaz & the Kinsman-Redeemer
42:25 — Why the Family Line Matters
43:48 — Adultery, Children & Inheritance
53:05 — Applying These Ideas Today
1:03:17 — Responding Biblically to Sexual Sin

📚 Books & Business

📖 Ancient Israel: Its Life and Institutions — Roland de Vaux
📖 Two Second Lean — Paul Akers
📖 The Odyssey — Homer

We discuss ancient Israelite culture, revisit Two Second Lean and the relationship between Lean and leisure, and give an early update on reading The Odyssey.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family, Genealogies & the Old Testament

Why does the Bible care so much about genealogies?

We look at Abraham, the importance of descendants, and the Levirate Law to understand just how significant the continuation of a family line was in the ancient world. That context also changes the way we read the story of Ruth and Boaz.

📜 Ruth, Adultery & the Family Line

We examine Ruth’s covenant faithfulness, Boaz’s role as a close relative or redeemer, and why the story is about much more than a romance.

From there, we consider Numbers 5 and the ancient understanding of adultery—particularly the connection between adultery, paternity, inheritance, and the preservation of the family line.

🧠 Thinking Biblically About Sexual Sin

How much of our response to different sins comes from Scripture, and how much comes from our culture?

We close by discussing the conscience, the danger of treating some sins casually while reacting disproportionately to others, and the importance of responding biblically and graciously when someone confesses a struggle with sexual sin.

🎧 Listen & Subscribe

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Welcome to Episode 314 of The Thinklings Podcast!

This week we share several upcoming Thinklings announcements and discuss what we’ve been reading before turning to the main conversation: church government, women pastors, and how to read arguments carefully. We examine a recent article responding to the Southern Baptist Convention, its use of Scripture and argumentation, and the broader complementarian and egalitarian debate. We conclude in Ephesians 4:1 with what it means to walk worthy of our calling.

⏱️ Chapters

• 0:00 — Welcome & Introduction

• 1:41 — Nonsense & Frivolities: Stopping a Knife Fight

• 2:35 — Announcements

• 5:54 — Books & Business

• 13:57 — Main Content: Church Government & Women Pastors

• 16:37 — “A Letter to SBC Women”

• 22:23 — Examining Motives & Assumptions

• 25:55 — “This Is Not About Scripture; This Is About Power”

• 29:58 — Recognizing Bad Arguments & Logical Fallacies

• 32:54 — The Biblical Case & 1 Timothy 2

• 37:20 — Finding Theology on Social Media

• 39:38 — What Does Authenteo Mean?

• 41:19 — Complementarianism, Egalitarianism & Biblical Scholarship

• 47:26 — The Consequences of Getting the Question Wrong

• 48:54 — Should Women Leave Complementarian Churches?

• 52:22 — Final Meditation: Ephesians 4:1

• 56:13 — Walking Worthy of Our Calling

• 1:00:26 — Closing

📣 Announcements

We’re heading to the IRBC Young Adult Retreat on October 23–24, where the Thinklings will be speaking and giving away Kindle Paperwhites. We also give a reminder about our September Substack giveaway and announce an upcoming seminary Q&A where listeners can submit questions about seminary and theological education.

📚 Books & Business

📖 Peter and the Starcatchers — Dave Barry & Ridley Pearson
📖 A Fine and Pleasant Misery — Patrick F. McManus
📖 Exegetical Fallacies — D. A. Carson & Andrew David Naselli

We discuss a Peter Pan origin story, Patrick McManus’s humorous outdoor writing, and the updated edition of Exegetical Fallacies. The latter receives particular attention for its usefulness in recognizing word-study, grammatical, logical, and genre-related errors in biblical interpretation.

📖 Main Content

Church Government, Women Pastors & Reading Arguments Carefully

We examine an article responding to the Southern Baptist Convention’s position on women serving as pastors and preachers. Rather than merely disagreeing with its conclusion, we work through the reasoning behind it—examining assumptions, claims about motives and power, logical fallacies, and the use of Scripture.

The discussion turns particularly to 1 Timothy 2–3, the meaning of authenteo, and the complementarian and egalitarian debate. More broadly, we consider how Christians can read arguments carefully, recognize weak reasoning, and avoid allowing confident rhetoric or social-media theology to replace serious biblical study.

🌿 Final Meditation

Ephesians 4:1

Paul urges believers to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.” We consider “worthy” through the picture of weight on a scale: on one side is the enormous weight of Christ’s grace, mercy, sacrifice, and our calling in Him; on the other is the way we live.

The Christian life should increasingly reflect the weightiness of what Christ has done for us. His grace becomes our motivation to walk in a manner worthy of our calling.

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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.

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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.

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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?

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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.

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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?

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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.

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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.

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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.

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For the month of August, the Thinklings are giving away a book to one of our Substack readers/subscribers!

WHAT BOOK ARE WE GIVING AWAY THIS MONTH?

The Odyssey (Fagles Translation)

HOW DO YOU ENTER?

Entering is easy: simply follow or subscribe to any one of the following accounts before July 31:

@thethinklingspodcast
@profstearns
@timlittle00
@thinklingcarter

Each account approaches books, theology, Scripture, ministry, and the Christian life from a slightly different angle. Follow one—or explore all four—and join the conversation.

We’ll select and contact the winner after the giveaway closes.

Know someone who loves books? Restack this note and help us invite a few more readers into the Thinklings corner of Substack.

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.

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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!

The Thinklings Podcast is a conversation among three (preferably four) friends who share a love for Scripture, theology, books, teaching, and the life of the church. , , and bring experience from biblical studies, pastoral ministry, Christian education, discipleship, and camp ministry, but the podcast is less a lecture hall than a table around which thoughtful Christians can gather. The main fourth member is Josh, who is now a Christian School Administer in Minnesota (also why he isn’t on as many episodes).

Andy teaches Bible and Greek, Charlie focuses on discipleship and Christian ministry, and Tim specializes in Old Testament studies. Together, they discuss the books they are reading, the ideas they are considering, and the ways Scripture should shape Christian thought and practice.

Our goal is simple: to think carefully, read widely, laugh often, and encourage one another toward wisdom and faithfulness. Whether we are discussing theology, literature, ministry, culture, or the occasional piece of “Ink,” we hope to offer conversations that are serious without being stuffy and thoughtful without losing their sense of humor.

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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:

(@thethinklingspodcast)
(@profstearns)
(@timlittle00)
(@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.

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