Life.Church with Craig Groeschel

When God Doesn’t Do It | Christian-ish | Part 4

Jan 26, 2025

Dive into the intriguing exploration of faith beyond mere transactions, where knowing and loving God takes priority over receiving blessings. Reflect on the common disappointments when expectations of God seem unmet, as heartfelt biblical stories resonate with today's struggles. Discover the importance of nurturing a relational faith, moving past rituals, and cultivating authenticity. Personal experiences, like battling illness, illustrate the journey toward deeper connections with God, encouraging listeners to redefine their faith in life’s trials.

32:11

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Quick takeaways

Viewing faith as transactional leads to frustration when God doesn't fulfill expectations, rather than embracing a relational connection with Him.

Understanding God's covenants as unconditional promises invites believers to love Him without a checklist of requirements or expectations.

Deep dives

The Illusion of Transactional Faith

Many individuals mistakenly view their relationship with God as transactional, believing that if they perform certain actions like attending church, praying, or giving, they will be rewarded accordingly. This mindset leads to a sense of entitlement, where people expect God to fulfill their wishes as a result of their good deeds. However, this belief distorts the true nature of faith, which is meant to be relational rather than based on a contract of exchanges. By treating God as a vending machine, individuals can end up feeling frustrated or betrayed when their prayers are not answered in the way they expected.

Intro

2min

Understanding Faith: Moving Beyond Transactional Beliefs

5min

When Expectations of God Fall Short

2min

The Relational Nature of True Faith

13min

Pursuing a Relationship Over Rituals

10min

Sometimes it’s easy to treat our faith like a transaction—doing our part and expecting God to do His. But trusting God means stepping into something much greater than a simple exchange.

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ABOUT THIS MESSAGE

We all have an idea of what it means to be “Christian.” But what does following Jesus really mean? How do we move past the label and truly live like followers of Christ? Let’s talk about it in our new series, Christian-ish.

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