Relationship Goals Part 1 - Christ-Centered | Craig Groeschel

Relationship Goals, Part 1 — Christ-Centered

Scripture References

• Genesis 2
• Matthew 22

Overview

Pastor Craig opened the new series “Relationship Goals” by exposing how social-media snapshots make us say, “I want that,” without knowing what “that” is. From Genesis 2 he showed that God designed two to become one, yet real marriage includes both beauty and battles. The first—and foundational—goal is to be Christ-centered; everything else flows from there. A couple (or single life) anchored in Jesus gains mission, unity, protection from the enemy, and covenant endurance.

Main Points

1. “I Want That”: The Illusion of #RelationshipGoals

• Instagram’s 11 million #relationshipgoals posts are often staged moments, not daily reality.

• Illustration: Craig never longs to leave a warm car to sit on icy pavement for a photo, yet that single image makes people crave a life they don’t truly know.
• Story: Behind the Groeschels’ smiling pictures lie stubbornness, door-slamming, a flung shoe, arguments over dishwashers, thermostats, TV shows, shirt-tucking, kitchen control, and more.

• Healthy desire for “different” is good, but normal culture (fear, mistrust, money fights, divided visions) isn’t worth copying.

2. Four Relationship Goals Framework

“We’re going to be Christ-centered, mission-driven, devil-kicking, covenant-keeping.”

• Christ-centered: Jesus at the core.
• Mission-driven: unified purpose flowing from Him.
• Devil-kicking: standing together against a real enemy, never viewing the spouse as the enemy.
• Covenant-keeping: marriage as a holy promise, not a contract.

3. Goal #1 — Being Christ-Centered, Not Just “Christian”

• Calling yourself a Christian and living Christ-centered lives are not the same. Two self-identified Christians can still have a self-centered marriage.
• Whatever sits at the center shapes beliefs → actions/decisions → impact. Choices include self, kids, money, image—or Christ.
• When Jesus is first, values align with His, leading to lasting influence and fulfillment.

4. The Myth of “The One”

• Culture teaches, “Find the one and you’ll be fulfilled.”
• Truth: Single is a whole number; Christ completes you.
• In a Christ-centered marriage, Jesus is the One; your spouse is the Two. When someone finally meets “the two,” life already revolves around “the One.”

5. Building a Christ-Centered Life Today

• “You don’t build a life of righteousness in the future on a foundation of sin today.”
• Singles: pursue Jesus now, not later. Craig spent Saturday nights praying for his future wife and journaling letters—later gifting Amy a shoebox of those prayers.

6. Practical Keystone Habit: Pray Together Daily

• One highest-return action: a short, daily couple-prayer.
• Common hesitations (“too private,” “awkward”) are minor compared to everyday marital intimacies—if you can share a bathroom, you can share prayer.
• Benefits: spiritual bonding, quicker conflict resolution, stronger resistance to temptation, natural overflow into other spiritual practices (Bible reading, serving, church engagement).

How to Start

1. Keep it short (30–60 seconds).
2. Keep it consistent—tie to a cue (before leaving the house, before a meal, before a meeting). If you miss one day, don’t miss two.
3. Use simple words. Sample prayer provided:

“Dear God, give us wisdom and clear direction in all we do today. Help us to show Your love to each other and shine Your light into the world. Keep us close to You, away from temptation and always in Your will. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

• Story: Craig and Amy clasp hands whenever heavy news hits; prayer is their reflex, not their last resort.

Key Truths

• A picture-perfect post rarely shows the price of true intimacy.
• Jesus must be the One before a spouse can rightly become the Two.
• What’s at the center determines the story your life tells.
• You cannot prepare for a righteous future on a sinful present.
• Thirty seconds of honest, daily prayer can reshape an entire marriage.

Response

• Place Jesus, not a person, at the center of your desires.
• Identify what currently occupies your life or marriage center and surrender that spot to Christ.
• Begin (or restart) a 30-second daily prayer with your spouse; choose a consistent trigger time.
• If single, practice Christ-centered habits—prayer, worship, service—right now.
• Memorize and declare the four goals: “Christ-centered, mission-driven, devil-kicking, covenant-keeping.”

Closing

Pastor Craig ended by urging public, unashamed surrender to Jesus. Many responded, praying aloud, “I give You my life…be the center of all that I do.” The call was clear: name-only Christianity isn’t enough—align every relationship around Christ, beginning today.

Prayer

Amy Groeschel prayed over the church family, thanking God for the message and asking that each person would return to Him wholeheartedly, love Him with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength, and place Christ at the center of every relationship.