The Living Waters Podcast

The guys discuss the destructive element of sin nature, exploring the concept of man's inherent goodness and delving into the nature of sin and original sin. They highlight examples of wickedness in society and emphasize the need for God's word as a moral compass. They also discuss the sinful nature in relation to Christianity and Jesus' victory over sin, offering newness of life to believers.

In today's episode, the guys discuss the substances of marijuana and alcohol. Beginning with alcohol, the guys stress that the idea is not to allow yourself to be mastered by these substances. If you are going to drink, you must do it in faith, because anything done not in faith is a sin. We are free to abstain from alcohol, but we are not free to condemn those who choose to drink in moderation. In scripture, wine is considered a gift from God. However, as we know, people have the incredibly sinful capacity to distort God’s gifts and make them into something atrocious. In the scriptures, alcohol is an important theological symbol. It is not by accident that the first miracle of Jesus was turning water into wine. We have to keep in mind that in our culture today, alcohol is not used as a symbolic celebration of what God is doing, but instead as a numbing mechanism. The very thing the Bible condemns, drunkenness, is the reason why people drink today.  Then, they apply everything just discussed about alcohol to the issue of marijuana. As the substance is being legalized, this is a huge question in the minds of many, especially younger people. Compared to wine being used in Scripture as an act of celebration, marijuana is a mind-altering drug used to get high. With this in mind, it’s difficult to see how a Christian could smoke weed with a good conscience. Recreational marijuana use can be compared to drunkenness in the Bible, which is a sin. We are reminded that when you are in God’s will, you will not want to partake in sinful activities. If you are questioning whether partaking in substances is okay for you to do as a Christian, this is demonstrating where you are in your relationship with God. We can't forget that our bodies are temples to the Holy Spirit, and marijuana is very bad for our bodies and impairs our intelligence.   Thanks 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!  Links:Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!You can find helpful counseling resources at biblicalcounseling.com.Send us Fan MailThanks 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

In today's episode, the guys discuss how to avoid becoming worldly. They define worldliness as the love of the world and the pleasures within it. A friend of the world is an enemy of God. This, however, is not to say that we should not partake in worldly things such as having a job or being friends with non-believers. We may actively enjoy the things God has given us while still remembering that the earth is a place we are just passing through.  The story of Israel and the exile to Babylon gives a good example of how Christians should and shouldn’t live. The four ways the Babylonian Empire assimilated the Jewish exile are exactly how we tend to assimilate into our own culture. These are assimilation through isolation, indoctrination, assimilation and confusion. A major wordly trait Christians should be wary of is that of the wise and worldly man who thinks he can solve all of the world’s problems on his own. The whole principle is based on the idea that we were put into the world for a reason, but this does not mean that we are of the world. We must remember that worldliness disgusts the Lord and should feel visceral disgust of our own at the sight of worldly indulgences.  We can push back against the world by committing our heart, mind and soul to better knowing who God is. To know God is to immerse yourself in Him. We must be careful when walking through this world about the things we give our attention to. It all comes down to having a discernible understanding of what is corruptible to you and those around you. As we don’t conform to the patterns of this world, but instead allow ourselves to be transformed through God’s word, then we are equipped with discernment. Similarly, it is valuable to begin teaching our kids the lesson of discernment at a young age so they may avoid falling into worldliness.    Thanks 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!  Links:Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!You can find helpful counseling resources at biblicalcounseling.com.Send us Fan MailThanks 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

In today's episode, the guys discuss selfishness. We live in a culture which celebrates selfishness to the extreme and views it as the route to pleasure and happiness in life. Selfishness is one of the things which is constantly dying small deaths during our sanctification process which God continues to reveal to us. It can manifest itself in many ways and show up at random moments. It is also, however, an act of grace that God reveals those selfish tendencies to us so that we may repent and put our sins to death. We, as humans, all have the tendency to view ourselves as idols.  Walter Chantry defines selfishness as the controlling force of sinful living. It is the manifestation of the depravity of man’s heart and is the root of all sin. The roots of this depravity is especially prevalent in young children. Outside of Christ, the self is the idol to which all men fall. On the other hand, the cure to selfishness is love. Love does not seek its own, it demonstrates self-forgetfulness and desires to give ourselves away for the sake of others. The only way to truly become selfless is through the Word. God gave up his own life to pay for every selfish ambition that we will ever have, for the dark corners of our hearts which have yet to be revealed and as a ransom that we will have freedom from our sins. Servanthood is the ultimate epitome of selflessness.  Then, the guys offer advice for parents on things they can do to prevent their children from becoming selfish monsters. It is important to realize that any time you catch your child in sin, it is an opportunity for the gospel to come forward and for discipleship to happen. Our children should know from observation of confession and repentance that their parents are sinners, too. In closing, we are reminded that selfishness is a demonic thing which results in evil and confusion. In order to avoid it, we should turn towards Christ as our example.  Thanks 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!  Links:Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!You can find helpful counseling resources at biblicalcounseling.com.Send us Fan MailThanks 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

In today's episode, the guys discuss repentance. Of anything, this is the topic Ray has had people give him the hardest time about. You can get someone to believe in Jesus, but if they have not repented, they are not yet truly saved. We are reminded that David would not have repented if he hadn’t trembled under the words of Nathan. Repentance will never come if we aren’t living under the law of the Ten Commandments.  There is a fundamental misunderstanding on this subject in terms of where we’ve come from as a ministry. Repentance means a change of mind, and with a true change of mind comes a change of action. This is one of the most positive words in the Christian vocabulary. It refers to the turning away from a destructive path and moving instead into God’s plan. Repentance should be even louder than the sin was. Luke 13:3 warns “Unless you repent, you will likewise perish.” When confession comes from a repented soul, there will be no holding back what comes out of the innermost being of the individual.  Repentance is commonly misunderstood, but most theologians agree that it fits in the very center of the conversion process. An aspect of repentance also means turning from your sins and towards your home in God. It is not about avoiding damnation, but about wanting to know the God who loves us and has died for us. God is not asking us to clean our lives up, but rather to lay our lives down for Him. Though it deals with justification, repentance doesn’t mean that we will never struggle again with sin. The life of a Christian is one of daily repentance as God gradually reveals to us the flaws we have as man. God has appointed a day on which he will judge all the world for righteousness. This alone should call us all to fierce repentance. As the episode wraps up, the guys reiterate that, despite its negative connotation,  repentance is actually a very beautiful and hopeful thing. A Christian who repents will be filled with so much joy that they will go out into the world and tell others about it. In closing, we are all urged today to repent today.  Thanks 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!  Links:Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!You can find helpful counseling resources at biblicalcounseling.com.Send us Fan MailThanks 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

In today's episode, the guys discuss marital problems and how to solve them. To begin, they each share how long they have been married themselves. For many people, their weddings are the best day of their lives. However, the focus on the day of our weddings should be not on us, but on the covenant we are making before God. Our culture has a fundamental misunderstanding of what a marriage is. Rather than a stepping stone in the list of achievements, we should see marriage as a way in which we can glorify God and in which God can sanctify us.  Ultimately, marriages consist of  two sinners entering into a covenant together. In this covenant, God intends to use us to reveal sin in our lives and refine us to be more like our Savior. This means we will be challenged and the darkest crevices of our hearts will be revealed to our spouses. When it comes to healthy marriage, a theological foundation gained through reading the Word together is absolutely necessary. James 4 tells us that all human conflict is rooted in spiritual idolatry. One of the worst things a couple can do is work to change their spouse into each other's likeness. Instead, we are to evolve alongside our spouse into Christ’s likeness.  If you are in a stage of marital conflict, you are urged to start by thinking of where you yourself have sinned against God. Even among churchgoers, the divorce rate in the U.S. is about 50%. A survey by the National Association of Marriage Enhancement found that less than 1% of couples divorce if they engage in daily prayer together. Our oneness as a couple plays a key role in the proliferation of Godly offspring. If you are not in the habit of daily devotion or prayer with your spouse, the most important thing is to just start. When we think we don’t have time for something, we should remember that time is a symbol of our priorities and God desires for your priority to be Him, and then your marriage. A gospel-centered community is a foundational aspect of a healthy marriage that is missing in most marriages today. In closing, we are reminded that grace is always the key.  Thanks 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!  Links:Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!You can find helpful counseling resources at biblicalcounseling.com.Send us Fan MailThanks 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

In today's episode, the guys discuss Charles Spurgeon. For those listeners who are unfamiliar, Spurgeon was an extraordinary preacher and human who was radically gifted by God. He was born in England in 1834 and called the “prince of preachers” and “Silver Tongue”. We are reminded that, without idolatry, it is great to have heroes in the faith. Spurgeon really took to heart what it meant to commune with God. His early death at age 57 is a reminder that God does not need anybody, and we are all indispensable regardless of our gifts.  Spurgeon gave his first sermon in 1850 and joined a layman group shortly after, with whom he traveled to nearby towns to preach. He was asked to become the preacher of Waterbeach Baptist Church before becoming the pastor of the Metropolitan Tabernacle. He was not formally educated, nor did he attend Bible college. People know Spurgeon primarily for his preaching, and secondarily for his commentaries and devotionals. Most people, however, don’t know that he was an incredible pastor. Sturgeon was at the Metropolitan Tabernacle during the heart of the Industrial Revolution. When many other churches decided to leave the city and head to the suburbs, Spurgeon and the elders of the Tabernacle decided to stay in London and saw the opportunity to spread the gospel. They began over 60 organizations for those in need throughout the city.  Spurgeon was filled with light and joy, but also suffered from deep depression as a result of a personal tragedy, illness and stress. He believed that Chrisitan ministers should expect a special degree of suffering to be given to them as a way of forming them for Christ-like, compassionate ministry. He said,  “Many men owe the grandeur of their lives to their tremendous difficulties. There are some of your graces which would never be discovered if it were not for the trials in whom we experience.” A large takeaway of this discussion is the power of the written word. In closing, we are reminded that there is power in passing on truth and power in the example of a man whose life was surrendered to the Lord wholly and completely.  Thanks 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!  Links:Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!Be sure to check out Tough Consequences. Send us Fan MailThanks 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

In today's episode, the guys discuss the topic of bullying. To begin, they share their own stories of experiencing bullying. Humans like to see justice and retribution, but how can we as Christians demonstrate love for the bully? When it comes to justice, there are certain times when we see something and need to put a stop to it right away. If verbal interaction doesn’t stop the bullying from happening, there may be a precedent for getting physically involved. The other side of  the story is that bullies are often being bullied themselves by someone else. However, we are reminded that all of our actions come from the heart and this is not an excuse. We must find a way to show the bully compassion and empathy, recognizing that the things which happen to and around us shape our sin.  It’s so important as Christians that we discipline ourselves back into a gospel mindset and remember how we look in God’s sight. Bullying is often the misunderstanding of what a person in power should be like. The gospel, when understood, is revelatory and keeps you humble. Understanding our own need for grace should prevent anyone from becoming a bully when it comes to evangelism. The Scripture further admonishes us as fathers not to provoke our children to wrath, also a form of bullying.  If we see someone being bullied, we should intervene to the best of our ability and tell authorities so that the bully will not go on to bully another person. For anyone listening who may be currently experiencing bullying, you are reminded that your hope can not lie in the circumstances changing, because people will be people wherever you go. Rather, your hope should be in understanding who you are in the sight of God and who He is in you. It is also very important to forgive those who have done wrong to you and never carry resentment. Your identity and value comes from Christ alone.  Thanks 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!  Links:Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!You can find helpful counseling resources at biblicalcounseling.com.Send us Fan MailThanks 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

In today's episode, the guys talk about church membership. They speculate that churches who don’t hold importance to membership and being reactionary against certain movements make membership a badge of salvation. However, this is something that is not a light matter and is extremely important. The problem with not having traditional membership is that it creates confusion around who is and is not really part of the church alongside a convenient lack of accountability.   Official church membership will change based on the type of church you go to. Often, achieving membership will start with taking classes from a pastor or elder. Here, new members will learn about the church’s statement of faith. There is also often some sort of covenant. Regular attendance, accountability and the recognition that you are to submit yourself to the authorities of the church. Church accountability lets pastors know that the sheep are a part of his flock. When you become an official member of a church, you are entering into a gospel-centered covenant between God and the local church, which he calls us to. Because of the consumerist culture we live in today, however, it is difficult to allow that to happen naturally as He intended.  Functioning as part of the church is at the heart of membership. We were designed to be known and loved in the context of a local gospel community. We see this longing for community everywhere, though this urge will only ever be truly satisfied in a gospel setting. Covenant is not just about your commitment to individuals, but also about their commitment to you through discipleship. If you are a believer listening to today’s episode, the guys challenge you to really ask yourself how you are functioning as a member of the body of your church. When we are not doing the things which God has called us to do, we are hindering the body of christ.  Thanks 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!  Links:Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!You can find helpful counseling resources at biblicalcounseling.com.Send us Fan MailThanks 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

The guys talk about the lost art of Christians reading good books.  It seems that, given the pace and availability of media, the new generation of young people reads less than previous generations.  Instead, they look to “YouTube University,” which offers information but does  grow you in wisdom.  These algorithms are designed to show you what you want to see and offer what’s clickable.  Good books, on the other hand, offer wisdom.  No doubt reading books comes with its fair share of challenges.  People have different natural inclinations toward reading (and some, though not all, even experience major changes in this area when converted).  People differ in their reading capacities, such as speed of reading and memory for content.  Some struggle with things like dyslexia that make reading more difficult.  But anyone can put their mind to gaining wisdom through books, and the more you read, the more you build up the muscle for reading.  If you have a hard time with reading, the guys urge, start by committing to one book and seeking accountability as you read it. He shaped us to read, and designed us to reap many benefits from doing so - the foremost of which is gaining knowledge of Him by reading His written Self-revelation in the Bible.  We should read varied books, from biography to theology and fiction, but we need to make sure the book we live in is the Bible.  The guys leave listeners with a list of recommendations for either personal or shared reading: Everything Sad is Untrue, The Discipline of Grace, Gospel Primer, Send us Fan MailThanks 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