The Zack Evans Podcast: Recent Episodes
Zack Evans
Welcome to The Zack Evans Podcast where we focus on content designed to help you come to a deeper understanding of your Christian faith. It is our hope that each episode will challenge and inspire you to pursue a thriving relationship with Jesus Christ.
This week we will discuss the relationship between prayer and anxiety mentioned in Philippians 4:6-7 when Paul says, "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." We will learn that although anxiety divides our hearts and minds, prayer acts as a unifying agent that orients properly thus serving as a general remedy against anxiety.
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In this episode, we delve into the powerful biblical principle of "The Overtaking Blessing" found in Deuteronomy 28:2. Have you ever felt frustrated by the delay in receiving God's promised blessings despite your obedience? Or perhaps you’ve noticed that consequences for disobedience seem slow to arrive? Join us as we explore the striking imagery of Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal, where blessings and curses were pronounced over the people of Israel. We’ll uncover how these ancient truths still apply to us today.
We discuss the story of Joshua and the Israelites' initial neglect of Moses' command to perform a solemn ceremony upon entering the Promised Land. This oversight, though seemingly insignificant at first, set in motion a chain of events that led to both tragedy and a renewed understanding of obedience. Through a study of the word “overtake,” we learn that while God's blessings or curses may not come immediately, they are indeed on their way, relentlessly pursuing us based on our choices.
Listen in as we uncover the importance of remaining on the road of obedience, even when it feels like the blessings are delayed. Learn why persistence in faith, prayer, and good works is essential and how turning away from obedience can cause us to miss out on God’s intended blessings. If you’ve been waiting for a breakthrough or searching for encouragement to stay the course, this episode will inspire you to keep moving forward, trusting that the fulfillment of God's promises will overtake you in due time.
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This week we will explore Paul's statement, "For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain." We will learn the historical context of this statement and find that Paul is describing a rich philosophy of the relationship between life and death we should all aspire to live up to you.
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Although physical idols are not prevalent in our society, idolatry itself is still alive and well. This week, we will study the essence of idol worship to understand that idolatry does not necessitate physical statues or symbols, but can take on a more sophisticated form. The New Paganism may not incorporate gods of wood and stone like the Old, but it still worship the things they represent. The paganism of the modern world may be less visible, but it is just as criminal.
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When children are asked to define the sin of Jonah, they will usually say, "He ran from God!" Although this is true enough, the sin of Jonah runs far deeper than his fleeing from God's command. Why did Jonah run in the first place? Why, at the end of the story, do we find Jonah sitting on a hillside wishing for the destruction of a city that had just experienced an unprecedented revival? Because Jonah's sense of judgment conflicted with God's desire for mercy. When viewed in this light, we begin to understand that Jonah's sin is far darker and more common than we would like to admit.
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All men suffer, but few endure. But through Christ, we can endure great sufferings and turn them into our greatest victories. Tune in to this episode to gain insights and encouragement on how to endure suffering with joy, just as Christ did.
Subscribe now on your favorite podcast platform and join us as we explore the depths of endurance through the lens of faith. Let's learn to endure our sufferings and transform them into triumphs through Jesus!
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This week, we examine three statements made by the Apostle Paul in Romans chapter 1 and their implications for our Christian life. Paul said:
"I am debtor..."
"I am ready to preach the gospel..."
"I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ..."
These statement reflect important truths about Paul's mindset. In this episode, we explore the meaning of these three phrases and learn how to embody the principles they represent.
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This week, we explore the concept of Christian service as we discuss what it truly means to be a servant of Jesus Christ. How did Paul and other NT writers understand their service to Christ? Are all believers called to serve and if so in what way? How do I know what specific way Christ would have me serve Him? We will answer all of these questions and more!
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While modern culture often highlights God's attributes of mercy, love, and compassion, there is a growing need to also recognize His aspects of judgment, strength, and the ability to conquer.
Join us as we examine the scriptural depictions of Jesus as both the sacrificial Lamb and the mighty Lion, and how these dual roles illustrate the comprehensive character of God. We'll discuss the implications of focusing too heavily on God's softer attributes and the importance of reclaiming His masculine qualities in our faith and everyday lives.
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In this episode, we explore the territorial nature of the battle between God and Satan. Paul makes it clear in Ephesians 4:27 that Satan is seeking a "place" in our lives. Therefore we must understand the critical importance of not giving the Devil any foothold in our lives.
Join us as we unpack the spiritual implications of this territorial struggle and discuss practical steps to ensure our lives remain a stronghold for God. We'll delve into how seemingly small compromises can open the door to larger spiritual battles, and why it's essential to remain vigilant and steadfast in our faith.
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In this episode we delve into the profound concept of God's active interest and involvement in human affairs. Contrary to the perspective of Deism, which posits that God remains detached from human affairs, we explore the compelling Biblical evidence that God turns His divine attention towards the happenings on Earth and engages deeply in the lives of individuals. This episode examines three specific areas where God's interest is directed and the implications of each. Tune in to discover how a constant awareness of God's active involvement can transform our perception of the world and our place within it.
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Join us for an insightful journey into the heart of James 5:13-18, where we confront three obstacles that often hinder our prayers. If we want to avail much with God in prayer we must ensure we avoid these three common pitfalls! Tune in for a challenging discussion aimed at helping each of us become effectual in prayer and avail much for God's glory.
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This week, we explore the connection between prayer and the armor of God that Paul describes in Ephesians 6. We learn that prayer is a vital aspect of our spiritual warfare, without which even the most equipped and prepared soldier in God's army will utterly fail.
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The pattern of death and rebirth is found everywhere we look— in nature, literature, and of course, religion. This week, we explore why that might be and how it relates to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We will learn that the pattern we find in nature exists because it first existed in God and was fulfilled in the Passion of Jesus Christ. But, this pattern is also something that teaches us to lay down our lives as willing and living sacrifices that they might blossom in resurrection into what God had always intended for them to become. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/zackevans/support
Many years ago, a preacher gave a message that changed my life and encouraged me in a dark and distressing time. I was convinced my life and ministry were failures and that my church would be best served if someone else took my position. I wrote in my journal, "God, I can't do this. Get someone in here who can." But that night, this preacher brought a message entitled, "Give Me Another Heart, Make Me Another Man." God helped me to realize that I could be the other man I was looking for if I would just let God transform me. This week, we will explore how God can transform your heart and make you the man or woman you were always meant to be.
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One of the most difficult questions we can ask is this: If God has predetermined certain outcomes, then do my choices have any ultimate meaning? This week, we will venture to answer that question as we examine the relationship between God's sovereign declarations and man's ability to choose.
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The existence of God is perhaps the foundational question of life. All other lines of questioning inevitably intersect with this one. This week, we will examine five compelling evidences that strongly point to the existence of God.
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Church attendance has been steadily declining in America for some time. There are various reasons for this decline, but it is partly due to a confusion between the relationship of individual/private worship and corporate/public worship. But it was never God's design that we should have one without the other. As we will explore in this episode, it was always God's intention for individual believers to be inseparably joined to His church.
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This week, we will discuss why cancel culture threatens the foundation of a free society and why the value of truth is displayed by the ferocity of its enemies.
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This week we conclude our study on the topic of suffering by examining the proper response to suffering, the reward for suffering for right, and the glorious riddance of suffering the awaits us in Heaven.
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The most difficult and pervasive question ever asked by mankind is, "Why is there suffering?" Every worldview purports to give an answer to this problem. For the next two episodes, we will take a comprehensive look at this issue from a Biblical perspective using the book of 1 Peter as our template. We will learn that suffering is an existential reality, that there are intelligible reasons for suffering, that our response to suffering is crucial, that there is a reward for righteous suffering, and that one day there will be a riddance of all suffering.
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There is a common belief that happiness is found in a lack of restraint. Moral restraints, for example, are believed by some to impede the pursuit of happiness and therefore are to be cast off. In order to find happiness, we are told, we must be free from the restraints of morality, time, or money. But the Bible paints a very different, and more realistic picture of the pursuit of happiness. The Biblical idea is this: There is no life without restraints. Therefore, happiness is found in the wise choosing of proper restraints.
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This week we will examine the work of Nehemiah as he rebuilt the wall of Jerusalem and find that although Israel was in terrible disrepair, God could still do great things for His people. I believe that God can still do a great work in our midst as well, but it requires that we, like Nehemiah, become burdened with a purpose; instead of simply lamenting the reality of our culture's problems. In the narrative of Nehemiah, we find that this great work had 7 characteristics that it would serve us well to learn.
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Our third and final installment in this series focuses on a doctrinal explanation of what constitutes true saving faith. Saving faith is made up of three essential elements all of which must be present for salvation by faith to occur. We examine each one individually and seek to understand how they interact with each other to make up saving faith.
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The Bible defines faith only once when the writer of Hebrews 11:1 penned, "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." This week, we will examine this statement and see the amazing profoundness contained therein. We will learn that faith is bridge between our expectations and our actions, and also the organ by which we confirm things we cannot experience with our senses.
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Sometimes the simplest terms can be the most difficult to define and explain. "What is faith?" is a small question with a big answer. The truth is, believing is simple. The act of faith is something we all perform every day. But when we examine this simple faith under the microscope of analysis it reveals a hidden complexity that can be overwhelming. How much of this complexity do we need to understand to believe? Not much, really. Although the concept of faith might be complex, believing is simple. In this episode, will explain why.
This is the first episode in a three part series entitled, The Chemistry of Faith. We will break the concept of faith down into its constituents parts in hope of developing a better understand of what constitutes true saving faith in Christ.
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This week, we will study the Israelites decision to disobey God's command to drive out the Canaanites from the Promised Land. Instead, they felt they were strong enough to make them tributaries and benefit from their presence, but this proved to be a terrible mistake with generational consequences. Likewise, you and I should not tolerate sin in our lives under the pretense that it can be controlled. We will learn that sin should not be tolerated, but expelled from our lives if we are live victoriously.
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There is a pervasive belief that if God demonstrates the miraculous in people's lives, they will be left with no choice but to believe in Him. However, this is completely false. In fact, the people of Israel who experienced more miracles "per capita" than any people on Earth struggled mightily in their faith. Why? Because although miracles have a divine purpose, there is one thing they cannot do: produce faith. This week, we will learn why.
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In this episode, we examine exactly what it means to fear God. We will define what a proper fear of the Lord is in principle and in practice, discuss why it's a foundational aspect of our daily Christian lives, and how there is perhaps only one way for us to effectively cultivate it in our hearts.
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This week, we examine the issue of depression from a Christian perspective. We will address many of the stigmas surrounding depression, examine potential causes, and explore the solutions that Christianity offers.
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It is quite possible that Jesus' statement, "Judge not, that ye be not judged." (Matthew 7:1) has surpassed John 3:16 as the most quoted verse in the Bible. It is certainly the most misunderstood. This week, we examine this quotation from the Sermon on the Mount to learn what Jesus actually meant when he said, "Judge not..."
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This week, we will examine the call of Gideon and learn how the battle to change our culture begins at the most local level possible—with our own homes and personal lives. Many of us are frustrated by the many captivities our country and the world are currently enduring without performing an honest assessment of how our personal sin and lack of piety are contributing to the overall problem. It's easy to blame the Midianites for the devastation of the land, but the true problem was in the average Israelite's own backyard.
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Our time is not unlike the age of the Greco-Roman period in its reverence and passion for human fitness. Gym culture, health influencers, and scientific advancements in the area of lifespan have people more concerned about their health and fitness than ever before. Obviously a concern for our bodies can be taken too far, but it can also not be taken seriously enough. So what should be the Christian perspective on health and fitness? This week, we examine Paul's mindset about his body as we expound on his commitment to "keep under" his body and "bring it into subjection."
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Paul was clear that salvation takes place on the individual level. God saves individuals not families or nations. Although salvation is an individual decision, there are a variety of corporate results of my personal belief in Christ. One of them is that I am made a "partaker of the inheritance of the saints in light..." I now stand in a heritage of believing people that goes all the way back to the likes of David, Moses, and Abraham. What a privilege and responsibility! It becomes our sacred devotion then to "keep the faith" and "commit the same to faithful men."
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Most Christians understand they are the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. That is quite a privilege! But, as evidenced by the decreasing numbers of churchgoers in American, it seems few understand that when believers assemble, there is a special presence of God that is manifested. As Jesus said, "...where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:20) When believers assemble in the name of Jesus, Paul describes that assembly as "the body of Christ." This concept has the potential to radically transform the way we view church and reinstate the importance of church attendance and involvement back into our lives. When we understand that the church, in a mystical and yet practical way, is the body of the Son of God, it should awaken us to the depths of its importance.
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A relatively new philosophy called Intersectionality conceptually divides the entire population of the world into two categories: Oppressed and Oppressor. What determines which category you fall into? Your entire person is examined to find intersecting lines of privilege or oppression to determine your level of victimhood or privilege. You are by definition no longer judged according to the "content of your character" but your race, ethnicity, sexuality, gender, and socio-economic status. The implications of this idea are wreaking havoc on the Western world. Where did this idea come from and what is Christianity's solution to this problem? That's our topic in this week's episode.
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It is a sad fact that most churches struggle to recruit and retain volunteers. But it doesn't have to be that way. We can create a vibrant church culture that intrinsically rewards volunteering and keeps people coming back for more. But as staff or lay-leaders within the church, we must do our part to make serving meaningful, easy, and fulfilling. Jesus told us to "pray for labourers", and for good reason, but sometimes the reason why we lack adequate help is because there is a deficiency in our leadership. Whether you are a leader or servant in your church's ministry, this episode will help you understand what leaders and the volunteers who follow them should expect from each other.
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In this episode, we discuss how a Christian philosophy of decision-making. How do I decide which job to take or which career to pursue? What do I do when I have multiple good choices before me and I can't decide between them? The Bible provides us with a way of making decisions that can be applied to any circumstance. We just need to let righteousness direct our way.
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Truth has fallen in the street, as the prophet Isaiah said. Our culture is increasingly rejecting the concept of objective truth substituting a moral and epistemological relativity that is wrecking havoc on traditional norms and even our longstanding institutions. Today, the litmus test for what is true is not facts and figures, but feeling — or better said, personal experience. Unfortunately, some facets of Christianity are adopting these new ideas and adapting the Bible to them in some cases creating heresy. The culprit? Postmodern thinking. What is postmodernism? How did we get here and what can be done about it?
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God Himself said in Exodus 20:5, "I the LORD thy God am a jealous God..." Wait, isn't jealousy a sin? Celebrity and talk-show host Oprah Winfrey turned away from Christianity in part because of her inability to understand how God could be jealous and still be good. What does it mean when the Bible says that God is jealous? Is jealous always a sin? Is there a form of godly jealousy? How has the word "jealous" changed in its usage? We will cover all these questions and more in this week's episode!
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Many seem to think that Jesus invented the system of discipleship we see in the first century, but its development began far back into the Old Testament. This week we will study the history of discipleship in Jewish culture. From Ezra, to Elijah, to the shores of Galilee where Jesus called Peter and Andrew, the process by which Jewish discipleship came to be is fascinating and insightful. Understanding how someone became a rabbi or a disciple of one can help us understand what it meant to be one of the 12 disciples of Christ and in turn help us be a better disciple of Him today. We will learn that in the Jewish mind, the life of discipleship was not viewed as a sacrifice, but as a privilege.
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Why does the church exist? What is the foundational premise and purpose of church work? What does it mean when Paul says that the church should function as a body? In this episode, we take in an in-depth look into what ministry actually is, how it should function, and how to best perform our role within the body of Christ.
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In this episode, we will explore the relationship between the law of works and something Paul called, "law of faith." At first glance the words law and faith might seem to be contradictory. But the irony is that although faith is "not of the law", faith IS a law in itself. Paul clearly tells us that there is something he has termed, "the law of faith." What is that and what does it mean to us? To think of faith as a law is a revolutionary concept requiring us to change our perspective and confirms the certainty of our salvation.
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These four words —"the culture of myself"— have changed my life more than any other I've read. In this episode, I'll explain why. We will discuss why the Christian life is a call to continuous self-improvement and how if we want longevity, continual motivation, the ability to stay spiritually and physically healthy, all while meeting the demands of life and ministry, it will be only through a deep dedication to the development of our personal culture.
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As someone who has been in and around church work all my life, I'm aware of the demand of ministry. There are certain things that a pastor needs from his people and staff in order for him to do his job most effectively. But in some cases, it would be difficult or awkward for a pastor to communicate those needs directly. But in this episode, we are going to address what a good relationship between a pastor and his church should look like and specifically things that you and I can do as members, staff, or servants within the church to help our pastor as he leads the church.
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In this episode, we answer three questions in front of a live audience:
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Could the Anti-Christ be homosexual?
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Where do you see America in Bible prophecy?
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Is it actually easier to be a Christian in today's society?
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In the Age of the Influencer it's vital that we understand what true leadership looks like. The best leaders aren't primarily driven by the desire to have followers, but by a deep dedication to leading themselves properly regardless of who follows them. Daniel is a great example of someone who was not trying to gain a following, but simply lead himself in the way of the Lord. But in so doing, three Hebrew young men followed his example and in turn learned to lead themselves and changed an entire nation in the process. Daniel's self-leadership was contagious. That's the Daniel Effect.
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In this episode, Zack and Pastor Foote sit down to discuss the current state of Christianity in America. The church faces great difficulties in the 21st century with church attendance on the decline, religious faith waning, and woke culture on the rise. Is the American church equipped to handle these challenges or is the church soft? Is it all doom and gloom, or is there hope? Join Zack and Pastor Foote for an in depth conversation about the state of faith in America today.
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One of the things that separates humans from animals is their ability to acquire knowledge. Therefore, a failure to make decisions based upon a clear perception of the truth leads me to an animalistic life based upon impulses. But acquiring knowledge is difficult. It requires consistent effort. It's easier to make decision impulsively, and dress up our ignorance in Christian lingo like, "I just feel led to do this." Often our expression of leading are simply admissions of ignorance. This week, we will learn why we have a grave personal responsibility to consistently acquire knowledge because knowledge is the buffer between impulse and action.
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Solomon said that everything is vanity and vexation of spirit. Well, almost everything. The wisest man who ever lived only preached one sermon. It's theme? Why the human search for meaning and fulfillment is futile without God. This week, we will learn how Solomon was uniquely positioned to test every possible way of life "under the sun" and in so doing found all them void of fulfillment. Solomon concluded that only a deep devotion to "the whole duty of man" can satisfy his desire for meaning.
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We hear phrases like "Love is Love." or "Hate the sin, but love the sinner." all the time in our modern culture. But what exactly do we mean by love? The definition of love has suffered a slow degradation over the past many centuries and is now barely recognizable as such. The Bible provides us with a clear definition of love that must be reclaimed and given its rightful place in our vocabulary and life. In this episode we will attempt to draw a distinction between what most people assume love is, with what the Bible says love is in actuality.
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John perhaps knew Jesus better than any other disciple, but he had never seen him like this. When Jesus appeared to John in his vision in the Isle of Patmos, it struck fear deep into John's heart. He fell to the ground and was sure he was going to die. But Jesus placed his hand on John's shoulder and said, "Fear not, I am..." This week, we will discuss the relationship between the nature of Jesus and our fears and why although the full revelation of God would be something truly terrifying (and deadly) to fallen humanity, it is the contemplation of that same nature that is the remedy of our greatest fears.
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God's will is worth the wait! In this week's episode, we examine the lives of those who grew impatient in God's will and instead of waiting patiently on His direction, pressed forward without His blessing. As we will learn, getting ahead of God can lead to disastrous results. It's easy to grow impatient as we wait on the Lord, but we must trust His timing. Not every opportunity is from God and so we must approach each stage of life prayerfully and patiently taking special care to not get ahead of His will.
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Wisdom was revered as a principal virtue among the Jews. Unfortunately, our society has replaced wisdom with a milieu of lesser virtues, namely success or wealth. Job's friends got a lot wrong, but the youngest, Elihu was right when he said, "Great men are not always wise..." (Job 32:9) We have confused greatness with wisdom and to our own detriment. We must reclaim wisdom and place her upon her rightful pillar at the top of our society. To do this, we must first explore what wisdom is and isn't and how one is to acquire it.
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This week, we examine the story of Lot's wife and how it impacts us today. 2,000 years after her death Jesus invoked her story as a warning against turning back from the command of God. As her deep attachment to Sodom caused her to turn from God's command many today are divided in their hearts between the world and God's will and find themselves tempted to turn away from God. But lest we be tempted, once called to leave this world and sanctify ourselves, to turn back to our old life, let us first "Remember Lot's wife." This episode is an encouragement as well as a warning that should motivate us to press toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus and never look back.
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Sometimes our prayers go unanswered simply because we are too far away from God to pray effectively. In this episode, we will examine three stories in which men of God received the answers to their prayers simply because they first drew nigh unto God in close communion. The key to successful prayer is being so close to God that we can pray in hushed tones like John at the Lord's Supper table. Join us as we explore the importance of our proximity to the presence of God.
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Paul had written a harsh letter to the Corinthians. And although in the end, they repented and made things right, Paul worried at first that he had been too harsh. But he came to see that the Holy Spirit used his letter to introduce them to something he called, "godly sorrow." Paul takes the conception of sorrow and splits it into two categories: godly and worldly sorrow respectively. Paul explains why only godly sorrow pleases God and produces a changed life. In a world where many Christians seem to think that God never wants them to feel bad, it is important that we rediscover the truth of godly sorrow. In this episode, we will explain the difference between the two types of sorrow and why the sorrow worked in us by the Holy Spirit as a response to the Word of God is superior to the natural guilt worked in us by our carnal heart.
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It's myth busting time! One of the common idioms of our culture is, "You can be anything you want to be?" We will examine how the Myth of Endless Possibilities has created much anxiety in our culture and led to a lack of depth and specialization. The Apostle Paul stands as a stark contrast. He was an example of someone who narrowed himself and devoted himself to a single purpose as he "counted all things but loss that I may win Christ." Paul told the church at Philippi, "...this one thing I do...I press toward the mark." Paul had a single-mindedness and purpose that served him well. The Christian is called to narrow his focus by looking unto Jesus and avoid the common mistake of splintering himself into a thousand endless pursuits.
Text: Philippians 3:1-14
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Our culture is obsessed with being accepted. The lust for affirmation is the driving force behind many of our society's biggest changes and challenges. In this episode, we will explore our culture's fascination with being accepted and learn that at its core, this desire is a repackaging of Christian assumptions divorced from Christian morals. But Christianity offers a form of true transcendent acceptance that our society cannot provide for itself.
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Only 10% of Christians read their Bible every day. Many pastors, in an effort to encourage people to read their Bible more faithfully are often met with the response, "I read it, but I didn't get anything out of it." Why is that? Why aren't people reading their Bibles? And why are they struggling to understand what they read? In this episode, we will dive deep into this problem with the hopes of encouraging you in your relationship with God's Word.
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Daniel was an impressive man, but not for the reasons you might think. We have no mention of his height or looks, and yet everyone who came into contact with him was amazed. What was it that made Daniel different? It wasn't the degree of his talent, or merely the depth of his knowledge, but rather the excellence of his spirit. The difference between a good man and a great man is often the excellence of the great man's spirit. This week, we will examine how the spirit functions as a mediator and why it is vital that we, like Daniel, must have an excellent one.
Text: Daniel 5:12, 6:23, and Proverbs 17:27
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This week, I sat down with Evangelist Monte Watts Jr. to discuss his ministry and his amazing collection of ancient Bibles and rare manuscripts. We covered topics such as the preservation of Christian literature and history, the important of reading old books, how God has preserved His Word for us today, and the amazing story of his father's life and ministry, Dr. Monte Watts Sr.
To learn more about Monte Watts Jr. and his ministry, or to book him and his incredible collection of ancient Bibles at your church, click this link:
https://www.montewattsjr.com/
To order his father's amazing life story, "From An Iron Lung to a Pulpit", email your order to: monte@montewattsjr.com
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This week, we examine how we can identify, develop, and protect our spiritual gifts. Every believer has been given a measure of grace that enables them to do a unique work in the world, but that gift comes with great responsibility. Our gift is not a license to be lazy, but a calling to discipline ourselves that we might do everything we can for the cause of Christ. Join us as we find Joseph a model example of someone who lived in agreement with their gift that brought him before great men. Text: Genesis 41:16--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/zackevans/support
We examine one of the songs of Asaph found in the book of Psalms and learn how he struggled with and overcame the sin of envy. Asaph was a priest, prophet, and choir director for King David and Solomon, but when he compared his life with those the Scriptures deemed "wicked", he found himself envious of their prosperity. Why hadn't God judged them? Why did those who lived without God have great health and wealth? Why was he going without? Was the righteous life worth the sacrifice? These are questions every Christian struggles with. Join us to learn how Asaph overcame the sin of envy and rekindled his trust in God.
Text: Psalm 73
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We sit down with Brian Evans, pastor of the Oakwood Baptist Church in Flowery Branch, GA for a conversation about the roots of the Easter holiday. Is Easter a pagan holiday? Does the word Easter actually refer to the pagan goddess Ishtar? Should a Christian refrain from celebrating Easter entirely? Join us as we delve deep into this issue in this episode.
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Time is a limited resource and unfortunately we waste far more than we should. But how should we conceptualize the time that we have lost? Many Christians are plagued with constant guilt over lost time not knowing that it can be redeemed! This week, we will consider a Biblical perspective concerning our relationship with time.
Text: Ephesians 5:16
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In this episode, we tackle the topic of Christian liberty. In areas not specifically dealt with in Scripture, what are Christians free to do? Considering that we are not under the law of Moses, what should govern our actions? If the law does not constrain us, what does? To find the answer, we dive into Paul's explanation of Christian liberty found in Romans 14. We will learn that true Christian liberty is not found in what we can enjoy, but in what we can sacrifice. We are at liberty from the scruples of OT law, but we are bound to maintain peace with and establish the edification of our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Text: Romans 14:14-22
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This week we answer questions sent it by listeners! Here are some of the topics we will be covering in this episode:1. Should Christians drink alcohol?2. What's the best advice for a couple who knows they're going to get married? 3. Am I Biblically eligible to remarry as a divorced person? 4. How important is music in a worship service? 5. Are there different levels in Hell like in Dante's inferno?6. Do you think there are conscious organisms outside of Earth? Enjoy!--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/zackevans/support
Let's be honest, St. Patrick's Day is not associated with the Gospel in any way. But did you know that it's namesake was one of the world's greatest missionaries? Behind all the clover, leprechauns, and unfortunate debauchery, is the story of an amazing man greatly used of God. In this episode, we dive deep into the life of Patrick to learn how God used him to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the pagan country of Ireland.
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When Jeremiah pronounced God's judgment was coming to Israel, they protested and said, "For what? We don't worship idols like other generations did." God's response was stunning. "You have done worse than your fathers." What could possibly be worse than idol worship? What could Israel have done that made the horrific sins of Manasseh pail by comparison? And what if many of us are doing the same thing? This week, we will come to understand that there is a step beyond paganism— even further into the darkness of ignorance and sin. And although our modern society scoffs at those who worship gods made of wood and stone, the truth is, we are guilty of something far worse.
Text: Jeremiah 16:10-13
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Christians are called to Biblical transformation, not social conformity. But as the country preacher once said, "That's easy preaching, but hard living." The world is placing an increasing pressure on Christians to conform to secular society. So how do we navigate this issue? To answer this question, we will study the origins of Paul's letter to the Romans. The Gentile believers in Rome were shaken and few in numbers after the Jews' expulsion under the Emperor Claudius and could have easily been ashamed of their faith. But Paul admonished them to be bold and unashamed of the gospel in spite of the consequences. Modern Christians must make the same decision to transform into the image of Christ instead of conforming to the dictates of the world. Text: Romans 1:16, Romans 12:1-2--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/zackevans/support
In this episode, we will discuss how God triumphed over the false gods of the heathen world through Israel and the Exodus. He demonstrated in dramatic and powerful fashion that He was the true God. And yet, many who stood before Joshua as Israel prepared to enter the Promised Land still "thought it evil to serve the Lord." In spite of all they had seen and heard they were not convinced that God was worthy of their service. Joshua's appeal to them was "then choose you this day whom ye will serve." In other words, if not the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, then whom?
In the final analysis, a life of devotion to God is a voluntary choice that is not determined by my knowledge or experiences. And as we choose who or what has our life's devotion, we should ask ourselves this question, "If not God, then what's the alternative?"
Text: Joshua 24:14-15
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In this episode we will examine how David handled being misjudged, overlooked, and under appreciated. David kept working and preparing in the sheepfold when no one noticed or cared. We must do the same. We may not know God's purpose for us at the moment, but we trust there is one and it is for that purpose we must always be preparing even when we do not have an obvious reason or motivation to do so. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/zack-evans5/support
This week our episode will be a Q&A where we examine 4 questions:
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Is there an experience in your life, other than salvation, that helps explain who you are as a man of God today?
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What the most prominent thing in your experience that hurts the church more than anything else?
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Are ghosts real?
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My wife and I are about to become co-leaders in our Young Adult class, and I'm wondering if you have any words of wisdom for that age group? Any advice or book recommendations, etc.
We had many questions that we did not have time to get to, but will add them to the next Q&A episode! Thanks for listening!
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Have you or someone you know struggled with assurance of salvation? I've talked with so many people over the years who have privately felt so much unrest and worry concerning the validity of their salvation experience. This week on The Zack Evans Podcast we will wrestle with the topic of assurance. We will show that many people looking for assurance are searching in all the wrong places, or as John Bunyan would put it—they are using the wrong key to unlock the prison of doubt.
Text: 1 Corinthians 15:1-2
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What is the conscience? Most of us would struggle to provide a sufficient definition of a word so common in our social vocabulary. In this episode we will explore what the conscience is, how it functions, and why Paul says that a failure to hold tightly to your faith AND a good conscience can result in a shipwrecked life. Text: 1 Timothy 1:18-20--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/zack-evans5/support
In this episode we will discuss the idea that prayer is a conversation where we learn to properly introspect ourselves, articulate our desires, and clarify our requests that we might receive the good God intends for us to have. Our failure to receive good from God is a practical one in most cases that rests in the fact that we have not adjusted our prayer to conform to God's definition of good. God is a loving Father who earnestly desires the best for His children if only we would ask for it! In this episode, we will learn how to do just that. Text: Matthew 7:1-12
In this episode, I talk about why we feel the need to make New Year's Resolutions and why we so often fail to uphold them. The idea of New Year's Resolutions is grounded in our experience of time relative to the existence of the social calendar. But calendars and deadlines fail to provide a consistent source of motivation. Through Christ we can experience the truest motivation for personal change and be equipped with the means of achieving it.