The Living Waters Podcast

What if the desire to do everything ourselves is keeping us from trusting God? Ray, E.Z., Mark, and Oscar explore the difference between biblical responsibility and self-reliance, examining how people look for strength, security, and relief elsewhere rather than in the Lord. The guys discuss how self-reliance can even disguise itself as devotion, as people seek relief through their own efforts or other forms of self-medication. They return to the reality that righteousness cannot be earned and that true reliance means trusting and depending on God.

The conversation then turns to God's sovereignty and human responsibility. The guys explain that God has chosen to work through the means He provides, assigning believers responsibilities while remaining sovereign over the outcome. Planning and effort are not the problem; the question is whether they are done in dependence on the Lord. They compare the Christian life to sailing, where we set the sails but depend on the wind to move us. Prayer should be the default response. The guys encourage listeners to pray without ceasing, trust the Lord rather than their own understanding, and acknowledge Him in every part of life. Faithfulness means moving forward while leaving the results to God.

Trust is not merely believing that God will give us the outcome we want, but believing that whatever He allows, He is still working for our good and shaping our character. The guys challenge listeners to consider their warhorse, the thing they hide behind, whether it is power, reputation, beauty, or ability. They discuss how Western culture celebrates independence and how easily that mindset can influence Christians. Yet dependence on God does not mean refusing the means He has provided. It means recognizing that everything we have is ultimately from Him and being willing to seek counsel, correction, and support from other believers.

The guys discuss how difficulty receiving criticism can reveal a heart that has forgotten its helplessness, because the gospel begins with admitting we cannot save ourselves. They turn to trials and grace, emphasizing that grace is not something we earn and is not merely what saves us at conversion. God's grace sustains us throughout the Christian life. They ultimately trace self-reliance back to Adam and Eve's desire for independence from God. The gospel brings us to the end of ourselves, reconciles us to our Maker, and teaches us to abide in Christ, like branches that depend on the vine, and to trust His strength rather than our own.
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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!
 
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 Comfort
Emeal (“E.Z.”) Zwayne
Mark Spence
Oscar Navarro

What happens when we deny that sin is part of who we are? Ray, E.Z., Mark, and Oscar examine the dangers of denying original sin, beginning with the biblical teaching that Adam's disobedience brought sin and death into the world. They explain why the doctrine matters as people increasingly view humanity as basically good. They trace the idea from Pelagius through Locke, Rousseau, Marx, Freud, and the self-esteem movement. The explanation for human brokenness shifted farther from the heart and toward society and circumstances.

The conversation then returns to the biblical diagnosis of human nature. The guys discuss what it means to be sinners by nature and by choice, emphasizing that a sinful nature does not remove personal guilt. If sin were merely bad behavior, better morals would be enough, but Scripture presents a deeper problem that requires a new heart. They compare denying sin's root to treating symptoms rather than the disease. From there, they clarify total depravity, explaining that it does not mean people are as evil as they could possibly be. Rather, every part of a person is affected by sin, while common grace still allows unbelievers to do genuine good.

The discussion moves from the problem of sin to why this doctrine should drive believers toward grace. The guys explain that denying original sin lays the foundation for self-righteousness, while recognizing the depth of sin makes Christ's mercy all the more glorious. They reflect on preaching the gospel to yourself and remembering that Christ saves sinners who cannot rescue themselves. Ray connects this to the law of God, explaining that the law serves as a mirror, revealing what is already present in the human heart. It exposes guilt and shows why they need a Savior.

The guys talk about applying original sin to the Christian life and the question of authority. They explain that seeing the depths of their own hearts should prompt believers to run toward God rather than become self-righteous, and that Romans 7 can be understood as an increasing awareness of our dependence on grace. Sanctification is not merely becoming better people but growing deeper in our understanding of the grace that saves and keeps us. Mark encourages preaching the gospel to yourself, remembering that Christ has already dealt with your sin and that your past does not have the final word. Rather than letting awareness of depravity drive you into despair, let it drive you toward Christ, because recognizing how deeply you need grace is part of growing in dependence on Him.
Send us Fan Mail
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!
 
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 Comfort
Emeal (“E.Z.”) Zwayne
Mark Spence
Oscar Navarro

Everyone has done something so dumb they wish they could erase it from history, but sometimes those failures make the best stories and teach the most memorable lessons. Ray, E.Z., Mark, and Oscar look back on some of their most embarrassing mistakes, from mistaken identities and awkward encounters to Ray accidentally taking someone else's car and Oscar putting himself in serious danger while snorkeling. What begins as a hilarious collection of stories becomes a reminder that everyone is prone to error and that admitting our failures can bring humility and encouragement to others.
The conversation then turns to some of the foolish decisions recorded in Scripture. The guys consider Lot's wife, who looked back at the world God was judging, and Solomon, a man blessed with extraordinary wisdom who still allowed compromise to lead him toward idolatry. The Bible does not hide its people's failures, and their stories warn of the pull of sin and the danger of foolish choices. Even those greatly blessed by God can make devastating decisions when their hearts begin to drift away from Him. Their honesty also shows why biblical warnings matter: wisdom is not merely knowing what is right but faithfully responding before small compromises take root within us.
From there, Oscar introduces the idea that not every failure is the same. Some mistakes are preventable, while others occur when someone steps into unfamiliar territory in pursuit of a worthwhile goal. That distinction matters for Christians who are afraid to evangelize, create, serve, or try something new because they worry about getting it wrong. Sometimes, trying, failing, learning, and trying again is exactly how someone grows. The guys point to Ray's willingness to pursue new ideas, even when some never become what he hoped for, as an example of refusing to let fear of failure stop him from taking action.
The episode closes with an encouragement to step out when the goal is to honor and glorify the Lord. E.Z. recalls an unplanned evangelistic conversation that unexpectedly reached millions online, showing how God can use simple acts of obedience in ways we could never predict. Christians should not wait until they know everything will go perfectly before acting. Like Peter stepping onto the water, we may begin to sink, but Christ remains near, and His grace is sufficient. The goal is not a life without mistakes but a life willing to pursue what is good, learn along the way, and trust God with the outcome.
Send us Fan Mail
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!
 
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 Comfort
Emeal (“E.Z.”) Zwayne
Mark Spence
Oscar Navarro

Knowing the truth means very little if it never transforms the way we live. Ray, E.Z., Mark, and Oscar examine the dangerous gap between hearing God's Word and actually obeying it. The guys explain that many people assume the man who built his house on the sand represents only unbelievers, yet Jesus warns that even those who hear His teachings can deceive themselves if they refuse to put them into practice. True doctrine is not meant to remain stored away but to flow outward in obedience, worship, and service. Knowledge that does not produce action eventually becomes self-deception.
The guys explore why accountability is not something Christians should fear but something to delight in. God has lavished His people with grace, and knowledge of His goodness should produce gratitude, humility, and obedience. Accountability is more than confessing failures. It involves receiving wisdom, pursuing holiness together, and allowing trusted believers to draw one another closer to Christ. The conversation highlights how relationships within the body of Christ protect against drifting and help believers apply truth in practical ways. Knowledge is meant to lead to obedience, and wisdom grows when believers humbly receive correction and seek counsel from others.
The discussion then turns to the knowledge unbelievers possess and the responsibility that accompanies truth. The guys explain that God has revealed Himself through creation and conscience, leaving humanity without excuse. People recognize beauty, morality, and purpose because these reflect the reality of their Creator, even when they suppress that truth. The guys also discuss how spiritual decline rarely happens overnight. Lives are often shaped by thousands of choices, either toward destruction or toward faithfulness. The warnings God gives through Scripture and fellow believers are acts of grace meant to keep His people from drifting away from Him.
Finally, the guys encourage listeners to respond promptly whenever God reveals truth. Knowledge should first be received, then transformed into wisdom, and ultimately passed on to others. They emphasize that delaying obedience only makes it harder. Knowledge that puffs up produces pride, but knowledge of God produces humility and worship. Whether through parenting, discipleship, or evangelism, believers are called to steward the truth they have received and share it with others. Ultimately, the guys remind listeners that heaven and hell are real, that today is the day of salvation, and that the proper response to the truth is repentance, faith, and joyful obedience.
Send us Fan Mail
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!
 
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 Comfort
Emeal (“E.Z.”) Zwayne
Mark Spence
Oscar Navarro

How do you know if God is calling you into ministry? Ray, E.Z., Mark, and Oscar, along with John Harris, explore the weight of handling God's Word and the distinction between being called to serve and being called to vocational ministry. The guys begin by challenging the sacredsecular divide, reminding listeners that faithfulness is not limited to pastors, missionaries, or employees of Christian organizations. Every believer is called to glorify God in the work already before them. Rather than waiting for a title or position, Christians should begin by faithfully serving where God has placed them and allow any future ministry role to grow out of that obedience.
The conversation then turns to how a calling often becomes evident through faithful service. The guys share that their paths into ministry began with preaching, discipling, evangelizing, and serving long before a formal position came along. A desire for ministry should be accompanied by a genuine love for God's people, a burden for the lost, and gifts already being exercised within the local church. They encourage listeners to start small and seek counsel from mature believers. A calling should first be tested locally, where character, service, and spiritual fruit can be seen.
From there, the guys address both the dangers and rewards of ministry. Pride, money, and the desire for recognition can easily distort a person's motives. At the same time, opposition and hardship are unavoidable for those who faithfully serve Christ. Ministry is service, not a platform, and those who pursue it should expect their faith to be tested. Yet few privileges are greater than preaching God's Word, building up His people, and proclaiming the gospel. The guys encourage those considering ministry to remain rooted in a local church, depend deeply on prayer, and honestly examine whether the burden to serve Christ endures even when the work is difficult and unseen.
Finally, the conversation offers a framework for discerning vocational ministry through calling, capacity, competency, character, and affirmation from the local church. Giftedness alone is not enough if spiritual fruit and godly character do not grow alongside it. The guys warn against rushing into ministry for identity, reminding listeners that their identity is already secure in Christ. Whether or not a formal position ever comes, believers can continue serving God in their homes, churches, neighborhoods, and workplaces. Faithfulness in small things is never insignificant, and true ministry begins long before anyone receives a title.
Send us Fan Mail
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!
 
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 Comfort
Emeal (“E.Z.”) Zwayne
Mark Spence
Oscar Navarro