In this conversation, Kendall Lankford sits down with Matthew Everhard to talk honestly about fear, courage, and the state of the modern church. Drawing from Matthew’s book Bold as a Lion, the two reflect on how recent cultural crises—especially COVID—exposed a deep failure of nerve among many Christian leaders. Rather than speaking in abstractions, they dig into what fear actually looks like in real life, how it quietly governs decisions, and why cowardice has become so respectable in the church.

Matthew presses the point that courage is not a personality trait reserved for a few bold men, but a Christian obligation rooted in the promises of God. They discuss the fear of man, the fear of death, the role of pastors in setting the emotional and spiritual temperature of a congregation, and how bad theology often produces timid Christians. The conversation closes with practical wisdom on identifying your fears, confronting them honestly, and learning to live with settled confidence in Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.

This is a bracing, clarifying conversation—especially for pastors, fathers, and men who want to lead faithfully in an age that rewards fear and punishes conviction.

Key Takeaways

• Fear touches every human being, but it should not rule the Christian life

• Bold as a Lion takes its title from Proverbs 28:1

• The COVID era revealed how much fear had already taken root in church leadership

• Christians, of all people, should be least afraid of death

• Cowardice is not merely unfortunate—it is spiritually dangerous

• Pastors must deal honestly with the fear of man if they want to lead well

• Cultural pressures often shape the church more than Scripture

• You cannot fight fear until you identify what you’re actually afraid of

• The gospel doesn’t just comfort us—it emboldens us

• Courage grows through obedience, clarity, and dependence on God

Quotes from the Episode

“Boldness is contagious—and it has to be led.”
“The Spirit of the Lord came upon him.”
“We are more than conquerors through Him who loves us.”

Chapters

00:00 – Why courage matters
01:55 – The heart behind Bold as a Lion
03:30 – COVID and the collapse of pastoral nerve
06:36 – Luther, history, and fearless faith
10:16 – Why pastors must lead with courage
12:45 – The fear of man in ministry
15:22 – Cultural pressure and Christian compromise
20:52 – Eschatology and bravery
24:11 – Thinking like victors, not victims
28:19 – Different kinds of fear
30:42 – Naming and confronting fear
34:37 – How the gospel breaks fear’s power
38:46 – Practical steps toward courage
42:11 – Courage in everyday Christian living
47:48 – Standing firm in a fearful world

Keywords

fear, courage, Christian leadership, pastors, boldness, COVID-19, church, fear of man, gospel courage, living faithfully