To Be Helpful: Biblical truth, lived out today

Zack Shaffer
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Christianity

Scripture was never meant to stay on the page—it’s meant to shape lives. In this podcast, Zack teaches the Bible with depth and clarity, helping listeners understand God’s Word in context and apply it with courage. Because the goal isn’t just to be good—it’s to be helpful.

  1. Aug 31

    Mark 14 - Price of Effort

    Trying hard

    Mark 14 - Price of Effort

  2. Aug 26

    Mark 13 — Stay Ready So You Don’t Have to Get Ready

    Mark 13 can get pretty complicated. Is Jesus talking about the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, His second coming, or both? Good Bible-believing Christians have landed in different places, and I’m not particularly interested in pretending I’ve got every detail figured out. But I do think Jesus makes the point pretty clear: stay awake. Stay alert. Be ready. The question isn’t ultimately whether we can build the perfect end-times timeline. It’s whether the reality that Jesus could return at any moment actually changes how we live today. How we spend our time. How we prioritize our energy. How we treat people. Who needs to hear the gospel. What moves to the top of the list—and what can move down. Jesus says, “I say to all: Be on the alert.” So this week, we’re talking about spiritual fast feet: staying ready so we don’t have to get ready. Because whenever Jesus comes back, we want to already be living like we’re ready for Him.

    Mark 13 — Stay Ready So You Don’t Have to Get Ready

  3. Aug 17

    Judges 6:1–24 — Snap to Shalom

    Gideon is hiding in fear, Israel is hiding from the Midianites, and yet God shows up with a radically different message: “The LORD is with you.” Before Gideon’s circumstances change, God changes what Gideon knows about Him. This week, we explore what it means to snap to the reality that God is our shalom—our peace, wholeness, and security—even when everything around us says otherwise. We’ll laugh, think deeply, and discover why sometimes the first step out of fear isn’t becoming stronger…it’s remembering who is with us.

    Judges 6:1–24 — Snap to Shalom

  4. Aug 17

    Joshua 24 — God’s Power, Not Willpower

    God doesn’t ask us to manufacture enough willpower to be faithful. Joshua 24 reminds us that faithfulness begins with remembering God’s power, responding to His grace, and surrendering our hearts to the One who has been faithful all along.

    Joshua 24 — God’s Power, Not Willpower

  5. Jul 20

    Joshua 3:14 - 4:9 - Wet Feet

    Before God stopped the Jordan River, He asked Israel to step into it. The priests had to get their feet wet before they saw the miracle. God's power didn't follow their certainty—it met their obedience. In Joshua 3:14–4:9, we explore what it means to trust God's promises enough to take the first step, even when the outcome is still hidden.

    Joshua 3:14 - 4:9 - Wet Feet

  6. Jun 7

    Joshua 1: 1-18 - Cowboy Up

    Joshua is standing at the edge of the Promised Land with an impossible task ahead of him. Moses is gone. The mission is clear. The future is uncertain. God's answer isn't a battle plan—it's a promise: "Be strong and courageous." In this episode, we explore how believers can cowboy up into their God-given commission with confidence, not because of their own strength, but because of the companionship of Jesus. When fear says retreat, faith remembers: God goes with His people. The mission is great, but the One who calls us is greater.

    Joshua 1: 1-18 - Cowboy Up

  7. Jun 7

    Matthew 27: 27-31, 45-54: Rely on the Scriptures and God's Sovereignty to clear the Confusion of life

    Confusion and misunderstanding are the default settings of the human heart apart from the work of the Holy Spirit. In Matthew 27, nearly everyone surrounding the cross misunderstands what is happening. The soldiers mock a King they don't recognize. The religious leaders celebrate what they think is a victory. Even Jesus' followers struggle to make sense of the moment. Yet Jesus shows us a better way. Rather than interpreting events through appearances, emotions, or assumptions, He consistently points us back to Scripture as the lens through which reality is understood. In this episode, we explore how God's Word serves as the "screen" that brings clarity to confusion, helping us see God's sovereign hand even when life appears chaotic, painful, or incomprehensible. When circumstances don't make sense, Scripture helps us see what God is really doing.

    Matthew 27: 27-31, 45-54: Rely on the Scriptures and God's Sovereignty to clear the Confusion of life

  8. May 31

    Matthew 24 - The Cross as Our Compass: Staying Ready in Uncertain Times

    overview Matthew 24 and Jesus’ teaching about His return. Jesus makes it clear that no one knows the day or hour, but He calls us to live ready. Instead of getting caught up in trying to predict the future, we’re called to keep the cross as our compass and live with faith, purpose, and expectancy. We’ll look at what Jesus tells us, what it means for us today, and how His promise to return should shape the way we live right now. The question this passage asks is simple: Does the way we live point to the hope of Christ’s return?

    Matthew 24 - The Cross as Our Compass: Staying Ready in Uncertain Times
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About

Scripture was never meant to stay on the page—it’s meant to shape lives. In this podcast, Zack teaches the Bible with depth and clarity, helping listeners understand God’s Word in context and apply it with courage. Because the goal isn’t just to be good—it’s to be helpful.

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