Chris Grainger: 1:08

Welcome to the Lion Within Us, a podcast serving Christian men who are hungry to be the leaders God intended you to be. I'm your host, chris Granger. Let's jump in. All right, fellas, spiritual kickoff time. Let's go. Okay.

Chris Grainger: 1:21

Scripture for this one is in the book of James, my favorite book of the Bible. First chapter, 27th, 2-7th verse. Okay, it says 27th, 2-7th verse. Okay, it says Religion that God, our Father, accepts as pure and faultless is this to look after the orphans and widows in their distress and keep oneself from being polluted by the world. Fellas, I can't even believe we haven't covered this verse yet in our spiritual kickoff. So let's get into it. I'm excited to dive into it with you again.

Chris Grainger: 1:51

If you enjoy these and I know you guys do head over to thelionwithinus, because we do a spiritual kickoff Monday through Friday in our Lion Within Us community. And here's the best part it's completely free. We open that up, so you guys just pop in. You can jump on the live feed when I'm doing it. If you can't make the live feed, we put those videos every day in the community. So, boom, it's right there for you. Consume that content and the great part is that is exclusive content. We don't put it anywhere else. It doesn't go on youtube channel or anything like that. We're not using it for shorts and on that junk. We are strictly reading god's word and encouraging men each and every day. It's a great way to get started. It's a whole lot better than Starbucks. Let's go bro. So thelinewithinus is where you'll find it.

Chris Grainger: 2:35

So this verse is in the book of James and we need to know where that is. That's in your New Testament. We don't want to take anything for granted. James is the half-brother of Jesus. We've got to recognize that. That's again, probably the best evidence that the gospel is real and that Jesus is real. It says his brother believed he was Messiah, and you can find this book right after Hebrews. Okay. So if you're in your New Testament, you're flipping through, you get to the book of Hebrews. Keep flipping a little bit, then you'll get to James, okay.

Chris Grainger: 3:01

So this week we're going to be talking directly about pro abundant life, not just pro life, pro abundant life, pro abundant life, just pro life, pro abundant life. And we're going to be talking to him also about why we need to step up for the vulnerable, because there's a really dangerous idea floating out there fellas, particularly a lot of Christian dudes that I know of that. The danger, the idea, is this that speaking truth is enough, ok, that our role for being pro abundant life is just to have a strong opinion. Maybe we just go to the poll every few years and then we're just supposed to move on with our life. But James is like no bro, that ain't it. This ain't what this is about.

Chris Grainger: 3:43

It doesn't say pure religion is tweeting Right, it doesn't. Or pure religion is arguing Theology. No, it's cause for us to care for the vulnerable and living a clean, and living 100 percent of a clean life before God in this very polluted world. So here's a question you need to ask Like are you actually doing that? You know, I know that can be super convicting, but again, that's why you listen to the line with Dennis, because this can't just be anti-abortion, this has to be pro-abundant life, fellas, because it can't just be enough to push against that. The gospel calls us for more. We got to be advocates, we got to be mentors, we got to be protectors, we got to be providers, period. So being pro-life and pro-abundant life, being some, seeing the women who are sometimes in these, in these crisis situations, not as a problem to fix no-transcript. So we're called to step up, though we have to recognize that we're not called to step back. We're called to step up and we need to step up to mentor young dads who've never been one. You know how huge would that be. We need to step up to support these pregnancy centers that are really doing the frontline work. And then we also need to step up to foster, adopt and financially support those who do.

Chris Grainger: 5:13

I'm thinking about my brother, marcus man, right now, who does this. He does it all the time. I love him to death. He's just out there and he's doing that on a consistent basis and I have so much love for him for doing it. And James, when we read Scripture again, it's not just a map, it's a mirror.

Chris Grainger: 5:31

His words are a mirror Because they're asking us like is your faith more than just words, bro? Is it doing something for people that are in distress? Well, are you living a life that is unpolluted by this self-centered world that's around you? You know where comfort is assessed upon and we want to quickly dismiss others. We have to be careful, man, because life is not hiding behind some easy religion. You have to get dirty, you've got to get into it, and when you do that, it's beautiful because it's caring for the least of those, the lost and the ones that feel left out. And I just want to give you a couple things to consider in this particular spiritual kickoff episode around starting points. The first one is you've got to be engaged, bro. Engage, start connecting with some local ministries and helping these women and children and families that are going through this. And that just means simply showing up and then discipling Again.

Chris Grainger: 6:38

Probably the biggest one for the listeners of the line within us is this discipleship. And for you guys out there, focus on the bros. Find that young man or new father and start walking with him. Help him see and understand what godly manhood looks like. There's many guys out there who don't have that. They've never had it. I was blessed with a wonderful father. Not everybody was, so that means we have to take the time, and this is the hard part. Take the time to actually pour in and to care for others. And then the third point give, man. I'm talking about time, talent and treasure right. Give so you can fuel someone else's hope and make it count, guys, because at the end of the day, the real men don't just believe in life, they build it. You get that. They don't just believe in life, they build it Because that's the faith that God honors, that's the mission worth giving everything for.

Chris Grainger: 7:51

So the question of the week, this week, guys, is how are you protecting the vulnerable where you can? Now, you can't cover everywhere. Nobody can. God can, but you're not omnipresent. He is so in your circle of influence, in the territory that God has given you, what are you doing to protect the vulnerable? And if you can't answer that, what are you going to protect the vulnerable? And if you can't answer that, okay, what are you going to do to change it?

Chris Grainger: 8:19

And fellas, when we start talking about this abundant life, it can be like what in the world is he talking about? And if you're not a believer, it wouldn't make any sense. And I'm also not naive enough to think that everyone who listens to the Lion Within Us is a believer. So if you're listening to this pod, maybe something caught your eye. I don't know, and you're curious. You've never surrendered your life to the Lordship of Christ. I'm going to give you a chance to do that right now, and I just want you to know there's a perfect design that God put in place when he made everything and he spoke, spoke, spoke, spoke, spoke all these things into existence. Then, after that, he took his hands and he formed Adam, the first man, and he breathed the breath of life into him. And Adam sat up and he was face to face with God and I just I can't even imagine what that was like, but it was beautiful, it was perfect, god's perfect design.

Chris Grainger: 9:09

Then, unfortunately, sin entered the world, okay, and that created this major gap between a holy and righteous God in us, and we need to remember that that is the standard. Your neighbor, your buddy, who's cheating on his wife, people who are in the prison systems they are not who we should compare ourselves with. That's not it Wrong standard, the only comparison that we have, the right comparison, rather, is God. And when we compare who we are and the actions we take and the life we live compared to a holy and righteous God, guess what? Every doggone one of us falls short. We just do. There's nothing we can do to overcome it. Okay, so we try.

Chris Grainger: 9:59

We try to overcome it with good works and by just being a nice person and helping little old ladies across the street. From time to time we'll pull out and drop a 20 in an offering plate or something like that, and we just feel like, well, I just got to be, I just got to be, just do some good stuff. And while there's nothing wrong with serving and doing good to others, the problem lies when we start to think that that's going to earn our salvation. And it can't, because it can't be bought. And I kind of wish that I could bring a better news to you because, like, if you could just do this checklists of stuff, it'd be a whole lot easier, because then you could just get through the checklist and be done right. Hey, I'm an engineer. I love this, bro. I got two lists right here in front of me. I love checking stuff off the list, but it doesn't work that way.

Chris Grainger: 10:52

Reality is we can't coach ourselves up enough to overcome the sin that's in our life. So if we can't be coached to overcome, what do we need? We need a savior to step in and do for us what we can't do for ourselves. See the primary difference there? And luckily for us, that savior has a name it's Jesus. And that's why I say rescue mission, because he literally came to save us. So he left heaven on that rescue mission, was born of the Virgin, performed all the different miracles and teachings, fulfilled all the prophecies, all the stuff they said about the coming Messiah.

Chris Grainger: 11:29

Jesus checked the boxes and then he did the most ultimate of ultimate Of sacrifice, with love and, ultimately, redemption, when he willingly went to the cross and died and paid the penalty for sin For the entire world, for you, for me, for the guy on death row. He did it for everybody. Jesus paid it all Because that is the penalty of sin Is death. Guy on death row, he did it for everybody. Jesus paid it all because that is the penalty of sin is death. And he died on the cross. He didn't faint or go to sleep or pass out. He died, okay, so don't miss that. Okay. And then from there they took Jesus and they took him down off the cross and they laid him into a tomb Just think about this tomb where they ultimately would prepare his body to be buried. The tomb was more like an Airbnb for Jesus. He only needed it three days.

Chris Grainger: 12:36

That's the fundamental difference between a Christian and the rest of the religions out there. It's because our Savior, our Messiah, the one that we put our hope and our trust in, he's living, he's breathing, he's right here in the Father right now. And all the other religions out there, the people that founded those, guess what? They're still dead. They're in the ground, they just are. We have a living hope. That's Christ.

Chris Grainger: 12:58

And so what you have to do, if you've never really taken the step forward, it starts with that first self-reflection. Oh man, I am kind of jacked up. I am indeed a sinner. The sin is anything that separates us from God. I am a sinner and I desperately need a Savior. Then, once you recognize that, okay, well, who's the Savior? Well, okay, well, I believe that Jesus is the Son of God. I truly believe that in my heart.

Chris Grainger: 13:34

So once you kind of get those fundamental boxes checked, then what do you do next? Well, you better confess Him as Lord, fully surrender to him, confess him as Lord and Savior. Say, jesus, my way has not worked. I recognize that I'm a sinner and need a Savior, and I recognize you are that Savior. I am confessing you as Lord over my life. This is not Lord over Sunday boys, this is Lord over every day, every moment, over your finances, over your marriage, over your parenting, over your career, the whole deal. Lord over it all. And once you do that the Holy Spirit's going to come, you have a new heart, the scales will fall off and you'll be walking with him and the Holy Spirit at that point. That's going to be your guide. Then there's a whole process of sanctification after that, but we're not going to get into that right now.

Chris Grainger: 14:23

The main thing right now is if you haven't accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior and you feel like you're being called to do that right now, then let's just pray together. Look, don't get crossed up and think you know you have to be in a church or you have to go down front. It doesn't work that way. God's everywhere at all times. So you could be on a treadmill, you could be in a car, you could be on a walk, whatever it may be, you could be at work. And you recognize right now I've never really fully surrendered my life to Christ. I need to do it, and let's do it together. I'm going to pray for you right here.

Chris Grainger: 14:56

So, father, for that one listener who's just ready, they recognize the error in their ways. They recognize that their way is not working. They recognize, father, that they need to fully surrender to you. I just pray. You hear their prayer, pray. You just touch them in a mighty way. Pray, you put people in their path. That will guide and direct them on this new discipleship journey that starts right now. And we just love you, we praise you, we thank you for being the Savior that we don't deserve. It's just in your name we pray Amen.

Chris Grainger: 15:25

All right, fellas. So look, if you just accepted Christ, I want to hear from you. So, chris at the lion within, dot us. That's my email address. Send me an email. We'll send you a bunch of free resources to get you hooked up with some stuff to get going. Okay, so, chris at the lion within S also just want to get connected to make sure you're in a church. But if you're not in a church, I want to give you some green flags, as well as some red flags and things to look about and, depending on where you're at in the country, we may even have resources or connections to help you get plugged in to a good gospel preaching, bible believing church. So that's what it's all about, fellas. Ok, so good, come back on Wednesday. We'll have a really great episode, looking forward to digging into this pro abundant life topic even more.

Chris Grainger: 16:06

The lion withinus, get started with your daily spiritual care call Again, that's free. Guys, join a community Super easy way to get connected there as well. Or apply for the leadership mastermind to see if you have what it takes. So all that stuff is found at thelionwithinus. So, guys, have a great day, get after it. Thank you so much. Give us a rating or review if you can, and remember to keep unleashing the lion within.

Chris Grainger: 16:33

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 it's a stronghold, a place where warriors can find rest, truth and a band of brothers standing beside them.

Chris Grainger: 17:03

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. 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.