Path of the Cross Podcast

Raw testimonies, deep theology, and historical truth. Path of the Cross Podcast bridges the gap between the heart and the mind. Hosted by Zach Schumaker, we move beyond surface-level answers to uncover the unshakeable truth of the Gospel. From stories of redemption to hard-hitting apologetics and church history, we don't just tell you what to believe—we help you understand why.We cover:TestimoniesApologeticsTheologyCultureSubscribe to deepen your faith and sharpen your mind. Pick up your cross and walk with us.

Path of the Cross Podcast is a religion podcast hosted by Zach Schumaker, with 42 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Zach Schumaker hosts Path of the Cross Podcast, a religion show with 42 episodes published.

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  Episode #42

  Scott McDowell: Why Gen Z Apologetics Requires Hard Truths, Local Serving & Real Accountability

  Oct 5, 20261h 11mS1

  Third-generation apologist and content creator Scott McDowell joins Zach Schumaker on the Path of the Cross Podcast (Episode 42) to break down his personal journey out of hidden addiction, stepping out of the shadows of his father (Sean McDowell) and grandfather (Josh McDowell), and equipping Gen Z with an unshakeable, intellectually grounded faith. In this episode:Scott McDowell opens up about what it truly means to grow up inside one of the most iconic families in modern Christian apologetics while privately wrestling with personal pride and a hidden addiction to pornography that began in middle school. Scott reveals the exact moment his life shifted—choosing to stop relying on natural talent and family coattails, confessing his struggles to his loved ones, and embracing the hard discipline of daily repentance. Scott breaks down why Gen Z is currently experiencing a spiritual awakening driven by a reaction to cultural evil and shallow millennial "be whoever you want to be" messaging. He shares the Billy Graham and Bill Bright method of mastering one book of the Bible per month, why apologists must go deep before they go wide on social media, and how serving on his local church greeting team transformed his pride into genuine humility. He also addresses why doubt is essential to faith, how to handle relational objections to God, and why true Christian masculinity requires young men to do hard things every single day. About Scott McDowell: Role: Digital Communicator, Christian Apologist, and Youth Pastor at Seacoast Grace Church. Family Legacy: Son of Dr. Sean McDowell and Grandson of Josh McDowell ( Evidence That Demands a Verdict , More Than a Carpenter ). Ministry Focus: On-the-ground digital outreach, high school/college evangelism, and equipping Gen Z with biblical literacy. ⏱️ Chapters:00:00 - Introduction: Unshakable Faith in a Skeptical Digital Era01:23 - The McDowell Legacy: Pride, Pressure, and Growing Up in Apologetics02:35 - Breaking the Secret Addiction: Confessing Pornography & Finding Grace04:02 - The Turning Point: Choosing to Do Hard Things for Christ05:55 - Knowing About God vs. Truly Knowing the Person of Jesus07:49 - The Instant Transformation: Speech, Temper, and Purity Shifts10:00 - Sanctification is a Slow Process: Staying the Course11:58 - Go Sin No More: Changing the Disciplines of Your Daily Life14:06 - The Power of Music: Why What You Consume Impacts Your Soul16:16 - Loving Your Brother: Sacrificing Freedoms to Keep Others From Stumbling28:00 - Having the Hard Conversations: Apologizing and Seeking Forgiveness30:20 - The Weight Off Your Shoulders: The Freedom of Confession32:40 - Combating Biblical Illiteracy in Gen Z33:45 - The Billy Graham Method: Mastering One Book of the Bible a Month37:00 - Why Gen Z is Seeking Spiritual Truth: Evil, Epstein, and Purpose40:30 - Objective Purpose: Why "Be Who You Want to Be" Has Failed42:05 - Know Your Why: Grounding Your Life in Historical Truth44:00 - Relational Objections: How to Answer the Hard Questions46:15 - Asking Questions Back: Following the Model of Jesus48:00 - It’s Okay to Say "I Don't Know": Honesty in Evangelism50:20 - Doubt vs. Unbelief: Why Asking Questions Strengthens Faith52:10 - Where to Start Today: Scripture, Books, and Local Church Planting54:00 - Overcoming Church Hurt: Is it the Church’s Fault or Yours?56:05 - The Transition to College: Making Faith Your Own58:22 - Loving Non-Believers Without Compromising Your Identity01:01:00 - Social Media Discipleship Warning: Never Let Public Ministry Outweigh Private Worship01:05:40 - Suffering and Christ: Why Christianity Doesn't Promise Comfort01:08:05 - If It Was Easy, Everybody Would Do It01:09:30 - Scott McDowell’s Legacy: Loving Family Well & Faithfulness #ScottMcDowell #PathOfTheCross #ChristianApologetics #SeanMcDowell #JoshMcDowell #GenZFaith #OvercomingPornography #BiblicalLiteracy #ChristianPodcast #Discipleship

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  Episode #41

  "Why I Left SEC Basketball For Full-Time Ministry" | Chad Prewett Exposes The College Awakening

  Sep 21, 20261h 1mS1

  Former Auburn Basketball Coach Chad Prewett joins Zach Schumaker on Path of the Cross Podcast (Episode 41) to detail his shocking exit from the peak of SEC college hoops, stepping out of Bruce Pearl’s staff, and leading a generational spiritual movement sweeping college campuses across America. In this episode:Chad Prewett pulls back the curtain on what it truly takes to walk away from a high-profile coaching career at Auburn University to follow an absolute mandate from God. After winning 10 state championships and spending over a decade building one of the nation's premier basketball programs alongside Bruce Pearl, Chad made the bold decision to transition into full-time ministry. Alongside his wife Tanya, Chad co-leads Unite US —a rapidly expanding movement that has drawn over 180,000 students across 30+ college campuses, witnessing more than 26,000 young people give their lives to Christ and thousands getting baptized in spontaneous campus waters. Chad breaks down the raw realities of growing up without a father in South Alabama, meeting Jesus radically at age 18, and bringing real spiritual accountability directly into SEC locker rooms. He offers direct, unfiltered counsel on overcoming male pride, restoring the biblical role of fatherhood, abiding daily in Christ, and stepping into dark collegiate environments to shine an unshakeable light. About Chad Prewett: Role: Co-Leader of Unite US / Former Assistant Coach & Director of Operations at Auburn University Coaching Resume: 10 State High School Championships, 2019 SEC Tournament Championship, 2019 NCAA Final Four appearance with Auburn Basketball. Mission Focus: Campus revival, male discipleship, and mobilising athletes for full-time Kingdom impact. ⏱️ Chapters:00:00 - Introduction: Walking Away From SEC Basketball01:34 - Meeting Jesus at 18: From Addiction and Pride to Radical Grace04:40 - Be Present Where Your Feet Are: Overcoming the Ladder-Climbing Trap07:10 - Bringing the Kingdom into Auburn Basketball’s Locker Room09:38 - Preparation Meets Faith: The Formula for Spiritual Miracles11:41 - The 3-Year Prayer Walk: Hearing God Say "GO"14:00 - Discipling the Modern Athlete in the Era of NIL and Egos18:10 - Disarming Hardened Hearts Through Radical Vulnerability21:58 - Identity vs. Purpose: Stop Searching for What to Do Before Who You Are24:00 - Learning to Pivot: How Basketball Game-Planning Prepares You for Life26:05 - Hearing God’s Voice: Trusting the Lamp Unto Your Feet28:38 - Breaking the Fatherless Curse: Raising Daughters to Love Jesus33:00 - Vulnerability in the Home: Tearing Down the Walls of Fake Masculinity37:03 - Slaying Male Pride: Why Pride is the Ultimate Downfall of Men41:28 - The Birth of Unite US: 5 Small-Group Girls Praying on Auburn’s Campus43:48 - The Spontaneous Pond Baptisms: 300 Students in 3 Hours45:05 - The Boldest Generation: Why Gen Z is Running to Biblical Truth49:15 - Taking Light Into Dark Places: How Revival Touches Every Sphere53:38 - Do Not Despise Small Beginnings: The Power of Persistent Prayer56:48 - Advice for Men: How to Lead Your Wife & Family as a Man of God59:35 - Chad Prewett's Legacy: Leaving Every Ounce on the Field for Christ #ChadPrewett #PathOfTheCross #UniteUS #AuburnBasketball #BrucePearl #CollegeRevival #CampusMinistry #FaithAndSports #ChristianPodcast #Discipleship #PathOfTheCross Episode 41

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  Episode #40

  "The Church Has Become Weak" | Joshua Haymes on Christian Nationalism & Fighting for the West

  Sep 7, 20261h 25mS1

  In This Episode We sit down with former Los Angeles church planter Joshua Haymes to break down the radical theological shifts that reshaped his entire approach to ministry. Joshua confronts the quiet, defensive pietism defining the modern Western church, transforming it into a passive club managing its own cultural defeat while sitting in holy huddles on a sinking ship. Joshua shares his journey from a Southern Baptist upbringing to a convinced Presbyterian theology, detailing how understanding the absolute lordship of Jesus Christ over every square inch of human existence changed his life. He maps out the clear structural distinctions between pre-millennialism, amillennialism, and post-millennialism, explaining how planning to win shifts your worldview across generations. Finally, Joshua delivers an unfiltered warning regarding the biological and civilizational devastation caused by pornography addiction, provides concrete steps for young men to build local political coalitions, and outlines why establishing uncompromised, explicitly Christian civil magistrates is the only way to safeguard the future of Western civilization. Ministry Core: Host of the Reformation Red Pill Podcast; advocate for post-millennial optimism, explicitly Christian civil governance, and localized multi-generational patriarchies. Focus Areas: Reclaiming public institutions, exposing structural spiritual warfare, and building disciplined, self-controlled men of God. Key Principles: Utilizing politics as a righteous tool to love your neighbor, enforce justice, and honor the sovereign king. 00:00 - Introduction: The Fierce Remnant Demanding Absolute Lordship 01:34 - From Baptist to Presbyterian: Surviving a Wandering Season 02:55 - The Baptism Hold: Reclaiming Formative Family Investments at 18 04:20 - Greenhouse Effect Seasons: Rapid Maturity in the Face of Worldly Vices 06:15 - From Theater Major to Religion Major: Trading the Mantle for the Pulpit 07:18 - Online Sermons vs. Strict Mantles: The Warning Against Baby Influencers 08:45 - The Three Soils: Discerning Quick Flames from Good Root Structures 16:48 - Abraham Kuyper Blueprint: The Square Inches Jesus Claims as Sovereign King 18:22 - The Great Commission Counter-Attack: Why It Is Not a Kamikaze Mission 26:15 - Paul Washer’s Warning: Hunting a Generation Void of True Patriarchs 37:55 - Hands and Feet: Understanding Pornography as a Neutering Drug 54:02 - Reclaiming the Public Square: Restoring Common Sense to the Culture 55:20 - Joshua Haymes' Legacy: Training a Generation of Disciplined Warriors Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to never miss an episode! Share this message with someone who needs encouragement today. Subscribe: https://youtube.com/@PathoftheCrossPodcast?si=I8aPszhY_vvQbveb Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zachschumaker/ X: https://x.com/ZachSchumaker Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zach.schuz.schumaker TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zachschumaker LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachschumaker/ Path of the Cross Podcast: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pathofthecrosspodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574915377314 About Path of the Cross: Path of the Cross Podcast bridges the gap between the heart and the mind through raw testimonies and deep theological truth. Hosted by Zach Schumaker, we explore apologetics, Bible history, and the reality of suffering to equip the whole believer. Subscribe to discover not just what to believe, but why it matters. Check out my other shows: The SchuZ Show: https://www.youtube.com/@theschuzshow/featured The Iron Compass: https://www.youtube.com/@TheIronCompassShow #JoshuaHaymes #PathOfTheCross #ReformationRedPill #ChristianNationalism #PostMillennialism #PublicSquare #ChurchHistory #BiblicalMasculinity #ChristianPodcast #DefendTheWest #PathOfTheCross About Joshua Haymes⏱️ ChaptersConnect With Zach and Path of the Cross

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  Episode #39

  Danny Burmawi: The Truth About Sharia, Political Islam & the Silence of the Pulpit

  Aug 24, 20261h 41mS1

  Theological scholar and best-selling author Danny Burmawi joins Zach Schumaker on the Path of the Cross Podcast to expose the paralyzing confusion within Western civilization, dismantle multicultural myths, and deliver an unfiltered warning regarding the structural expansion of political Islam. Born in Jordan and deeply immersed in traditional Islamic theology, Danny shares his dramatic journey to the cross—noting that he didn't find Christ, but Christ actively pursued him. As the president of the Ideological Defense Institute and author of Islam, Israel and the West , Danny pulls back the curtain on structural ideological warfare. In this episode, he breaks down the core differences between performance-based fear and biblical grace, the realities of apostasy in honor-shame cultures, and why treating Sharia as a private religious choice rather than a foreign political constitution is a suicidal mistake for Western democracies. He also confronts the corporate "club" model of modern megachurches and calls for believers to step back into the public square to defend God's sovereignty. Credentials: Master of Theological Studies (MTS); President of the Ideological Defense Institute. Literary Work: Author of Islam, Israel and the West: An Ex-Muslim's Analysis . Focus: Apologetics, cultural preservation, defense of Western liberty, and reclaiming the gospel of radical grace. 00:00 - Introduction: Exposing the Structural Warfare on the West 01:13 - The Performance Trap: Shifting from Islamic Fear to Radical Grace 02:40 - The Jordan Conversion: When Christ Reclaims a Soul in the Bubble 03:50 - The Honor-Shame Culture: Why Leaving Islam Targets the Tribe 05:22 - Exposing Sharia: Why Islamic Law Alters the Penal Code 06:40 - The Deactivation Myth: Dubai, Qatar, and the Illusion of Sharia Prosperity 09:15 - Cultural Relativism: Reclaiming the Superiority of Christian Civilization 12:20 - Juxtaposition of Laws: Sharia Courts vs. The United States Constitution 15:10 - Individual Liberties: The True Blindspots Americans Fail to See 17:45 - The Suicide of Democracy: How Fascism Exploits Open Public Squares 20:15 - Demography is Destiny: Vetting Immigration and Ideological Scrutiny 22:30 - The Useful Idiots: Why the New Generation Has Learned to Hate the West 25:10 - The Megachurch Club: Why Pastors Shy Away from Offending Budgets 27:15 - Escaping Paradise: Dismantling Pagan Concepts of Heaven and Eternity 29:40 - Nehemiah’s Wall: Building the Progressive Kingdom of God on Earth 32:15 - Sugar-Coated Messages: The Chicago M&M Experiment vs. Unfiltered Truth 34:45 - The Unconditional Ransom: Why Free Grace Drives True Human Obedience 37:05 - The Prodigal Return: The Lincoln Slave Market Paradigm 39:43 - Idolatry of Performance: Reclaiming Soli Deo Gloria Alone 41:10 - Homosexuality and Sovereignty: Why God Alone Defines Gender and Marriage 42:50 - Turning the Other Cheek: The Left-Hand Backhand Cultural Context 50:20 - The Line In the Sand: How Tucker Carlson Fractures Evangelical Support for Israel 52:45 - The 9-Mile Boundary: The Tactical Realities of the West Bank and Gaza 55:30 - Danny Burmawi’s Final Legacy: A Builder Who Clear-Cut the Gospel About Path of the Cross: Hosted by Zach Schumaker, the Path of the Cross Podcast bridges the gap between the heart and the mind through raw testimonies, apologetics, Bible history, and deep theological truth. Subscribe on YouTube: Path of the Cross Podcast Follow Zach Schumaker: Instagram | X | Facebook | TikTok | LinkedIn Follow the Podcast: Instagram | Facebook Other Shows: The SchuZ Show | The Iron Compass Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe. Share this episode with someone who needs it today! #DannyBurmawi #PathOfTheCross #PoliticalIslam #ShariaLaw #WesternCivilization #Apologetics #ExMuslim #ChristianPodcast #DefendTheWest #RadicalGrace About Danny Burmawi⏱️ ChaptersConnect & Support

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  Episode #38

  "Comfort is a False Illusion": David Leonard Exposes the Fluff of Modern Worship Culture

  Aug 10, 202647 minS1

  Grammy-nominated worship artist, songwriter, and producer David Leonard joins host Zach Schumaker on the Path of the Cross Podcast . Together, they strip away the polished production of the modern church stage to discuss the raw reality of finding God in the lowest valleys of human grief. In this episode, David—formerly one half of the critically acclaimed duo All Sons and Daughters —pulls back the curtain on the unscriptured moments that redefine a believer's faith. He opens up about his family's terrifying medical crisis in March 2026, the deceptive illusion of comfort in Western society, and what it felt like to sing his generation-defining anthem, "Great Are You Lord," over his daughter's hospital bed while her life hung in the balance. 00:00 - Introduction: Worship forged in the valleys of real life. 01:10 - Family Roots: Seeing 40 years of pastoral ministry through his father. 02:35 - The Take-Back Temptation: The continuous ebbs and flows of surrendering your life to Christ. 03:50 - The Illusion of Comfort: Why modern well-being can blind us to the Father. 05:15 & 09:10 - Fighting for His Daughter: Entering a desperate season of intercession during a real-time medical miracle in March 2026. 06:45 - Legacy Lessons: Choosing to learn from every single failure. 11:30 - The Power of Desperation: Why the Father loves to hear His children cry out honestly. 12:50 - The Early Days: The unexpected Nashville record deal that intercepted his college plans. 14:10 - Grammys & Industry Noise: The out-of-body experience of a Grammy nomination and shifting the Christian music landscape toward authenticity. 15:30 - Ground-Level Ministry: Prioritizing neighborhood community and sitting in the quiet corners with people who have raw questions. 23:45 - The New Wave: Spotlighting pure artistry and the remnant (Caleb King, Lily Hoon). 30:50 - Processing Grief: Walking through the heavy loss of three grandparents in a single season. 32:20 - "Great Are You Lord": The surprising backstory behind the anthem they initially thought was just "fine." Career Highlights: Grammy-nominated solo artist and producer; former member of All Sons and Daughters ; former touring member of NEEDTOBREATHE . Generational Anthems: Co-writer of modern worship staples "Great Are You Lord" and "Light A Fire." Ministry Core: Focused on grit, vulnerability, and ground-level neighborhood community over commercialized performance packages. Connect: Official Website | Instagram: @davidleonardmusic Hosted by Zach Schumaker, the Path of the Cross Podcast bridges the gap between the heart and the mind through raw testimonies and deep theological truth. The show explores apologetics, Bible history, and the reality of suffering to equip the whole believer—helping you discover not just what to believe, but why it matters. Subscribe on YouTube: Path of the Cross Podcast Follow Zach Schumaker: Instagram | X (Twitter) | Facebook | TikTok | LinkedIn Follow the Podcast: Instagram | Facebook Other Shows: The SchuZ Show | The Iron Compass Enjoyed the episode? Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to stay updated. Share this message with someone who needs encouragement in their valley today! ⏱️ Chapters & Key TopicsAbout David LeonardAbout Path of the Cross Connect with Zach & the Podcast#DavidLeonard #PathOfTheCross #WorshipMusic #GreatAreYouLord #ChristianArtist #FaithThroughGrief #MiracleInMarch #WorshipUnplugged #ChristianPodcast #AllSonsAndDaughters

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