Are you living for God’s approval—or resting in His grace?

In today’s episode of the Shepnaz Podcast, Pastor Zack is joined by Pastor Rob Paugh as they continue our Galatians series (Part 2). Together, they unpack Paul’s strong warning against legalism—the belief that we earn or maintain God’s favor by following rules rather than trusting what Jesus has already done.This conversation tackles:

• What legalism really is (and why it’s so appealing)
• Why false teaching is spiritually dangerous
• How grace—not performance—leads to peace
• How to protect yourself and your family from distorted gospel messages
• Why Scripture must always be our final authority

This episode is a freeing reminder that God’s pleasure is not based on your performance—but on Christ’s finished work.

👉 Learn more about Shepherd Church: https://shepnaz.org
🎧 Catch past episodes: https://shepnaz.org/podcast
📺 Watch & listen weekly on YouTube and all podcast platforms💬 We’d love to hear from you!
Email us at [email protected] with questions or thoughts.✅ Don’t forget to subscribe, comment, and share this episode with someone who needs encouragement today.

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 – Welcome & Episode Setup
00:40 – Why Paul Wrote Galatians
01:41 – What Is Legalism?
02:23 – Grace vs. Performance-Based Faith
03:12 – The Weight of Man-Made Rules
04:37 – Can You Earn God’s Favor?
05:54 – Modern-Day Legalism in the Church
06:27 – God’s Pleasure Is Not Based on Performance
07:40 – Why the Galatians Were Vulnerable
08:37 – Paul’s Strong Words About False Teachers
10:38 – Why False Teaching Is So Dangerous
12:30 – What You Believe Shapes How You Live
14:23 – How to Guard Yourself from Deception
15:37 – Humility, Scripture, and Spiritual Anchors
16:25 – Turning Beliefs into Convictions
19:37 – Community, Parenting, and Authentic Faith
21:31 – Final Challenge & Encouragement

Are we slowly drifting from the true gospel without even realizing it?

In today’s episode of the Shepnaz Podcast, Pastor Zack is joined by Pastor Rob Paugh to unpack Galatians 1 and Paul’s strong warning against adding anything to the gospel of grace. As false teachers pressured early Christians to return to law and works, Paul was astonished—and heartbroken.

Together, we explore:

• Why adding rules to grace distorts the gospel
• How legalism creeps into modern Christianity
• Why people leave the church (and sometimes faith entirely)
• What it means to stay rooted in the freedom Jesus offers

This conversation is honest, pastoral, and deeply relevant for today’s church.
The Shepnaz Podcast is a weekday podcast from Shepherd Church of the Nazarene in Gahanna, Ohio—helping you grow deeper in faith and understanding of Scripture.

🔗 Learn more about our church: Shepnaz Church
🎧 Watch & listen to more episodes: Shepnaz Media📩 Have questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, like, comment, and share—and let us know how this episode encouraged you.

Chapters

00:00 – Welcome & Introduction01:30 – Overview of Galatians & Paul’s Concern03:30 – “I Am Astonished” – Why Paul Is Shocked05:25 – Deserting the Gospel Too Easily07:40 – Apostasy & Walking Away from Faith10:15 – Why People Leave the Church Today12:30 – Leaving Church vs. Leaving God14:10 – Adding to the Gospel: A Dangerous Shift16:05 – No Other Gospel—Only a Distortion18:00 – Distortion, Legalism, and Lost Freedom19:20 – Final Encouragement & Invitation

Today on the Shepnaz Podcast, Pastor Zack is joined by Pastor Nick and Tommy to debrief Made For More Sunday—a powerful reminder that following Jesus is about more than attending church. It’s about being the Church.

From landscaping projects to simple acts of kindness, this episode highlights how God uses ordinary obedience to make an extraordinary impact. Tommy shares his firsthand experience serving in the Johnstown community and how serving alongside others deepened relationships and faith.If you’ve ever felt unsure about church, disconnected, or unqualified—this conversation is for you.

👉 Learn more about Shepherd Church: https://shepnaz.org
🎧 Explore more episodes: https://shepnaz.org/podcast
📺 Watch & listen anytime: https://shepnaz.org/media💬 We’d love to hear from you!
Email us at [email protected]
Don’t forget to subscribe, comment, and share this episode with someone who needs encouragement.

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 – Welcome to the Shepnaz Podcast00:45 – What Was “Made For More Sunday”?01:26 – The Heart Behind Serving the Community02:27 – Tommy’s Firsthand Serving Experience03:23 – Landscaping, Teamwork & Poison Ivy Stories05:25 – Why Small Acts Matter So Much06:50 – Breaking the “Church Is a Country Club” Myth08:03 – A Church That Welcomes Broken People09:42 – God Redeems the Past & Changes the Future11:16 – Why Serving Is More Fulfilling Than Self-Focus12:42 – Community, Pizza, and Shared Mission14:24 – You Don’t Have to Wait to Be Jesus to Someone15:13 – Obedience Over Qualification16:33 – Final Encouragement: Be the Hands & Feet of Jesus

What if church wasn’t just something you attended—but something you lived?

On today’s episode of the Shepnaz Podcast, Pastor Zack sits down with Pastor Nick and Pastor Noah to talk about Made for More Sunday—a powerful, non-traditional Sunday where Shepherd Church gathered to worship and then went out into the community to serve in practical, Christ-centered ways.

From free gas and flowers at Kroger, to PB&J meals for the homeless, to landscaping for a neighbor in need, this conversation highlights how small acts of obedience can make an eternal difference. It’s a reminder that following Jesus doesn’t stop after one hour on Sunday—it continues into the other 96% of our week.

👉 Learn more about Shepherd Church: shepnaz.org
🎙️ Explore more podcast episodes: shepnaz.org/podcast
📩 Email us your thoughts or questions: [email protected]If this episode encouraged you:

• ✅ Subscribe to the channel
• 💬 Drop a comment
• 🔁 Share it with someone who needs encouragement

4️⃣ Chapters

00:00 – Welcome & Why This Episode Is Different00:50 – What Is “Made for More Sunday”?01:52 – Ephesians 2:10 & the Heart Behind the Theme02:39 – The 7 Community Service Projects Explained04:00 – Worship Before We Went Out to Serve04:40 – How the Church Responded06:11 – Stories From the Community07:29 – Why Small Acts Matter09:12 – Faith Is More Than One Hour a Week10:43 – 4% in Church, 96% in the World11:26 – Teaser for Tomorrow’s Volunteer Story

What do you do when you show up to worship… but you don’t feel anything?

On this Worship Wednesday episode of the Shepnaz Podcast, Pastor Zack is joined by Pastor Noah for an honest and deeply encouraging conversation about worshiping God beyond emotions. Together, they explore what it means to remain faithful when the goosebumps fade, the tears stop, and God feels silent.Using Psalm 19 and Habakkuk 3, this episode reminds us that worship isn’t about feelings—it’s about faith, humility, and honesty before God. Whether you’re a worship leader, churchgoer, or someone walking through a dry season, this conversation will encourage you to keep showing up and trusting the goodness of God.

📖 Key themes include:

• Worshiping when you don’t “feel” God
• The danger of equating emotions with God’s presence
• Honest prayer and purity in worship
• Aligning the words of our mouth with the meditation of our heart
• Rejoicing in God even when the fig tree doesn’t blossom

👉 Learn more about Shepherd Church: shepnaz.org
🎙️ Watch or listen to more episodes: shepnaz.org/podcast💬 We’d love to hear from you!
Email us at [email protected]
👍 Like, subscribe, comment, and share to help us reach our community for Jesus.

The Shepnaz Podcast is a daily weekday podcast, available on YouTube and all major podcast platforms.

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 – Welcome to Worship Wednesday01:10 – Icebreaker: The Penguin in the Freezer03:00 – Pickles, Chaos, and Community05:20 – Worshiping When You Don’t Feel Like It06:45 – When God Feels Silent in Worship07:40 – Reading Psalm 1909:30 – Honesty & Purity in Worship11:30 – Worship Is Not About Feelings13:10 – Humility, Pride, and Perspective14:40 – Words of Our Mouth vs. Heart Meditation16:40 – God Can Handle Our Honesty17:25 – Habakkuk: Rejoicing Without the Fruit19:10 – Encouragement for Dry Seasons20:25 – Final Challenge & Prayer Invitation

On today’s episode of the Shepnaz Podcast, Pastor Zack is joined by Pastor Rob Paugh for a deeper dive into Galatians 1:1–5—continuing the conversation from Sunday’s sermon.

Why does Paul skip encouragement and jump straight into correction? What does it really mean when he opens with “grace and peace”? And why is getting the gospel right so important for the life of the Church?

This conversation unpacks:

• Paul’s authority as an apostle
• The danger of adding works to the gospel
• Grace as the source of salvation and peace as the result
• Why false teaching steals assurance and freedom

Whether you’re new to Galatians or studying it deeply, this episode will help you better understand the true gospel and why it matters today.

👉 Learn more about Shepherd Church: shepnaz.org
🎙 Watch & listen to more episodes: shepnaz.org/podcast
📺 Full media archive: shepnaz.org/media💬 We’d love to hear from you! Email us at [email protected]
✅ Subscribe, comment, and share to help others grow in God’s Word

⏱ Chapters

00:00 – Welcome & Episode Setup00:23 – Why Galatians Matters01:22 – Paul’s Shocked Tone (“I’m Astonished”)02:35 – A Perfect Parenting Illustration03:17 – What Does “Apostle” Really Mean?04:07 – Paul’s Authority Comes from Jesus05:25 – Answering Critics of Paul07:10 – “All the Brothers With Me”08:08 – Why Paul Says “Grace and Peace”09:14 – Grace as the Source, Peace as the Result10:15 – Works vs. Grace Explained10:52 – A One-Sentence Summary of the Gospel12:14 – Why Small Passages Matter13:04 – Encouragement to Read Scripture

Today on the Shepnaz Podcast, Pastor Zack sits down with Pastor Rob to kick off a powerful conversation through the book of Galatians. Together, they explore the historical context of Paul’s letter, why it was written, and why its message is just as relevant today as it was in the first century.

This episode dives into:

• Paul’s background as a Pharisee and persecutor of the church
• The cultural and religious confusion surrounding the Galatian churches
• Why Galatians is considered the Bible’s strongest argument against legalism
• The difference between faith in Christ and rule-based religion

Galatians reminds us that our relationship with God is built on grace through faith, not religious performance. If you’ve ever struggled with legalism, confusion about faith, or spiritual pressure, this conversation is for you.

👉 Learn more about Shepherd Church: https://www.shepnaz.org
🎧 Watch or listen to more episodes: https://www.shepnaz.org/podcast
📺 Media archive: https://www.shepnaz.org/media

💬 We’d love to hear from you! Email us at [email protected]
👍 Subscribe, comment, and share this episode with someone who needs encouragement today.

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 – Welcome to the Shepnaz Podcast00:42 – Why Galatians (and why now?)01:15 – Paul’s background: Pharisee to follower of Jesus04:04 – The problem Galatians addresses06:19 – Who the Galatian churches were09:36 – Old covenant vs. the gospel of grace11:29 – Jews, Gentiles, and church tension13:23 – False teachers and legalism17:14 – Religious pluralism in Galatia19:17 – Why Galatians still matters today21:16 – Defining legalism clearly22:45 – Final encouragement & invitation

Today on the Shepnaz Podcast, Pastor Zack hosts Part 2 of Pastor Nick’s powerful message from the book of Exodus. In this final teaching, we’re confronted with the dangers of wandering hearts, impatience with God’s timing, and misplaced trust — and we’re reminded of the incredible hope we have in a God who is both holy and compassionate.

Pastor Nick walks us through the golden calf moment in Exodus, showing how God’s people wandered, how Moses stood in the gap, and how this story ultimately points us to Jesus — our true Mediator and Savior.
At the end of the episode, Pastor Nick joins Pastor Zack in the studio for a conversation and a look ahead to Made For More Sunday and what it means to truly be the hands and feet of Jesus.Key themes in this episode:

• Wandering impatience and misplaced trust
• God’s holiness and compassion held together
• Moses as an intercessor — and Jesus as the greater One
• Circumcising our hearts and surrendering fully to God
• Living as holy people who are wholly the Lord’s

👉 Learn more about Shepherd Church: https://shepnaz.org
🎧 Find more episodes: https://shepnaz.org/podcast
📺 Watch & share messages: https://shepnaz.org/media

📩 Questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]If this episode encouraged you, subscribe, leave a comment, and share it with someone who needs hope today.

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 – Welcome & Friday Introduction (Pastor Zack)00:44 – Exodus Series Recap & Part 2 Setup01:11 – God’s Call to Holiness02:27 – The Golden Calf & God’s Righteous Anger03:49 – God Is Both Just and Compassionate04:47 – Moses Stands in the Gap06:16 – A Better Intercessor Is Coming07:01 – Jesus, Our Perfect Mediator08:43 – Wandering Hearts & Modern Idols09:55 – What It Means to Be “Stiff-Necked”12:49 – Circumcising the Heart15:36 – Trusting That Jesus Knows Best16:54 – Prayer & Invitation20:11 – Pastor Zack Wraps the Message20:55 – Pastor Nick Joins In-Studio21:38 – Made For More Sunday Explained25:02 – Final Encouragement & Blessing

Today on the Shepnaz Podcast, Pastor Zack introduces Part 1 of Pastor Nick’s final sermon in our Exodus series, diving into Exodus 32 and the story of the Golden Calf.

After witnessing God’s power, provision, and presence, the people of Israel grow impatient—and their distrust leads to disobedience. This episode challenges us to reflect on our own hearts:
👉 What do we turn to when God feels silent?
👉 How does impatience shape our faith?
👉 Why does the object of our worship matter so much?Pastor Nick walks us through how idolatry is often an attempt to control God instead of trusting Him, and how Moses’ intercession ultimately points us forward to Jesus, the One who stands in the gap for us.Stick around to the end for a fun and encouraging bonus conversation, including a friendly staff running challenge and a look at “Made for More Sunday” at our Johnstown campus.

📍 Shepherd Church of the Nazarene – Gahanna & Johnstown, Ohio

🔗 Learn more about Shepherd Church: https://www.shepnaz.org
🎧 Explore more episodes: https://www.shepnaz.org/podcast
📺 Watch & listen archive: https://www.shepnaz.org/media💬 We’d love to hear from you!
Email us at [email protected] or drop a comment below.👉 Subscribe, share this episode, and join the conversation!

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 – Welcome to the Shepnaz Podcast01:30 – A Movie Theater Story About Wandering06:45 – Israel’s Story: Impatience at the Mountain08:05 – Exodus 32: The Golden Calf10:40 – A Tragic & Appalling Rebellion13:30 – Breaking the First Three Commandments15:15 – Idolatry: Trying to Control God17:45 – Distrust Leads to Disobedience19:40 – “Trust in the Lord” (Psalm 115)21:45 – Part 1 Wrap‑Up22:00 – Bonus Conversation with Pastor Nick23:10 – The Mile Race Story27:20 – “Made for More Sunday” Explained30:45 – Closing & What’s Coming Next

Welcome to Worship Wednesday on the Shepnaz Podcast.

In this special midweek episode, Pastor Zack is joined by Pastor Noah Burris, Worship & Outreach Pastor at Shepherd Church’s Johnstown campus, for a meaningful time of acoustic worship, Scripture reflection, and prayer.

After a lighthearted start, the conversation turns toward the heart of worship—responding to the resurrection of Jesus and choosing to trust God even in the fire. Pastor Noah shares the heart behind two powerful worship songs, reminding us that Easter isn’t just something we celebrate once a year—it’s a reality we live in every day.This episode is especially for anyone walking through uncertainty, waiting on God’s timing, or needing a reminder that you are not alone in the fire.

🎶 In this episode:

• Why resurrection hope shapes everyday worship
• Trusting God even when answers don’t come how or when we expect
• Biblical encouragement from the story of the fourth man in the fire
• Space to pause, worship, and refocus your heart

📍 Shepherd Church of the Nazarene – Gahanna & Johnstown, Ohio
🌐 Learn more about Shepherd Church: https://www.shepnaz.org
🎧 More episodes: https://www.shepnaz.org/podcast
📺 Media library: https://www.shepnaz.org/media

📩 Need prayer or want to connect? Email us at [email protected]

If this episode encouraged you, subscribe, leave a comment, and share it with someone who needs a midweek reminder of God’s faithfulness.

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 – Welcome to the Shepnaz Podcast01:30 – Friendly Banter & Community Life03:30 – Welcome to Worship Wednesday04:05 – Why Worship Still Matters After Easter05:45 – Acoustic Worship: Resurrection-Focused Song10:25 – Trusting God When You’re in the Fire14:45 – Acoustic Worship: Trusting God Through Every Season21:40 – Closing Prayer & Encouragement23:10 – Final Invitation & How to Connect