Craig Groeschel

So I said, well, to bleep we are. We're gonna do a Bible study. And so I announced that on Tuesday, we're gonna have a Bible study. I didn't have a Bible. And so I was walking into a business class and I just thought, I don't have a Bible. Well, how amazing is this? I walked down and there was a guy from the Gideon's organization standing out there. And he said, would you like a free Bible? you

And so he gave me a Bible. So I had my little New Testament Bible and started reading it with seven other non-Christian guys. And we would read the Bible and then we'd pray. And it's embarrassing. We didn't know how to pray. We would pray like, God, protect us as we party tonight. Watch over us as we drink and drive. God, we pray for Mitch's girlfriend. Pray she's not pregnant, God.

And so he gave me a Bible. So I had my little New Testament Bible and started reading it with seven other non-Christian guys. And we would read the Bible and then we'd pray. And it's embarrassing. We didn't know how to pray. We would pray like, God, protect us as we party tonight. Watch over us as we drink and drive. God, we pray for Mitch's girlfriend. Pray she's not pregnant, God.

We didn't know that we'd pray. And we started reading. I read Matthew, Mark. I got so excited. I read ahead. Mm-hmm. And it was in Ephesians chapter 2 that I read about the grace of Jesus, that you could be saved by grace. And so when you say you were saved by reading the Word, I was saved by reading the Word. It wasn't a sermon. It wasn't a song. It wasn't somebody witnessing to me.

We didn't know that we'd pray. And we started reading. I read Matthew, Mark. I got so excited. I read ahead. Mm-hmm. And it was in Ephesians chapter 2 that I read about the grace of Jesus, that you could be saved by grace. And so when you say you were saved by reading the Word, I was saved by reading the Word. It wasn't a sermon. It wasn't a song. It wasn't somebody witnessing to me.

It was reading the Word. And so fast forward to this day, the fact that God would allow us to give away the Word in the form of the Eversion Bible, how crazy is that? The kid that was saved by a free Bible now has the opportunity and the responsibility to steward that well, you talk about humbling. And it was like your story, Ari, you were saying you were saved right out of alcohol.

It was reading the Word. And so fast forward to this day, the fact that God would allow us to give away the Word in the form of the Eversion Bible, how crazy is that? The kid that was saved by a free Bible now has the opportunity and the responsibility to steward that well, you talk about humbling. And it was like your story, Ari, you were saying you were saved right out of alcohol.

No, that was your story. No, you were saved out of, miraculously delivered. That was my story as well. My dad was an alcoholic and I couldn't stop. And then met Jesus and survived. And overnight went from being party guy to being very, unfortunately, probably obnoxious about my faith. Maybe not always in the wisest ways, but certainly with a pure heart, trying to be bold for Jesus.

No, that was your story. No, you were saved out of, miraculously delivered. That was my story as well. My dad was an alcoholic and I couldn't stop. And then met Jesus and survived. And overnight went from being party guy to being very, unfortunately, probably obnoxious about my faith. Maybe not always in the wisest ways, but certainly with a pure heart, trying to be bold for Jesus.

And I felt like I was called to ministry the very first day I was saved. And I think because, probably because we all are, right?

And I felt like I was called to ministry the very first day I was saved. And I think because, probably because we all are, right?

It is a miracle. And it doesn't happen that way for everybody, but it did for me. And I'm thankful for... There are so many miracles and still see them all the time.

It is a miracle. And it doesn't happen that way for everybody, but it did for me. And I'm thankful for... There are so many miracles and still see them all the time.

Yes, yeah. Well, I think what you're saying is so true and so sad that so often in the church, we almost shame people out of being honest, right? And we think if we have doubts, then we must be a bad Christian. Well, if you have doubts, it doesn't make you a bad Christian. It makes you human. And if you look at the way Jesus handled people that doubted, He didn't shame them.

Yes, yeah. Well, I think what you're saying is so true and so sad that so often in the church, we almost shame people out of being honest, right? And we think if we have doubts, then we must be a bad Christian. Well, if you have doubts, it doesn't make you a bad Christian. It makes you human. And if you look at the way Jesus handled people that doubted, He didn't shame them.

He didn't push them away. He had grace for them. And if Jesus had grace, I mean, Martha doubted whenever Lazarus died and Jesus said, I'm the resurrection of life. And he healed. A guy questioned, could Jesus heal his son? And Jesus built his faith and healed his son. Peter walked on water and and sank in the water. And Jesus said, why'd you doubt?

He didn't push them away. He had grace for them. And if Jesus had grace, I mean, Martha doubted whenever Lazarus died and Jesus said, I'm the resurrection of life. And he healed. A guy questioned, could Jesus heal his son? And Jesus built his faith and healed his son. Peter walked on water and and sank in the water. And Jesus said, why'd you doubt?

What's funny is I always thought that was like an accusation. Like, why'd you doubt, you dumb guy? You have little faith. But when you think about it, Jesus was, he reached down, he pulled the guy out of the water. I think Jesus was saying like, why are you doubting me? I'm here, I'm helping you. You're walking on water, I love you. I'm pulling you out of water.

What's funny is I always thought that was like an accusation. Like, why'd you doubt, you dumb guy? You have little faith. But when you think about it, Jesus was, he reached down, he pulled the guy out of the water. I think Jesus was saying like, why are you doubting me? I'm here, I'm helping you. You're walking on water, I love you. I'm pulling you out of water.

That he had grace for people to doubt it. So if he did, shouldn't we? And I've found, it's crazy, but as a pastor, I've had seasons I could tell you about, very distinct seasons of doubt. And by talking about them, I found that other Christians are both relieved and then learn that doubt isn't the enemy of faith. In many ways, kind of like what you're doing, it's an invitation to a deeper faith.