June 12, 2025 • 25 mins
What happens when Christian men stop trying to face life's battles alone? After 18 months of development, we're unveiling something transformative – our Leadership Mastermind program designed specifically for men seeking deeper connection and growth in their faith journey.
The struggle is real. Many of us find ourselves isolated, lacking spiritual mentors who speak truth into our lives. We attend church but maintain surface-level relationships. We feel confused about spiritual leadership, especially at home. We battle silently with challenges that could be eased through authentic brotherhood. Recognizing these gaps from personal experience, we've created a solution that brings together small groups of men in a virtual environment where they can be authentic, compassionate, and transparent with one another.
Ready to stop drifting and lead with clarity, conviction, and brotherhood? Our Leadership Mastermind groups launch this July—just 7 men per group. Real discipleship. Real accountability. This isn’t for everyone—but if you’re ready to be sharpened, we want to hear from you. Step into the man God’s called you to be. Your next level starts now.
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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, this is aspecial episode, ok, and I'm
going to be straight up.
I don't have a lot of notes, Idon't have a lot of prep work,
I'm just going to speak to theheart for it to you in this
episode.
We'll see how it goes, becausewe have a big announcement and,
(00:26):
again, if you listen to the Lionweek in and week out, you know
we have a spiritual kickoff.
We have our meat episode, wehave our fun Friday.
This is a little bit different.
I'm not going to be goingthrough tips, I'm not going to
be diving through and unpackingscripture to simplify and apply,
and definitely not interviewinganybody today.
But God laid something on myheart when we started the lion
and we're at the point now towhere it's really starting to
(00:50):
take form and I'm so excited toshare it with you and I'm just
going to take a few minutes.
So, again, if this is not yourthing, just hit next.
Don't worry about listening tothis one, but if you're
interested in seeing what we'vebuilt, what God has laid on my
heart, what he's laid on theline within us and how we're
trying to serve others.
You may enjoy just hearing whatwe're, what we're ready to put
(01:11):
forth.
Ok, and this stemmed a lot frommy personal journey.
Ok, so I grew up, you know Igot saved around 16 years old.
There was not a lot ofspiritual type of mentors that
were teaching me and showing methe way.
Again, my dad is my hero.
I always go to him, but outsideof him there were no other men.
(01:33):
There were no other men thatwere speaking biblical truth
into my life and therefore Idrifted for a long time.
And that's why starting a Lionhas been such a journey, because
I recognize I can't do this bymyself and we shouldn't even
attempt to do this thing calledChristianity and a discipleship
(01:56):
journey without others.
And so for the last probably 18months at the Lion Within Us,
we've been trying some thingsand really working through how
to serve guys in a trulymeaningful way, not just surface
level junk fellas I'm talkingabout how can we actually help
those.
And we tried some things.
Quite frankly, some things justdidn't work and some things we
(02:20):
learned from, we learn from andwhen it comes down to the
problem that we startedidentifying in me as well as the
problem in others.
A couple of things keptsurfacing up.
Guys were pretty isolated.
They were feeling like theyjust they're by themselves a lot
.
They didn't have a lot ofpeople to turn to.
(02:43):
So much stuff, particularlyfrom a church setting, felt very
surface level.
You know I'm not picking onchurches, you know, I'm just
saying it can be very surface.
It can be hard to plug in at atruly intimate level there.
A lot of guys feel confused.
They didn't know how to doincluding me.
I didn't know how to lead aBible study with my family.
I didn't know how to pray withmy wife.
You know, I thought thespiritual leader of my family
was our children's pastor.
Quite, the spiritual leader ofmy family was our children's
(03:05):
pastor.
Quite frankly, I mean for thelongest time, and I think a lot
of the feedback as well is somany guys are just passive when
it comes to anything spiritualand that's just not what we're
called to do.
You know, because faith whenyou go to, if you go to a church
setting, quite frankly, so manyof the functions of the church
(03:25):
are ran by women and nothingagainst women Because they
stepped in and do because menweren't there to do it and
they've done that and so manyhave done that.
And to the point where guys arejust we're just passive.
There and I'm telling you, man,there was a gap, a massive gap
(03:52):
that I recognized in me on who Iwas during the week versus who
I was maybe on Sunday as soon aswe leave church, right, and
that shouldn't be.
It shouldn't be that way, likeif we are truly ambassadors for
Christ, ambassadors on the clockall the time.
And I started just reallythinking about that and
ruminating and praying andasking God and he said you know
what?
You need?
A band of brothers.
Because it says in Proverbs 27,17,.
(04:13):
Iron sharpens iron, so one mansharpens another right.
So if I don't have that band ofbrothers in my life that are
sharpening me, then that's a gapand that leaves me susceptible
to attacks from the evil one.
So I had to do something.
So again, 18 months ago, theLord laid on my mind look, you
got to get some groups together,you got to start formalizing
(04:35):
some groups with some guys,start having these conversations
so that you can have these, youknow, be authentic, you can be
compassionate, you can betransparent.
You can talk about the stuffyou're struggling with without
any fear of condemnation,without any fear of if I tell
you this area that I'mstruggling with, you're going to
run until whoever and it'sgoing to get back and next thing
you know it's just going to becircling all around.
(04:57):
Can't have that Again with ourplatform at the Lion.
God's like do it there.
We did, and we started gettingsome groups.
We called them mastermindgroups.
You can call them whatever youwant discipleship groups,
mastermind groups and we foundout that the guys really leaned
in and we played with it alittle bit on trying to figure
(05:20):
out the best way to get themastermind groups executed, if
you will.
And we found that what reallyworked well is when a small
group of guys seven, eight guyscome together and and we're
trying to help one guy solve oneitem in his life, and it could
(05:41):
be with his marriage, it couldbe with his finances, it could
be struggling with pornography,it could be in his career.
He's stuck at work, right,whatever it may be, or doesn't
know how to be a spiritualleader of his home.
You get where I'm going and wecame up with a framework to help
us, as Christian men help thatguy in that moment, not from a
(06:05):
secular worldview, butbiblically.
Let's approach him biblically.
How can we serve that brotherin this time of need?
And I'm telling you, that thingtook off.
The guys absolutely loved it.
Those meetings were incredible.
And then we tried some otherstuff and we learned that that
just didn't work.
So at the beginning of this year2025, we said you know what?
We're going all in, we're goingto build this system so that
(06:29):
this can serve guys in a trulymeaningful way.
And that's where we're at rightnow and that's what this
episode is all about, because weare launching our leadership
masterminds.
And this is not something outthere, that's, you know, some
fly by night and just we'rethrowing something at the wall
and hopefully that sticks.
I'm telling you, guys, we havebeen working nonstop for the
(06:51):
last six months, easily for thelast six months, with a group of
guys within the line, within us, and those guys have been
meeting, quite frankly, almostweekly with us as we frame in
and shape up the best way thatwe feel God is calling us to
(07:11):
serve men and to bring themtogether.
And those meetings have goneall over the place from pros and
cons and don't do this,definitely do this.
And how do we actually put thefunctionality together?
And we've got the structure setup now.
You know we have it set upwhere these groups are going to
(07:32):
get together every other week.
We have an entire system built.
So when you come, if you're inwhat we call the hot seat, there
is a very detailed set ofinstructions that the
facilitator will work through.
And the cool part about the waywe're doing this we're
leveraging data.
Again, I'm an engineer.
We've got a lot of smart guysthat work with the line.
(07:57):
Within us.
We're leveraging data so thatwhen you go through a mastermind
session, it's just not, youknow, wipe your hands off and go
about your business.
You're going to get thereminders, you're going to get
the follow-ups, you're going toget the accountability, you're
going to get the check-ins,because the work is done after
the meeting.
Let's just be real.
(08:17):
You need to help identify whatto do, but then, once we've
identified that, then it's timeto get to work, and that I'm
telling you the system we'vebuilt is absolutely it's a God
thing.
I didn't build it straight up,so I'm not smart enough to build
that, but it's a God thing whenwe look and see how it's going
to serve and how it is servingpeople right now.
And I'm telling you, fellas,it's, it's going to make an
(08:39):
impact.
And then, after you go throughthat issue, whatever it is and
it could be something small orit could be something huge we're
doing a one-on-one with thatindividual.
I'm doing those right now withthe guys that are going through
the mastermind sessions directly, and then we have a great.
Ultimately, what you're gettingis a personal board of advisors
(09:01):
that are coming alongside tohelp guide you.
It's going to be there for youso it's not just like you come
to this meeting every two weeksand you never talk to each other
again.
We've built the system so youguys can talk as often as you
want, where you can throw stuffout.
You don't have to wait for adesignated time.
And I'm telling you guys areleaning in and this is where
those brotherhoods are going toreally start forming.
Guys are leaning in and this iswhere those brotherhoods are
(09:21):
going to really start forming.
I've also noticed that, becausewe do everything online, this is
a digital solution, fellas, sothese are all virtual meetings,
so you don't have to drive andtry to coordinate all the
logistics.
No, pull up your phone.
Just pull up your phone or yourcomputer, whatever works, and
hop on the meeting.
And a great part of that aswell is there's a little bit of
(09:43):
distance, typically between ourmembers.
We have members in Canada,united States, we have a member
in Australia.
They're all over, ok.
And what I've noticed by runninggroups this way is that guys
start opening up a whole lotquicker.
Maybe it's because they cantalk about items and they're not
worried about running into youat the restaurant after church
or to the grocery store later inthe week.
I don't know.
(10:03):
I just know we're using thisthing called technology and
we're leveraging the heck out ofit for good, and it's creating
conversations that are trulygoing to move the needle and
make an impact.
So, again, we had that, thatgoing on, and we're launching
these again.
(10:23):
We've been beta testing for 18months, but now we're actually
launching them officially.
They're starting in july.
So that's why this episode iscoming out right now and this
I'll be straight up.
This is not for everyone, okay.
You may not be ready forconversations like this, and to
help us understand if you are.
(10:44):
What we've built is a verycomprehensive assessment.
We call it a leadershipassessment, but it's 80
questions.
There's it's multiple choice,but there's also some text
fields where you have to answersome questions directly because
we want to see where you are inyour personal discipleship
journey and are you going to bea good fit?
(11:04):
Are you coachable?
Are the areas that you want towork on areas that we feel like
we can serve?
So I would encourage you ifyou're interested and you want
to just learn more.
We're not asking for anycommitments or anything right
now.
What I'm asking for is for justgo to thelinewithinus and then
put in a slash mastermind.
It's on the front page as well.
(11:25):
If you scroll down, you'll seeit and that'll take you to a
webpage where you can actuallyclick a link and you can start
taking the assessmentimmediately.
Or you can just fill out yourname and your email and we'll
reach out to you with details onhow to get started.
But the groups we're startingoff with two groups.
We're starting small.
Again, big things often havesmall beginnings.
(11:48):
We're starting with two groups.
The group sizes we're cappingthem at seven plus a facilitator
.
So, guys, this is not whereyou're going to come in.
You're going to be surroundedby 30 people and you're never
going to be heard.
That's not how this works, andthese guys again meet every
other week and as we growinterest, we'll add groups and
hopefully we'll add more groupsand we're just excited to see
(12:10):
how this is going to serve guysin a meaningful way.
Now, for the month of june,we've also done a like a on a
founder's initial type of offerwhere we're offering some pretty
substantial savings for guysthat lock in this month.
So there is that caveat.
And I also want to mention onething the financial component.
(12:31):
Yes, there, there, there is a,there is a, a, a cost associated
with this, because we put a lotof work.
This is, this is essentiallythe system that's going to serve
guys in a, in a meaningful way,but we've built it in such a
way that you could present thisto your employer as leadership
development and we had the formsand instructions on how to help
(12:53):
you do that, how to help youhave that conversation, because
it's not a big investment at allfrom an employer standpoint.
Okay, and those employers, ifyou're sharing up things at home
, if you're sharing up thingswith your finances, if you're
focusing on how you can improveas a leader at work, I'm telling
you all these things okay, froma biblical counsel standpoint
(13:14):
are going to impact the man thatyou are when you show up to
whatever job you have.
Whether you're in the C-suiteor you're in the mechanic shop,
it doesn't matter.
Whatever job you find yourselfin, you want the best.
We're bringing excellence tothe workplace.
Right?
The mastermind is going to helpyou with that.
So you're going to find thatemployers are going to get
(13:35):
behind this.
They're going to be able toserve this Many of the guys.
Right now, the way they've setit up, it's as expensive as a
business expense forprofessional development.
So it's a very easy way to dothat.
So we have multiple ways.
You can look at it Again.
This could be just a personalexpense and you put it as your
monthly budget expense.
And you put it as your monthlybudget.
That's great.
Or potentially, you can takethis to an employer.
So let's at least have theconversation so we can figure
(14:00):
out what's best for you.
Okay, so fellas again, the lionwithinus slash.
Mastermind is how you learnmore.
To see what we're doing.
Again, we're launching in July.
Right now, there is a ton ofwork going in place where we
have guys who are workingthrough, having conversations
with guys just learning, justtrying to see how we can serve.
At the end of day, we ain'tselling anything and I've told
(14:21):
all the guys we're not sellinganything.
It's all about serving.
Here's what we've built.
Here's how we help.
If you feel like you'restruggling in these areas and
you need some support and youdon't currently have it, we'd
like for you to check it out andlet's talk about it.
And if it doesn't align, I willbe the first person to say you
know what?
This is not going to be a goodfit, and that's okay.
(14:43):
We can't serve everybody, butthe ones that we can, the ones
that God puts on our hearts,that out and shows us, we're
going all in and I'm telling youI've had more fire for the lion
within us over the last sixmonths since God gave me the
vision of starting the lion, youknow, almost four years ago now
(15:05):
.
It's just clear.
This is what he's calling itand I think I'm encouraged by
the guys, by the feedback, bythe, the work we've put in to
study the, the reps, quitefrankly, to get this figured out
.
So if you don't have that strongmen's group, that strong
(15:26):
bounded brothers that you canactually speak truth to, that
are going on.
That you can bring up if you'restruggling with pornography.
That you can bring up whenyou're you don't have enough
money to make the end of themonth end right.
When you can bring up when youand your wife are just not on
the same page and you don't knowif you're ever going to be on
the same page ever again.
You don't have those guys youcan talk to about those things
(15:47):
with intimately.
You're missing out.
And the last thing I want toencourage you to think about is
this Every one of us has a story.
Every one of us has a testimony.
Every one of us has gonethrough trials.
Don't waste them.
Now, why do I say that?
Because I've gone through a lotof trials.
(16:08):
I mean I'm very open and candidon the podcast.
I've gone through a divorce.
I've gone through, you know,significant weight loss where I
was obese.
I mean it was not healthy, itwas bad guys.
You know 330 pounds bloodpressure medicine all this in my
20s.
I've lost a child.
I've had to go through thatgrieving process.
(16:28):
I've gone through, you know,the financial recognition of oh
my gosh, like we are completelyupside down and we're bleeding
every month.
What are we going to do, goingthrough, taking a step of
obedience, and God says you knowwhat you need to lead the
subdivision and go to a farm andjust like, not no clue how to
(16:48):
do a run a farm.
So I've gone through theseexperiences and what good would
it be if I just kept them in myback pocket.
So when you start thinking aboutthe mastermind, don't think
about it.
I encourage you, not just froma selfish standpoint Now I know
that's how we're going to do itLike, what am I going to get
(17:09):
from this?
Totally get it.
But think also what can youoffer someone else?
If you've gone through thatfinancial hurdle, if you've
overcome pornography, if you'vegone through that divorce, or if
you've been knocked down a fewtimes at work and finally
figured out how to climb thecorporate ladder, god's way you
(17:31):
may be put in a room and anopportunity for a man who's
really struggling for you to notonly share your experiences but
to share biblical wisdom to himin the moment that he needs it
the most.
And I'm telling you, fellas,there's nothing more critical in
this whole thing we call thehuman experiment, if you will,
(17:52):
of us coming together andserving each other, and what a
truly meaningful way, as you'recoming at it with God's word.
You're coming at it from yourtestimony on what God has done
in your life and no one canrefute your testimony, guys.
So I'm telling you, it's justan amazing opportunity at your
feet to be served for sure, butalso to serve others and to not
(18:14):
just keep those life experiencesin your back pocket never to be
used.
So, hopefully, this, that's itAgain.
There's no big push.
I'm not.
There's not a big you know.
Act now, do this.
I'm not going to do that.
I'm simply going to ask you togo to the line within that US
and put that slash mastermind.
(18:35):
Or if you just go to the mainpage and scroll down, you'll see
leadership mastermind on theright hand side, right next to
our community.
Click on that.
It takes you to the informationpage and you can learn more
from there.
How about that?
So, guys, I highly encourageyou to do it If you have any
questions.
Also, I just want you to makethis clear when you go through
that assessment and you get tothe end, you'll find my
(18:58):
scheduler there, because I will.
Any man, any man that goesthrough and does that assessment
, I'm committing I want to atleast have a conversation with
you.
I want to hear more about yourstory.
I'm obviously going to see alot of information that you're
going to share, and it's goingto be 100 percent pride that
we're not sharing this stuff out.
By the way, we keep all thedata.
(19:18):
We own the data.
We own the databases.
It's not anywhere that we'reputting this anywhere else.
You don't have to worry aboutit being released from that
standpoint.
But I want to have aconversation with you, so maybe
it'd just be a fun way for us tochat as well, but I promise you
we're going to make that happen.
We're going to talk and we'regoing to find out if this is
right for you and if so, we'llget you plugged into the right
(19:39):
group.
How about that?
All right, guys, I reallyappreciate it.
That's all we have for thisepisode.
Again, the Lion Within dot.
Us slash mastermind.
We'll make sure that that is inthe show notes as well, so that
for this particular episode, ifyou're listening, you should
just be able to click on thatlink, go directly to that page
(20:03):
and check it out If you knowguys that you think would be
interested, because, look, wecan do groups with guys that you
know if you desire that, we can, we can.
We are very flexible on how wecan build this.
Share this out with other guys.
Okay, maybe you got guys allover, you got buddies all over
the country.
You've never been able tofigure it out.
This could be the solution toget you guys plugged back in, to
get you leaning in.
So share it with others outthere, particularly the
(20:23):
Christian men in your life thatyou think are ready to lean in
and to do what God's called themto do.
So I'm excited, I'm pumped up,I'm tired because we have been
thrashing.
So I would ask it just forprayers as we launch this, as we
cause.
I guarantee the last thing thatyou want, wants, is for us to
go out there and bring Christianmen together, meaningful way to
have some conversations andsome engagement, some true iron,
(20:45):
iron, sharpening, iron moments.
He does not want that, butthat's okay.
That's okay, and I can tell youthe band of brothers that we
have assembled that are going tobe leading the charge.
I can tell you the band ofbrothers that we have assembled
that are going to be leading thecharge.
I'm just honored to know them,I'm just honored to have them in
my life and the fact thatyou'll be able to sit down in a
(21:06):
room and have these guys pourinto you and hear where you're
at, and truly hear where you'reat, and speak life and
encouragement to you.
It's the most excited I've everbeen guys, so I'm honored for
them.
God has done some great thingsto bring people in my path, to
get the lion to this point.
For my mentors, I got two inparticular I'm thinking of right
(21:29):
now.
I can't even begin to say whatyou guys mean to me and just the
wise counsel has gotten us tothis point.
So again, thelionwithinus,that's it, fellas.
Thank you so much for listeningto me, and just the wise
counsel has gotten us to thispoint.
So again, the lion within thatus.
That's it, fellas.
Thank you so much for listening.
If you have any questions,please and again, my email,
chris, at the lion within thatus, send me an email directly.
(21:50):
I want to be completely asavailable and as transparent as
possible and, hopefully, to hearfrom you and look forward to
talking to you about our newleadership mastermind.
All right, get after it, fellas.
Thank you so much.
Keep unleashing the lion within.
I've got something big to share.
We're making a major shiftbecause we know the battle was
real and it's time more men hadaccess to the support they need.
(22:11):
For too long, guys have beentrying to carry the weight alone
pressure at work, tension athome, wounds from the past in a
world that demands strength butoffers no place to rest.
We see it, we've lived it andthat's exactly why we built our
community.
It's a stronghold, a placewhere warriors can find rest,
truth and a band of brothersstanding beside them.
(22:32):
And starting now, we're makingit easier than ever to step in.
We've lowered the barrier tojust $15.99 a month.
That means, for less than thecost of a drive-thru lunch, you
can join a brotherhood that'scentered on Christ and built for
growth.
Inside you'll find access toour daily spiritual kickoffs
every Monday through Friday, ourLion Lunches, our Bible Studies
, our Friday Forge Gatheringsall that and so much more.
(22:55):
Every man needs a strongholdand you don't have to fight
alone.
If you've been waiting for theright time to jump in, this is
it.
Go to thelionwithinus and jointhe community and see for
yourself what happens when irontruly sharpens iron.
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, this is aspecial episode, ok, and I'm
going to be straight up.
I don't have a lot of notes, Idon't have a lot of prep work,
I'm just going to speak to theheart for it to you in this
episode.
We'll see how it goes, becausewe have a big announcement and,
(00:26):
again, if you listen to the Lionweek in and week out, you know
we have a spiritual kickoff.
We have our meat episode, wehave our fun Friday.
This is a little bit different.
I'm not going to be goingthrough tips, I'm not going to
be diving through and unpackingscripture to simplify and apply,
and definitely not interviewinganybody today.
But God laid something on myheart when we started the lion
and we're at the point now towhere it's really starting to
(00:50):
take form and I'm so excited toshare it with you and I'm just
going to take a few minutes.
So, again, if this is not yourthing, just hit next.
Don't worry about listening tothis one, but if you're
interested in seeing what we'vebuilt, what God has laid on my
heart, what he's laid on theline within us and how we're
trying to serve others.
You may enjoy just hearing whatwe're, what we're ready to put
(01:11):
forth.
Ok, and this stemmed a lot frommy personal journey.
Ok, so I grew up, you know Igot saved around 16 years old.
There was not a lot ofspiritual type of mentors that
were teaching me and showing methe way.
Again, my dad is my hero.
I always go to him, but outsideof him there were no other men.
(01:33):
There were no other men thatwere speaking biblical truth
into my life and therefore Idrifted for a long time.
And that's why starting a Lionhas been such a journey, because
I recognize I can't do this bymyself and we shouldn't even
attempt to do this thing calledChristianity and a discipleship
(01:56):
journey without others.
And so for the last probably 18months at the Lion Within Us,
we've been trying some thingsand really working through how
to serve guys in a trulymeaningful way, not just surface
level junk fellas I'm talkingabout how can we actually help
those.
And we tried some things.
Quite frankly, some things justdidn't work and some things we
(02:20):
learned from, we learn from andwhen it comes down to the
problem that we startedidentifying in me as well as the
problem in others.
A couple of things keptsurfacing up.
Guys were pretty isolated.
They were feeling like theyjust they're by themselves a lot
.
They didn't have a lot ofpeople to turn to.
(02:43):
So much stuff, particularlyfrom a church setting, felt very
surface level.
You know I'm not picking onchurches, you know, I'm just
saying it can be very surface.
It can be hard to plug in at atruly intimate level there.
A lot of guys feel confused.
They didn't know how to doincluding me.
I didn't know how to lead aBible study with my family.
I didn't know how to pray withmy wife.
You know, I thought thespiritual leader of my family
was our children's pastor.
Quite, the spiritual leader ofmy family was our children's
(03:05):
pastor.
Quite frankly, I mean for thelongest time, and I think a lot
of the feedback as well is somany guys are just passive when
it comes to anything spiritualand that's just not what we're
called to do.
You know, because faith whenyou go to, if you go to a church
setting, quite frankly, so manyof the functions of the church
(03:25):
are ran by women and nothingagainst women Because they
stepped in and do because menweren't there to do it and
they've done that and so manyhave done that.
And to the point where guys arejust we're just passive.
There and I'm telling you, man,there was a gap, a massive gap
(03:52):
that I recognized in me on who Iwas during the week versus who
I was maybe on Sunday as soon aswe leave church, right, and
that shouldn't be.
It shouldn't be that way, likeif we are truly ambassadors for
Christ, ambassadors on the clockall the time.
And I started just reallythinking about that and
ruminating and praying andasking God and he said you know
what?
You need?
A band of brothers.
Because it says in Proverbs 27,17,.
(04:13):
Iron sharpens iron, so one mansharpens another right.
So if I don't have that band ofbrothers in my life that are
sharpening me, then that's a gapand that leaves me susceptible
to attacks from the evil one.
So I had to do something.
So again, 18 months ago, theLord laid on my mind look, you
got to get some groups together,you got to start formalizing
(04:35):
some groups with some guys,start having these conversations
so that you can have these, youknow, be authentic, you can be
compassionate, you can betransparent.
You can talk about the stuffyou're struggling with without
any fear of condemnation,without any fear of if I tell
you this area that I'mstruggling with, you're going to
run until whoever and it'sgoing to get back and next thing
you know it's just going to becircling all around.
(04:57):
Can't have that Again with ourplatform at the Lion.
God's like do it there.
We did, and we started gettingsome groups.
We called them mastermindgroups.
You can call them whatever youwant discipleship groups,
mastermind groups and we foundout that the guys really leaned
in and we played with it alittle bit on trying to figure
(05:20):
out the best way to get themastermind groups executed, if
you will.
And we found that what reallyworked well is when a small
group of guys seven, eight guyscome together and and we're
trying to help one guy solve oneitem in his life, and it could
(05:41):
be with his marriage, it couldbe with his finances, it could
be struggling with pornography,it could be in his career.
He's stuck at work, right,whatever it may be, or doesn't
know how to be a spiritualleader of his home.
You get where I'm going and wecame up with a framework to help
us, as Christian men help thatguy in that moment, not from a
(06:05):
secular worldview, butbiblically.
Let's approach him biblically.
How can we serve that brotherin this time of need?
And I'm telling you, that thingtook off.
The guys absolutely loved it.
Those meetings were incredible.
And then we tried some otherstuff and we learned that that
just didn't work.
So at the beginning of this year2025, we said you know what?
We're going all in, we're goingto build this system so that
(06:29):
this can serve guys in a trulymeaningful way.
And that's where we're at rightnow and that's what this
episode is all about, because weare launching our leadership
masterminds.
And this is not something outthere, that's, you know, some
fly by night and just we'rethrowing something at the wall
and hopefully that sticks.
I'm telling you, guys, we havebeen working nonstop for the
(06:51):
last six months, easily for thelast six months, with a group of
guys within the line, within us, and those guys have been
meeting, quite frankly, almostweekly with us as we frame in
and shape up the best way thatwe feel God is calling us to
(07:11):
serve men and to bring themtogether.
And those meetings have goneall over the place from pros and
cons and don't do this,definitely do this.
And how do we actually put thefunctionality together?
And we've got the structure setup now.
You know we have it set upwhere these groups are going to
(07:32):
get together every other week.
We have an entire system built.
So when you come, if you're inwhat we call the hot seat, there
is a very detailed set ofinstructions that the
facilitator will work through.
And the cool part about the waywe're doing this we're
leveraging data.
Again, I'm an engineer.
We've got a lot of smart guysthat work with the line.
(07:57):
Within us.
We're leveraging data so thatwhen you go through a mastermind
session, it's just not, youknow, wipe your hands off and go
about your business.
You're going to get thereminders, you're going to get
the follow-ups, you're going toget the accountability, you're
going to get the check-ins,because the work is done after
the meeting.
Let's just be real.
(08:17):
You need to help identify whatto do, but then, once we've
identified that, then it's timeto get to work, and that I'm
telling you the system we'vebuilt is absolutely it's a God
thing.
I didn't build it straight up,so I'm not smart enough to build
that, but it's a God thing whenwe look and see how it's going
to serve and how it is servingpeople right now.
And I'm telling you, fellas,it's, it's going to make an
(08:39):
impact.
And then, after you go throughthat issue, whatever it is and
it could be something small orit could be something huge we're
doing a one-on-one with thatindividual.
I'm doing those right now withthe guys that are going through
the mastermind sessions directly, and then we have a great.
Ultimately, what you're gettingis a personal board of advisors
(09:01):
that are coming alongside tohelp guide you.
It's going to be there for youso it's not just like you come
to this meeting every two weeksand you never talk to each other
again.
We've built the system so youguys can talk as often as you
want, where you can throw stuffout.
You don't have to wait for adesignated time.
And I'm telling you guys areleaning in and this is where
those brotherhoods are going toreally start forming.
Guys are leaning in and this iswhere those brotherhoods are
(09:21):
going to really start forming.
I've also noticed that, becausewe do everything online, this is
a digital solution, fellas, sothese are all virtual meetings,
so you don't have to drive andtry to coordinate all the
logistics.
No, pull up your phone.
Just pull up your phone or yourcomputer, whatever works, and
hop on the meeting.
And a great part of that aswell is there's a little bit of
(09:43):
distance, typically between ourmembers.
We have members in Canada,united States, we have a member
in Australia.
They're all over, ok.
And what I've noticed by runninggroups this way is that guys
start opening up a whole lotquicker.
Maybe it's because they cantalk about items and they're not
worried about running into youat the restaurant after church
or to the grocery store later inthe week.
I don't know.
(10:03):
I just know we're using thisthing called technology and
we're leveraging the heck out ofit for good, and it's creating
conversations that are trulygoing to move the needle and
make an impact.
So, again, we had that, thatgoing on, and we're launching
these again.
(10:23):
We've been beta testing for 18months, but now we're actually
launching them officially.
They're starting in july.
So that's why this episode iscoming out right now and this
I'll be straight up.
This is not for everyone, okay.
You may not be ready forconversations like this, and to
help us understand if you are.
(10:44):
What we've built is a verycomprehensive assessment.
We call it a leadershipassessment, but it's 80
questions.
There's it's multiple choice,but there's also some text
fields where you have to answersome questions directly because
we want to see where you are inyour personal discipleship
journey and are you going to bea good fit?
(11:04):
Are you coachable?
Are the areas that you want towork on areas that we feel like
we can serve?
So I would encourage you ifyou're interested and you want
to just learn more.
We're not asking for anycommitments or anything right
now.
What I'm asking for is for justgo to thelinewithinus and then
put in a slash mastermind.
It's on the front page as well.
(11:25):
If you scroll down, you'll seeit and that'll take you to a
webpage where you can actuallyclick a link and you can start
taking the assessmentimmediately.
Or you can just fill out yourname and your email and we'll
reach out to you with details onhow to get started.
But the groups we're startingoff with two groups.
We're starting small.
Again, big things often havesmall beginnings.
(11:48):
We're starting with two groups.
The group sizes we're cappingthem at seven plus a facilitator
.
So, guys, this is not whereyou're going to come in.
You're going to be surroundedby 30 people and you're never
going to be heard.
That's not how this works, andthese guys again meet every
other week and as we growinterest, we'll add groups and
hopefully we'll add more groupsand we're just excited to see
(12:10):
how this is going to serve guysin a meaningful way.
Now, for the month of june,we've also done a like a on a
founder's initial type of offerwhere we're offering some pretty
substantial savings for guysthat lock in this month.
So there is that caveat.
And I also want to mention onething the financial component.
(12:31):
Yes, there, there, there is a,there is a, a, a cost associated
with this, because we put a lotof work.
This is, this is essentiallythe system that's going to serve
guys in a, in a meaningful way,but we've built it in such a
way that you could present thisto your employer as leadership
development and we had the formsand instructions on how to help
(12:53):
you do that, how to help youhave that conversation, because
it's not a big investment at allfrom an employer standpoint.
Okay, and those employers, ifyou're sharing up things at home
, if you're sharing up thingswith your finances, if you're
focusing on how you can improveas a leader at work, I'm telling
you all these things okay, froma biblical counsel standpoint
(13:14):
are going to impact the man thatyou are when you show up to
whatever job you have.
Whether you're in the C-suiteor you're in the mechanic shop,
it doesn't matter.
Whatever job you find yourselfin, you want the best.
We're bringing excellence tothe workplace.
Right?
The mastermind is going to helpyou with that.
So you're going to find thatemployers are going to get
(13:35):
behind this.
They're going to be able toserve this Many of the guys.
Right now, the way they've setit up, it's as expensive as a
business expense forprofessional development.
So it's a very easy way to dothat.
So we have multiple ways.
You can look at it Again.
This could be just a personalexpense and you put it as your
monthly budget expense.
And you put it as your monthlybudget.
That's great.
Or potentially, you can takethis to an employer.
So let's at least have theconversation so we can figure
(14:00):
out what's best for you.
Okay, so fellas again, the lionwithinus slash.
Mastermind is how you learnmore.
To see what we're doing.
Again, we're launching in July.
Right now, there is a ton ofwork going in place where we
have guys who are workingthrough, having conversations
with guys just learning, justtrying to see how we can serve.
At the end of day, we ain'tselling anything and I've told
(14:21):
all the guys we're not sellinganything.
It's all about serving.
Here's what we've built.
Here's how we help.
If you feel like you'restruggling in these areas and
you need some support and youdon't currently have it, we'd
like for you to check it out andlet's talk about it.
And if it doesn't align, I willbe the first person to say you
know what?
This is not going to be a goodfit, and that's okay.
(14:43):
We can't serve everybody, butthe ones that we can, the ones
that God puts on our hearts,that out and shows us, we're
going all in and I'm telling youI've had more fire for the lion
within us over the last sixmonths since God gave me the
vision of starting the lion, youknow, almost four years ago now
(15:05):
.
It's just clear.
This is what he's calling itand I think I'm encouraged by
the guys, by the feedback, bythe, the work we've put in to
study the, the reps, quitefrankly, to get this figured out
.
So if you don't have that strongmen's group, that strong
(15:26):
bounded brothers that you canactually speak truth to, that
are going on.
That you can bring up if you'restruggling with pornography.
That you can bring up whenyou're you don't have enough
money to make the end of themonth end right.
When you can bring up when youand your wife are just not on
the same page and you don't knowif you're ever going to be on
the same page ever again.
You don't have those guys youcan talk to about those things
(15:47):
with intimately.
You're missing out.
And the last thing I want toencourage you to think about is
this Every one of us has a story.
Every one of us has a testimony.
Every one of us has gonethrough trials.
Don't waste them.
Now, why do I say that?
Because I've gone through a lotof trials.
(16:08):
I mean I'm very open and candidon the podcast.
I've gone through a divorce.
I've gone through, you know,significant weight loss where I
was obese.
I mean it was not healthy, itwas bad guys.
You know 330 pounds bloodpressure medicine all this in my
20s.
I've lost a child.
I've had to go through thatgrieving process.
(16:28):
I've gone through, you know,the financial recognition of oh
my gosh, like we are completelyupside down and we're bleeding
every month.
What are we going to do, goingthrough, taking a step of
obedience, and God says you knowwhat you need to lead the
subdivision and go to a farm andjust like, not no clue how to
(16:48):
do a run a farm.
So I've gone through theseexperiences and what good would
it be if I just kept them in myback pocket.
So when you start thinking aboutthe mastermind, don't think
about it.
I encourage you, not just froma selfish standpoint Now I know
that's how we're going to do itLike, what am I going to get
(17:09):
from this?
Totally get it.
But think also what can youoffer someone else?
If you've gone through thatfinancial hurdle, if you've
overcome pornography, if you'vegone through that divorce, or if
you've been knocked down a fewtimes at work and finally
figured out how to climb thecorporate ladder, god's way you
(17:31):
may be put in a room and anopportunity for a man who's
really struggling for you to notonly share your experiences but
to share biblical wisdom to himin the moment that he needs it
the most.
And I'm telling you, fellas,there's nothing more critical in
this whole thing we call thehuman experiment, if you will,
(17:52):
of us coming together andserving each other, and what a
truly meaningful way, as you'recoming at it with God's word.
You're coming at it from yourtestimony on what God has done
in your life and no one canrefute your testimony, guys.
So I'm telling you, it's justan amazing opportunity at your
feet to be served for sure, butalso to serve others and to not
(18:14):
just keep those life experiencesin your back pocket never to be
used.
So, hopefully, this, that's itAgain.
There's no big push.
I'm not.
There's not a big you know.
Act now, do this.
I'm not going to do that.
I'm simply going to ask you togo to the line within that US
and put that slash mastermind.
(18:35):
Or if you just go to the mainpage and scroll down, you'll see
leadership mastermind on theright hand side, right next to
our community.
Click on that.
It takes you to the informationpage and you can learn more
from there.
How about that?
So, guys, I highly encourageyou to do it If you have any
questions.
Also, I just want you to makethis clear when you go through
that assessment and you get tothe end, you'll find my
(18:58):
scheduler there, because I will.
Any man, any man that goesthrough and does that assessment
, I'm committing I want to atleast have a conversation with
you.
I want to hear more about yourstory.
I'm obviously going to see alot of information that you're
going to share, and it's goingto be 100 percent pride that
we're not sharing this stuff out.
By the way, we keep all thedata.
(19:18):
We own the data.
We own the databases.
It's not anywhere that we'reputting this anywhere else.
You don't have to worry aboutit being released from that
standpoint.
But I want to have aconversation with you, so maybe
it'd just be a fun way for us tochat as well, but I promise you
we're going to make that happen.
We're going to talk and we'regoing to find out if this is
right for you and if so, we'llget you plugged into the right
(19:39):
group.
How about that?
All right, guys, I reallyappreciate it.
That's all we have for thisepisode.
Again, the Lion Within dot.
Us slash mastermind.
We'll make sure that that is inthe show notes as well, so that
for this particular episode, ifyou're listening, you should
just be able to click on thatlink, go directly to that page
(20:03):
and check it out If you knowguys that you think would be
interested, because, look, wecan do groups with guys that you
know if you desire that, we can, we can.
We are very flexible on how wecan build this.
Share this out with other guys.
Okay, maybe you got guys allover, you got buddies all over
the country.
You've never been able tofigure it out.
This could be the solution toget you guys plugged back in, to
get you leaning in.
So share it with others outthere, particularly the
(20:23):
Christian men in your life thatyou think are ready to lean in
and to do what God's called themto do.
So I'm excited, I'm pumped up,I'm tired because we have been
thrashing.
So I would ask it just forprayers as we launch this, as we
cause.
I guarantee the last thing thatyou want, wants, is for us to
go out there and bring Christianmen together, meaningful way to
have some conversations andsome engagement, some true iron,
(20:45):
iron, sharpening, iron moments.
He does not want that, butthat's okay.
That's okay, and I can tell youthe band of brothers that we
have assembled that are going tobe leading the charge.
I can tell you the band ofbrothers that we have assembled
that are going to be leading thecharge.
I'm just honored to know them,I'm just honored to have them in
my life and the fact thatyou'll be able to sit down in a
(21:06):
room and have these guys pourinto you and hear where you're
at, and truly hear where you'reat, and speak life and
encouragement to you.
It's the most excited I've everbeen guys, so I'm honored for
them.
God has done some great thingsto bring people in my path, to
get the lion to this point.
For my mentors, I got two inparticular I'm thinking of right
(21:29):
now.
I can't even begin to say whatyou guys mean to me and just the
wise counsel has gotten us tothis point.
So again, thelionwithinus,that's it, fellas.
Thank you so much for listeningto me, and just the wise
counsel has gotten us to thispoint.
So again, the lion within thatus.
That's it, fellas.
Thank you so much for listening.
If you have any questions,please and again, my email,
chris, at the lion within thatus, send me an email directly.
(21:50):
I want to be completely asavailable and as transparent as
possible and, hopefully, to hearfrom you and look forward to
talking to you about our newleadership mastermind.
All right, get after it, fellas.
Thank you so much.
Keep unleashing the lion within.
I've got something big to share.
We're making a major shiftbecause we know the battle was
real and it's time more men hadaccess to the support they need.
(22:11):
For too long, guys have beentrying to carry the weight alone
pressure at work, tension athome, wounds from the past in a
world that demands strength butoffers no place to rest.
We see it, we've lived it andthat's exactly why we built our
community.
It's a stronghold, a placewhere warriors can find rest,
truth and a band of brothersstanding beside them.
(22:32):
And starting now, we're makingit easier than ever to step in.
We've lowered the barrier tojust $15.99 a month.
That means, for less than thecost of a drive-thru lunch, you
can join a brotherhood that'scentered on Christ and built for
growth.
Inside you'll find access toour daily spiritual kickoffs
every Monday through Friday, ourLion Lunches, our Bible Studies
, our Friday Forge Gatheringsall that and so much more.
(22:55):
Every man needs a strongholdand you don't have to fight
alone.
If you've been waiting for theright time to jump in, this is
it.
Go to thelionwithinus and jointhe community and see for
yourself what happens when irontruly sharpens iron.
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