Review: Bold as a Lion by Matthew Everhard
This is a different kind of review, because the book isn't even out yet. Bold as a Lion: Christian Courage in an Age of Cowards by Matthew Everhard comes out on Thanksgiving Day 2025. It's about 280 pages (I read the PDF, so I'm not sure how many pages the print edition will be), and I had the privilege and joy of proofreading it last month. So instead of the book in hand, I have my notes and memory.
About the author
Dr. Matthew Everhard is senior pastor of Gospel Fellowship Presbyterian Church (PCA). He graduated from Malone University (BA in Bible), Ashland Theological Seminary (MA in Practical Theology), and Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando (DMin), where he wrote his dissertation on Jonathan Edwards's theology of joy. He's the author of several books, including Worshiptainment, which we reviewed last year, and continues to focus his academic writing on Edwards. I also had the joy of sitting down with him for Disciplined Disciple. He's a theologian, Edwards scholar, author, pastor, YouTuber, husband and father.
What it's about
I think this is one of Everhard's most researched books so far. Throughout, he references Scripture, gives practical examples, and points us to men of the past who were "bold as a lion." The whole book is a kind of commentary on Proverbs 28:1: "The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion." It's split into those two halves.
The wicked flee when no one pursues. Everhard gives four extremely helpful categories for our fears:
- Irrational supernatural fears: things that don't really exist, like the dragons and monsters of childhood.
- Rational supernatural fears: things that truly exist: God, the devil, hell, angels.
- Irrational natural fears: luck, karma, superstition, being afraid to say out loud, "I sure hope we don't have an accident on the way to Pennsylvania."
- Rational natural fears: the fear of man. If a mob came running at you with pitchforks, you'd be afraid, and rightly so.
He closes this half with a conclusion: do not be afraid. Christ is victorious and reigns supreme, so we have no reason to be afraid, even of rational natural fears. We should fear God, and that is it.
The righteous are bold as a lion. Here he gives five attributes of courage, like hats a courageous person should wear. I won't tell you what they are, so that you'll read the book, but they're absolutely fantastic, each illustrated by people from the past. If we can truly wear all five, we're bold as a lion.
The book ends with the courage of Christ. Though it's a commentary on Proverbs 28:1, it points us to Christ, the boldest Lion of all. In the end, that's what boldness is: conformity to Christ.
Each chapter also has study questions for personal reflection or group study, an excellent inclusion. Men's groups or church Bible studies can use it to start conversations without having to pick out their own questions, and even reading alone you can ask yourself: Have I fallen into irrational fears? Am I bold as a lion?
Should you get it?
Yes. It's an excellent read, especially for men today, who struggle to be bold in a time that attacks manliness and encourages men to be sheep and follow along with everyone else. It's well timed, and I think it will serve the church well as we consider what it means to be bold, to be strong for Christ, and never to let go of what we truly believe.
Soli Deo Gloria!
.png)
