Stop Going To Church with Pastor Craig Groeschel

Planted in the House of the Lord

Scripture References

Primary text

• Psalm 92

Other references

• Matthew 13
• Jeremiah 17
• Galatians 5

Overview

God’s highest calling is not for us to “go to church” but to be planted in the church—becoming a flourishing, fruitful people who shine Christ’s light into a dark world. Drawing from Psalm 92, Craig Groeschel contrasts casual attendance with deep-rooted belonging, shows what happens when a life-seed is planted in good soil, and invites listeners to move from spiritual consumer to invested family member for the sake of their own growth and the world’s need.

Main Points

1. “I go to church” vs. “I am planted”

• Casual language (“I go to church like I go to a movie”) reveals a consumer mind-set.
• God’s purpose is conformity to Christ, lived out in and through His church—not occasional attendance at a building.

• Story: At a marina Craig meets “Matt,” an Easter-only attender with multiple crises. Craig realizes what Matt really needs is not another prayer list but to be planted in a spiritual family.

• Psalm 92: those who are planted “flourish like a palm tree” and “grow like a cedar.”

2. Your life is a seed

• A seed carries vast potential but remains dormant unless planted.
• Jesus’ parable of the sower (Matthew 13) shows four outcomes; only seed in good soil multiplies.
• Merely listening to podcasts or dropping in on services is not planting.

3. Marks of the planted life

1. Roots grow deep
   • Jeremiah 17:8—trees planted by water are unbothered by heat or drought.
   • Illustration: Redwood trees soar 30 stories high because roots spread 100–150 ft and interlock; believers need interconnected roots to withstand storms and “crazy people.”
2. Roots produce fruit
   • Galatians 5—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, self-control.
   • Fruit blesses others and proves God’s life within.
   • Serving, giving, praying, and encouraging act like “a little Christian cocaine”—once you taste God using you, you want more.

4. How to get planted

• Engage relationship and mission: life groups, serving teams, generosity, consistent worship.
• Life.Church offers the “Open Door” session to discover gifts and connection; if Life.Church isn’t the right fit, staff will recommend other solid local churches.
• Five ingredients for a flourishing tree—and believer:
  1. Soil – receptive heart
  2. Light – the Word of God
  3. Water – Jesus the living water
  4. Temperature – the fire of the Holy Spirit
  5. Time – growth is gradual; the best planting time was 20 years ago, the next best is now.

Key Truths

• God never intended church to be a destination we attend but a family we become.
• Seeds only realize their purpose when buried in good soil; believers only flourish when planted in a local church.
• Deep roots provide stability during life’s heat and drought.
• Spiritual fruit is the natural overflow of a planted life, benefiting both the believer and the world.
• The Church exists for the world; planted believers move from consumers to contributors in God’s mission.

Response

• Plant yourself in a local, Bible-believing church—today.
• Build deep relationships that intertwine roots with others.
• Serve consistently with the gifts God placed in you.
• Give generously, trusting God to multiply the seed.
• Stay patient; let time, Word, Spirit, and community grow lasting fruit.

Closing

Craig challenged every follower of Christ who is not yet rooted to make a clear decision: stop merely attending and start belonging. Only those planted in God’s house will flourish, stand strong in trials, and bear fruit that lasts.

“God wants you to flourish like the evergreen cedar and the victorious palm—but only those planted in the house of the Lord will truly flourish.”

Prayer

Pastor Craig asked God to convict hearts, draw believers into committed community, and bring people from sin to salvation, thanking Jesus for new family members and praying that every listener would glorify God by flourishing in His house.

Resources

• “Hope in the Dark” – upcoming book by Craig Groeschel, based on the book of Habakkuk.