Brave Men Podcast with Paul Louis Cole

In the first few minutes we find out why Chris Harper gets in trouble. But it's good trouble. My friend Chris Harper is a storyteller. He builds word pictures that we can touch and see ... and leads men into truth. Better known as "Harp" he serves as the CEO of BetterMan. A ministry equipping more than 2500+ churches and 300,000+ men across the U.S.
How do we live as a Christian man in a world in chaos ... and a world that is fully aligned against your truth. Because truth isn't a philosophy or system of thought, truth is a person - Jesus Christ.  This is an extraordinary conversation with a man that is passionate about biblical manhood.
Chris Harper speaks often on topics such as a man’s identity in Christ and the importance of being a gospel-centered husband and father. Chris received his Masters degree from Dallas Theological Seminary and his Doctorate from the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Brave Men is hosted by Paul Louis Cole, president of Christian Men's Network. Brave Men is a production of CMN, which is based in Texas and operating on the ground in over 100 nations. For tools to disciple men and families go to CMN.men

Rawd B. Jones is a specialist in soul care—helping men take care of the dynamic center of their lives. As the founder of RPLNISH, Rawd has dedicated himself to helping pastors, ministry leaders, and men step away from the relentless demands of leadership long enough to reconnect with God, build meaningful relationships, and experience the rest and renewal they so often provide for everyone else. He is an energetic, insightful, and passionate communicator who speaks into both the corporate and church worlds about leadership, health, purpose, and the condition of the soul.
Jesus said it this way in Matthew 11:28 MSG: “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life.” That invitation is at the center of this conversation. Before we can lead others well, we must learn how to live in a state of replenished wellbeing ourselves.
In this wide-ranging conversation, Rawd and Paul dig into some of the central issues facing men today. How do we address the confusion surrounding masculinity? What are the effects of fatherlessness? How does a man lead successfully without losing his soul? And how do we build lives that are not only productive, but deeply meaningful? Rawd brings the conversation back to the Word of God and to the inner life of a man—because what happens in you will eventually determine what happens through you. This is an important conversation about becoming healthy, whole, replenished men who have the strength to lead well.
Brave Men is hosted by Paul Louis Cole, President of Christian Men’s Network. CMN is a global movement of men committed to building strong men, strong marriages, strong families, and strong churches through the discipleship of men. We are CMN - we rescue men. Brave Men is a production of Christian Men’s Network.
00:00 Introduction: Rod Jones and the Brave Men Podcast
01:19 From Plain White Rappers to Soul Care Ministry
03:27 The Masculinity Crisis: Fatherlessness and Immaturity
06:12 Understanding Soul Care: Mind, Will, and Emotion
09:06 The Tyranny of the Urgent: Why Men Don't Rest
17:47 Rest as a Superpower: Entering God's Rest
20:29 Digital Cocaine: The Phone Addiction Problem
27:03 Prayer Life: Different Kinds of Prayer
37:59 Joe Rogan and the Manosphere: Culture's Vacuum
45:29 Educating Boys: The School System Challenge
51:35 Intentional Fatherhood: Being Present for Your Sons
54:43 The Weight of the World: Digital Anxiety
1:02:34 Proximity and Brotherhood: How to Make Friends
1:04:55 Courage Comes From Community: Fighting Together
1:12:00 Closing: The Spirit of a Father

Before ministry is a method or a message, it is brotherhood. Jesus called His disciples friends.
Daniel stood with brothers. Strong men are not formed alone—they are forged in relationship
with men who love God, love people, and refuse to leave one another behind. When we rescue
men, we rescue families, we save the next generation.
This episode is a challenge to get cranked up on our purpose and mission. Jesus said, “You did
not choose Me, but I chose you” (John 15:16). In our walk with the Lord, you don’t choose the
mission—the mission chooses you. We speak life to dry bones, call men out of passivity, and
help faithful men become disciple-makers who will raise up others. Pressure reveals what is
inside a man, and when the Holy Spirit fills him, courage rises.
At the center of it all is grace. Jesus pictured grace like a farmer throwing seed
everywhere—you never know where it will land or what harvest it will produce. We are still on
the mission God gave Adam, to tend the garden ... but today we are gardeners of the hearts of
men: breaking hard ground, removing stones, pulling thorns, and cultivating hearts where God’s Word can grow. We work the soil. God brings the harvest.
BraveMen is hosted by Paul Louis Cole, president of Christian Men’s Network. CMN is a global
movement of men discipling men, serving on the ground in more than 100 nations. We believe
strong men build strong families, strong churches, and strong communities. We are men on a
mission—and that mission is Jesus. For resources to disciple men and strengthen families, visit CMN.men.
00:00 Introduction: Brotherhood and the Mission of Jesus
00:53 The Process of Discipleship: Becoming Like Christ
07:21 Christ the Center: Colossians 1 and the Power of Jesus
09:07 The Danger of Isolation: Elijah Under the Tree
12:07 From Slaves to Friends: Jesus and the Power of Friendship
14:30 Abraham and Lazarus: The Secret of Friendship with God
19:33 Christ Revealed is God Defined
20:47 The Parable of the Sower: Understanding the Seed
26:27 Our Mission: Tilling the Soil of Men's Hearts
28:40 The Gardener's Call: Making Every Man Good Soil

Mark Matlock is one of the most interesting men I’ve ever met. For decades, he has lived at the intersection of faith, culture, research, and the next generation. He doesn’t just study where culture has been—he pays attention to where it is moving. His groundbreaking work, including Faith for Exiles, has become a trusted sounding board for leaders across the spectrum of Christian ministry. Today on BraveMen, Mark brings that depth of insight into a powerful conversation about discipleship, culture, and what it means to build resilient faith in a rapidly changing world.

Mark serves as a Senior Fellow at Barna and was Executive Director of Urbana 2025 for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. He is a strategist, researcher, and facilitator who helps leaders turn information into action. Mark understands something every leader must understand: data can tell you where the river is flowing—but wisdom tells you how to cross it.

He is also the founder of WisdomWorks, a consultancy helping churches and faith-based organizations uncover the wisdom already present in their people and turn it into innovation, clarity, and impact. His books include Digital Babylon, Faith for Exiles, and Faith for the Curious. This conversation is thoughtful, challenging, practical, and deeply hopeful.

BraveMen is hosted by Paul Louis Cole, president of Christian Men’s Network. CMN is a global movement of men discipling men, serving on the ground in more than 100 nations. We believe strong men build strong families, strong churches, and strong communities. We are men on a mission—and that mission is Jesus. For resources to disciple men and strengthen families, visit CMN.men.

Chapters

00:00:00 Introduction: Mark Matlock on Faith and Culture
00:02:22 Technology Has Outpaced Theology
00:06:38 Digital Babylon: Living as Exiles
00:11:11 The Discipleship Crisis in the Church
00:14:12 The Spirit of a Father: Discipleship Through Relationship
00:17:53 Creating Trust Through Challenge
00:19:53 The Power of Small Groups and Havruta
00:24:23 Urbana and the Global Missions Movement
00:29:12 From Everyone to Everywhere: Modern Missions
00:35:42 Faith for the Curious: The 64 Percent
00:36:55 The Image of God in Broken Pieces
00:38:43 Christians Need to Experience More Too
00:44:02 The Best and Worst Time to Be Alive
00:51:33 Revival-Minded America: 80 Million Strong
00:53:43 Talking to Strangers: Opening Spiritual Conversations
01:06:13 Dunbar's Number and Your Mission Field
01:08:53 The Age of Amplification: Learning to Listen
01:09:50 Closing: Technology Serves the Gospel

The book of St. John is so much more than just a letter. It’s the eyewitness account of a man whose life was completely transformed by Jesus.
John was a fisherman working the waters of ancient Israel when Jesus suddenly called him: “Follow Me.” John left his nets, stepped into the adventure, and for the next three years witnessed the extraordinary—miracles, confrontations, intimate conversations, the cross, the empty tomb, and the risen Christ.
Years later, John wrote down what he had seen. The Gospel of John is deeply personal, rich with eyewitness detail and filled with moments we don’t find in Matthew, Mark, or Luke. John takes us behind the scenes. He lets us hear conversations, see encounters, and experience Jesus through the eyes of someone who knew Him, walked with Him, and loved Him.
On this episode of Brave Men, Pastor Brandon Cole joins his father Paul Louis Cole to unpack the depth, beauty, and power of John’s Gospel—and what it reveals about Jesus for us today.
Brandon is a gifted communicator and pastor of Gallery Church in Fort Worth, Texas, a vibrant community passionate about building lives full of faith, hope, and love—and presenting Jesus in a fresh and compelling way, on every street and in every heart.
This is not simply a discussion about an ancient book. It is an invitation to encounter the Jesus that John could never forget.
Brave Men is hosted by Paul Louis Cole, president of Christian Men’s Network. CMN is based in Texas and serves men and families in more than 100 nations around the world. For resources to disciple men, strengthen families, and build a generation of courageous followers of Christ, visit https://CMN.men.