Renewing Your Mind – BONUS: Live from the Studio with Derek Thomas
Podcast by Ligonier Ministries | Originally recorded January 13, 2026 | Summary by request, skipping promotional and non-content segments

Episode Overview

This special bonus episode marks the first-ever "Live from the Studio" event for Renewing Your Mind, featuring Ligonier Teaching Fellow Dr. Derek Thomas in conversation with host Nathan W. Bingham. The discussion revolves around the renewal of the Christian mind in a digital age, practical theology, suffering and the Book of Job, finding assurance, prodigals, perseverance in ministry, the enduring relevance of The Pilgrim’s Progress, and more. Dr. Thomas answers live questions from the YouTube audience, blending biblical depth with seasoned pastoral wisdom.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Significance of "Renewing Your Mind"

[04:21]

• Dr. Thomas reflects on Romans 12:2 (“be transformed by the renewal of your mind”), emphasizing God’s design for the Christian life to be marked by thinking that mirrors biblical truth, not worldly emotion.
• He contrasts our era’s emotionalism with Paul’s call to think and reason according to Scripture.
• Quote: "God has given us not a box of perfume to smell and react to, but he's given us a Bible, 66 books... So one has to think about, what does this mean?... to renew our fallen minds, reshape them and make them Christlike." (Derek Thomas, [05:09])

2. The Unique Pressures of the Digital Age

[06:40 – 09:46]

• Technology amplifies competing voices shaping our worldview.
• Social media’s influence, particularly on young people’s self-esteem and beliefs, poses unique challenges.
• Catechesis is still occurring—if not by parents and the church, “the TikTok algorithm” is doing it.
• Quote: "If you're not catechizing your children, somebody else is. And...the one catechizing them is the TikTok algorithm." (Nathan W. Bingham, [09:46])

3. The Value of Trusted Teaching & Technology

[10:20 – 14:49]

• Dr. Thomas praises R.C. Sproul’s legacy and the global reach of Reformed teaching via digital platforms.
• He notes how easy access to reputable biblical teaching balances the overwhelming negative digital input.
• Quote: "The fact that Renewing Your Mind and programs like it can reach the whole world... is so important in the global reach of the Reformed faith." (Derek Thomas, [12:40])

4. What Derek Thomas Loves Most About Jesus

[15:33]

• Personal reflection on Christ as “a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
• Jesus’ friendship is especially precious in times of loneliness.
• Quote: "When I first became a Christian, I was lonely ... But I found in Jesus a friend. I mean, he's a savior, he's my Lord, He's God. But he's also a friend who sticks closer than a brother." (Derek Thomas, [15:35])

5. Assurance in Heaven Despite Loved Ones Not Being There

[17:24 – 19:28]

• Dr. Thomas discusses the emotional challenge of the doctrine of heaven and the fate of unbelieving loved ones.
• He highlights that in the new heavens and earth, our minds will be fully renewed, and we’ll accept God's will with "contented sorrow."
• Quote: "It's what Edwards...would say about heaven: it's a place of such perfect blessedness...a peace that passes all understanding multiplied by infinity." (Derek Thomas, [18:28])

6. Defining Systematic Theology

[20:02 – 22:24]

• Explains how systematic theology seeks a coherent, comprehensive understanding of biblical doctrines by drawing together the whole Bible's teaching.
• Uses differences in biblical language (e.g., “flesh” in John vs. Paul) as an illustration.
• Quote: "At some point, you have to pull the lens back and say, well, what does the whole Bible have to say about this?" (Derek Thomas, [21:17])

7. The Importance of Sola Scriptura

[22:36 – 24:46]

• Scripture alone is the final authority, above all traditions, teachings, or personalities—even highly respected theologians like R.C. Sproul.
• Historical context of the Reformation affirmed Scripture’s sole authority: “What the Bible says, God says.”
• Quote: "Jesus says in John 10 that the Scriptures cannot be broken. So Scripture has authority ... And what God has given to us is a Bible that's breathed out by God." (Derek Thomas, [22:53])

8. Pastoral Wisdom on Suffering & the Book of Job

[25:51 – 36:42]

• Dr. Thomas’ interest comes from decades of shepherding sufferers and reading Calvin's sermons on Job.
• Job’s message centers not on an answer to “why suffering,” but on the call to trust God when understanding is incomplete.
• Quote: "The only answer...is that you must trust him. And it's not important that you understand. It's only important that God understands and that you trust him..." (Derek Thomas, [29:42])
• Calvin’s key insight: Job had a good case and argued it badly; his friends had a bad case and argued it well.

9. Christ as Sympathetic High Priest in Suffering

[37:17]

• The two key ministries of Jesus in heaven: intercession and sympathy.
• Encourages sufferers that “you are not alone.”
• Quote: "We have a savior who has been tempted in every point, like as we are...So, you know, you can go to Jesus anytime and know...he intercedes and he sympathizes." (Derek Thomas, [37:17])

10. Ministry, Retirement, and Perseverance

[39:09 – 51:13]

• Pastoral perseverance and the desire to “keep my eyes on Jesus,” finishing the race well.
• On maintaining fervor: preach, read, pray, keep active in ministry.
• Quote: "I want to keep growing in the Lord. I want to reach the finishing line without committing some horrible, horrible, horrible sin. ... Keep on keeping on." (Derek Thomas, [41:33])
• Humorous story about being compared to Eeyore (Winnie the Pooh), “seeing the glass half empty”—a reminder to continually renew his mind.

11. Hope and Counsel for Parents of Prodigals

[44:12 – 47:05]

• Most likeliest, “it’s not your fault.” Even godly parents may have prodigal children; trade guilt for daily covenantal prayer and keeping doors open.
• Quote: "It's bad enough having a prodigal child. It's even worse when you add guilt to it, you know, so stop trading in guilt." (Derek Thomas, [44:45])

12. The Beauty and Power of The Pilgrim’s Progress

[51:55 – 59:51]

• Personal story of receiving and reading Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress; how stories and allegory powerfully imprint biblical truth.
• The strength of Bunyan’s storytelling and the way it has shaped Christian imagination and discipleship for centuries.
• Quote: "Stories are powerful ... Bunyan could tell a good cracking story. And characters. I mean, it's an allegory, of course, and he's just really good at it." (Derek Thomas, [54:35])

13. Assurance Amid Persistent Sin

[60:42]

• True rest in Christ comes from "getting on the right side of grace"—not seeking assurance in one’s sanctification or works, which leads only to guilt, but trusting justification by faith alone.
• Quote: "You need to get on the right side of grace. ... There's always something more I need before I can actually have that peace. To be justified by faith is to bring peace into my stricken conscience about the past, present and future." (Derek Thomas, [61:15])

14. Difficult Books of the Bible to Preach

[62:57]

• Ecclesiastes and Jeremiah cited as especially challenging (e.g., the extended oracles of judgment in Jeremiah), along with Revelation and 1 John for nuanced approaches to assurance and law/gospel balance.
• Quote: "I told them I really wasn't ready to preach, you know, three or four months on judgment...so I stopped and I've never come back to it." (Derek Thomas, [63:28])

15. The Gospel for Unbelievers Watching

[65:49]

• The message of Christianity boils down to two truths: the problem of sin and a gracious Savior in Christ.
• Quote: “There’s a gospel out there for sinners that will completely change them, that will forgive their sins, that will give them a sense of meaning and purpose for life, that will revolutionize them from the inside out. So call upon the name of the Lord in this very hour.” (Derek Thomas, [66:25])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• On the "Thinker" statue in the studio:
  “And since this is Renewing Your Mind, it seems appropriate that the Thinker should be here.” (Derek Thomas, [03:29])

• On the impact of R.C. Sproul:
  “RC was one of the great teachers and preachers of the 20th century, without any shadow of a doubt, and had an enormous impact on a whole lot of people.” (Derek Thomas, [10:49])

• On Calvin’s summary of Job:
  “Job had a good case, but he argued it badly, and his friends had a bad case. But they argued it extremely well.” (Derek Thomas, [33:34])

• On Eeyore:
  “So it's a picture of Eeyore. And he's saying, you know, he's looking kind of glum and he's saying, 'Have a nice day. If it is a nice day, which I doubt.'...I’m a Celt. So I see the glass half empty...I have to renew my mind all the time.” (Derek Thomas, [42:56])

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [04:21] — The biblical command to "be transformed by the renewal of your mind"
• [06:40] — The pervasive influence of digital and social media
• [10:20] — Value of accessible, trustworthy teaching (R.C. Sproul’s legacy)
• [15:33] — What Dr. Thomas loves most about Jesus: His friendship
• [17:24] — Wrestling with happiness in heaven despite unsaved loved ones
• [20:02] — Systematic theology explained
• [22:36] — Why sola scriptura matters
• [25:51] — The Book of Job and what it teaches about suffering
• [33:34] — Most important lesson from Job (Calvin’s insight)
• [37:17] — Christ’s sympathy and intercession in suffering
• [39:09] — Perseverance in ministry and retirement
• [42:54] — The Eeyore story
• [44:12] — Advice for parents of prodigals
• [51:55] — Derek Thomas’ history with and love for The Pilgrim's Progress
• [60:42] — Finding assurance in Christ, not in one’s works
• [62:57] — Most difficult books of the Bible to preach
• [65:49] — The one thing Dr. Thomas would say to an unbeliever

Concluding Exhortation

The episode closes with a direct call to any non-Christian listeners:
“There’s a gospel out there for sinners that will completely change them... So call upon the name of the Lord in this very hour.” ([66:25])

Overall Tone:
Warm, conversational, pastoral and richly theological—full of biblical references, Reformation heritage, and practical application for living as a distinctively Christian person in the modern world.

For Deeper Exploration:

• R.C. Sproul’s teaching via Renewing Your Mind
• Derek Thomas’ guided tour of The Pilgrim’s Progress
• Calvin’s sermons on Job (for those especially interested in suffering and providence)