Podcast Summary

Podcast: Life.Church with Craig Groeschel
Episode: Where Christians Get It Wrong | Christian-ish | Part 5
Date: February 2, 2025
Host/Speaker: Craig Groeschel

Overview

In this episode, Pastor Craig Groeschel explores what it means to be “Christian-ish”—a believer in name who lacks the genuine spiritual fruit Jesus calls his followers to display. Using personal anecdotes, biblical teachings, and probing questions, Groeschel challenges listeners to reflect on the quality and quantity of their spiritual fruit, emphasizing that true discipleship is evidenced not by words or appearances, but by a Spirit-led, fruitful life.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Fruit Tree Metaphor and Christian-Ish Faith

• Story: Craig begins with a humorous story about failing to grow fruitful peach trees despite effort, likening it to Christians who claim faith but lack visible spiritual fruit.
• Main Point: Many professing Christians are “all leaves, no fruit”—they appear religious but don’t exhibit Christ-like qualities.

“A lot of people that claim to be Christians but don’t produce much fruit... when you get close, they’re all leaves, no fruit.”
—Craig Groeschel (03:28)

2. Biblical Foundation: Bearing Fruit as True Disciples

• John 15:5: Jesus says, “I am the vine, you are the branches... If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
• Matthew 7: “You will know them by their fruits… Every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit."
• Interpretation: Authentic faith is demonstrated by visible, spiritual results (fruits of the Spirit), not empty declarations.

3. Fruits of the Spirit vs. Fruits of the Flesh

• Galatians 5: Lists the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
• Contrast:
  • Living by the Spirit produces these fruits.
  • Living by the flesh results in selfishness, impatience, harshness, and other negative traits.

“Are you more characterized by the fruits of the Holy Spirit or by the fruits of the flesh?”
—Craig Groeschel (19:01)

• Self-Reflection Prompts:
  • Are you loving or selfish?
  • Joyful or frustrated?
  • Peaceful or anxious?
  • Patient or always rushed?
  • Kind or uncaring?
  • Faithful or disloyal?
  • Gentle or harsh?
  • Self-controlled or indulgent?

4. Excuses for Bad Fruit

• Honest Admission: Groeschel shares that he often excuses his own lack of spiritual fruit because of pressure or circumstances.
• Key Insight: There’s no valid excuse for bearing bad fruit if you are genuinely connected to Jesus.

“If you belong to Jesus and you’re connected to the vine, there is no excuse for bad fruit.”
—Craig Groeschel (24:42)

5. Disguising the Flesh as Spiritual

• Observation: Many Christians know how to “talk the talk” or adopt external symbols (Christian T-shirts, social media bios) while lacking true spiritual transformation.
  • Examples:
    • Gossip disguised as concern or prayer requests
    • Legalism disguised as holiness
    • Bitterness disguised as righteous anger

“We may have actually been changed by Jesus at some point, but when our fruit’s not good, we start to disguise it and make it look like it’s good... we can disguise gossip as concern.”
—Craig Groeschel (29:52)

6. Self-Examination: Quality and Quantity of Your Fruit

• Two Reflective Questions:
  1. How pleased do you think God is with the quality of your fruit?
  2. How pleased do you think God is with the quantity of your fruit?
• Challenge: It's easier to spot others’ shortcomings than to see our own.
  • Do others recognize you as a follower of Jesus by observing your life, or are your fruits invisible/absent?

7. What Produces Real Spiritual Fruit?

• Common Misconception: Having a relationship with Jesus and “living for him” is enough.
• Biblical Correction: It’s not about striving in your own strength; it’s about connection to Jesus, the true source (the vine).
  • Illustration: A branch doesn’t work hard to produce fruit; it simply abides in (remains connected to) the vine, and fruit comes naturally.
  • Word Study: The Greek word “meno” means to remain, abide, dwell, or live in. Staying connected to Jesus is the key.

“Don’t focus on production, focus on connection... Be the branch.”
—Craig Groeschel (42:45)

8. How to Abide and Produce Fruit

• Traditional Christian Disciplines: Prayer, worship, Bible reading, obedience, and community.
• Deeper Principle: “Keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25)—stay so close to Jesus that His Spirit gently leads your every step, thought, and action.

“You keep in step... like you’re remaining so close to Jesus that every step you take, he directs.”
—Craig Groeschel (48:09)

• Personal Story: Craig relates ballroom dancing with his wife as a metaphor for following the Spirit’s subtle and loving guidance.

9. Final Exhortation & Prayer

• Assignment: Don’t try harder—draw closer. Focus not on impressing God with work, but on remaining in deep, living connection to Christ.
• Outcome: When you abide, God Himself produces fruit through you for the world to see.

“What’s your assignment? Not try harder. Draw closer... A faithful life is a fruitful life.”
—Craig Groeschel (54:00)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On self-deception:

  “If you got bad fruit, I’m judging you. If I got bad fruit, I got a reason.” (24:21)

• On Christian disguises:

  “We are the masters of disguise... We can disguise legalism as holiness, or gossip as a prayer request.” (30:20)

• On true spiritual growth:

  “Don’t focus on production, focus on connection... Be the branch. Stay connected to Jesus. Abide in Him.” (42:45)

• On spiritual disciplines:

  “Of course you pray, worship, read God’s Word... but above all, keep in step with the Spirit.” (47:44)

• Personal Moment:

  “I was doing the work of the Spirit without the fruit of the Spirit. And God said, no, no, you need to draw closer.” (54:22)

Important Segment Timestamps

• 00:00–02:08 — Opening story about the fruit trees and personal motivation
• 05:30–08:20 — What does it mean to be “Christian-ish”?
• 10:13–13:05 — Jesus’ metaphor of branches, vines, and fruit (John 15; Matthew 7)
• 18:45–24:45 — Fruits of the Spirit vs. Fruits of the Flesh (Galatians 5), self-examination
• 29:52–33:14 — Dressing up flesh as spiritual; Christian “disguises”
• 38:40–42:45 — Reflective questions: The quality and quantity of your fruit
• 45:00–49:28 — Abiding in Christ: What it is, what it isn’t; “be the branch”
• 53:08–57:00 — Practical application: “Keep in step with the Spirit”
• 57:20–end — Final prayer for true connection, fruitfulness, and salvation invitation

Conclusion

Pastor Craig concludes by reiterating that spiritual fruitfulness is the natural result of deep, abiding connection with Jesus. Rather than striving for outward performance, believers are called to “be the branch”—stay close to Christ, let the Spirit lead, and allow God’s fruit to flourish in and through their lives for His glory.

For further reflection or to respond to the episode’s prompts, consider: How pleased is God with your spiritual fruit? Are you living connected to the vine—or just “Christian-ish”?