A calm, theological voice for a church under pressure. As a theologian, author, and educator with more than two decades of experience in Christian ministry and higher education, James brings a calm, careful, and deeply biblical perspective to some of the most contested questions facing the church.
What James Brings to Your Platform
Scholar, Author, Communicator.
Churches & Conferences
James preaches and teaches from a wide range of biblical texts, with particular strength in connecting careful exposition to the lived challenges Christians face today. His sessions are intellectually serious without being inaccessible — they leave audiences with frameworks they can actually use.
Media & Broadcast
James has appeared on TBN, CBN’s Faith vs. Culture, LIFE Today Live, and The Christian Post’s Politics in the Pews. He is a trained communicator who knows how to make complex theological ideas clear without flattening them.
Academic & Professional
As an adjunct professor at Wheaton College’s MA in Leadership program and President of the D. L. Moody Center, James brings scholarly credibility and institutional experience to conversations about leadership, formation, and the mission of the church.
Topics James Addresses
Speaking Topics
Digital Discernment
What does it actually mean to live as a Christian in every area of life — not as one identity among many, but as the primary commitment that shapes everything else? Drawing on the Thinking Christian Framework, James challenges the cultural narratives that quietly press believers into smaller, more manageable versions of faithfulness.
Christians and Politics
American Civil Religion and Christian Nationalism are two of the most significant pressures distorting the church’s witness today. James addresses both from a distinctly theological position, helping audiences understand the difference between faithful political engagement and the idolatries that masquerade as it.
Christians, Technology, Media, and the Digital World
Artificial intelligence, social media, digital journalism, algorithmic formation — these are not neutral tools. They are shaping how Christians think, relate, worship, and form their identities in ways that often run counter to biblical patterns. James brings theological depth and genuinely useful frameworks to these conversations.
Biblical Exposition and Christian Thought
James preaches and teaches through major biblical texts — including Genesis, Romans, Revelation, Job, Exodus, and 1 Corinthians — with an eye toward helping congregations see how Scripture actually shapes a theological disposition, not just a set of beliefs.
Select Appearances
Seen and Heard
Guest Expert | CBN's Faith vs. Culture
Dealing with Deconstruction
Panelist | The Christian Post's Politics in the Pews
Christian Nationalism and Political Participation
Guest Expert | TBN
Retaining Our Humanity in an Age of A.I.
Guest | LIFE Today Live
Should Christians Be Political?
What People Are Saying
In Their Words
“Dr. James Spencer is one great example. He gave a really measured exposition of what Christian nationalism is, what it isn’t, and how the church should be responding.”
“James challenged my preconceived ideas of the material and stretched my understanding, forcing me to view Scripture in a way that allowed the text to form tangible, practical application.”
“Dr. Spencer articulated some things for me that I have been unable to adequately express to others. I listened to the program twice, downloaded the transcript, and ordered his book.”
“James’s way of analyzing culture and framing it biblically and theologically is compelling and convicting all at the same time. His comments were measured and he has challenged me to rethink the way I engage in politics.”
About James
The Full Story
James Spencer, PhD, is a theologian, author, and host of the Thinking Christian podcast, where he writes and speaks on Christian formation, political theology, and technology. He holds a PhD in Theological Studies from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and completed the Institute for Educational Management at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He serves as President of the D.L. Moody Center in Northfield, Massachusetts, as adjunct faculty in Wheaton College’s MA in Leadership program, and as an Associate Research Fellow at the Kirby Laing Centre for Public Theology. His writing has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Times, Christianity.com, and Sojourners; he has been quoted in The Telegraph; and he is a regular guest on Stand in the Gap Today with the American Pastors Network. His forthcoming book is Digital Discernment (InterVarsity Press, Fall 2026).
Books
Contributions
Interested in Having James Speak?
Invite James to Speak.
James is available for church services, conferences, seminary chapels, broadcast appearances, and institutional events. For scheduling and availability, reach out directly.