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, spiritual kickoff time. I'm excited to be here with you. Let's go. Okay?

Chris Grainger: 1:50

So the scripture of the week this week is in the book of Hebrews, okay. So Hebrews, chapter 3, verse 13 says but encourage one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. So, fellas, love this verse. We're going to take some time here and see how we can simplify and apply it to our life, particularly as Christian leaders. Look, first thing we need to understand is where is the book of Hebrews? So, if you're in your New Testament, you'll go past all your standard Gospels and everything 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, my favorite book of the Bible, you went a little bit too far, so you can just back up right there, okay. So just know that now as a reminder if you're new to the line within us.

Chris Grainger: 2:42

Their spiritual kickoff episodes are really special, because what we try to do is just take a simple verse from God's word, usually one or two verses, and we see how we can simplify and apply it to our life as leaders, as men. And we do this every day within the lion Within Us community as part of our daily spiritual kickoff. So, if you enjoy these, that's exclusive content, exclusively for our community members Head over to thelionwithinus, get started today and take part of those. And, by the way, if you can't come to those when we go live because these are live, this is not nothing recorded, this is live stuff. If you miss the lives, the recordings are there, but it's exclusively for those Lion Within Us members.

Chris Grainger: 3:29

So, again, thelionwithinus, let's think about this verse here, as long as it's called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sins and deceitfulness. And we're going to really be thinking about a couple of things Brotherhood is a big deal for us, accountability as well, and, ultimately, power. So let's think about a truth, a simple truth that we need to hopefully recognize to be true we're not meant to walk this road alone, and I need you guys to hear that we're not meant to walk this road alone. I need you guys to hear that we're not meant to walk this road alone. Too many guys, especially Christian dudes, try to. Okay, because we buy into the lie that our strength right, and if we're strong and we can do stuff on our own and sometimes we do that means we need to be silent, right, and that we should. If we have a struggle, we better 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 scripture paints a completely different picture, completely.

Chris Grainger: 4:33

The Bible points directly to the power of brotherhood. Why that's important. It talks directly about accountability and it also talks about encouragement. We got to have encouragement because we need some weapons to fight against sin and particularly spiritual drift. You guys know what I'm talking about.

Chris Grainger: 4:51

Next thing you know you're praying with your wife, you're doing all this stuff that you haven't done in months and you haven't prayed with your kids and you're not looking at your Bible. You hadn't been going to church like you know to. It's just a drift. No one wakes up and says today's the day I'm just going to turn my back on God, but we drift from Him all the time, and one way that the evil one is doing is crap. It's because of isolation. It really is his playground. It really is, because when we isolate we become easy prey. Just think about, when you look at, like National Geographic, you know the little antelope by himself, the little gimpy one yeah, that's the one that's getting ready to be taken out, bro. No, the ones in the middle, the ones with each other. They're going to take care of each other. And that's where sin works best. Man in the dark, behind closed doors, when no one sees and no one's asking the hard questions, the enemy thrives. He wants us to live in secret. He wants us to just think that you 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 right here talks about encouragement and each other, so we don't become hardened by the sin's deceitfulness. This Hebrews is a direct challenge to that mindset to encourage each other so we don't become hardened by the sin's deceitfulness. This Hebrews is a direct challenge to that mindset to encourage each other, not occasionally, not on a birthday or something like that, or retreat, but every doggone day.

Chris Grainger: 6:12

I'm not talking about shallow pep talks that you get from a coach at halftime either, or just our surface level. How you doing, bro? No, I'm talking about were you are real, authentic, genuinely. How you doing man, like what's going on. I can tell something's up how you been. How are you and your wife Now? Your kids look like they're kind of upset. Everything okay, those real brotherhood conversations. And look, you don't stumble into this crap. You just don't. You have to build it through intentionality and vulnerability. That means we got to surround ourselves with brothers who just don't pat us on the back but they're going to call us out when we're doing stuff wrong and when we're drifting man, because the guys who actually care about you aren't afraid to have tough conversations. They're not entertaining your excuses or your rationalizations. No, they're not entertaining your excuses or your rationalizations. No, they don't let you hide behind this busyness or whatever that you've built up. The real guys out there they're going to fight for you. They're going to say the hard stuff and they're going to fight for you when you're too tired to fight for yourself. So really think through that Again.

Chris Grainger: 7:15

The whole genesis of the line within us is this authentic, real brotherhood. That's why guys arehood, that's why guys are here. That's why our guys stay. That's why we have very few guys come in and leave because they find the brotherhood that they're looking for, because they're just not finding it at church. And I was thinking about this today.

Chris Grainger: 7:30

Man, like think about a church setting. Maybe you, if you're a high attender, you go twice a month, right? So maybe you see one guy twice a month for an hour. That's two hours a month. How long is it going to take for you to build a relationship with that guy, to actually be authentic, to be real, to be transparent with him? And how easy is it going to be if women are around? Like most church settings are right, I'm telling you, it's just not conducive for what we really need as men. And that's why, within the line, within us, we have leaned in hard to build something and to give you guys a place, a space for reflection, for asking your questions, for recognizing that you are not alone, to recognize that there is more to life than whatever the world is trying to sell you.

Chris Grainger: 8:12

And so much of it comes back to accountability, because every guy needs it, not because we're weak, but because we're human. We just are. It's not about controlling each other, it's about protecting each other. Fellas, that's what accountability is all about, because we don't want other brothers in Christ drifting, because that drifting leads to destruction. If we don't uncheck it, the sin hardens our heart and when that happens, we start to compromise.

Chris Grainger: 8:38

And when we start compromising, the next thing you know we're down that slippery slope, right? That's why this daily, daily encouragement matters, because every day you're either moving closer to God or further into sin. And that is a reality, fellas, that we just have to call out. That is a reality, fellas, that we just have to call out. And when Hebrews 3.13 calls us to encourage each other daily, it's not just about positive affirmations, while they're fine, it's not just about that. Biblical encouragement is true telling, True telling. And you soak that in grace. The next thing you know, you're there, right? Hey, I'm going to remind you, bro, who you are, who God created you to be, who you are in 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'm going to help you. Remember right now. Or how about this one? Let's pray right now. Doggone it, and I'm not afraid to, or I'm Now.

Chris Grainger: 9:43

You start telling the guy stuff like that. That's when the rubber meets the road. That's when the sharpening happens. You know, everybody loves Proverbs 27, 17. This iron sharpens an iron, so one man sharpens another. That's right, that sharpening is intentional, but that sharpening also requires what? Friction? Friction. So if you have a frictionless friend, they're not a brother. There's plenty of frictionless friends out there. Very few brothers, I'm telling you, the ones who refuse to let you go, to let you settle for anything less than what God has called you to be. That's the brothers. If you don't have them, look a great way is you start being that for someone else, because brotherhood starts with you stepping out, you getting out of that isolation and you choosing to live exposed, honest and humble. That's how you start getting sharp.

Chris Grainger: 10:36

And then this Hebrew verse fellas, there's a key. It says as long as it's called today, okay, you don't get endless to Mars, we don't. And we need to recognize one more thing Sin don't take a to Mars, we don't. And we need to recognize one more thing Sin don't take a day off. It doesn't. Neither should we.

Chris Grainger: 10:52

So if you're waiting for the perfect time to pursue brotherhood and accountability, today's the day, bro. Look at your watch or your calendar. Whatever the day is, that's the day. Not when you're less busy, because you know when you're going to be less busy. When you're less busy because you know when you're going to be less busy when you're dead, I'm just going to be real or not, when you're more ready. Either. That's another lie from doggone evil. We're just going to throw that crap 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 you from this spiritual kickoff episode Text a brother that you know right now and ask him yo bro, how you doing?

Chris Grainger: 11:26

Or just tell him you want to talk to him. And when you talk, hey, how you been doing, man? Or confess something to somebody else that you've been hiding. I'm telling you, just get it out of the dark. Invite a brother that you trust to hold you accountable to something. Maybe it's I don't know, losing five pounds. You know what? I'm going to text you every week my progress. Actually, I need you to text me every week asking about my progress so that you can hold me accountable to it, and then offer your presence to someone who you can tell is isolated and you're like well, chris, how do you know they're isolated? You can tell you got to open your eyes.

Chris Grainger: 12:05

Look up and look around, fellas. This is such a big deal. Encourage one another all the time, because this is a real fight we're in. The enemy is not going to stop and none of us are meant to stand alone. So, as you start thinking through this verse and how you apply it to your life, really think and ask yourself who is sharpening you right now? Do you have anybody? That's being that iron sharpens iron for you directly.

Chris Grainger: 12:32

If you don't, guys, I'm telling you and most guys don't, head over to thelinewithinus. Check out the way we have built this. We have built this to give you the accountability, the brotherhood, all the support that you need to go and do what God's called you to do. All right, fellas. So look, you know, on our spiritual kickoff episodes. These are very special to us, and one of the main reasons that they're special is because we take time each and every week to make sure that our listeners know the best news that's ever been given to us, and that's Jesus loves you, and I need you to hear this.

Chris Grainger: 13:13

If you've never accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior, today's a great day to just hear the truth. The truth is, god created this perfect world and had a wonderful design in mind when he made it. Unfortunately, sin entered the world and when sin entered the world, lots of bad things started happening Right, and that sin created a separation between us and God. We ran from God in many ways. So we have this fractured world and we try to fulfill so many things on our own and we chase these things. We chase money and status and careers and relationships and all these different things because we think these things in this world are going to fully and 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 just doesn't do it. So there's this cycle of over and over and over trying to do more, trying to do more, trying to do more.

Chris Grainger: 14:13

The question I ask guys all the time about salvation. It always comes back well, I just need to be a good person. My always my go-to back is to find good. Good is subjective. My definition of good and your definition of good are two different things. So I don't want to leave it subjective. I you know I can't do this. There's something, there's a gap. What if I get to heaven and I just needed one more good thing to get into heaven? Oh well, I didn't know. So we didn't. We don't have this sliding scale. No, what we need is is salvation as a gift, and that's what God has offered us through Christ. So y'all need a coach to make us better. We need a savior to do for us what we couldn't do for ourselves.

Chris Grainger: 14:59

Jesus left heaven on a rescue mission for us. Cain was born of a virgin, fulfilled all the prophecies, did all the teachings, all the miracles, showed us the way, did all, showed us so much, taught us so much, poured it to those disciples, helped them grow, helped them learn. And then he paid the ultimate penalty when he went to the 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.

Chris Grainger: 15:33

Do you get how big a deal this is? So we don't worship a dead guy, we worship a living Savior, and that's who we're going to put our trust in. And he tells us that he is the way, the truth and the life, and no, and that's who we're going to put our trust in. He tells us that he is the way, the truth and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through him, and there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved Jesus. Is it Oprah's wrong? Jesus was right. Period. He is the only way.

Chris Grainger: 15:56

So what do you have to do? If you recognize this to be true and you recognize Jesus is what you need for salvation, what we all need, you have to confess him as Lord and Savior of your entire life, not just over Sunday or when it's convenient, but over your entire life. And when you do that, it changes doggone everything. It's going to change how you show up, it's going to change how you hear, how you see the scales are going to fall off. But it takes that commitment, because here's the deal you can't get into heaven on the coattails of someone else your mom, your grandma, your grandparents, 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.

Chris Grainger: 16:36

So, as much as I love my four kids, there's nothing I can do 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, I can show them the ways. I can do all I can to share the gospel. But they have to make their decision, and so do you. If you feel like today's the day to make that decision praise the Lord, hallelujah Then let's do that right now, together, and forget the lie that you have to be in a church building or some type of official you know quote unquote setting to do this. No, no, you can confess Jesus as 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 or doing laundry, I don't know. But if you know today's the day and you can feel that pull on your heart, let's pray together as you confess him as Lord and Savior.

Chris Grainger: 17:24

So, father, just thank you so much for this chance to share your word. Just thank you so much for the chance to share the good news of the gospel. And I don't know who's listening, how it's hitting them, the emotional state they're in right now. But I do know one thing you are God and I'm going to do all I can to share the good news of what you've done for us to as many people as possible. For that one listener who is ready right now, who says you know what? I'm tired of doing things my way. I'm ready to do it your way, god, I pray you just pour a peace that passes all understanding over them, put people in their life that's going to encourage them, and, lord, just let them feel your love, and we love you so much. God In Christ's name, amen. All right, fellas. Look, if you just accepted Christ, I want to hear from you, okay, so shoot me a note or an email at chris at thelionwithinus. I'm going to send you a bunch of free resources. We've created so much, so many resources at the Lion Within Us. I just want to hook you up with some things to help you get started on your discipleship journey, because it can be confusing it really can be. So I want to help, encourage you, to equip you and just do all at least all I can, to come alongside to build you up in that area. So again, chris at thelinewithinus, all right, and guys, so just thank you for listening. Come back on Wednesday. We'll have a great guest on Wednesday. Hopefully you're going to enjoy the conversation there and I'd highly encourage you as well.

Chris Grainger: 18:44

The line withinus I talk about our website all the time. We changed up so much things on our website recently and I want you to see the different things we're doing, primarily with the Masterminds guys. That's where it's at. When you look at verses like this, you know and start thinking about Hebrews 3.13, about so far as encourage each other daily so that no one may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. Sin's going to try to trip us up.

Chris Grainger: 19:11

Fellas, you got to have some brothers in your corner and this is what we build. We got some brothers in Christ in your corner. Now look these guys in the land within us. They are not your yes men. They are not the guys that are just pew sitters. These are the boys that are leaned in and say you know what? Something's missing. I'm going to continue to serve at church and I'll recognize I need something else. I need more.

Chris Grainger: 19:30

I know for me as a guy leading my family, as a guy in maybe a leadership role at work or a guy leading in the community, I know I need to start sharpening different areas and I need help, and I don't even know where to have 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 you find all that. So the line withinus is how you get all that resources as well as getting started. Okay, so head on over there right now, check it out and get started today. All right, guys, look forward to seeing you next time. Give us a rating review, if you don't mind that would be awesome and all everything you can find about us, the lion withinus. I look forward to seeing you next time. You remember you know what's coming. Keep unleashing the lion within. We're making a big change that I think you're really going to enjoy.

Chris Grainger: 20:26

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 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.