Podcast Summary: "Raising Spiritual Spartans"
Podcast: Real America’s Voice
Host: Jensen Franklin (with Pastor Aaron)
Episode Date: December 21, 2025
Episode Overview
This episode, led by Jensen Franklin and joined by Pastor Aaron, explores the concept of “Raising Spiritual Spartans”—drawing from biblical imperatives and the legendary toughness of ancient Spartan warriors to inspire listeners, especially men and parents, to take up the “shield of faith.” The message centers on the importance of spiritual resilience, generational transmission of core values, and the vital role that both fathers and mothers play in raising a new generation of principled believers equipped to stand firm in the face of adversity.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
The Importance of Faith as a Shield (03:02–08:51)
- Textual Foundation: Franklin opens with Ephesians 6, emphasizing "the shield of faith" as the most critical piece of Christian spiritual armor.
- Faith as Divine Currency: “Faith is the currency that heaven trades in…you give God faith and he in return…saves you and every other promise in the scripture is unattainable without faith.” (Jensen Franklin, 04:05)
- Practical Application: He underscores that all spiritual victories, promises, and resilience depend on an unwavering faith—fear is the main opponent to faith.
Mixing Faith with Action (08:51–13:00)
- Necessity of Faith in Daily Life: “You can hear all the preaching you want…but it does not profit if it’s not being mixed with faith.” (Jensen Franklin, 07:48)
- Faith Over Circumstance: Encourages listeners to trust God’s report over any negative situation—doctors’ reports, statistics, etc.
The Spartan Example as Spiritual Metaphor (13:00–25:00)
- Spartan Culture Recap:
- Spartan boys trained for war starting at age seven, with the shield as a central emblem.
- Mother’s Challenge: “Either bring this shield back or be brought back on this shield.” (Jensen Franklin, 18:45)
- Parallel to Christian Life: Listeners are urged to guard their faith with the same tenacity—a shield is neither ornamental nor optional but essential and to be held or returned with honor.
- Toughness and Resilience: "We need to quit rescuing our children and giving them participation trophies on every blessing—we need to get a little toughness in them to stand up to life." (Pastor Aaron, 19:21)
Passing Down the Shield of Faith (26:07–32:06)
- Raising the Next Generation: The hosts stress that the highest success is not academic or material achievement but passing down unshakeable faith.
- Cherishing the Shield: “Carry your father’s shield with honor…your shield is to be cherished, to be polished, to be defended.” (Jensen Franklin, 27:24)
- Practical Transmission: Everyday actions—praying, reading scripture, telling faith stories—are how the shield is polished and passed on.
- Notable Memory: Franklin recalls his childhood, playing church with his siblings, highlighting how a faith-filled home environment deeply imprints children.
Stand Strong Against Cultural Drift (35:19–41:00)
- Men Called to Spiritual Manhood:
- “If you're going to sleep with her you should marry her and do it…Be a man, be a man, be a man. A man provides, a man protects, a man stands there when everything’s ugly, he doesn’t cut and run.” (Pastor Aaron, 39:30)
- Critique of cultural softness and moral drift; embracing tough love and biblical standards.
Ministry and Identity as Spartans (41:00–47:00)
- Honoring Ministry: Franklin and Aaron voice respect for young people pursuing ministry, framing it as holding the shield of faith with distinction, not as a lesser calling compared to secular success.
- Personal Testimony: Franklin shares how his father’s faith and sacrificial living (selling cars to stay in ministry) modeled toughness and provision for family and calling.
Call to Action – Becoming and Raising Spiritual Spartans (47:00–53:39)
- Altar Call to Manhood: “I want every man in this house who wants to be a spiritual Spartan…Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong!” (Jensen Franklin, 52:01)
- Polishing the Shield: “When you're praising, you're polishing the shield. When you're repenting, you're polishing the shield…” (Pastor Aaron, 52:14)
Legacy, Family, and Commitment (53:39–End)
- Final Commitment: Hands on hearts, all are urged to declare, “I will not by the grace of God be an inferior Spartan…I will not forsake my family…a mighty man of God.” (Jensen Franklin & Pastor Aaron, 54:59)
- Mothers’ Role: Not just men—mothers are encouraged to raise spiritual Spartan children and not shrink from tough love when needed.
- No Retirement from the Fight: Even retired Spartans reentered battle if needed—everyone, regardless of age, is called to persist in faith for future generations.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On Faith’s Priority: “If you lose the shield of faith none of the weapons will work…everything we do in living for God is mixed with faith.” (Jensen Franklin, 06:20)
- Spartan Maternal Wisdom: “Either bring this shield back or be brought back on this shield.” (Recounted by Jensen Franklin, 18:45)
- On Modern Parenting: “We need to quit rescuing our children and giving them participation trophies…we need to get a little toughness in them to stand up to life.” (Pastor Aaron, 19:21)
- On the Value of Ministry: “You’re not second class because you chose not to go into business…oh, you’re just a pastor. I mean you can feel it… but I just want to say I admire the young men and women who want to be in ministry and maintain the honor of the shield.” (Jensen Franklin, 41:20)
- Definition of a Man: “It’s not how many women you can sleep with, it’s not how many trophies you have on the wall…it’s all about…as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Jensen Franklin, 48:49)
- Life Application: “When you die…I’m gonna die on my shield…he did it right, he loved God, he loved his family, he loved his wife, his children, his grandchildren, he loved his church— that’s all that matters.” (Jensen Franklin, 52:45)
- On Generational Faith: “You never outgrow warfare…if war broke out (for the retired Spartan), he had to re-enlist…you jump right back in.” (Jensen Franklin, 56:35)
Key Timestamps
- 03:02 – Introduction to the sermon and Ephesians 6: significance of the shield of faith
- 08:51 – Explanation of the shield’s symbolism and role in defense
- 13:00 – Spartan history and metaphor introduced
- 18:45 – The mothers’ challenge to sons: “Bring back the shield or be brought back on it”
- 19:21 – Call for toughness and resilience in raising children
- 26:07 – Challenge to parents to measure success by faith transmission
- 27:24 – The honor and sacredness of carrying the shield
- 32:06 – Passing the shield of faith through daily family life
- 39:30 – Direct challenge to men: be providers, protectors, and spiritual leaders
- 52:01 – Communal recitation: “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong”
- 54:59–56:35 – Collective commitment to not be “inferior Spartans”; the lifelong nature of spiritual warfare
Tone and Delivery
- Direct and passionate, with urgency and a call to practical, countercultural action.
- Frequently analogical, blending biblical imperatives and Spartan history.
- Inclusive of both men and women, challenging listeners to reject passivity and embrace spiritual leadership in the home and community.
Summary for Listeners
If you haven’t heard this episode, you can expect a rousing, heartfelt sermon urging families (especially fathers and mothers) to become “spiritual Spartans,” standing tall for faith and integrity. Through biblical teaching and ancient history, Jensen Franklin and Pastor Aaron stress that true legacy and success are measured by the endurance and transmission of faith—a shield that must be valued, defended, and handed down, not for comfort’s sake but for spiritual victory in every generation.