Podcast Summary

Podcast: Life.Church with Craig Groeschel
Episode: What You’re Missing by Staying Quiet | A Church That Pleases God: Part 3
Date: January 18, 2026
Host: Life.Church
Speaker: Craig Groeschel, Co-Speaker/Assistant Pastor, Pastor Sam

Episode Overview

This episode focuses on the importance of boldness in the Christian faith and how a church that pleases God is made up of people who are unapologetically bold about their relationship with Jesus. Pastor Craig Groeschel draws from the Book of Acts to illustrate how the early church was marked by extraordinary courage and shares practical insights into cultivating that same boldness today. Listeners are challenged to reflect on their own spiritual boldness and inspired to pursue a deeper relationship with Jesus as the source of true courage.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Everyone Is Bold About Something [00:22–02:23]

Craig opens by noting: "Every single one of you. Some of you, you're bold about your kids...your favorite team...your politics..." (00:31).
He reframes the question from “Are you bold?” to “What are you bold about?” and then targets the main subject: “Are you bold about your faith in Jesus?” (02:23).

2. Boldness as a Defining Mark of the Early Church [03:08–05:23]

Boldness is not a side theme but "the defining mark of the first century church" (03:23).
Craig gives an overview of Acts: the Holy Spirit empowers boldness (Acts 1), unites the church (Acts 2), the church prays for boldness despite persecution (Acts 4), and believers choose obedience over safety (Acts 5–28).
“From Acts chapter 1 to Acts 28, the church...is marked with a boldness for the bold love of a Savior who died so we could be made new.” (05:19)

3. Boldness Comes from Knowing Jesus [05:25–06:37]

“Boldness isn’t what the church does when it feels strong, it's what the church does when it knows Jesus.” (05:36)
It's "born out of a living relationship with the risen Christ that moves us out of our comfort into a self sacrificing boldness..." (05:36).

4. Peter and John: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Boldness [07:20–14:08]

Story of Peter and John in Acts 4: uneducated fishermen, yet "they were amazed at the boldness" (07:40).
Craig invites reflection: "When was the last time that someone looked on and was amazed by how bold you were?" (09:02)
Personal anecdote about Craig's transformation post-conversion, “I went from bad word guy to Jesus guy.” (10:10).
Craig introduces the idea that boldness is not a personality trait but an overflow of a real relationship with Jesus: “Boldness isn't a personality trait. It's the overflow of a real relationship with Jesus.” (13:08).

Notable Quote

“God uses ordinary people.” (14:19)

5. Self-Reflection: How Bold Are You? [11:03–14:19]

Craig asks listeners to rate their boldness for Jesus on a scale from 1 (devil) to 10 (Jesus).
“If you’re a Christian, how bold…where would you put yourself?” (11:12).
Encourages listeners not to equate boldness with extroversion; references the Greek word translated as “ordinary” (idiotes) to reinforce that God works through anyone (14:10-14:19).

Memorable Moment

A humorous personal story about Craig's first funeral and the meaning of “bless your heart” as “idiot” in southern slang (15:40).

6. The Source of Boldness: Time with Jesus [17:19–20:21]

“If you find yourself on the lower end of the scale…chances are, not in everyone's case, but in many cases, it's a reflection of how much time you're spending with Jesus.” (18:24)
Craig describes two cycles:
- Positive Cycle: Time with Jesus → Increased Boldness → Greater Spiritual Impact → Deeper Spiritual Hunger → More Time with Jesus
- Negative Cycle: Less Time with Jesus → Less Boldness → Diminished Impact → Spiritual Drift

Notable Quote

"It's not that you don't love Him, it's just you haven't spent a lot of time with Him." (20:23)

7. Prayer for Boldness in Persecution [21:36–23:23]

When threatened, early Christians prayed not for safety, but for “great boldness in preaching your word.” (22:16)
“A church that pleases God doesn't ask God to make life easier. We ask God to make us bolder.” (22:45)

8. Boldness Triggers Opposition, But God Honors Bold Faith [24:06–25:49]

“Boldness triggers spiritual opposition...When you walk in bold obedience to God, you aren't shocked by the miraculous power of God.” (24:08–25:49)

Notable Quote

"Don't worry if you're criticized or persecuted for your boldness. Worry if you're not." (24:16)

9. Expecting Miracles as a Result of Boldness [25:49–27:15]

The story of the angel releasing the apostles from jail is told with humor—Luke doesn’t make a big deal of the miracle, expecting God to move because of bold obedience (25:49).

10. Contemporary Application: The Cost of Silence [27:15–29:55]

Craig shares a personal story about not sharing faith at a family outing, reflecting, “I actually just chose my comfort over really caring for them.” (28:48)
Challenges listeners: “Is your faith strong enough to believe in Jesus but too timid to be bold for Him?” (28:52–29:50)

11. How to Cultivate Boldness [29:50–30:00]

“If we’re going to be a bold church, we’re not going to pray for comfort and protection. We’re going to pray for boldness.” (29:50)
“A comfortable church may feel good, but a bold church makes a difference in this world.” (29:57)

12. Practical Call and Corporate Prayer [30:00–32:12]

Craig leads listeners in a hands-raised prayer for boldness, encouraging transparency and humility: “God, I need you to help me be bold.” (31:17)
"When the world grows darker, guess what? The light shines brighter. Church, be the light." (31:51)

13. Invitation to Salvation [32:12–34:58]

For those unsure of their standing with God, Craig invites a clear, bold confession of faith: “If you'll confess me before people, I'll confess you before my Father in heaven.” (33:30)
An altar call for surrender to Jesus, emphasizing the need for public faith: "Who cares what anybody says? I'm stepping away from my sin. I'm giving my life to Jesus before God and everybody else." (34:02)
Pastor Sam leads new believers in a salvation prayer (34:58).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Craig Groeschel (05:36):
“Boldness isn’t what the church does when it feels strong, it's what the church does when it knows Jesus.”
Craig, on the early church (13:08):
“Boldness isn't a personality trait. It's the overflow of a real relationship with Jesus.”
Craig, on the Greek word for 'ordinary' (14:19):
"God uses ordinary people."
Craig, self-reflection (20:23):
"It's not that you don't love Him, it's just you haven't spent a lot of time with Him."
Craig, on opposition (24:16):
"Don't worry if you're criticized or persecuted for your boldness. Worry if you're not."
Craig, on cycles of faith (18:24–20:21):
“Whenever you spend more time with Jesus, your boldness increases because you feel a sense of spiritual urgency and you wanna make a difference...”
Craig, on missed opportunities (28:48):
"I actually just chose my comfort over really caring for them."
Craig (31:51):
“When the world grows darker, guess what? The light shines brighter. Church, be the light.”

Important Timestamps

00:22: Craig introduces the concept of boldness and pivots to faith.
03:08: Overview of boldness in the Book of Acts.
07:20: The boldness of Peter and John before religious authorities.
09:02: Challenge: When was the last time someone was amazed by your boldness?
11:12: Self-assessment: How bold are you for Jesus?
13:08: Boldness is not a personality trait, but the result of closeness with Jesus.
14:19: God uses ordinary people (“idiotes”).
18:24–20:21: The cycles of spiritual growth and drift linked to time with Jesus.
22:16: Early believers’ prayer for boldness under threat.
24:08: Opposition is a sign of genuine boldness.
25:49: God's miracles amid bold faith are unsurprising to those walking in obedience.
28:52: “Is your faith strong enough to believe in Jesus but too timid to be bold for Him?”
31:17: Corporate prayer for boldness.
32:12: Invitation for salvation and public declaration of faith.
34:58: Pastor Sam leads the prayer of salvation.

Conclusion

Main Takeaway:
A church that pleases God is full of people who are bold in living and sharing their faith, and this boldness doesn’t come from personality or natural courage, but from time spent with Jesus. Bold believers create bold churches that make an impact, embracing discomfort, facing opposition, and expecting God to move. The call isn’t just to believe, but to declare and live it out loud—every day, everywhere.

Calls to Action:

Spend more intentional time with Jesus.
Pray specifically for boldness, not comfort.
Share your faith proactively and without fear.
Let boldness be the mark of your life and your church.

If you’re seeking to take a step in faith, the episode ends with a clear invitation to surrender to Jesus and live a bold, new life.

Podcast Summary

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Everyone Is Bold About Something [00:22–02:23]

Craig opens by noting: "Every single one of you. Some of you, you're bold about your kids...your favorite team...your politics..." (00:31).
He reframes the question from “Are you bold?” to “What are you bold about?” and then targets the main subject: “Are you bold about your faith in Jesus?” (02:23).

2. Boldness as a Defining Mark of the Early Church [03:08–05:23]

Boldness is not a side theme but "the defining mark of the first century church" (03:23).
Craig gives an overview of Acts: the Holy Spirit empowers boldness (Acts 1), unites the church (Acts 2), the church prays for boldness despite persecution (Acts 4), and believers choose obedience over safety (Acts 5–28).
“From Acts chapter 1 to Acts 28, the church...is marked with a boldness for the bold love of a Savior who died so we could be made new.” (05:19)

3. Boldness Comes from Knowing Jesus [05:25–06:37]

“Boldness isn’t what the church does when it feels strong, it's what the church does when it knows Jesus.” (05:36)
It's "born out of a living relationship with the risen Christ that moves us out of our comfort into a self sacrificing boldness..." (05:36).

4. Peter and John: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Boldness [07:20–14:08]

Story of Peter and John in Acts 4: uneducated fishermen, yet "they were amazed at the boldness" (07:40).
Craig invites reflection: "When was the last time that someone looked on and was amazed by how bold you were?" (09:02)
Personal anecdote about Craig's transformation post-conversion, “I went from bad word guy to Jesus guy.” (10:10).
Craig introduces the idea that boldness is not a personality trait but an overflow of a real relationship with Jesus: “Boldness isn't a personality trait. It's the overflow of a real relationship with Jesus.” (13:08).

Notable Quote

“God uses ordinary people.” (14:19)

5. Self-Reflection: How Bold Are You? [11:03–14:19]

Craig asks listeners to rate their boldness for Jesus on a scale from 1 (devil) to 10 (Jesus).
“If you’re a Christian, how bold…where would you put yourself?” (11:12).
Encourages listeners not to equate boldness with extroversion; references the Greek word translated as “ordinary” (idiotes) to reinforce that God works through anyone (14:10-14:19).

Memorable Moment

A humorous personal story about Craig's first funeral and the meaning of “bless your heart” as “idiot” in southern slang (15:40).

6. The Source of Boldness: Time with Jesus [17:19–20:21]

“If you find yourself on the lower end of the scale…chances are, not in everyone's case, but in many cases, it's a reflection of how much time you're spending with Jesus.” (18:24)
Craig describes two cycles:
- Positive Cycle: Time with Jesus → Increased Boldness → Greater Spiritual Impact → Deeper Spiritual Hunger → More Time with Jesus
- Negative Cycle: Less Time with Jesus → Less Boldness → Diminished Impact → Spiritual Drift

Notable Quote

"It's not that you don't love Him, it's just you haven't spent a lot of time with Him." (20:23)

7. Prayer for Boldness in Persecution [21:36–23:23]

When threatened, early Christians prayed not for safety, but for “great boldness in preaching your word.” (22:16)
“A church that pleases God doesn't ask God to make life easier. We ask God to make us bolder.” (22:45)

8. Boldness Triggers Opposition, But God Honors Bold Faith [24:06–25:49]

“Boldness triggers spiritual opposition...When you walk in bold obedience to God, you aren't shocked by the miraculous power of God.” (24:08–25:49)

Notable Quote

"Don't worry if you're criticized or persecuted for your boldness. Worry if you're not." (24:16)

9. Expecting Miracles as a Result of Boldness [25:49–27:15]

The story of the angel releasing the apostles from jail is told with humor—Luke doesn’t make a big deal of the miracle, expecting God to move because of bold obedience (25:49).

10. Contemporary Application: The Cost of Silence [27:15–29:55]

Craig shares a personal story about not sharing faith at a family outing, reflecting, “I actually just chose my comfort over really caring for them.” (28:48)
Challenges listeners: “Is your faith strong enough to believe in Jesus but too timid to be bold for Him?” (28:52–29:50)

11. How to Cultivate Boldness [29:50–30:00]

“If we’re going to be a bold church, we’re not going to pray for comfort and protection. We’re going to pray for boldness.” (29:50)
“A comfortable church may feel good, but a bold church makes a difference in this world.” (29:57)

12. Practical Call and Corporate Prayer [30:00–32:12]

Craig leads listeners in a hands-raised prayer for boldness, encouraging transparency and humility: “God, I need you to help me be bold.” (31:17)
"When the world grows darker, guess what? The light shines brighter. Church, be the light." (31:51)

13. Invitation to Salvation [32:12–34:58]

For those unsure of their standing with God, Craig invites a clear, bold confession of faith: “If you'll confess me before people, I'll confess you before my Father in heaven.” (33:30)
An altar call for surrender to Jesus, emphasizing the need for public faith: "Who cares what anybody says? I'm stepping away from my sin. I'm giving my life to Jesus before God and everybody else." (34:02)
Pastor Sam leads new believers in a salvation prayer (34:58).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Craig Groeschel (05:36):
“Boldness isn’t what the church does when it feels strong, it's what the church does when it knows Jesus.”
Craig, on the early church (13:08):
“Boldness isn't a personality trait. It's the overflow of a real relationship with Jesus.”
Craig, on the Greek word for 'ordinary' (14:19):
"God uses ordinary people."
Craig, self-reflection (20:23):
"It's not that you don't love Him, it's just you haven't spent a lot of time with Him."
Craig, on opposition (24:16):
"Don't worry if you're criticized or persecuted for your boldness. Worry if you're not."
Craig, on cycles of faith (18:24–20:21):
“Whenever you spend more time with Jesus, your boldness increases because you feel a sense of spiritual urgency and you wanna make a difference...”
Craig, on missed opportunities (28:48):
"I actually just chose my comfort over really caring for them."
Craig (31:51):
“When the world grows darker, guess what? The light shines brighter. Church, be the light.”

Important Timestamps

00:22: Craig introduces the concept of boldness and pivots to faith.
03:08: Overview of boldness in the Book of Acts.
07:20: The boldness of Peter and John before religious authorities.
09:02: Challenge: When was the last time someone was amazed by your boldness?
11:12: Self-assessment: How bold are you for Jesus?
13:08: Boldness is not a personality trait, but the result of closeness with Jesus.
14:19: God uses ordinary people (“idiotes”).
18:24–20:21: The cycles of spiritual growth and drift linked to time with Jesus.
22:16: Early believers’ prayer for boldness under threat.
24:08: Opposition is a sign of genuine boldness.
25:49: God's miracles amid bold faith are unsurprising to those walking in obedience.
28:52: “Is your faith strong enough to believe in Jesus but too timid to be bold for Him?”
31:17: Corporate prayer for boldness.
32:12: Invitation for salvation and public declaration of faith.
34:58: Pastor Sam leads the prayer of salvation.

Conclusion

Calls to Action:

Spend more intentional time with Jesus.
Pray specifically for boldness, not comfort.
Share your faith proactively and without fear.
Let boldness be the mark of your life and your church.

If you’re seeking to take a step in faith, the episode ends with a clear invitation to surrender to Jesus and live a bold, new life.

What You’re Missing by Staying Quiet | A Church That Pleases God: Part 3

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Summary

Podcast Summary

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Everyone Is Bold About Something [00:22–02:23]

2. Boldness as a Defining Mark of the Early Church [03:08–05:23]

3. Boldness Comes from Knowing Jesus [05:25–06:37]

4. Peter and John: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Boldness [07:20–14:08]

Notable Quote

5. Self-Reflection: How Bold Are You? [11:03–14:19]

Memorable Moment

6. The Source of Boldness: Time with Jesus [17:19–20:21]

Notable Quote

7. Prayer for Boldness in Persecution [21:36–23:23]

8. Boldness Triggers Opposition, But God Honors Bold Faith [24:06–25:49]

Notable Quote

9. Expecting Miracles as a Result of Boldness [25:49–27:15]

10. Contemporary Application: The Cost of Silence [27:15–29:55]

11. How to Cultivate Boldness [29:50–30:00]

12. Practical Call and Corporate Prayer [30:00–32:12]

13. Invitation to Salvation [32:12–34:58]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Important Timestamps

Conclusion

Summary

Podcast Summary

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Everyone Is Bold About Something [00:22–02:23]

2. Boldness as a Defining Mark of the Early Church [03:08–05:23]

3. Boldness Comes from Knowing Jesus [05:25–06:37]

4. Peter and John: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Boldness [07:20–14:08]

Notable Quote

5. Self-Reflection: How Bold Are You? [11:03–14:19]

Memorable Moment

6. The Source of Boldness: Time with Jesus [17:19–20:21]

Notable Quote

7. Prayer for Boldness in Persecution [21:36–23:23]

8. Boldness Triggers Opposition, But God Honors Bold Faith [24:06–25:49]

Notable Quote

9. Expecting Miracles as a Result of Boldness [25:49–27:15]

10. Contemporary Application: The Cost of Silence [27:15–29:55]

11. How to Cultivate Boldness [29:50–30:00]

12. Practical Call and Corporate Prayer [30:00–32:12]

13. Invitation to Salvation [32:12–34:58]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Important Timestamps

Conclusion