Are You Ready for the 10 Tests That Make or Break a Man? (Part 1)

Are You Ready for the 10 Tests That Make or Break a Man? (Part 1) Every man wants the crown. Few can survive the cave. In this first part of a two-part series on The Patriarchy Podcast, Pastor Joseph Spurgeon sits down with Pastor Jake Mentzel of Christ the King Church (Evansville, IN) to walk through the first five of “The 10 Tests That Make or Break a Man.” From David’s lonely nights in the wilderness to his battles with lions, giants, betrayal, and pride, these are the trials God uses to forge true kings—men who fight, lead, and refuse to quit. If you’ve ever felt like God’s hiding you, humbling you, or hammering you into shape, this episode will hit home. These aren’t just Sunday-school stories. They’re the blueprint for manhood forged in fire. Topics Covered ✅ The Test of Calling – Learning to be faithful when no one sees you ✅ The Test of Courage – Facing giants when everyone else hides ✅ The Test of Brotherhood – Building real friendships through shared battle ✅ The Test of Honor – Refusing to take shortcuts when you could ✅ The Test of the Wilderness – Learning leadership through suffering Chapters 00:00 – Cold Open: Every Man Wants the Crown 02:17 – Psalm 144 and the Call to Arms 04:30 – Introducing Pastor Jake Mentzel 05:20 – Why Men’s Ministry Must Be the Engine of the Church 07:45 – The First Test: Calling and Obscurity 13:10 – How God Shapes Men in the Dark 17:45 – The Pain That Builds Leadership 19:20 – The Second Test: Courage and the Cost of Cowardice 23:40 – What Drives Real Courage—Faith and Love 26:00 – Why Martyrs Call Us to Action 28:00 – The Third Test: Brotherhood and Battle-Tested Friendship 32:00 – How Men Bond Shoulder to Shoulder 36:30 – Practical Ways to Build Brotherhood Today 38:10 – The Fourth Test: Honor and Refusing Shortcuts 40:20 – David in the Cave: Choosing God Over the Easy Way 43:45 – How Honor Protects Your Legacy 46:00 – Final Reflections: The Pain That Makes a King 49:30 – Closing Challenge: Build, Fight, Protect, Lead Support the Mission We’re still raising funds to expand Sovereign King Academy and keep tuition affordable for families. Want to invest in the future of Christ’s Kingdom? 👉 Give here: https://sovereignkingacademy.com Connect with The Patriarchy Podcast: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThePatriarchyPodcast Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/58tm5zjz Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/f3ruzrsa Website & All Links: https://linktr.ee/thepatriarchypodcast Connect with our Guest: Jake Mentzel https://www.facebook.com/jacobmentzel https://x.com/jacobmentzel Church of the King (Evansville) https://cotkevansville.com/ Follow Us on Social Media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePatriarchyPodcast Twitter/X: https://x.com/PatriarchyPod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepatriarchypodcast Gab: https://gab.com/thepatriarchypodcast Sponsored By: Steadfast Cigars – For men who reject passivity and take dominion Order now: https://steadfastcigars.com/ Fit Father Project – Reclaim discipline and strength for life Start here: https://secure.fitfatherproject.com/a/transformation/4539 Books by Joseph Spurgeon: It’s Good to Be a Boy – https://a.co/d/7zpEh5D It’s Good to Be a Girl – https://a.co/d/6VlBTzS Be strong in your body, mind, and heart—for the glory of the Lord, the love of neighbor, and the blessing of your posterity. Build. Fight. Protect. Lead. This is The Patriarchy. biblical manhood, christian masculinity, king david lessons, tests of a man, 10 tests of manhood, joseph spurgeon, jake mentzel, patriarchal podcast, the patriarchy podcast, christian manhood, building godly men, david in the wilderness, courage and faith, biblical masculinity podcast, christian leadership, godly masculinity, be a man of god, how god makes men, man after god’s own heart, david and saul, david goliath courage, christian brotherhood, godly friendship, spiritual leadership for men, rejecting passivity, embracing responsibility, christian warrior mindset, forge real men, masculinity revival, modern christian men, faith through trials, suffering and leadership, leadership through pain, cave to crown, forge kings, biblical patriarchy, men’s ministry, strong christian men, fighting for faith, godly honor, courage under fire, wilderness test, christian national men, kingly manhood, spiritual warfare for men