April 22, 2025

099: Zach Zehnder on How Important Happiness Actually Is, What We’ve Gotten Wrong with Giving, and What Jesus Says About Saving and Storing

1 hour 6 minutes

Zach Zehnder is a husband, father, author, 4th-gen pastor, and speaker. He founded Red Letter Living and wrote the bestselling Red Letter Challenge. Since 2018, he's authored 10 books, including his newest book coming this Fall Giving Challenge. He serves as Teaching Pastor and Multisite Director at King of Kings, Omaha, NE. To learn more about the podcast or access the show notes, visit www.redletterpodcast.com.

Today’s episode is brought to you by Red Letter Living, particularly our newest 40-day book and sermon series called Giving Challenge. This Fall, on October 5, 2025, we are launching this new 40-day series worldwide, and we’d love for your church to get in. To find out more information, to join the first wave, to order some books, and stay up-to-date, visit www.redlettergiving.com.

This 40-day challenge will inspire generosity in your church, and it is well worth your investment. Disciples of Jesus are generous and this book will feature how each one of us can become generous like Jesus. Along with the books come a sermon series, a small group series, kids books, weekly kids Sunday School or kids church curriculum, graphics, and so much more. All of it is available, get in now, at www.redlettergiving.com and let this Fall be the season where the generosity of Jesus is unleashed in your church! Have questions? Email us at [email protected].

Resources mentioned in the episode:

Giving Challenge Information

Giving Challenge Interest Form

Red Letter Disciple

The Cloisters on the Platte

Happy Money by Elizabeth Dunn

True Riches by John Cortines and Gregory Baumer

Drew Formsma Ep 98 Podcast (need link)

Key insights from the episode:

A relationship is more complicated than a percentage. - Pastor Zach Zehnder

The way you use your money can bring happiness. - Pastor Zach Zehnder

Donating money creates a similar amount of happiness as doubling your income. - Pastor Zach Zehnder

Some of the happiest kids live in the poorest neighborhoods. - Pastor Chris Johnson

Zach Zehnder’s Challenge: Pray about generosity and then be generous!

Are you following Jesus?

Many want to be greater followers of Jesus but don’t know how. We extensively studied everything Jesus commanded of us and located five key targets to which Jesus invited His followers. The five targets are Being, Forgiving, Serving, Giving, and Going.

In partnership with LifeWay Research, we created a Red Letter Challenge Assessment that will measure you according to these five targets. And the best news of all: it’s free! You will receive your results immediately and be presented with the next steps to help you become an even greater follower of Jesus.

This is another Hurrdat Media Production. Hurrdat Media is a podcast network and digital media production company based in Omaha, NE. Find more podcasts on the Hurrdat Media Network by going to HurrdatMedia.com or the Hurrdat Media YouTube channel!

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