Chris Grainger: 1:38

Welcome to the Lion Within Us, a podcast serving Christian men who are hungry to be the leaders God intends you to be. I'm your host, chris Granger. Let's jump in. All right, fellas, it's your meat episode, so let's get right into it, okay? So scripture of the week this week is Romans 15, verse 4. Love it anytime we get to go to Romans right. It says for everything that was written in the past was written to teach us so that, through the endurance taught in the scriptures and the encouragement they provide, we might have hope.

Chris Grainger: 2:04

Now, guys, go listen to the spiritual kickoff episode about that verse, because scripture is has such an important purpose in our life. It's not just a book to read. No, no, no, no, no. Teach, endure, encourage, teach, endure, encourage man how about that? And this? The Bible is living, it's breathing, it's active and as believers, we have an advantage when we read this because we have the Holy Spirit guiding and directing us. So, again, go listen to that spiritual kickoff episode. As a reminder we do those every day, monday through Friday.

Chris Grainger: 2:39

And as another, as a new reminder I don't know if you heard about this or not on our YouTube channel, we started releasing once a week what we call Bible Briefing for Men. What we do for the Bible Briefing. It's about three minutes. They're super short guys, so it's not like you're investing a lot of time. We walk through what we're, but we walk through, we're getting ready to walk through here in this episode of what happened in the scripture. So what? What does it matter to us? And then now, what do we do with it? So I think, as we go through this episode here, hopefully it's going to give you a little bit of encouragement for some insights of how we do that. But I would just ask you, subscribe to our YouTube channel. Just go subscribe to that. They come out every week. We try to get them out on Thursdays, it just depends. But that's the big thing is we really want to put those out each and every week, just to try to take so much of what we're putting out into another consumable format that you may be able to share with others.

Chris Grainger: 3:40

Lots of the Bible briefings for men, quite frankly, come directly from our Bible reading plans that are on the Bible app from YouVersion. So if you enjoy those, you know as many people do we have a wonderful following on YouVersion. Check out the Bible briefing for men. You may enjoy that. So today we're going to be talking about how, asking three questions. What if that could completely revolutionize how you study God's word? I'll tell you. We're going to look at it here, fellas, and these are some powerful insights. They're going to change the way that you look at scripture. It's going to help us move from passively reading to actively applying it, and that's what it's all about.

Chris Grainger: 4:19

You know, the Lyle of Genesis is all about simplifying and applying God's word, and Pastor Joby gave me these three questions. I can't remember which time we met, but he shared this model, this framework, and I've loved it so much. So you know what? Let's dig into it today. So the first question is really what happened? Okay, what happened? And that starts it all. So, from a scripture standpoint, if you like, luke, luke 1, 4 says so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught. Okay, and that there's a joke in our house. You know my wife loves hallmark movies and she knows the moment when I recognize what channel is on. She knows those snot comments are getting ready to follow.

Chris Grainger: 5:07

It starts with an innocent question hey, you want me to tell you how this thing is getting ready to end. That's usually followed by an eye roll and a sigh. I can clearly see that she's unamused. Then I always tell her. I say, look, there's this young lady here. I know she's from the big city, she's visiting her small town where she grew up, and she's trying to find herself again. But that young guy right there who just popped up on the screen I know he runs a hardware store but it looks like he's a multimillionaire based off the home he lives in. Really he's a multi-millionaire based off the home he lives in. Really he's her lost love of long ago and we're getting ready to see a series of events that results. That's also going to result in a scene of romantic joy, like that's it. And I'm always oh yeah, there's probably a dog. So you know I'm picking on her. It's coming from a place of love and she reminds me that she watches those movies for the adventures, the stories, not the outcome. And that really is interesting.

Chris Grainger: 6:08

When she told me that, because most of the time I approach life as a destination, you know like I need to focus on what needs to get done I got to check the box. I got to complete the task. I got to achieve the box. I got to complete the task, I got to achieve the goal right. But my wife reminds me to you know what, sometimes you just need to embrace the journey, and from a spiritual standpoint, that really hit me, and maybe this is relatable to you, because how often or easy is it to treat our faith as just a series of steps right Versus an actual experience with God.

Chris Grainger: 6:46

Think about it. You read the Bible to finish a chapter, you pray to check it off the list, you go to church because you're kind of supposed to do that, right. But what if the perspective shifted a little bit? What if it had a little bit of change? And that's why I'm bringing in this first question here of what happened. If you take the time to ask that question, it forces you to focus on the nuances and then, once you start shifting and thinking about the nuances, suddenly the adventure becomes richer.

Chris Grainger: 7:21

Okay, this creates a natural shift from treating scripture with a set of expected outcomes and to like an intentional practice of trying to understand from a greater and our advantage, a spirit driven perspective. So maybe, I don't know, this is crazy talk, maybe Hallmark movies do have a lesson for us. It's just, it's not about how it ends. It's about the moments along the way. Okay, because those moments bring us into a deeper narrative, and that's what scripture should do for us as we dive deeper. But it starts with that mindset of what happened, you know, because that creates an opportunity for us to see scripture in a new light as we build the foundation of truth moving forward. So, look, you know, some of you guys love history and love looking back. I totally get it. That's a great approach. Just to start, what happened? Because that's going to change the way we think about stuff moving forward. All right. So, look, we're going to take our first break, guys. We'll come back and we'll talk about the second question. That's going to really amplify the way that we study God's word.

Chris Grainger: 8:33

I've got something big to share. We're making a major shift because we know the battle is real and it's time more men had access to the support they need. For too long, guys have been trying to carry the weight alone pressure at work, tension at home, wounds from the past in a world that demands strength but offers no place to rest. We see it, We've lived it, and that's exactly why we built our community. It's a stronghold, a place where warriors can find rest, truth and a band of brothers standing beside them. And starting now, we're making it easier than ever to step in. We've lowered the barrier to just $15.99 a month. That means, for less than the cost of a drive-thru lunch, you can join a brotherhood that's centered on Christ and built for growth. Inside you'll find access to our daily spiritual kickoffs every Monday through Friday, our Lion Lunches, our Bible Studies, our Friday Forge Gatherings all that and so much more.

Chris Grainger: 9:26

Every man needs a stronghold, and you don't have to fight alone. If you've been waiting for the right time to jump in, this is it. Go to thelionwithinus and join the community and see for yourself what happens when iron truly sharpens iron. All right, fellas, welcome back.

Chris Grainger: 9:44

So look now the next thing we need to consider is so what? So you got what happened, so what Now? If you look at 2 Timothy, 3, 16 and 17,. It says All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be equipped for every good work. So now, if we believe that to be true, when we study the Bible we have to ask the question so what? Because that question in itself challenges us to pause and reflect on the relevance of what we just read. We can't just know what happened, we need to know why it matters. Right? Again, if you listen to the spiritual kickoff episode, you heard me talk about our monthly budget review. Right, and I can't just look at what happened. Right, because I need to get a good understanding. That's pulling all the data together, but then I have to move it to.

Chris Grainger: 10:52

Sometimes it's a painful process of okay, so what? Because this is where we discern. This is why we get a deeper context. This is how we increase awareness and understanding. It can make informed adjustments moving forward and this is the hard part, I'm going to be honest, guys and can make informed adjustments moving forward and this is the hard part, I'm going to be honest, guys.

Chris Grainger: 11:14

Reflection when you're reflecting with Scripture, this is the hard part, because that intentionality and effort. Now you could try to skip it and go on, but if you do, you're missing what could be taught from the past experiences could teach you for future decisions. Ultimately, you're leaving yourself open for making the same mistakes over and over again. Think about the definition of insanity doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results right? So if we study Scripture.

Chris Grainger: 11:47

It's so tempting to read simply for the sake of reading, okay, because everybody's tired, everybody's busy and not put in the work to think deeply about context. And it's usually because, what time restraints? Let's just be real, you guys, our schedules are crazy busy. Or second one, maybe this is, if you're brave enough to admit this, folks are lazy, they won't put in the effort. And you know what I'm sharing this transparency, because there are days when I'm lazy I don't want you to feel like you're alone out there.

Chris Grainger: 12:20

But when we force ourselves to ask the question, so what? It really pushes us to unlock a deeper level of engagement with Scripture and it turns that standard routine into a transformative experience. I'm telling you, it's in these moments of reflection. That's where God does the big stuff. He reveals the stuff. When you really start studying and thinking and asking and inviting man, it's pretty cool, you know. But it takes that level of awareness to say you know, I'm not just going to read the Bible, just read it, I really want to understand it. And over time it doesn't just enhance how you study the Bible, it shapes how you live and walk it out and think about it and respond. I'm telling you, it's such a big deal, but you have to lean into it, because if you do that, it's going to cultivate a habit of spiritual growth and that's going to help you encourage others. So the question isn't just about what the text says, but how God is using it to mold us into who he's called us to be, amanda. That makes the effort worth it all. Fellas, I'm telling you, it's such a big deal. Love that question of so what. It highly encourages you. So think about it. What happened? So what? Now we're going to take our last break, guys. We'll unpack the last question. That's going to really take you to the next level. We'll be right back. We're making a big change that I think you're really going to enjoy.

Chris Grainger: 14:06

I spent a lot of time thinking about our spiritual kickoffs and, honestly, I love doing them each week, so much so we started doing them live every Monday through Friday inside our exclusive platform. And here's the best part We've decided to give full access, completely free, so now you can join our daily spiritual kickoff space At no cost. Every day, we go live To read the word, to encourage each other and find simple and powerful ways To apply God's truth To our lives. You'll even have the chance to engage with me directly, and if you missed a live stream, don't worry, the videos are posted the same day so you can catch up whenever it works for you. This is exclusive behind the scenes content that is not available anywhere else, and now we've removed every excuse. So if you're ready to get started, head over to thelionwithinus and grab your free access today. Let's grow together.

Chris Grainger: 15:11

All right, guys, we're at our third question here. We're just unpacking these three in this episode today. So we talked about what happened. So what? The last question Now? What? Now, what James 1 says? Verse 22 says do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

Chris Grainger: 15:37

My favorite book of the Bible, if you guys know that by now, I absolutely love the book of James, and if I look back over certain areas of my life, I recognize that, in general, the fact of knowing what needed to be done, okay, to course direct, like I know what I need to do, what was, uh, that was easy enough to figure out, okay. So the hard part comes when we put the knowledge into action. And I started thinking about my health journey, you know, and I don't know, for some reason, god's sense of humor. He put me together, he created me in my mother's womb. He left out metabolism and willpower. So I'm joking but maybe you can relate.

Chris Grainger: 16:27

But weight has been something I've battled my whole life and it's like a never ending rollercoaster. And each time I set on a path to course correct roller coaster and each time I set on a path to course correct, the information I needed to get started hadn't changed right. You know, I know what I needed to do. I know I needed to consume a lot fewer calories, burn more, you know, do more exercises, lift weights, all the stuff. But it's like a 15 year period and I finally recognized I was. I was riding a roller coaster long enough and it was time to stop making excuses. And that really helped me lock in on some clarity, to start making better self-decisions around my diet and exercise. But it challenged me to stop thinking that simply knowing what to do was enough and that true change requires commitment and action.

Chris Grainger: 17:15

So how does this apply to reading God's Word? I made the same connection with that as studying the Bible, because understanding what happened and so what they're crucial for spiritual growth, totally. But I missed a connection for such a long time of reading God's word and applying it. That application it was easy to do on Sundays, but the rest are weakness, there was a gap. But forcing myself to think all right, my Bible's open to Proverbs 24, 25 right now. All right, if I read Proverbs 25 and I get to what happened, and so what, and I get through that, the next place I have to go is now what, what do I do with this? What do I actually have to do to apply it? And it's been a game changer. And this Old Testament, new Testament, it doesn't matter.

Chris Grainger: 18:17

This is impactful because it forces me to stop looking at scripture as though I was looking through it through binoculars and all of a sudden I put the binoculars down and I pick up the mirror and man that mirror mindset, fellas, that's a big deal, because that moves your internal narrative from what's happening on a given book chapter verse to how should I respond to the world based on what he's revealing to me when I'm studying the word Maybe said another way. This now what mindset. It helps you move past passive consumption to active participation. So from passive consumption, which most people do, to active participation. And James shows us that right there. And James 1, because our foundation is only as strong as the actions that we build upon it.

Chris Grainger: 19:15

Knowing God's word is so important. The Pharisees knew God's word, but without application it's like building or shifting sand, fellas it's just missing. Okay, so how do you live out this now? What mentality really starts by asking God look, please show me the areas in my life that I need to realign or to adjust to be in alignment with your truth, and then you can start taking the little steps of obedience right, no matter how small they are, but just start taking the steps. It could be forgiveness or serving, or maybe need to address some unhealthy habits, but if you take action that's rooted in God's word, that transforms your life, it has the ability to do that and it's going to transform those around you. So I mean, fellas, those three questions.

Chris Grainger: 20:06

No, it's a different type of episode today. I know it's super short. You know not our typical meat episodes from the life within us, but I just pray that you reflect on these three questions and that they encourage you, they open new insights and to simplify and apply God's word to your journey, and I pray that they help you step out in faith and that, as you learn and you understand and you act and you grow, that God keeps strengthening you and I just I'll just say this it's been a game changer for me and I actually for me, I wrote it. Where is it at right here for you guys who are watching on YouTube? I keep this little, this little index card right here. And what happened? So what now? What? It's literally kind of like my bookmark in my Bible, because I want to be reminded of that a lot when I read it. I don't want to take it for granted. I want to be reminded and challenge myself and that's my challenge to you.

Chris Grainger: 21:13

And again, this three questions is one of our YouVersion Bible app devotions. So if you want to go through this with others, I encourage you to do that. Go, take one of our Bible studies, our plans, and invite friends to do it with you. You can do it directly on the app. By the way, I do this every month. I do two per month as part of the Lion Within us. So if you want to be a friend on the Bible app with me, go to thelionwithinus slash Bible. There's a link right there. You can connect with me directly on the Bible app and then, when we do these every month we walk through these plans. The cool part about walking through a Bible plan on the Bible app you've never done that with a group there's a talk it over part after you do your, about your devotion and your scripture, and this is where you can just add reflections, add questions. It's a really great way to just see what's on other people's hearts and to be encouraged. So, look, if that sounds like something fun that you'd like to try, go to thelinewithinus slash Bible. Let's connect there.

Chris Grainger: 22:16

So question of the week, fellas, is how does Scripture give you hope in a tough season? And if you're in a tough season right now, I just want you to know I'm sorry. I'm sorry you're going through a tough season, but I also know that God's Word right, it will provide you more comfort than anything in this world. Anything in this world. So just keep leaning into the word. Okay, that would be my encouragement to you.

Chris Grainger: 22:38

So, guys, thank you so much for listening, for hanging out today. Uh, look forward to seeing you on our fun friday episode. Please come back for that. We got health well self tips, we got our book of the week all that fun stuff that we do for our fun fridays. Guys, you. You want to leave us a? Leave us a rating and review. That'd be great. And again, the lion withinus. Check out all our resources and then head over to our YouTube channel and don't forget that Bible briefing for men. I'm so pumped on those. Those videos. It's a different style video. It's definitely created for YouTube, but I think you may enjoy them. So if you're listening to this, just check out the YouTube channel, hit that subscribe button. That'd be awesome, but I'd love to get your feedback on those Bible briefings from them and they're a lot of fun to put together and hopefully get a lot of encouragement out of them. All right, have a great day. I'll get it out of this. Have a great day, guys. Get after it and just keep unleashing the lion with it.