To be truly rooted and built up in Christ is to walk in Him, drawing all nourishment, strength, and identity from Him alone, not from human traditions, philosophies, or any addition to the finished work of Christ. When you are established in faith and abound in thanksgiving, you become complete in Him, lacking nothing, and immune to the deceptions that can plunder your spiritual life. Christ is the head of all rule and authority, and in Him dwells all the fullness of God; therefore, nothing else is needed for your spiritual growth and victory. [07:40]
Colossians 2:6-10 (ESV)
"Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority."
Reflection: In what area of your life are you tempted to add something to Christ—whether tradition, philosophy, or self-effort—instead of relying fully on Him as your source and sufficiency?
God’s design for His people is not isolation but interconnected community, where intentional study, prayer, and spiritual growth happen in accountable groups. When believers are organized in small, relationally accountable groups, it becomes easier to care for one another, ensure no one is missing, and prepare for the influx of those seeking God, just as prophesied that many will come, drawn by the presence of God among His people. This structure fosters unity, spiritual safety, and readiness for God’s move, ensuring that every person is known, valued, and nurtured in their faith journey. [12:21]
Zechariah 8:20-23 (ESV)
"Thus says the Lord of hosts: Peoples shall yet come, even the inhabitants of many cities; the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, ‘Let us go at once to entreat the favor of the Lord and to seek the Lord of hosts; I myself am going.’ Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favor of the Lord. Thus says the Lord of hosts: In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the robe of a Jew, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’"
Reflection: Who in your spiritual community can you intentionally reach out to this week to encourage, support, or invite into deeper accountability and fellowship?
Every outcome in life—whether blessing or trouble—has a root cause, and it is vital to examine the roots rather than merely addressing the surface issues. Just as a tree’s fruit reveals the health of its roots, so too does the fruit of our lives reveal what we are truly rooted in; if there is no root of iniquity, no curse can alight, but if the root is bad, the fruit will be bad. God’s blessing is secure for those who are rooted in Him, and no external curse or attack can succeed unless there is a cause within; therefore, it is essential to examine your heart and life to ensure your roots are in Christ. [23:43]
Matthew 12:33-35 (ESV)
"Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil."
Reflection: What recurring struggle or negative pattern in your life might be pointing to a deeper root issue that God wants to address and heal?
A tree cannot support its roots; rather, the root supports the tree, and only when the root is holy can the branches and fruit be holy. Being rooted in Christ is not optional for the believer—it is the only way to bear lasting, godly fruit and to be filled with the fullness of God. When you are rooted and grounded in the love of Christ, you gain strength, understanding, and the ability to love others deeply, and your life becomes a testimony of God’s power and presence. [51:31]
Ephesians 3:14-19 (ESV)
"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."
Reflection: How can you intentionally deepen your roots in Christ’s love this week—perhaps through prayer, meditation on Scripture, or a specific act of love toward someone difficult?
When you are truly rooted in Christ, your life will bear the fruit of the Spirit—tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, forgiveness, and above all, love. This is not about legalism, philosophy, or outward religion, but about letting the word of Christ dwell in you richly so that everything you do and say reflects His character. As you put on love and let the peace of Christ rule in your heart, your life becomes a living testimony, and you sustain what you have received by continually abiding in Him and letting His word shape your actions and attitudes. [59:05]
Colossians 3:12-17 (ESV)
"Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
Reflection: What is one specific Christlike quality you want to cultivate more intentionally this week, and what practical step will you take to put it into action?
The gathering tonight marks the beginning of the RNG (Rooted and Grounded) World Study Series, a journey designed to cultivate a culture of intentional engagement with the Word of God, foster unity across ministry units, and create an environment of accountable spiritual growth. Drawing from Colossians 2:6-10, the focus is on being rooted and built up in Christ, not swayed by empty philosophies or traditions that detract from the sufficiency of Christ’s finished work. The prophetic vision for CGCC is one of explosive growth and influence, as seen in Zechariah 8:20-23, where people from every nation are drawn to the presence of God among His people. The practical step of forming groups of ten is both prophetic and strategic, ensuring every member is cared for and none are lost, echoing the biblical model of accountability and shepherding.
The heart of the teaching centers on five critical root issues. First, nothing in life happens without a root cause; the visible fruits of our lives are determined by the unseen roots, and it is essential to address root causes rather than merely symptoms. Second, rootlessness leads to fruitlessness; only those who take root downward can bear fruit upward, as seen in the lives of biblical figures like David, whose greatness was anchored in being rooted in Christ. Third, when God judges the wicked, He dries up their roots, erasing their legacy, but the righteous, rooted in God, continue to flourish and bear fruit regardless of external circumstances. Fourth, the root supports the tree, not the other way around; unless the root is holy, the branches and fruits cannot be holy, emphasizing the necessity of being rooted in Christ’s holiness. Fifth, being rooted and grounded in Christ is not optional for believers—it is the only way to be filled with the fullness of God and to withstand the deceptions of philosophy, legalism, and carnality.
The call is to reject superficial religion and instead pursue a deep, abiding relationship with Christ, allowing His Word to dwell richly within, producing the fruit of the Spirit and a life that reflects His character. As the church embarks on this study, the expectation is transformation—lives that are unshakeable, fruitful, and marked by the fullness of God, ready to welcome the nations and fulfill God’s prophetic destiny for this community.
Colossians 2:6-10 (ESV) — 6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him,
7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,
10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.
Zechariah 8:20-23 (ESV) — 20 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Peoples shall yet come, even the inhabitants of many cities.
21 The inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, ‘Let us go at once to entreat the favor of the Lord and to seek the Lord of hosts; I myself am going.’
22 Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favor of the Lord.
23 Thus says the Lord of hosts: In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the robe of a Jew, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’”
Ephesians 3:14-19 (ESV) — 14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,
15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,
17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
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