Pastor Bryan Stecker joins Zach to discuss why men are returning to faith, what Joe Rogan reveals about today’s masculine search for meaning, the power of habits, and how the church can form stronger men in a digital age. Visit www.redletterpodcast.com for more.
Today’s episode is brought to you by Red Letter Living. We create resources to help the church produce greater disciples. Our newest 40-day challenge, Giving Challenge, launched this past Fall — and the results have been incredible.
Churches and individuals are experiencing real joy as they step into the generous life Jesus calls us to. We’ve heard amazing stories already:
And that’s just from the first few months.
If you want a 40-day challenge that not only helps people practice everyday generosity but also helps pastors and church leaders fund the God-sized visions in front of them, it’s time to jump in.
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Explore or join Memento:
👉 https://memento70.com
Connect with Bryan:
🌐 https://ontheline.net
“If we want to reach young people, we must show up where they already are—online—with excellence and clarity.” — Bryan Stecker
“Devotion without discipline becomes sentiment. Discipline without devotion becomes pride.” — Bryan Stecker
“Habits shape who we become far more than isolated decisions.” — Bryan Stecker
“Most modern struggles—gluttony, sloth, greed—go undetected because they’ve become normal.” — Bryan Stecker
“Brotherhood breaks isolation. You weren’t meant to tackle spiritual growth alone.” — Bryan Stecker
Memorize the words of one hymn this week.
Many want to be greater followers of Jesus but don’t know how. We extensively studied everything Jesus commanded of us and located five key targets to which Jesus invited His followers. The five targets are Being, Forgiving, Serving, Giving, and Going.
In partnership with LifeWay Research, we created a Red Letter Challenge Assessment that will measure you according to these five targets. And the best news of all: it’s free! You will get results back immediately and be presented with the next steps to help you become an even greater follower of Jesus.
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0:00–1:51 — Zach’s intro
Zach previews the episode, sets up the conversation around discipleship and masculinity, and introduces Bryan’s major announcement.
1:51 — Bryan’s return + who he is
Associate Pastor in Waconia, MN and creator behind On the Line, Lutheran Institute of Theology, and now Memento.
4:21 — A digital crisis for Lutheranism
Why the Catholic digital footprint is roughly 2,000:1 compared to Lutherans — and why that affects every curious 23–33-year-old searching for truth online.
9:21 — What Bryan learns from Rogan, Peterson, and others
Not endorsements — but windows into what everyday people think, want, question, and wrestle with spiritually.
12:36 — Why Gen Z men are returning to Christianity
A cultural reversal no one expected. How major secular voices are unintentionally pointing people to Jesus.
14:51 — The power of habits in discipleship
Why the church must shift from “helping people make better decisions” to forming spiritual habits that shape a life with Christ.
19:51 — Discipling men: the challenge and the opportunity
How masculinity was hollowed out culturally, what filled the void (Andrew Tate, Goggins, Rogan), and how the church can offer a better, biblical way.
23:36 — Inside Memento: a 63-day Lenten formation journey
A historic, habit-based pathway including:
31:51 — Why these disciplines work
How discomfort exposes deeper spiritual issues (gluttony, sloth, pride) and opens paths toward genuine transformation.
42:51 — The seven deadly sins and why they still matter
Why sins like greed, pride, and envy are almost invisible today — and how disciplines help uncover and heal them.
46:51 — The necessity of brotherhood
Why Memento cannot be done alone. How weekly gatherings and daily check-ins create the accountability men need to grow.
53:51 — Why Memento costs money
A transparent look at high-quality production, app development, devotion writing, and why buy-in produces better outcomes.
57:51 — What happens if 5,000 men go through Memento?
Stronger marriages, healthier fathers, increased time and clarity, new ministries birthed, and the ripple effects throughout local churches.
1:04:51 — Bryan’s one challenge for listeners
Memorize a verse from Savior of the Nations, Come as a way to worship, meditate on the incarnation, and retrain the mind toward Christ.
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