Episode Overview

Main Theme:
This episode of Social Dallas features guest speaker Pastor Brian Bullock delivering a dynamic message titled "Chasing Lions." Drawing on the story of Benaiah from 1 Chronicles 11:22, Pastor Bullock inspires listeners to pursue God-sized dreams, confront fears, and move from comfort and safety into courageous action. He implores believers to not only receive spiritual knowledge but to apply it, stepping out in faith to overcome the "lions"—challenges, fears, and obstacles—that stand in their path.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Unusual Call to Chase Lions

Scripture Focus: 1 Chronicles 11:22 – Benaiah chasing a lion on a snowy day into a pit and killing it.

• Pastor Bullock's Take:

  • Emphasizes the strangeness and courage of Benaiah’s act: not only does he face a lion, but he does so on a “bad day” (snowy, cold, in a pit), and wins.
  • “Have you ever been so in love with God that you do things you never imagined doing?” (12:44)
  • Falling in love with God causes you to step out of your comfort zone, doing things outside your normal personality or inclination.

  "Because when you really fall in love with God, you do stuff that's outside of your personality. You do stuff you never dreamed you do." (14:44, Pastor Brian Bullock)

2. God Designed Believers to be Lion Chasers

• Personal Testimony:

  • Pastor Brian and his wife started Union Church Charlotte, moving in faith to a city where they had no connections. Despite advice against it (due to post-pandemic times), the launch was wildly successful.
  • "At some point, you got to stop sitting in the seat, and you got to say, God, put me in the game. What do you want me to chase?" (26:59)

• Practical Application:

  • Lion chasing equals taking faith-based risks: starting a business, breaking generational curses, leading when you never saw yourself as a leader.
  • Pushes back against what he calls "safe Christianity"—urging the audience not to settle for comfort, but to do the hard, courageous thing God is calling them to.

  "We got too many influencers with no power. And the reason why you ain't got no power? Because you don't get no power from a podcast. You get it from a pit." (21:00)

3. From Knowledge to Action

• Criticism of Modern Christian Culture:

  • Critiques the tendency to amass Christian knowledge and content (sermons, podcasts, conferences), but not translate it into action.
  • Encourages moving from being merely "fed" to actually stepping out and confronting life's real challenges.

  "My question is, what are you doing with all that information? Because if all that information don't ever get you to go outside and chase something down, then you are just getting puffed up with knowledge." (24:40)

4. Three Keys to Becoming a Lion Chaser

• 1. Pursue a God-Sized Dream That Scares You (29:30)

  • If your dream doesn’t require faith, prayer, and God’s intervention, it’s not big enough.
  • God assigns you things that are beyond you, forcing you into dependence on Him.

• 2. Don’t Let a Bad Day Become a Bad Life (31:44)

  • “Benaiah is having a bad day, but what looks like a hard season is really a setup for promotion.”
  • The pit and the lion are the doorway to your next level; difficulties can position you for God's favor.

• 3. Move From Cowardice to Courage (34:05)

  • “There are too many coward Christians. A coward will always compromise. A coward will always run at the first sign of trouble.”
  • God’s command: “Be strong and courageous...for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)
  • Urges listeners to step out even if they’re the only one, to stand for righteousness despite the cost.

  "God will give you a vision that will scare you, an assignment that will scare you...God will always put a dream and something on you bigger than anything you could handle on your own." (29:30, Pastor Brian Bullock)

5. The Enemy's Roar vs. the Believer’s Authority

• Scripture Woven In:

  • 1 Peter 5:8 – The devil prowls like a roaring lion.
  • Psalm 91:13 – “You will trample upon lions and cobras...”
  • Pastor Bullock demonstrates with humor how fear makes us retreat; urges believers to “bark back” at the enemy.

  "What if I told you that the devil you are scared of is really scared of you? And if you ever take your rightful place like Benaiah, you can chase a lion down and kill it." (38:07)

• Examples from Scripture:

  • David, Samson, and Daniel all had victories over lions or in lion’s dens, symbolizing God’s protection and empowerment for believers.

6. Jesus: The True Lion of Judah

• Applies the motif of 'lion' to Jesus:

  • Ultimately, Jesus is the Lion of Judah who gives believers the courage and authority to face any obstacle.

  "Revelation tells me that when Jesus returns, he's not just coming back as a little lamb, he is coming back as the lion of Judah. And I wish I had somebody in this room to say, I ain't scared of these lions. Cause I know the real lion." (38:28)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Crazy Love for God:

  "Love will make you do some crazy things. For many of us in this room, at some point in our lives, we fell in love with God. And when you fall in love with God, you will find yourself doing things you never thought you would do." (13:33, Pastor Brian Bullock)

• On Comfort vs. Courage:

  "You love sweet Baby Jesus, but sweet Baby Jesus became Grown Man Jesus. Because when Grown Man Jesus flesh flips tables, grown Man Jesus confronts stuff." (20:25)

• On Moving Into Action:

  "But at some point, this revelation and this knowledge is supposed to make you say, wait a minute, let me chase something down." (24:52)

Important Timestamps

• [09:24] Scripture and sermon introduction: Chasing Lions, 1 Chronicles 11:22.
• [14:44] Taking bold, surprising action out of love for God.
• [18:35–21:00] Contrast between safe Christianity and real spiritual battle; lions vs. podcasts.
• [24:40] Challenge to move beyond consuming knowledge to courageous action.
• [26:59] Personal testimony about launching Union Church Charlotte in faith.
• [29:30] Three points about becoming a lion chaser begin.
• [34:05] Challenge to move from cowardice to courage.
• [38:07] Calling out fear and the enemy through a humorous dog story.
• [38:28] Jesus is the Lion of Judah; believers empowered not to fear.
• [40:18–41:00] Final ministry prayer of victory and invitation to accept Jesus.

Notable Quotes by Timestamp

• "Because when you really fall in love with God, you do stuff that's outside of your personality. You do stuff you never dreamed you do."
  — Pastor Brian Bullock, [14:44]

• "We got too many influencers with no power. And the reason why you ain't got no power? Because you don't get no power from a podcast. You get it from a pit."
  — Pastor Brian Bullock, [21:00]

• "What are you doing with all that information? Because if all that information don't ever get you to go outside and chase something down, then you are just getting puffed up with knowledge."
  — Pastor Brian Bullock, [24:40]

• "God will give you a vision that will scare you, an assignment that will scare you...God will always put a dream and something on you bigger than anything you could handle on your own."
  — Pastor Brian Bullock, [29:30]

• "A coward is always going to choose to quit rather than to keep going. But God don't want you to be a coward. God wants you to be courageous."
  — Pastor Brian Bullock, [34:48]

• "What if I told you that the devil you are scared of is really scared of you? And if you ever take your rightful place like Benaiah, you can chase a lion down and kill it."
  — Pastor Brian Bullock, [38:07]

• "Revelation tells me that when Jesus returns, he's not just coming back as a little lamb, he is coming back as the lion of Judah."
  — Pastor Brian Bullock, [38:28]

Closing Reflections (Pastor Robert Madu, [42:20])

• Pastor Robert affirms the message: feeling fear but acting in obedience anyway.
• Shares his own testimony about facing major ministry obstacles and stepping out in faith.
• Encourages attendees and listeners: “Keep chasing the lion. Feel the fear and do it anyway. Because it's not just for you. Somebody else is waiting on the other side of your obedience.”
• Repeats the call for those who made a decision for Christ and reminds the church to continue showing up and walking out their faith.

Summary

This episode challenges listeners to break out of comfortable, passive Christianity and to "chase lions"—pursuing bold, seemingly impossible God-given dreams despite fear, uncertainty, or past pain. Both Pastor Brian Bullock's testimony and the biblical account of Benaiah serve as blueprints for courageous faith in action, reminding believers that their real authority and victory come only by taking risks and trusting Jesus, the true Lion of Judah, to empower them.