Life.Church with Craig Groeschel

Episode: "4 Ways to Live for Jesus in the End Times"

Living in the Last Days: Part 2 | October 12, 2025

Overview

In this impactful episode, Lead Pastor Craig Groeschel and his team explore how Christians can live out their faith with urgency and impact during what the Bible calls "the last days." Drawing from Paul's letters to the Thessalonians, the message unpacks four biblical ways to stand strong for Jesus as the world grows darker: speaking boldly, living purely, loving deeply, and enduring faithfully. The episode is both practical and motivational, urging listeners not to retreat or panic, but to press into an active, missional life that makes every moment count.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Tension of the End Times (00:28–03:32)

• The Biblical Landscape: In the last days, people will grow colder, truth will be twisted, and faith will be tested.
  • "How do we live for Jesus when the darkness gets darker? How do we stay faithful to God when we're one day closer to his return than ever before?" — Lead Pastor (00:56)
• Historical Context: The Thessalonian church lived with the expectation of Christ’s imminent return, a perspective the episode encourages modern believers to share.

Four Ways to Live for Jesus in the End Times

1. Speak Boldly (05:11–10:02)

• Summary: Christians are called to declare Christ courageously, even when it’s costly. This boldness is not self-made, but empowered by God.
  • "We dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition." — Quoting Paul, 1 Thessalonians 2:2 (06:22)
  • Example: Paul and Silas shared the gospel after being beaten and imprisoned, underscoring their reliance on God’s help to overcome fear.
  • "It means your conviction is bigger than your fear. Jesus is coming back. And that makes me bold." — Lead Pastor (09:47)
  • Memorable Quote: "You can speak boldly. And how will you do it? You'll do it with the help of our God." — Assistant Pastor (07:59)

2. Live Purely (10:07–13:43)

• Summary: Authentic Christianity seeks God’s approval above people’s approval. In end times, the temptation to compromise grows, but believers are urged to live with integrity.
  • "We're not here trying to please people. We're here to serve God." — Lead Pastor (11:04)
  • Danger: In a culture obsessed with 'likes' and acceptance, it's easy to drift toward people-pleasing and away from God’s call.
  • "The closest we get to the return of Christ, the stronger the resistance is going to be." — Assistant Pastor (12:36)
  • Memorable Analogy: Lifting hands in worship as performance vs. authentic devotion (12:13)

3. Love Deeply (13:48–18:17)

• Summary: The Church is called to more than words—believers are to share their lives and love sacrificially, like a mother caring for her child.
  • "We were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our lives as well." — Quoting Paul, 1 Thessalonians 2:8 (14:36)
  • Contrasting modern isolation with Paul's model of involved, invested love.
  • Candid reflection on pastoral struggle with emotional boundaries: "Now all of the difficult stuff, it just gets stuck in my heart... It’s not easy, but it’s right." — Lead Pastor (17:12)

4. Endure Faithfully (18:31–22:32)

• Summary: Faithfulness means standing firm under pressure and enduring trials, knowing God equips and sustains believers in every challenge.
  • "For now, we really live since you are standing firm in the Lord." — Quoting Paul, 1 Thessalonians 3:8 (19:03)
  • "When other people compromise, what do you do? You stay consistent." — Assistant Pastor (20:19)
  • Emphasis on ‘battle language’—putting on the armor of God, standing ground despite opposition (Ephesians 6, 21:07).
  • "When the pressure is the greatest, God's presence is the closest." — Assistant Pastor (22:32)

Application: Four Reflection Questions (23:51–25:34)

Pastor Craig urges listeners to discuss and reflect:

1. Where is God calling me to share my faith, even if it costs me?
2. When do I care more about pleasing people than pleasing God?
3. Who have I kept at a distance God is calling me to love?
4. What trial is God using to strengthen my faith?

"You might ask yourself, who have I kept at a distance that God is calling me to love? … We lose our life, we find it when we serve others. That's when we're greatest." — Lead Pastor (25:03)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “If time is short, then every conversation matters and every choice matters and every moment matters. And the good news is that we don’t have to face the last days alone. Jesus is always with us.” — Lead Pastor (02:44)
• “It’s not your wisdom, it’s his wisdom. It’s not you defining truth, it’s his truth. And his truth sets people free.” — Lead Pastor (08:01)
• “The quickest way to forget about what God thinks about you is to obsess about what people think about you.” — Assistant Pastor (12:26)
• “When the world grows colder, our hearts grow warmer. And when other people close their doors, hey, we’re going to open our lives.” — Lead Pastor (18:17)
• “You can’t please everybody, but you can please God. You can’t please them all, but you can please the one who gave it all for you.” — Lead Pastor (12:55)

Powerful Prayer & Closing Encouragement (25:50–28:23)

• Paul’s prayer for the Thessalonian church: “May the Lord make your love increase and overflow… May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy.” — (25:56–26:36)

• The call to action:

  • “What are we going to do in the last days? We’re going to speak boldly, live purely, love deeply, and endure faithfully... Because the time is short and eternity is real and Jesus is coming soon.” — Lead Pastor (27:32–27:40)

Final Exhortation (28:03–34:07)

• Personal Commitment:

  • Pastor leads in prayer challenging listeners to let go of complacency and invite God to “have your way in me.”
  • An invitation to salvation for those not sure where they stand with God, emphasizing the urgency and hope of giving one’s life to Christ.

• Celebration:

  • "Our king is coming soon and we worship him, give him praise." — Lead Pastor (34:07)

Summary Table: Four Ways to Live for Jesus in the End Times

| Principle | Scriptural Basis | Application | |-------------------|---------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------| | Speak Boldly | 1 Thess. 2:1-2 | Share faith, rely on God’s help, withstand fear | | Live Purely | 1 Thess. 2:4 | Seek God’s approval, resist people-pleasing | | Love Deeply | 1 Thess. 2:7-8, 3:12 | Invest in others, practice selfless love | | Endure Faithfully | 1 Thess. 3:7-8, Eph 6:13 | Stand firm, trust God in trials, put on spiritual armor |

Practical Takeaway

Now is the time for authentic, all-in, Spirit-empowered faith. As the world darkens, the church’s countercultural love and courage shine brighter.

“When the world grows darker, guess what? The church shines brighter.” — Assistant Pastor (28:03)

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