The Lion Within Us - Leadership for Christian Men

Send us Fan Mail Grace changes everything when you stop trying to earn it. We open with Romans 5:7–8 and move straight into a candid conversation with missions leader Lonnie Maley about what love looks like in motion—on the ground after storms, in quiet marriages that need fresh prayer, and inside men’s groups that refuse vague answers. If you’ve ever wanted a brotherhood that actually shows up, t...

Send us Fan Mail Ever felt like you’re stuck managing the same sins while calling it “growth”? We invited pastor, songwriter, and storyteller JD Walt to help us break the loop and step into the second half of the gospel—where love is unleashed and life actually changes. We're headed to the 1613 Men’s Conference! If you’re ready to stop floating through life and start leading your family, your...

Send us Fan Mail What if the most important sentence about your life was spoken before you did anything to deserve it? We dive straight into Romans 5:7–8 and sit with the scandal of grace: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. From there, we confront the myths men live by—earning love through performance, hiding behind passivity, and negotiating with habits that quietly hollow out the s...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when a warfighter carrying anger toward God steps into a circle of men who refuse to let him stay stuck? Stephen Morris' story is raw, honest, and quietly hopeful—a road from combat and cynicism to brotherhood, prayer, and real accountability that actually changes a man. We start with a simple lens—Luke 6:40—then move straight into the hard stuff: the weight of w...

Send us Fan Mail What if discipleship worked like a real apprenticeship—with hands in the work, not just head in the clouds? We sit down with Pastor Heath Hardesty, author of All Things Together, to unpack a simple but deep pattern for growth: union with Christ, abiding in His presence, obeying His teaching, and imaging His character. Heath’s journey from a plumber’s apprentice to a lead pastor gi...

Send us Fan Mail A single verse can reset how we grow. Luke 6:40 reframes discipleship as apprenticeship, and we lean into that picture with both feet—hands-on learning, real-time correction, and a long obedience in the same direction. We talk plainly about why information alone won’t form a Christlike life, how teachability beats talent over time, and why imitation under a patient Master is the p...

Send us Fan Mail Fresh year, clean slate, and a clear plan to lead with purpose. We close the classic Fun Friday format and map out a simple three-part reset: a daily Bible rhythm that actually sticks, a calm financial audit that aligns money with mission, and one small family habit to restore connection at home. No hype, no overwhelm—just steps you can start today. We're headed to the 1613 M...

Send us Fan Mail New year, clean slate, real talk. We’re closing the books on a year that stretched our faith and widened our reach, then stepping into 2026 with a sharper focus: stop clutching the past and move with God toward what’s next. Isaiah 43:18–19 sets the pace as we trace how a simple Bible App plan connected us with men in Kenya, Europe, and beyond, and why short, honest studies can car...

Send us Fan Mail Stuck replaying last year’s loops? We open Isaiah 43:18–19 and get honest about how nostalgia, regret, and even our past wins can blind us to the new work God is already growing in front of us. This conversation moves from solid biblical context to practical courage, showing how God makes roadways in wilderness and rivers in deserts—and how we can walk forward one clear step at a...

Send us Fan Mail The rush is over, the house is finally quiet, and the real work of leading your home begins. We anchor the week with Isaiah 7:14—Emmanuel, God with us—and use that promise to reframe how we think about peace, money, and marriage after Christmas. Instead of drifting into the post‑holiday slump, we walk through a simple plan to slow down, open Scripture, and set a tone of truth for...

Send us Fan Mail The noise of December is loud; the voice that matters is gentle and true. We set aside commentary to read the Christmas story straight from God’s Word—Matthew 1–2 and Luke 1–2—so you can breathe, listen, and remember why this season changes everything. From Joseph’s night of decision to Mary’s song of reversal, from the Magi’s long road to the shepherds’ quick sprint to Bethlehem,...

Send us Fan Mail A single verse can steady a shaking season. We open Isaiah 7:14 and watch a 700-year promise take on skin, breath, and a name—Emmanuel. Not myth, not metaphor. God with us. From a nation in turmoil to a manger in Bethlehem, we trace how a sign beyond human possibility—born of a virgin—signals a rescue only God could author. We're headed to the 1613 Men’s Conference! If you’re...

Send us Fan Mail What if the difference between passivity and purpose is a handful of daily choices you can start today? We dive into Christ-centered leadership for men who want to serve with strength, handle money with wisdom, and love their families with steady, secure presence. Grounded in 2 Corinthians 5:14–15, we explore how the love of Christ moves us from living for ourselves to living on m...

Send us Fan Mail What if Philippians isn’t a collection of coffee-mug quotes, but a battle plan for ordinary believers to live on mission? We sit down with author and missions leader Alex Kocman to explore how Paul’s letter calls men to stand firm, speak truth with love, and lock shields as a church that shares real risks and real joy. From Philippians 1:27’s “striving side by side” to the practic...

Send us Fan Mail What if the strongest thing you could do as a man was to let go? We explore how 2 Corinthians 5:14–15 turns common ideas about leadership upside down, showing why the love of Christ—not our need for control—builds the courage, clarity, and steadiness our families and communities need. We're headed to the 1613 Men’s Conference! If you’re ready to stop floating through life and...

Send us Fan Mail Training your body has value, but training your soul reshapes everything. We dive into 1 Timothy 4:8 with a coach’s mindset, drawing a straight line from the way you approach the gym to the way you approach godliness, stewardship, and family leadership. If you’ve felt stuck or scattered, this conversation gives you a clear starting point and practical steps you can use today. We&a...

Send us Fan Mail Ever notice how the gym makes your calendar but spiritual training keeps getting bumped? We sat down with performance coach and author Mark Oxer to flip that script and show how the same principles that build strong bodies can forge resilient, faithful men. Mark grew up in a structured church culture and found a living relationship with Jesus at camp; later, years in high-performa...

Send us Fan Mail What if your strongest muscle isn’t in your chest but in your soul? We take 1 Timothy 4:8 off the page and into real life, showing why godliness offers returns the mirror can’t and how daily spiritual training builds durable peace, clarity, and courage. Join us for a focused, practical guide to building a life that holds under weight. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a spo...

Send us Fan Mail What if the gap between where you are and the leader God is calling you to be could be bridged by a few simple, repeatable habits? We explore how delighting in God reshapes desire, why exercise is a form of stewardship, and how short, consistent family devotions can transform the culture of your home. Anchored in Psalm 37:4, we reframe spiritual growth from a Sunday-only activity...

Send us Fan Mail What if the real reason your spiritual life feels flat is that you’ve settled for fellowship instead of discipleship? Coach David Mack—44-year classroom teacher, football coach, and author of 25 Bible commentaries—joins us to chart a clear, simple path for one-on-one discipleship that actually multiplies. He brings a Jewish perspective that opens the Scriptures in technicolor, sho...

Send us Fan Mail What if the promise of Psalm 37:4 isn’t about getting what you want, but becoming the kind of man who wants what God gives? We walk through the heart-level shift that happens when you delight in the Lord and step into real discipleship, not just good vibes and busy calendars. Along the way, we draw a clean line between fellowship and discipleship, unpack why many church programs s...

Send us Fan Mail Trials don’t wait for a convenient time. One week you’re serving thousands at a men’s conference with a full heart, and the next you’re in a hospital bed with a PICC line, two surgeries, and a choice to make: fear or faith. We walk through that sharp turn with James 1:2–3 as our compass, not as a slogan but as a lived reality. Consider it joy, not because pain is pleasant, but bec...

Send us Fan Mail A mountaintop weekend can change your language; a hospital bed can change your life. Right after an energizing men’s conference with voices like Joby Martin and John Tyson, I came home, peeled off a sock, and found a small, angry spot on my ankle scar. One Spirit-led decision—don’t eat or drink—opened a door for same-day surgery, cultures, and a new road I didn’t want: MRSA, a PIC...

Send us Fan Mail When gratitude feels thin and the table highlights what’s missing, where do you place your hope? We lean into James 1:2–3 and take an unvarnished look at trials, endurance, and the kind of joy that survives the valley. Chris shares the real stories behind the mic—divorce, the loss of a daughter, a recent injury—and how those moments exposed control, deepened reliance on Christ, an...

Send us Fan Mail A roar shakes the heart before it changes the world. Today we lean into that sound and explore how small, faithful steps shape stronger men, steadier homes, and clearer witness. We start with a jolt of Scripture from Amos 3:8, then move into three practical rhythms that you can put to work before the day ends: surrender a little control to become more present, live out generosity...