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.

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!

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

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.

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Dr. James Spencer sits down with Beth Felker Jones (Professor of Theology, Northern Seminary) to talk about her new IVP book Why I Am Protestant. Beth lays out how Protestant distinctives—especially Scripture as the norming norm—fit within a broader, lowercase-c catholic Christian unity rooted in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. They dig into the ecumenical creeds, the messiness of the church, recovering historic practices (like corporate confession), how to live with rival interpretations without losing charity, Augustine’s influence on grace and the church, and practical ways congregations can re-center on the Word. Beth’s closing charge: don’t be embarrassed by evangelism—claim the work of making disciples.

Read more from Beth Felker Jones at: https://bethfelkerjones.substack.com/

Buy the book: Why I am Protestant 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.

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.