Thank God: A Special Message with Pastor Craig Groeschel

People Are Thanking God Because of You

Scripture References

Primary text

• 2 Corinthians 9

Other references

• John 1:1
• Ephesians 4:11-12
• Romans 12

Overview

Pastor Craig celebrated the launch of Life.Church’s 32nd location and walked the congregation through four reasons people around the world are literally thanking God for their generosity. Anchored in 2 Corinthians 9, he showed how God supplies seed, multiplies it, and produces a harvest of gratitude. Through stories, numbers, and videos he demonstrated that the church’s giving is: 1) spreading God’s Word, 2) equipping other churches, 3) meeting urgent needs, and 4) changing lives. He ended by inviting everyone to join the mission through serving, tithing, and surrendering their lives to Christ.

Context

• Weekend of the West Wichita campus launch—Life.Church’s second location in Wichita and 32nd overall.
• Congregation stood to pray for Pastor Lucas, Joy, and the new campus team.

Main Points

1. Spreading His Word

• God’s Word is living and active (John 1:1; Hebrews reference quoted without chapter).
• Craig’s own testimony: a Gideon handed him a free New Testament that led to his salvation.
• YouVersion Bible App—created and funded by Life.Church—has now been installed on 348 million devices.

• Story: Grammy-winner Tina Campbell and drummer Teddy Campbell thanked the church on video for the app that fuels their daily walk with God.

• Vision: eradicate “Bible poverty” by 2033 so that virtually every language has at least the New Testament.

• Illustration: Pastors, including Tim Doremus from Life.Church Wichita, delivered the first Scripture portions ever translated for the Obamba and Téké peoples in Gabon, Africa.

2. Equipping Churches

• Ephesians 4:11-12—leaders exist to equip God’s people.
• Since 2006 the Life.Church Open Network has offered all sermon series, kids curriculum, graphics, and videos free of charge.
  • 557,000 pastors and ministry leaders have downloaded more than 13 million resources.

• Story: Pastor Fernando Cabrera of the Bronx shared how Open Network resources are helping his church reach families in America’s poorest congressional district.
• Story: Fredric—saved in an Open Network church in Australia—now helps launch 100 French-speaking churches out of Montréal.

3. Meeting Needs

• Romans 12—share with the Lord’s people who are in need.
• Strategy: partner rather than recreate.
  • Global relief & restoration, micro-finance, and child sponsorship through trusted organizations.

• Illustration: Video from Puerto Rico—convoy of Hope leaders showed how ongoing Life.Church giving let them arrive immediately after hurricanes and keep rebuilding long-term.

• Every campus also partners locally; thousands serve on the ground each month.

• Story: Tiara, an eight-time felon and recovering addict, found hope through the “Hope Is Alive” house and Life.Church. She now worships on the front row and leads a LifeGroup.

4. Changing Lives

• “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.”
• Last weekend alone 2,976 people publicly declared faith in Christ across Life.Church.

• Story: Pastor Ronnie Bromley and his brothers baptized their father after decades of estrangement; the older man first understood the gospel while visiting a Life.Church campus and asked to be baptized.

“Every number has a name, every name has a story, and every story matters to God.”

Key Truths

• God enriches us so that we can “always be generous.”
• The local church can leverage technology to place Scripture in every hand and language.
• Equipping other churches multiplies impact far beyond any single congregation.
• Strategic generosity meets physical disaster and spiritual desperation alike.
• Nothing is too small—God can use a smile, a greeting, or two small coins to transform a life.

Response

• Pray daily for West Wichita and every new believer.
• Return the first 10 % of your income to God as an act of worship.
• Give offerings above the tithe toward Bible translation and relief & restoration.
• Volunteer on a host team, kids ministry, or local mission partner.
• Share the YouVersion app and invite someone to church this week.

Closing

Pastor Craig challenged long-time attenders and newcomers alike: step into the blessing of irrational generosity. Whether it’s a tithe, an offering, a serve shift, or a smile in the lobby, God multiplies every seed so that people everywhere will thank Him. He then led the church in a prayer of surrender, welcoming hundreds of new believers into God’s family.

“God, thank You for blessing us so we can bless others and so people around the world will thank You.”

Prayer

Pastor Craig guided the congregation in a salvation prayer, asking Jesus to forgive, make them new, fill them with the Holy Spirit, and use their lives to help others thank God.

Resources

• YouVersion Bible App
• Life.Church Open Network
• Gideons International (New Testament distribution)
• Bible translation partnerships (2033 initiative)
• Convoy of Hope (disaster relief)
• Hope Is Alive (addiction recovery housing)