The Living Waters Podcast

On today’s episode, the guys tackle the topic of the fear of the Lord. The Bible is soaked in promises to those who fear the Lord. Through this fear of the Lord, men depart from evil. Today, the distinction between the creature and the Creator is falling apart, and many people have a nonchalant attitude towards God as their casual friend.  Ultimately, fear is not a bad thing. It is recognizing that something has power over us, and finding comfort in that fact. How do we distinguish fearing God vs. fearing damnation? For the Christian, fear of God does not involve terror or dread, but rather awe, respect, wonder and reverence. The first mention of the fear of God is in Genesis 22. When we fear God, we are actively putting him first above all else. In the culture we live in now, some people may argue that we can’t have a healthy relationship with a God we’re supposed to fear.  However, God saw the fullness of our sins, and still he loved us and made us His own. Our relationship with him is based on the reality of that, what we deserve and how He responded. The beginning of our relationship with God is not fear, but grace, as he made the ultimate sacrifice for us.  As Christians, it’s not just about the fear of God alone, but uncovering how to put the fear of God in the unGodly. Law without punishment is nothing but good advice. It’s crucial that we fear God in order to prepare ourselves for the wrath to come at the cross. It is the realization of who God is and the kindness he has exhibited. As we grow in our relationship with God, we realize that we are smaller than we ever thought, and his power is even greater. We can tell if someone fears God by what they do in private and how they react when they sin. While our fear should hold us back in times of temptation, it shouldn’t end there.  Thanks for listening! If you’ve been helped by this podcast, we’d be grateful if you’d consider leaving us a 5-star review, and we’ll see you next time!  Links:Visit the Living Waters website to learn more.Send us a textThanks for listening! If you’ve been helped by this podcast, we’d be grateful if you’d consider subscribing, sharing, and leaving us a comment and 5-star rating! Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!You can find helpful counseling resources at biblicalcounseling.com.Check out The Evidence Study Bible and the Basic Training Course.You can connect with us at podcast@livingwaters.com. We're thankful for your input!Learn more about the hosts of this podcast.Ray ComfortEmeal (“E.Z.”) ZwayneMark SpenceOscar Navarro

Returning guest, Dr. Owen Strachan, joins us for today’s conversation in answering the question, what is the problem with transgenderism? What is at stake here? After chatting about beards, they jump into their conversation with guest Dr. Strachan, the Provost and Research Professor of Theology at Grace Bible Theological Seminary in Arkansas, along with being a Senior-fellow with Family Research Council (FRC). Dr. Strachan has written a number of books, with one being particularly applicable to today’s conversation—What Does the Bible Teach about Transgenderism?How big of an issue is this facing the church today? Learn about the broader issue of destabilizing the divine design God established in Genesis and where the sinful heart of man ends up. Is there a culpability in silence on this issue? What is the responsibility of pastors and shepherds in considering and addressing this issue? They address all these issues and more.Taking a step back, Ray asks Dr. Strachan to explore how we got to where we are. They chat about Truman’s The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self. While rejecting the doctrine of creation and embracing ungodly beliefs, the normalization of different things like homosexuality and transgenderism has become reality. Listen to their explanation of what the theological problem is with transgenderism. God is above and beyond man, but man is constantly seeking to be on the level of God. Learn about God’s glory in our manhood and womanhood, and the created-creature distinction—the stakes are high, this is not a trivial issue.Ray asks Dr. Strachan to get practical with how this looks in real-life issues. What do you say to the parents dealing with this? How do you walk through children grappling with these issues? They address the shame and self-discrimination that can surround these issues. Learn about the wild, rebellious heart that is always an offense to God. Rejecting the will and design of God brings an appropriate level of grief. Pray and work to live in grace and truth. Learn about what it means to truly love your neighbor. Mantra is a powerful tool to shift one’s outlook. Listen as they discuss the impacts and effects of mantra as conveyed through repetition of practice. Unfiltered entertainment is impacting the next generation and the repetition of what is being seen is determining what the people believe is normal and right. They touch on the underlying worldview in movies like Frozen. Learn to teach discernment to your children for both movies and music. Who is catechizing your children?As the conversation draws to a close, Ray asks, "Where does society go if weSend us a textThanks for listening! If you’ve been helped by this podcast, we’d be grateful if you’d consider subscribing, sharing, and leaving us a comment and 5-star rating! Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!You can find helpful counseling resources at biblicalcounseling.com.Check out The Evidence Study Bible and the Basic Training Course.You can connect with us at podcast@livingwaters.com. We're thankful for your input!Learn more about the hosts of this podcast.Ray ComfortEmeal (“E.Z.”) ZwayneMark SpenceOscar Navarro

On today’s episode featuring guest Dr. Owen Strachan, the guys tackle a subject which is a major issue confronting the church today: homexuality. Many of us have become desensitized in terms of the severity of this problem and have adopted the mentality of the world towards it. Owen is coauthor of the book What Does the Bible Teach About Homosexuality?, and is here to discuss his perspective on the matter. Homosexuality is not just a sin that people commit, but has become a highly honored identity in our society. This identity, however, leads to destruction and everlasting judgment. They denounce the idea that the attraction is not the problem, but rather the action on it. The desire for somebody of your same sex is profoundly anti-God, anti-creation and anti-Divine Design.  God gave us our sexual identity as part of our human nature, but it is not the biggest factor in our identity, as society often makes it out to be. There is no shame in divine design. Owen explains that when you take image of the human person, and replace God with sexual preference, you have effectively tried to remake the human person. The agenda of Christians should be to prepare others for their meeting with God. As Christians, we are urged not to attack someone’s homosexuality right away, but rather address a different sin which they are more willing to discuss. A Christian who truly wants to walk with God takes His whole inventory without pointing fingers. It’s important for us to realize where non-Christians come from.  Listen as the guys stress the importance of instilling the Scripture in our own children before they go off into the world on their own. Owen shares how people who experience same sex attraction can cease their sin and align themselves with the Word of God. Crucify your ungodly desires and pray for godly desires to take their place. Finally, he retells a successful conversation he had with a pro-homosexual pastor and highlights the fact that our proclamation of the truth to people who hate what we share is the ultimate act of love.  Thanks for listening! If you’ve been helped by this podcast, we’d be grateful if you’d consider leaving us a 5-star review, and we’ll see you next time! Links:Visit the Living Waters website to learn more.  Find out more about What Does the Bible Teach About Homosexuality?. Send us a textThanks for listening! If you’ve been helped by this podcast, we’d be grateful if you’d consider subscribing, sharing, and leaving us a comment and 5-star rating! Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!You can find helpful counseling resources at biblicalcounseling.com.Check out The Evidence Study Bible and the Basic Training Course.You can connect with us at podcast@livingwaters.com. We're thankful for your input!Learn more about the hosts of this podcast.Ray ComfortEmeal (“E.Z.”) ZwayneMark SpenceOscar Navarro

On today’s episode, the guys tackle the difficult topics of Critical Race Theory and Wokeness. Dr. Owen Strachan is the author of Reenchanting Humanity: A Theology of Mankind. A systematic theology professor at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, he is the director of the Center for Public Theology, director of the Residency PhD program, and host of the City of God podcast. Critical Race Theory is the academic theory that seeks to uncover racial power dynamics in a community and how they can be solved through social justice. This thinking comes out of a Marxist framing of oppression. Owen believes it’s coming back to the forefront because of big tech and social media. Acts 17:26 shows us we come from one man, Adam. We all have far more in common than we have differences. When you come to know Christ, you are one family, united under him. Christians can create a framework for themselves to see injustices through Biblical justice. Owen says this is through advancing the equality of opportunity and holding evil doers to account. The world thinks differently than we do, and Christians believe that humans have intrinsic value because they are image bearers.  Ultimately, wokeness teaches you that oppression is inherent in our society and we are at odds with each other. You cannot achieve peace under this theology. Owen argues that the only way to achieve peace and unity is through Christ. He explains that under the Gospel, we are all equally liable for sin and what we need is absolution through Christ. Christians should be a group of people offering costly forgiveness to their communities. What others should see from our witness is a transformed heart and life.  Thanks for listening! If you’ve been helped by this podcast, we’d be grateful if you’d consider leaving us a 5-star review, and we’ll see you next time!  Links:Visit the Living Waters website to learn more.  Lear more about Dr. Owen Strachan Send us a textThanks for listening! If you’ve been helped by this podcast, we’d be grateful if you’d consider subscribing, sharing, and leaving us a comment and 5-star rating! Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!You can find helpful counseling resources at biblicalcounseling.com.Check out The Evidence Study Bible and the Basic Training Course.You can connect with us at podcast@livingwaters.com. We're thankful for your input!Learn more about the hosts of this podcast.Ray ComfortEmeal (“E.Z.”) ZwayneMark SpenceOscar Navarro

On today’s episode, the guys tackle a topic which was suggested by a listener: anxiety and how to grow in our relationship with God. They begin by discussing the realm of trials as believers, or the moments when we feel our life is falling apart because of anxiety, stress, financial problems, health issues, etc. We are living in a world full of difficulties and trials, but still can grow with the Lord regardless. Maintaining our composure is not just about surviving but thriving.  We start off hearing the verse Romans 8:28. As a believer, we know that things are not falling apart, but rather falling into place. If God is not worried, we should not worry either. Ray shares his own experience of having panic attacks and how he healed himself by trusting in God. It's important to recognize where our anxiety comes from and why it happens when it does. To rest our anxiety, we need to rest in God. Sometimes, we are so fearing the future and regretting the past, that we are paralyzed by the present. We should remember that all we have is the present, which we can always handle. If we focus on sin and failure, we are not proactively walking with the Lord. Grief and lament are important to experience at the outset of a traumatic situation, and God has given us this as means of release. However, pressing on and learning to look to the Lord in those moments allows him to work within our spirit. Godly lament never leads to sin.  Wrapping up today’s episode, the guys answer questions sent in by listeners. Don’t miss their advice on being single, God’s intent when creating us, the spiritual realm as it relates to negative emotion, when to share the gospel, what to look for when joining a church and more!  Thanks for listening! If you’ve been helped by this podcast, we’d be grateful if you’d consider leaving us a 5-star review, and we’ll see you next time! Links:Visit the Living Waters website to learn more.  Send us a textThanks for listening! If you’ve been helped by this podcast, we’d be grateful if you’d consider subscribing, sharing, and leaving us a comment and 5-star rating! Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!You can find helpful counseling resources at biblicalcounseling.com.Check out The Evidence Study Bible and the Basic Training Course.You can connect with us at podcast@livingwaters.com. We're thankful for your input!Learn more about the hosts of this podcast.Ray ComfortEmeal (“E.Z.”) ZwayneMark SpenceOscar Navarro

On today’s episode, the guys tackle the topic of Godly marriages. To begin, each of them share how long they have been married. As we see it, marriage is in bigger trouble in America than ever before. As Christian men, we are commanded to love our wives the way Christ loved the church, unconditionally and sacrificially. The best thing we can do for our spouse is to submit to the Lord ourselves. Marriages shouldn’t be likened to a competitive rate, but a relay race in which you work together. Realizing that our spouse is not responsible for our sins is critical. Theology of love is the recognition that when you meet someone, you fall in love with who God has created them to be. The greatest commandment is to focus your life on loving God and loving others. Marriages walk by faith, rather than by sight. It’s a good thing to continually ask good questions and really listen to each other. Having intentional time to spend together is what will keep your marriage alive.   When you make a covenant with God on your wedding day, God transcendently meets you there and makes a commitment with you to your marriage. For couples experiencing drought in their relationship, you are encouraged to look towards the cross. Being involved with the church and admitting our sins honestly will help to edify a marriage. Your friends should agree that marriage comes first, and should feel comfortable challenging your wrongdoings regarding your spouse. God has given us different roles for order, husbands are required to lead and wives are called to submit to their husbands and we submit to the Lord before all else. Similarly, husband and wife are equal in value, worth and capability. In closing, we are urged to humble ourselves in the presence of our spouse.  Thanks for listening! If you’ve been helped by this podcast, we’d be grateful if you’d consider leaving us a 5-star review, and we’ll see you next time! Links:Visit the Living Waters website to learn more.  Send us a textThanks for listening! If you’ve been helped by this podcast, we’d be grateful if you’d consider subscribing, sharing, and leaving us a comment and 5-star rating! Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!You can find helpful counseling resources at biblicalcounseling.com.Check out The Evidence Study Bible and the Basic Training Course.You can connect with us at podcast@livingwaters.com. We're thankful for your input!Learn more about the hosts of this podcast.Ray ComfortEmeal (“E.Z.”) ZwayneMark SpenceOscar Navarro

On today’s episode, the guys tackle the topic of the power of God’s word. In Ray’s experience, when you are saved, God’s word leaves you in a never ending honeymoon phase. Value impacts behavior and when we value Christ, we understand that His word is direct communication to us. According to 2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, instruction and righteousness that the man of God may be fully equipped for every good word.” Many Christians who find themselves at a shipwrecked point in their lives end up there because they have strayed from God’s instructions. The same words which spoke the earth into existence are found in our Bibles.  Then, the guys reflect on the importance of reading the Bible every single day, without fail. We often forget that we are soldiers of Christ and our food is His word. Meditate on His word and let that be your nutrients for the day ahead. Even in Christianity, there is a massive issue with Biblical illiteracy. The Bible isn’t just there for occasional reference, but is an opportunity for us to spend time with God. God’s word is an acquired taste and requires discipline and time spent with it to develop the taste. If you are unfamiliar with the Bible, you are encouraged to pick a small book as a starting point and really familiarize yourself with it. Christ is our hope, and without Christ or the desire for His word, we are hopeless. The “care” method for Biblical literacy helps participants comprehend, analyze, reform and enjoy God’s word.  Thanks for listening! If you’ve been helped by this podcast, we’d be grateful if you’d consider leaving us a 5-star review, and we’ll see you next time!  Links:Visit the Living Waters website to learn more.  Send us a textThanks for listening! If you’ve been helped by this podcast, we’d be grateful if you’d consider subscribing, sharing, and leaving us a comment and 5-star rating! Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!You can find helpful counseling resources at biblicalcounseling.com.Check out The Evidence Study Bible and the Basic Training Course.You can connect with us at podcast@livingwaters.com. We're thankful for your input!Learn more about the hosts of this podcast.Ray ComfortEmeal (“E.Z.”) ZwayneMark SpenceOscar Navarro

On today’s episode, the guys tackle the topic of forgiveness. They speculate that unwillingness to forgive arises from us thinking of ourselves as mini Gods. However, we should each remember that we are not Gods, but sinners among sinners. God commands us to be in a perpetual state of forgiveness. If we don’t forgive, we will not be forgiven. In the end, God is the justifier of sin, so we are released from carrying out justice. Forgiveness is to not hold someone in a place where they are in debt to you for their actions. Forgiveness is not reconciliation or lack of consequence. We can move forward with God’s help, though we still may carry a scar with us.  Acknowledging the heaviness of sin is the first stage of forgiveness. The way to true forgiveness is remembering how Christ has forgiven us. Unforgiveness is a hypocritical act detested by the Lord. Many people struggle with small, daily sins just as much as the big ones. Forgiveness is at the heart of the gospel and is to be a defining characteristic of every believer. Unforgiveness can turn to bitterness where we can’t receive a blessing from God. In closing, it is reiterated that we are a byproduct of the gospel. When we keep an eye on the cross, we can experience the freedom of willing ourselves to forgiveness.   Thanks for listening! If you’ve been helped by this podcast, we’d be grateful if you’d consider leaving us a 5-star review, and we’ll see you next time! Links:Visit the Living Waters website to learn more.  Send us a textThanks for listening! If you’ve been helped by this podcast, we’d be grateful if you’d consider subscribing, sharing, and leaving us a comment and 5-star rating! Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!You can find helpful counseling resources at biblicalcounseling.com.Check out The Evidence Study Bible and the Basic Training Course.You can connect with us at podcast@livingwaters.com. We're thankful for your input!Learn more about the hosts of this podcast.Ray ComfortEmeal (“E.Z.”) ZwayneMark SpenceOscar Navarro

A lot of people make a big deal about Christmas every year, while others can't wait until it's over. The guys discuss the different dynamics fueling both the naysayers and the YAY!!! sayers, and then address the matter from a biblical perspective.Send us a textThanks for listening! If you’ve been helped by this podcast, we’d be grateful if you’d consider subscribing, sharing, and leaving us a comment and 5-star rating! Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!You can find helpful counseling resources at biblicalcounseling.com.Check out The Evidence Study Bible and the Basic Training Course.You can connect with us at podcast@livingwaters.com. We're thankful for your input!Learn more about the hosts of this podcast.Ray ComfortEmeal (“E.Z.”) ZwayneMark SpenceOscar Navarro

Today, the hosts talk amongst themselves about a topic that brings with it many common misunderstandings: the topic of good works.  Some religious groups, such as Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses, teach that good works are a means by which a person can try to earn salvation.  At the same time, it is all too common for Christians to embrace either legalism or antinomianism, placing either too much or not enough importance on good works.  Thinking well about good works as a Christian requires keeping two theological categories in mind: justification and sanctification.  When a person becomes a Christian, that person is declared “not guilty” before God once and for all; God saves the person monergistically, by grace through faith.  However, the person is saved into the process of sanctification, the synergistic process by which one grows to be more like Jesus.  As this process goes on, the Christian is able to do good works, and should be zealous to do so out of gratitude and a sense of the fittingness of doing good.  As branches on the Vine (Jesus!), Christians will naturally produce grapes (good works!), and they will be driven by the worthiness of God to do the good works He has prepared for them.These two categories of justification and sanctification must be linked, but not confused with one another.  Otherwise, we lose sight of the glorious truth of the gospel!  Not only that, but we lose a great tool in the work of evangelism.  After all, as the hosts’ stories testify, Christians doing good works (especially not out of any need to earn something) has an effect on recipients.  It silences the foolish talk of evildoers, and even draws people to glorify God.Thanks for listening and see you next time!Links:Visit the Living Waters website to learn more.  Send us a textThanks for listening! If you’ve been helped by this podcast, we’d be grateful if you’d consider subscribing, sharing, and leaving us a comment and 5-star rating! Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!You can find helpful counseling resources at biblicalcounseling.com.Check out The Evidence Study Bible and the Basic Training Course.You can connect with us at podcast@livingwaters.com. We're thankful for your input!Learn more about the hosts of this podcast.Ray ComfortEmeal (“E.Z.”) ZwayneMark SpenceOscar Navarro