June 2, 2025 • 22 mins
Have you bought into the lie that Christian men should handle their struggles alone? That silence equals strength, and asking for help signals weakness? When we isolate ourselves, we become easy prey for the enemy. Like the limping antelope separated from the herd, men who walk alone become vulnerable to attacks that thrive in darkness and secrecy.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Chris Grainger (00:03):
Welcome to the Lion Within Us, a podcast
serving Christian men who arehungry to be the leaders God
intends you to be.
I'm your host, chris Granger.
Let's jump in.
All right, fellas, spiritualkickoff time.
I'm excited to be here with you.
Let's go.
Okay?
So the scripture of the weekthis week is in the book of
Hebrews, okay.
So Hebrews, chapter 3, verse 13says but encourage one another
(00:24):
daily, as long as it is calledtoday, so that none of you may
be hardened by sin'sdeceitfulness.
So, fellas, love this verse.
We're going to take some timehere and see how we can simplify
and apply it to our life,particularly as Christian
leaders.
Look, first thing we need tounderstand is where is the book
of Hebrews?
So, if you're in your NewTestament, you'll go past all
(00:47):
your standard Gospels andeverything like that and get
past a lot of the epistles.
You'll go past 1 and 2, timothy, titus, philemon, then you get
to Hebrews.
If you get to James, myfavorite book of the Bible, you
went a little bit too far, soyou can just back up right there
, okay.
So just know that now as areminder if you're new to the
line within us.
Their spiritual kickoff episodesare really special, because
(01:09):
what we try to do is just take asimple verse from God's word,
usually one or two verses, andwe see how we can simplify and
apply it to our life as leaders,as men.
And we do this every day withinthe lion Within Us community as
part of our daily spiritualkickoff.
So, if you enjoy these, that'sexclusive content, exclusively
(01:32):
for our community members Headover to thelionwithinus, get
started today and take part ofthose.
And, by the way, if you can'tcome to those when we go live
because these are live, this isnot nothing recorded, this is
live stuff.
If you miss the lives, therecordings are there, but it's
exclusively for those LionWithin Us members.
(01:54):
So, again, thelionwithinus,let's think about this verse
here, as long as it's calledtoday, so that none of you may
be hardened by sins anddeceitfulness.
And we're going to really bethinking about a couple of
things Brotherhood is a big dealfor us, accountability as well,
and, ultimately, power.
So let's think about a truth, asimple truth that we need to
(02:18):
hopefully recognize to be truewe're not meant to walk this
road alone, and I need you guysto hear that we're not meant to
walk this road alone.
I need you guys to hear thatwe're not meant to walk this
road alone.
Too many guys, especiallyChristian dudes, try to.
Okay, because we buy into thelie that our strength right, and
if we're strong and we can dostuff on our own and sometimes
(02:41):
we do that means we need to besilent, right, and that we
should.
If we have a struggle, webetter deal with that privately,
because if we ask for help,it's a sign of weakness and
that's just flat out wrong, bro.
It's wrong Because scripturepaints a completely different
picture, completely.
The Bible points directly to thepower of brotherhood.
Why that's important.
(03:01):
It talks directly aboutaccountability and it also talks
about encouragement.
We got to have encouragementbecause we need some weapons to
fight against sin andparticularly spiritual drift.
You guys know what I'm talkingabout.
Next thing you know you'repraying with your wife, you're
doing all this stuff that youhaven't done in months and you
haven't prayed with your kidsand you're not looking at your
Bible.
You hadn't been going to churchlike you know to.
(03:22):
It's just a drift.
No one wakes up and saystoday's the day I'm just going
to turn my back on God, but wedrift from Him all the time, and
one way that the evil one isdoing is crap.
It's because of isolation.
It really is his playground.
It really is, because when weisolate we become easy prey.
Just think about, when you lookat, like National Geographic,
(03:44):
you know the little antelope byhimself, the little gimpy one
yeah, that's the one that'sgetting ready to be taken out,
bro.
No, the ones in the middle, theones with each other.
They're going to take care ofeach other.
And that's where sin works best.
Man in the dark, behind closeddoors, when no one sees and no
one's asking the hard questions,the enemy thrives.
(04:05):
He wants us to live in secret.
He wants us to just think thatyou know what?
I got this on my own.
And when we do that, fellas,we're giving them too much
strength.
So this Hebrews verse righthere talks about encouragement
and each other, so we don'tbecome hardened by the sin's
deceitfulness.
This Hebrews is a directchallenge to that mindset to
(04:26):
encourage each other so we don'tbecome hardened by the sin's
deceitfulness.
This Hebrews is a directchallenge to that mindset to
encourage each other, notoccasionally, not on a birthday
or something like that, orretreat, but every doggone day.
I'm not talking about shallowpep talks that you get from a
coach at halftime either, orjust our surface level.
How you doing, bro?
No, I'm talking about were youare real, authentic, genuinely.
How you doing man, like what'sgoing on.
(04:49):
I can tell something's up howyou been.
How are you and your wife Now?
Your kids look like they'rekind of upset.
Everything okay, those realbrotherhood conversations.
And look, you don't stumbleinto this crap.
You just don't.
You have to build it throughintentionality and vulnerability
(05:10):
.
That means we got to surroundourselves with brothers who just
don't pat us on the back butthey're going to call us out
when we're doing stuff wrong andwhen we're drifting man,
because the guys who actuallycare about you aren't afraid to
have tough conversations.
They're not entertaining yourexcuses or your rationalizations
.
No, they're not entertainingyour excuses or your
rationalizations.
No, they don't let you hidebehind this busyness or whatever
that you've built up.
(05:30):
The real guys out there they'regoing to fight for you.
They're going to say the hardstuff and they're going to fight
for you when you're too tiredto fight for yourself.
So really think through thatAgain.
The whole genesis of the linewithin us is this authentic,
real brotherhood.
That's why guys arehood, that'swhy guys are here.
That's why our guys stay.
That's why we have very fewguys come in and leave because
they find the brotherhood thatthey're looking for, because
(05:52):
they're just not finding it atchurch.
And I was thinking about thistoday.
Man, like think about a churchsetting.
Maybe you, if you're a highattender, you go twice a month,
right?
So maybe you see one guy twicea month for an hour.
That's two hours a month.
How long is it going to takefor you to build a relationship
with that guy, to actually beauthentic, to be real, to be
transparent with him?
And how easy is it going to beif women are around?
(06:14):
Like most church settings areright, I'm telling you, it's
just not conducive for what wereally need as men.
And that's why, within the line, within us, we have leaned in
hard to build something and togive you guys a place, a space
for reflection, for asking yourquestions, for recognizing that
you are not alone, to recognizethat there is more to life than
whatever the world is trying tosell you.
(06:37):
And so much of it comes back toaccountability, because every
guy needs it, not because we'reweak, but because we're human.
We just are.
It's not about controlling eachother, it's about protecting
each other.
Fellas, that's whataccountability is all about,
because we don't want otherbrothers in Christ drifting,
because that drifting leads todestruction.
If we don't uncheck it, the sinhardens our heart and when that
(07:00):
happens, we start to compromise.
And when we start compromising,the next thing you know we're
down that slippery slope, right?
That's why this daily, dailyencouragement matters, because
every day you're either movingcloser to God or further into
sin.
And that is a reality, fellas,that we just have to call out.
(07:22):
That is a reality, fellas, thatwe just have to call out.
And when Hebrews 3.13 calls usto encourage each other daily,
it's not just about positiveaffirmations, while they're fine
, it's not just about that.
Biblical encouragement is truetelling, True telling.
And you soak that in grace.
The next thing you know, you'rethere, right?
Hey, I'm going to remind you,bro, who you are, who God
(07:44):
created you to be, who you arein Christ, and what's at stake
when you start compromising.
So it may sound like this Look,I see you struggling, bro, but
I ain't going nowhere.
You're better than this and I'mgoing to help you.
Remember right now.
Or how about this one?
Let's pray right now.
Doggone it, and I'm not afraidto, or I'm Now.
(08:07):
You start telling the guy stufflike that.
That's when the rubber meetsthe road.
That's when the sharpeninghappens.
You know, everybody lovesProverbs 27, 17.
This iron sharpens an iron, soone man sharpens another.
That's right, that sharpeningis intentional, but that
sharpening also requires what?
Friction?
Friction.
So if you have a frictionlessfriend, they're not a brother.
(08:30):
There's plenty of frictionlessfriends out there.
Very few brothers, I'm tellingyou, the ones who refuse to let
you go, to let you settle foranything less than what God has
called you to be.
That's the brothers.
If you don't have them, look agreat way is you start being
that for someone else, becausebrotherhood starts with you
(08:52):
stepping out, you getting out ofthat isolation and you choosing
to live exposed, honest andhumble.
That's how you start gettingsharp.
And then this Hebrew versefellas, there's a key.
It says as long as it's calledtoday, okay, you don't get
endless to Mars, we don't.
And we need to recognize onemore thing Sin don't take a to
Mars, we don't.
And we need to recognize onemore thing Sin don't take a day
(09:12):
off.
It doesn't.
Neither should we.
So if you're waiting for theperfect time to pursue
brotherhood and accountability,today's the day, bro.
Look at your watch or yourcalendar.
Whatever the day is, that's theday.
Not when you're less busy,because you know when you're
going to be less busy.
When you're less busy becauseyou know when you're going to be
less busy when you're dead, I'mjust going to be real or not,
when you're more ready.
(09:33):
Either.
That's another lie from doggoneevil.
We're just going to throw thatcrap back to the gates of hell,
where it belongs.
Today's the day.
Today's the day.
So what can you do?
So here's a challenge for youfrom this spiritual kickoff
episode Text a brother that youknow right now and ask him yo
bro, how you doing?
Or just tell him you want totalk to him.
And when you talk, hey, how youbeen doing, man?
(09:54):
Or confess something tosomebody else that you've been
hiding.
I'm telling you, just get itout of the dark.
Invite a brother that you trustto hold you accountable to
something.
Maybe it's I don't know, losingfive pounds.
You know what?
I'm going to text you everyweek my progress.
Actually, I need you to text meevery week asking about my
(10:17):
progress so that you can hold meaccountable to it, and then
offer your presence to someonewho you can tell is isolated and
you're like well, chris, how doyou know they're isolated?
You can tell you got to openyour eyes.
Look up and look around, fellas.
This is such a big deal.
Encourage one another all thetime, because this is a real
fight we're in.
(10:37):
The enemy is not going to stopand none of us are meant to
stand alone.
So, as you start thinkingthrough this verse and how you
apply it to your life, reallythink and ask yourself who is
sharpening you right now?
Do you have anybody?
That's being that iron sharpensiron for you directly.
If you don't, guys, I'm tellingyou and most guys don't, head
(11:02):
over to thelinewithinus.
Check out the way we have builtthis.
We have built this to give youthe accountability, the
brotherhood, all the supportthat you need to go and do what
God's called you to do.
All right, fellas.
So look, you know, on ourspiritual kickoff episodes.
These are very special to us,and one of the main reasons that
they're special is because wetake time each and every week to
(11:25):
make sure that our listenersknow the best news that's ever
been given to us, and that'sJesus loves you, and I need you
to hear this.
If you've never accepted Christas your Lord and Savior, today's
a great day to just hear thetruth.
The truth is, god created thisperfect world and had a
(11:49):
wonderful design in mind when hemade it.
Unfortunately, sin entered theworld and when sin entered the
world, lots of bad thingsstarted happening Right, and
that sin created a separationbetween us and God.
We ran from God in many ways.
So we have this fractured worldand we try to fulfill so many
things on our own and we chasethese things.
(12:11):
We chase money and status andcareers and relationships and
all these different thingsbecause we think these things in
this world are going to fullyand finally satisfy us.
Unfortunately, what you?
When we, when we achieve them,we recognize that no, it doesn't
do.
It just doesn't do it, it justdoesn't do it.
So there's this cycle of overand over and over trying to do
(12:35):
more, trying to do more, tryingto do more.
The question I ask guys all thetime about salvation.
It always comes back well, Ijust need to be a good person.
My always my go-to back is tofind good.
Good is subjective.
My definition of good and yourdefinition of good are two
different things.
So I don't want to leave itsubjective.
I you know I can't do this.
(12:58):
There's something, there's agap.
What if I get to heaven and Ijust needed one more good thing
to get into heaven?
Oh well, I didn't know.
So we didn't.
We don't have this slidingscale.
No, what we need is issalvation as a gift, and that's
what God has offered us throughChrist.
(13:18):
So y'all need a coach to makeus better.
We need a savior to do for uswhat we couldn't do for
ourselves.
Jesus left heaven on a rescuemission for us.
Cain was born of a virgin,fulfilled all the prophecies,
did all the teachings, all themiracles, showed us the way, did
all, showed us so much, taughtus so much, poured it to those
disciples, helped them grow,helped them learn.
And then he paid the ultimatepenalty when he went to the
(13:39):
cross and died for our sins.
And if the story stops there,there's not a whole lot to
celebrate.
It would still be pretty cool,because Jesus was awesome when
he was alive for the first time.
But the story didn't stop there, because he rose, he overcame
death.
Do you get how big a deal thisis?
(13:59):
So we don't worship a dead guy,we worship a living Savior, and
that's who we're going to putour trust in.
And he tells us that he is theway, the truth and the life, and
no, and that's who we're goingto put our trust in.
He tells us that he is the way,the truth and the life, and no
one comes to the Father exceptthrough him, and there is no
other name under heaven that hasbeen given among men by which
we must be saved Jesus.
Is it Oprah's wrong?
Jesus was right.
Period.
He is the only way.
(14:20):
So what do you have to do?
If you recognize this to betrue and you recognize Jesus is
what you need for salvation,what we all need, you have to
confess him as Lord and Saviorof your entire life, not just
over Sunday or when it'sconvenient, but over your entire
life.
And when you do that, itchanges doggone everything.
It's going to change how youshow up, it's going to change
(14:41):
how you hear, how you see thescales are going to fall off.
But it takes that commitment,because here's the deal you
can't get into heaven on thecoattails of someone else your
mom, your grandma, yourgrandparents, your dad, whoever
None of them.
They may be praying for you,but salvation is a one-on-one
relationship between you and God.
Period.
So, as much as I love my fourkids, there's nothing I can do
(15:05):
to make them love God.
I can point them to there.
I can do to make them love God.
I can point them to there, Ican show them the ways.
I can do all I can to share thegospel.
But they have to make theirdecision, and so do you.
If you feel like today's theday to make that decision praise
the Lord, hallelujah Then let'sdo that right now, together,
and forget the lie that you haveto be in a church building or
some type of official you knowquote unquote setting to do this
(15:30):
.
No, no, you can confess Jesusas your Lord and Savior wherever
you are.
Maybe you're on a treadmill,maybe you're just walking, maybe
you're driving down the road ordoing laundry, I don't know.
But if you know today's the dayand you can feel that pull on
your heart, let's pray togetheras you confess him as Lord and
Savior.
So, father, just thank you somuch for this chance to share
(15:51):
your word.
Just thank you so much for thechance to share the good news of
the gospel.
And I don't know who'slistening, how it's hitting them
, the emotional state they're inright now.
But I do know one thing you areGod and I'm going to do all I
can to share the good news ofwhat you've done for us to as
many people as possible.
For that one listener who isready right now, who says you
know what?
I'm tired of doing things myway.
(16:13):
I'm ready to do it your way,god, I pray you just pour a
peace that passes allunderstanding over them, put
people in their life that'sgoing to encourage them, and,
lord, just let them feel yourlove, and we love you so much.
God In Christ's name, amen.
All right, fellas.
Look, if you just acceptedChrist, I want to hear from you,
okay, so shoot me a note or anemail at chris at
(16:35):
thelionwithinus.
I'm going to send you a bunchof free resources.
We've created so much, so manyresources at the Lion Within Us.
I just want to hook you up withsome things to help you get
started on your discipleshipjourney, because it can be
confusing it really can be.
So I want to help, encourageyou, to equip you and just do
all at least all I can, to comealongside to build you up in
(16:55):
that area.
So again, chris atthelinewithinus, all right, and
guys, so just thank you forlistening.
Come back on Wednesday.
We'll have a great guest onWednesday.
Hopefully you're going to enjoythe conversation there and I'd
highly encourage you as well.
The line withinus I talk aboutour website all the time.
We changed up so much things onour website recently and I want
you to see the different thingswe're doing, primarily with the
(17:17):
Masterminds guys.
That's where it's at.
When you look at verses likethis, you know and start
thinking about Hebrews 3.13,about so far as encourage each
other daily so that no one maybe hardened by sin's
deceitfulness.
Sin's going to try to trip usup.
Fellas, you got to have somebrothers in your corner and this
is what we build.
(17:38):
We got some brothers in Christin your corner.
Now look these guys in the landwithin us.
They are not your yes men.
They are not the guys that arejust pew sitters.
These are the boys that areleaned in and say you know what?
Something's missing.
I'm going to continue to serveat church and I'll recognize I
need something else.
I need more.
I know for me as a guy leadingmy family, as a guy in maybe a
(17:59):
leadership role at work or a guyleading in the community, I
know I need to start sharpeningdifferent areas and I need help,
and I don't even know where tohave these conversations or how
to have them.
Look, we hear you.
We hear you.
This is what we built.
So the line withinus is how youfind all that.
(18:22):
So the line withinus is how youget all that resources as well
as getting started.
Okay, so head on over thereright now, check it out and get
started today.
All right, guys, look forwardto seeing you next time.
Give us a rating review, if youdon't mind that would be
awesome and all everything youcan find about us, the lion
withinus.
I look forward to seeing younext time.
You remember you know what'scoming.
(18:46):
Keep unleashing the lion within.
We're making a big change thatI think you're really going to
enjoy.
I spent a lot of time thinkingabout our spiritual kickoffs and
, honestly, I love doing themeach week, so much so we started
doing them live every Mondaythrough Friday inside our
exclusive platform, and here'sthe best part we decided to give
(19:06):
full access, completely free,so now you can join our daily
spiritual kickoff space at nocost.
Every day, we go live to readthe word, to encourage each
other and find simple andpowerful ways to apply God's
truth to our lives.
You'll even have the chance toengage with me directly, and if
(19:27):
you missed a live stream, don'tworry, the videos are posted the
same day so you can catch upwhenever it works for you.
This is exclusivebehind-the-scenes content that
is not available anywhere else,and now we've removed every
excuse.
So if you're ready to getstarted, head over to
thelionwithinus and grab yourfree access today.
(19:50):
Let's grow together.
Welcome to the Lion Within Us, a podcast
serving Christian men who arehungry to be the leaders God
intends you to be.
I'm your host, chris Granger.
Let's jump in.
All right, fellas, spiritualkickoff time.
I'm excited to be here with you.
Let's go.
Okay?
So the scripture of the weekthis week is in the book of
Hebrews, okay.
So Hebrews, chapter 3, verse 13says but encourage one another
(00:24):
daily, as long as it is calledtoday, so that none of you may
be hardened by sin'sdeceitfulness.
So, fellas, love this verse.
We're going to take some timehere and see how we can simplify
and apply it to our life,particularly as Christian
leaders.
Look, first thing we need tounderstand is where is the book
of Hebrews?
So, if you're in your NewTestament, you'll go past all
(00:47):
your standard Gospels andeverything like that and get
past a lot of the epistles.
You'll go past 1 and 2, timothy, titus, philemon, then you get
to Hebrews.
If you get to James, myfavorite book of the Bible, you
went a little bit too far, soyou can just back up right there
, okay.
So just know that now as areminder if you're new to the
line within us.
Their spiritual kickoff episodesare really special, because
(01:09):
what we try to do is just take asimple verse from God's word,
usually one or two verses, andwe see how we can simplify and
apply it to our life as leaders,as men.
And we do this every day withinthe lion Within Us community as
part of our daily spiritualkickoff.
So, if you enjoy these, that'sexclusive content, exclusively
(01:32):
for our community members Headover to thelionwithinus, get
started today and take part ofthose.
And, by the way, if you can'tcome to those when we go live
because these are live, this isnot nothing recorded, this is
live stuff.
If you miss the lives, therecordings are there, but it's
exclusively for those LionWithin Us members.
(01:54):
So, again, thelionwithinus,let's think about this verse
here, as long as it's calledtoday, so that none of you may
be hardened by sins anddeceitfulness.
And we're going to really bethinking about a couple of
things Brotherhood is a big dealfor us, accountability as well,
and, ultimately, power.
So let's think about a truth, asimple truth that we need to
(02:18):
hopefully recognize to be truewe're not meant to walk this
road alone, and I need you guysto hear that we're not meant to
walk this road alone.
I need you guys to hear thatwe're not meant to walk this
road alone.
Too many guys, especiallyChristian dudes, try to.
Okay, because we buy into thelie that our strength right, and
if we're strong and we can dostuff on our own and sometimes
(02:41):
we do that means we need to besilent, right, and that we
should.
If we have a struggle, webetter deal with that privately,
because if we ask for help,it's a sign of weakness and
that's just flat out wrong, bro.
It's wrong Because scripturepaints a completely different
picture, completely.
The Bible points directly to thepower of brotherhood.
Why that's important.
(03:01):
It talks directly aboutaccountability and it also talks
about encouragement.
We got to have encouragementbecause we need some weapons to
fight against sin andparticularly spiritual drift.
You guys know what I'm talkingabout.
Next thing you know you'repraying with your wife, you're
doing all this stuff that youhaven't done in months and you
haven't prayed with your kidsand you're not looking at your
Bible.
You hadn't been going to churchlike you know to.
(03:22):
It's just a drift.
No one wakes up and saystoday's the day I'm just going
to turn my back on God, but wedrift from Him all the time, and
one way that the evil one isdoing is crap.
It's because of isolation.
It really is his playground.
It really is, because when weisolate we become easy prey.
Just think about, when you lookat, like National Geographic,
(03:44):
you know the little antelope byhimself, the little gimpy one
yeah, that's the one that'sgetting ready to be taken out,
bro.
No, the ones in the middle, theones with each other.
They're going to take care ofeach other.
And that's where sin works best.
Man in the dark, behind closeddoors, when no one sees and no
one's asking the hard questions,the enemy thrives.
(04:05):
He wants us to live in secret.
He wants us to just think thatyou know what?
I got this on my own.
And when we do that, fellas,we're giving them too much
strength.
So this Hebrews verse righthere talks about encouragement
and each other, so we don'tbecome hardened by the sin's
deceitfulness.
This Hebrews is a directchallenge to that mindset to
(04:26):
encourage each other so we don'tbecome hardened by the sin's
deceitfulness.
This Hebrews is a directchallenge to that mindset to
encourage each other, notoccasionally, not on a birthday
or something like that, orretreat, but every doggone day.
I'm not talking about shallowpep talks that you get from a
coach at halftime either, orjust our surface level.
How you doing, bro?
No, I'm talking about were youare real, authentic, genuinely.
How you doing man, like what'sgoing on.
(04:49):
I can tell something's up howyou been.
How are you and your wife Now?
Your kids look like they'rekind of upset.
Everything okay, those realbrotherhood conversations.
And look, you don't stumbleinto this crap.
You just don't.
You have to build it throughintentionality and vulnerability
(05:10):
.
That means we got to surroundourselves with brothers who just
don't pat us on the back butthey're going to call us out
when we're doing stuff wrong andwhen we're drifting man,
because the guys who actuallycare about you aren't afraid to
have tough conversations.
They're not entertaining yourexcuses or your rationalizations
.
No, they're not entertainingyour excuses or your
rationalizations.
No, they don't let you hidebehind this busyness or whatever
that you've built up.
(05:30):
The real guys out there they'regoing to fight for you.
They're going to say the hardstuff and they're going to fight
for you when you're too tiredto fight for yourself.
So really think through thatAgain.
The whole genesis of the linewithin us is this authentic,
real brotherhood.
That's why guys arehood, that'swhy guys are here.
That's why our guys stay.
That's why we have very fewguys come in and leave because
they find the brotherhood thatthey're looking for, because
(05:52):
they're just not finding it atchurch.
And I was thinking about thistoday.
Man, like think about a churchsetting.
Maybe you, if you're a highattender, you go twice a month,
right?
So maybe you see one guy twicea month for an hour.
That's two hours a month.
How long is it going to takefor you to build a relationship
with that guy, to actually beauthentic, to be real, to be
transparent with him?
And how easy is it going to beif women are around?
(06:14):
Like most church settings areright, I'm telling you, it's
just not conducive for what wereally need as men.
And that's why, within the line, within us, we have leaned in
hard to build something and togive you guys a place, a space
for reflection, for asking yourquestions, for recognizing that
you are not alone, to recognizethat there is more to life than
whatever the world is trying tosell you.
(06:37):
And so much of it comes back toaccountability, because every
guy needs it, not because we'reweak, but because we're human.
We just are.
It's not about controlling eachother, it's about protecting
each other.
Fellas, that's whataccountability is all about,
because we don't want otherbrothers in Christ drifting,
because that drifting leads todestruction.
If we don't uncheck it, the sinhardens our heart and when that
(07:00):
happens, we start to compromise.
And when we start compromising,the next thing you know we're
down that slippery slope, right?
That's why this daily, dailyencouragement matters, because
every day you're either movingcloser to God or further into
sin.
And that is a reality, fellas,that we just have to call out.
(07:22):
That is a reality, fellas, thatwe just have to call out.
And when Hebrews 3.13 calls usto encourage each other daily,
it's not just about positiveaffirmations, while they're fine
, it's not just about that.
Biblical encouragement is truetelling, True telling.
And you soak that in grace.
The next thing you know, you'rethere, right?
Hey, I'm going to remind you,bro, who you are, who God
(07:44):
created you to be, who you arein Christ, and what's at stake
when you start compromising.
So it may sound like this Look,I see you struggling, bro, but
I ain't going nowhere.
You're better than this and I'mgoing to help you.
Remember right now.
Or how about this one?
Let's pray right now.
Doggone it, and I'm not afraidto, or I'm Now.
(08:07):
You start telling the guy stufflike that.
That's when the rubber meetsthe road.
That's when the sharpeninghappens.
You know, everybody lovesProverbs 27, 17.
This iron sharpens an iron, soone man sharpens another.
That's right, that sharpeningis intentional, but that
sharpening also requires what?
Friction?
Friction.
So if you have a frictionlessfriend, they're not a brother.
(08:30):
There's plenty of frictionlessfriends out there.
Very few brothers, I'm tellingyou, the ones who refuse to let
you go, to let you settle foranything less than what God has
called you to be.
That's the brothers.
If you don't have them, look agreat way is you start being
that for someone else, becausebrotherhood starts with you
(08:52):
stepping out, you getting out ofthat isolation and you choosing
to live exposed, honest andhumble.
That's how you start gettingsharp.
And then this Hebrew versefellas, there's a key.
It says as long as it's calledtoday, okay, you don't get
endless to Mars, we don't.
And we need to recognize onemore thing Sin don't take a to
Mars, we don't.
And we need to recognize onemore thing Sin don't take a day
(09:12):
off.
It doesn't.
Neither should we.
So if you're waiting for theperfect time to pursue
brotherhood and accountability,today's the day, bro.
Look at your watch or yourcalendar.
Whatever the day is, that's theday.
Not when you're less busy,because you know when you're
going to be less busy.
When you're less busy becauseyou know when you're going to be
less busy when you're dead, I'mjust going to be real or not,
when you're more ready.
(09:33):
Either.
That's another lie from doggoneevil.
We're just going to throw thatcrap back to the gates of hell,
where it belongs.
Today's the day.
Today's the day.
So what can you do?
So here's a challenge for youfrom this spiritual kickoff
episode Text a brother that youknow right now and ask him yo
bro, how you doing?
Or just tell him you want totalk to him.
And when you talk, hey, how youbeen doing, man?
(09:54):
Or confess something tosomebody else that you've been
hiding.
I'm telling you, just get itout of the dark.
Invite a brother that you trustto hold you accountable to
something.
Maybe it's I don't know, losingfive pounds.
You know what?
I'm going to text you everyweek my progress.
Actually, I need you to text meevery week asking about my
(10:17):
progress so that you can hold meaccountable to it, and then
offer your presence to someonewho you can tell is isolated and
you're like well, chris, how doyou know they're isolated?
You can tell you got to openyour eyes.
Look up and look around, fellas.
This is such a big deal.
Encourage one another all thetime, because this is a real
fight we're in.
(10:37):
The enemy is not going to stopand none of us are meant to
stand alone.
So, as you start thinkingthrough this verse and how you
apply it to your life, reallythink and ask yourself who is
sharpening you right now?
Do you have anybody?
That's being that iron sharpensiron for you directly.
If you don't, guys, I'm tellingyou and most guys don't, head
(11:02):
over to thelinewithinus.
Check out the way we have builtthis.
We have built this to give youthe accountability, the
brotherhood, all the supportthat you need to go and do what
God's called you to do.
All right, fellas.
So look, you know, on ourspiritual kickoff episodes.
These are very special to us,and one of the main reasons that
they're special is because wetake time each and every week to
(11:25):
make sure that our listenersknow the best news that's ever
been given to us, and that'sJesus loves you, and I need you
to hear this.
If you've never accepted Christas your Lord and Savior, today's
a great day to just hear thetruth.
The truth is, god created thisperfect world and had a
(11:49):
wonderful design in mind when hemade it.
Unfortunately, sin entered theworld and when sin entered the
world, lots of bad thingsstarted happening Right, and
that sin created a separationbetween us and God.
We ran from God in many ways.
So we have this fractured worldand we try to fulfill so many
things on our own and we chasethese things.
(12:11):
We chase money and status andcareers and relationships and
all these different thingsbecause we think these things in
this world are going to fullyand finally satisfy us.
Unfortunately, what you?
When we, when we achieve them,we recognize that no, it doesn't
do.
It just doesn't do it, it justdoesn't do it.
So there's this cycle of overand over and over trying to do
(12:35):
more, trying to do more, tryingto do more.
The question I ask guys all thetime about salvation.
It always comes back well, Ijust need to be a good person.
My always my go-to back is tofind good.
Good is subjective.
My definition of good and yourdefinition of good are two
different things.
So I don't want to leave itsubjective.
I you know I can't do this.
(12:58):
There's something, there's agap.
What if I get to heaven and Ijust needed one more good thing
to get into heaven?
Oh well, I didn't know.
So we didn't.
We don't have this slidingscale.
No, what we need is issalvation as a gift, and that's
what God has offered us throughChrist.
(13:18):
So y'all need a coach to makeus better.
We need a savior to do for uswhat we couldn't do for
ourselves.
Jesus left heaven on a rescuemission for us.
Cain was born of a virgin,fulfilled all the prophecies,
did all the teachings, all themiracles, showed us the way, did
all, showed us so much, taughtus so much, poured it to those
disciples, helped them grow,helped them learn.
And then he paid the ultimatepenalty when he went to the
(13:39):
cross and died for our sins.
And if the story stops there,there's not a whole lot to
celebrate.
It would still be pretty cool,because Jesus was awesome when
he was alive for the first time.
But the story didn't stop there, because he rose, he overcame
death.
Do you get how big a deal thisis?
(13:59):
So we don't worship a dead guy,we worship a living Savior, and
that's who we're going to putour trust in.
And he tells us that he is theway, the truth and the life, and
no, and that's who we're goingto put our trust in.
He tells us that he is the way,the truth and the life, and no
one comes to the Father exceptthrough him, and there is no
other name under heaven that hasbeen given among men by which
we must be saved Jesus.
Is it Oprah's wrong?
Jesus was right.
Period.
He is the only way.
(14:20):
So what do you have to do?
If you recognize this to betrue and you recognize Jesus is
what you need for salvation,what we all need, you have to
confess him as Lord and Saviorof your entire life, not just
over Sunday or when it'sconvenient, but over your entire
life.
And when you do that, itchanges doggone everything.
It's going to change how youshow up, it's going to change
(14:41):
how you hear, how you see thescales are going to fall off.
But it takes that commitment,because here's the deal you
can't get into heaven on thecoattails of someone else your
mom, your grandma, yourgrandparents, your dad, whoever
None of them.
They may be praying for you,but salvation is a one-on-one
relationship between you and God.
Period.
So, as much as I love my fourkids, there's nothing I can do
(15:05):
to make them love God.
I can point them to there.
I can do to make them love God.
I can point them to there, Ican show them the ways.
I can do all I can to share thegospel.
But they have to make theirdecision, and so do you.
If you feel like today's theday to make that decision praise
the Lord, hallelujah Then let'sdo that right now, together,
and forget the lie that you haveto be in a church building or
some type of official you knowquote unquote setting to do this
(15:30):
.
No, no, you can confess Jesusas your Lord and Savior wherever
you are.
Maybe you're on a treadmill,maybe you're just walking, maybe
you're driving down the road ordoing laundry, I don't know.
But if you know today's the dayand you can feel that pull on
your heart, let's pray togetheras you confess him as Lord and
Savior.
So, father, just thank you somuch for this chance to share
(15:51):
your word.
Just thank you so much for thechance to share the good news of
the gospel.
And I don't know who'slistening, how it's hitting them
, the emotional state they're inright now.
But I do know one thing you areGod and I'm going to do all I
can to share the good news ofwhat you've done for us to as
many people as possible.
For that one listener who isready right now, who says you
know what?
I'm tired of doing things myway.
(16:13):
I'm ready to do it your way,god, I pray you just pour a
peace that passes allunderstanding over them, put
people in their life that'sgoing to encourage them, and,
lord, just let them feel yourlove, and we love you so much.
God In Christ's name, amen.
All right, fellas.
Look, if you just acceptedChrist, I want to hear from you,
okay, so shoot me a note or anemail at chris at
(16:35):
thelionwithinus.
I'm going to send you a bunchof free resources.
We've created so much, so manyresources at the Lion Within Us.
I just want to hook you up withsome things to help you get
started on your discipleshipjourney, because it can be
confusing it really can be.
So I want to help, encourageyou, to equip you and just do
all at least all I can, to comealongside to build you up in
(16:55):
that area.
So again, chris atthelinewithinus, all right, and
guys, so just thank you forlistening.
Come back on Wednesday.
We'll have a great guest onWednesday.
Hopefully you're going to enjoythe conversation there and I'd
highly encourage you as well.
The line withinus I talk aboutour website all the time.
We changed up so much things onour website recently and I want
you to see the different thingswe're doing, primarily with the
(17:17):
Masterminds guys.
That's where it's at.
When you look at verses likethis, you know and start
thinking about Hebrews 3.13,about so far as encourage each
other daily so that no one maybe hardened by sin's
deceitfulness.
Sin's going to try to trip usup.
Fellas, you got to have somebrothers in your corner and this
is what we build.
(17:38):
We got some brothers in Christin your corner.
Now look these guys in the landwithin us.
They are not your yes men.
They are not the guys that arejust pew sitters.
These are the boys that areleaned in and say you know what?
Something's missing.
I'm going to continue to serveat church and I'll recognize I
need something else.
I need more.
I know for me as a guy leadingmy family, as a guy in maybe a
(17:59):
leadership role at work or a guyleading in the community, I
know I need to start sharpeningdifferent areas and I need help,
and I don't even know where tohave these conversations or how
to have them.
Look, we hear you.
We hear you.
This is what we built.
So the line withinus is how youfind all that.
(18:22):
So the line withinus is how youget all that resources as well
as getting started.
Okay, so head on over thereright now, check it out and get
started today.
All right, guys, look forwardto seeing you next time.
Give us a rating review, if youdon't mind that would be
awesome and all everything youcan find about us, the lion
withinus.
I look forward to seeing younext time.
You remember you know what'scoming.
(18:46):
Keep unleashing the lion within.
We're making a big change thatI think you're really going to
enjoy.
I spent a lot of time thinkingabout our spiritual kickoffs and
, honestly, I love doing themeach week, so much so we started
doing them live every Mondaythrough Friday inside our
exclusive platform, and here'sthe best part we decided to give
(19:06):
full access, completely free,so now you can join our daily
spiritual kickoff space at nocost.
Every day, we go live to readthe word, to encourage each
other and find simple andpowerful ways to apply God's
truth to our lives.
You'll even have the chance toengage with me directly, and if
(19:27):
you missed a live stream, don'tworry, the videos are posted the
same day so you can catch upwhenever it works for you.
This is exclusivebehind-the-scenes content that
is not available anywhere else,and now we've removed every
excuse.
So if you're ready to getstarted, head over to
thelionwithinus and grab yourfree access today.
(19:50):
Let's grow together.
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