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

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