The Zack Evans Podcast

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.