My Big Fat Mouth: Part 3 - "Lying" with Craig Groeschel

Stop Telling Lies (My Big Fat Mouth, Part 3)

Scripture References

Primary text

• Proverbs 12:22
• John 8:44
• John 8:32

Other references

• Ephesians 4:21
• 1 John 1:9
• 1 John 2:4

Overview

Lying feels small, even humorous, yet God says it is nauseating to Him. Pastor Craig shows that every lie aligns us with Satan—the “father of lies”—and pushes us away from the freedom Jesus offers. Satan’s plan is simple: get you to lie, believe your own lies, and finally live a lie. God’s plan is equally clear: confess to Him for forgiveness and confess to trusted people for healing, so truth can set you free.

Main Points

God’s View on Lies

• Proverbs 12:22: God detests (“toʽēbah” = an abomination) lying lips and delights in truthful speech.
• Lying makes God “nauseous” because it mirrors the enemy’s character, not His.
• Paul urges believers (Ephesians 4:21-25) to throw off the old nature and “stop telling lies.”

Satan’s Three-Step Strategy

1. Get you to lie
   • Exaggerating stories, cheating, partial truths, convenient fibs.
   • Story: Craig promised Amy he would stop joking about their six kids, broke the promise on stage, and lied when confronted.
2. Get you to lie to yourself
   • Rationalizing sin: “It’s not that bad,” “I’m a victim,” “I can quit anytime.”
   • King David’s progression—lust, adultery, murder—illustrates self-deception (Nathan: “’Attah ish’ = You are the man).
3. Get you to live a lie
   • Outward Christian persona vs. hidden pornography, depression, broken marriage, etc.
   • Greatest fear: people who believe they are Christians but show no spiritual fruit (1 John 2:4).

“You may never be more like the devil than when you’re telling lies.”

Why We Lie

• Root issue: we don’t fully trust God.
  • We believe the lie will protect us, make people like us, or avoid conflict better than God’s truth will.
  • Lies bring bondage; truth brings freedom (John 8:32).

God’s Two-Step Path to Freedom

1. Confess to God for forgiveness (1 John 1:9)
   • He is faithful to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
2. Confess to people for healing (James—chapter not cited)
   • Healing flows through honest community.

• Story: “Paco,” Life.Church’s first youth pastor, confessed sexual sin expecting to lose his role. Instead, after repentance and accountability, Craig restored him, illustrating forgiveness plus ongoing healing through transparent relationships.

Application in Community

• LifeGroups this week will unpack personal reasons for lying and practice appropriate, grace-filled confession.
• When receiving confession, extend the same grace God has shown you.

Key Truths

• Lying is speaking Satan’s native language; truth is Jesus’ language.
• Satan moves us from telling lies to believing and living them.
• The root of most lies is a lack of trust in God’s ways.
• Confession to God brings forgiveness; confession to trusted believers brings healing.
• Living with no secrets is possible and far lighter than carrying hidden falsehoods.

Response

• Examine your last 24 hours; identify every untruth.
• Repent and confess each lie to God, receiving His forgiveness.
• Share the hidden truth with a trusted, mature believer for healing.
• Replace habitual exaggerations with precise, honest words.
• Memorize John 8:32 and recite it when tempted to lie.
• Build accountability—join or re-engage in a LifeGroup this week.

Closing

Pastor Craig ended with a prayer for courage to walk in truth and an invitation to trust Christ’s grace. Those who recognized they had been “living a lie” surrendered to Jesus, believing that:

“When you know the truth, the truth will set you free.”