A passionate exploration of how Christian men were born for spiritual battle, inspired by a line from a 2003 Christian metal song. The episode unpacks 1 Corinthians 16:13 to reveal Paul's fourfold command for believers to be watchful, stand firm, act like men, and remain strong.

• Walking billboard for the gospel, jiu-jitsu, eating meat, and Christian metal
• Nostalgic journey through Beloved's 2003 album and their song "Death to Traitors"
• The powerful line "we were born for battle" revealing a truth about Christian masculinity
• Breaking down Paul's commands in 1 Corinthians 16:13
• Being watchful means staying spiritually alert against sin and false teaching
• Standing firm requires planting feet on the foundation of gospel truth
• Acting like men calls for courage, bravery and spiritual maturity
• Being strong comes from relying on God's power, not our own

If you want to help equip other men for the fight, share this podcast around and leave us a five-star rating and review. Stay sharp.

Support the show

Want to connect? Email communication@coe22.com

The Word of God serves as the sword of the Spirit, our primary spiritual weapon against evil forces. In John chapter 3, Jesus reveals He came not to condemn the world but to save it through belief in Him, offering us eternal life instead of the condemnation we deserve.

• John 3:16 contains the entire gospel in one sentence, declaring God's love and salvation plan
• Jesus came not to condemn but to save us from sin and God's righteous judgment
• Condemnation is the enemy's language, making us feel "unfit for use"
• Our sin against a holy God deserves punishment, but Jesus paid that price
• God is just (requiring payment for sin), merciful (delaying punishment), and gracious (making payment for us)
• Religious heritage alone cannot save us - only personal belief in Jesus can
• The ABC approach to salvation: Admit you're a sinner, Believe in Jesus, and Confess Him as Lord

If you want to help equip other men for the fight, share this podcast around and leave us a five-star rating and review. Stay sharp.

Support the show

Want to connect? Email communication@coe22.com

We dive deep into John 3:16, arguably America's most famous Bible verse, to uncover its profound connection to the Abraham and Isaac narrative and reveal how Jesus masterfully used this connection to teach Nicodemus about his divine mission.

• The verse appears after Jesus references the bronze serpent story from Numbers 21
• Jesus came not just to teach or perform miracles but to give his life as a sacrifice
• "For God so loved" emphasizes God's lavish, magnified love for humanity
• "Monogenous" (only begotten) means Jesus shares the same essence as God the Father
• True belief (pastuo) means trusting in Christ's work, not just acknowledging facts
• Jesus used "protologos" (first words) to connect to the Abraham/Isaac story
• Isaac carrying wood up Mount Moriah parallels Jesus carrying the cross
• The ram caught in thorns foreshadows Jesus wearing a crown of thorns
• Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son previews God's sacrifice of Jesus
• Mount Moriah ("the Lord will provide") prophetically points to God's provision of Jesus

If you want to help equip other men for the fight, share this podcast around and leave us a five-star rating and review.

Support the show

Want to connect? Email communication@coe22.com

Jesus reveals to Nicodemus that salvation is received through faith, not achieved through works, using the Old Testament bronze serpent as a powerful illustration of his coming sacrifice on the cross. The conversation exposes how our sin problem is internal, requiring transformation from the inside out rather than external religious performance.

• Jesus explains to Nicodemus that salvation comes through being born again
• Nicodemus, despite being a religious teacher, doesn't understand spiritual rebirth
• Jesus uses the story of Moses and the bronze serpent from Numbers 21 to illustrate salvation
• Like the snake-bitten Israelites who had poison in their veins, humanity has sin running through us
• The bronze serpent represents Jesus being lifted up on the cross
• Healing comes by looking to Jesus rather than through our own efforts
• Salvation cures us from the inside out, not just external behavior
• Jesus fulfills the Old Testament patterns and prophecies
• Paul describes this in 2 Corinthians 5:21 – Christ became sin so we could become righteous

If you want to help equip other men for the fight, share this podcast around and leave us a five-star rating and review.

Support the show

Want to connect? Email communication@coe22.com

Jesus meets Nicodemus where he is—confused about salvation—and patiently explains that eternal life isn't achieved through works but received through spiritual rebirth.

• Nicodemus approaches Jesus at night with questions about entering God's kingdom
• Jesus tells Nicodemus he must be "born again" to see the kingdom of God
• Nicodemus misunderstands, thinking in physical rather than spiritual terms
• Jesus explains that spiritual birth comes through water and the Spirit, not human effort
• Unlike other religions where humans must ascend to God, Christianity reveals God who descended to us
• Just as newborns don't work to be born, salvation is received rather than achieved
• Religious people often struggle with grace, believing they must earn salvation
• The gospel is not that we first loved God but that God first loved us

If you want to help equip other men for the fight, share this podcast around and leave us a five-star rating and review.

Support the show

Want to connect? Email communication@coe22.com

Support the show

Want to connect? Email communication@coe22.com

We explore St. Patrick's Breastplate prayer, focusing on the line about Christ's return for final judgment and how this ancient Irish prayer provides strength for Christians facing spiritual battles.

• St. Patrick's prayer begins with "I rise today through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity"
• The prayer acknowledges Christ's baptism, crucifixion, resurrection, ascension and return for judgment
• Acts 17 explains God has appointed a day to judge the world through Christ
• 1 Thessalonians 4:16 describes Christ's descent with angelic command and God's trumpet
• Revelation 20 depicts the great white throne judgment where books are opened
• The prayer concludes by affirming Christ's presence in every direction and aspect of our lives
• Those whose names aren't written in the Lamb's book of life are compelled to give their lives to Christ

If you want to help equip other men for the fight, share this podcast around and leave us a five-star rating and review.

Support the show

Want to connect? Email communication@coe22.com

We explore the ancient Irish prayer known as St. Patrick's Breastplate, focusing on finding strength through Christ's resurrection and ascension.

• The prayer begins by invoking the Trinity as our source of spiritual strength
• Mary Magdalene's encounter with the risen Jesus shows how He calls each person by name
• Jesus' appearance to Mary demonstrates His love for those society rejected
• The resurrection transformed the cross from a symbol of fear to one of ultimate hope
• Christ's ascension completes His earthly ministry and establishes His heavenly authority
• St. Patrick's prayer reminds us that Christ surrounds us on every side for protection

If you want to help equip other men for the fight, share this podcast around and leave us a five-star rating and review.

Support the show

Want to connect? Email communication@coe22.com