Craig Gross - Go Small: Because God Doesnt Care About Your Status, Size, or Success

PRAISE FOR CRAIG GROSS AND GO SMALL

Craigs book couldnt have come at a better time. In a whirlwind of everyone being about platforms, analytics, and growth, Craig reminds us of the upside-down economics of the Kingdom of God. How different the world would be if Christians gave every ounce of energy to being faithful to what God has already given them, and Go Small.

Jefferson Bethke, author, Jesus > Religion

Everywhere we look theres pressure to go big and ignore the small stuff. Craigs new book is a refreshing call to focus on what God has put in front of you, despite the size of its impact. Jesus told us to be faithful in the small things and this book is a much needed reminder that God is in the details, big and small.

Kyle Chowning, entrepreneur

Craig does what he does best: state sublimely profound truths.

Propoganda, spoken-word artist and rapper

In Go Small, Craig Gross tells the church to wake up and notice the Divine that is in all, through all, and above all - the Spirit that permeates everything, if only we have the eyes to see and the ears to hear.

Seth Taylor, author, Feels Like Redemption

PRAISE FOR OPEN

I like Craig Gross because he keeps it realno fake shallow stuff with him. He has a deep passion to see people experience freedom, and in Open, he will help you find the freedom youve been searching for.

Derwin L. Gray, lead pastor, Transformation Church; author, Limitless Life

Open is one of the most relative and practical books on accountability Ive ever read. Craig takes many routes, through stories from pop culture and his personal journey to help lead you to a life thats open.

Josh McCown, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback

Craig Gross occupies a very, very important space in the Christian community and the culture at large. He calls men and women to not just fight addictive problems but gives them the tools, encouragement and community they need to actually get free and live free. But living free requires being open with your life, and Craigs incredible book is both a clarion call to always live in the light and simple instruction guide for how to ensure you stay there.

Shaunti Feldhahn, social researcher; best-selling author, For Women Only and For Men Only

Craig has been a friend and ministry partner for years. He has always been as helpful and hopeful as he is honest. This book comes to you in that spirit.

Ryan Meeks, founding pastor, EastLake Church

I dont say this often, but this book is a must-read. Every time I speak somewhere or get emails with people asking me how to find healing in particular areas, my response is always community. Craig does a beautiful job in articulating how the path to true joy is found in being real, honest, and accountable.

Jefferson Bethke, author, Jesus > Religion

This book will challenge you. And with good reason, because isnt that inherent to accountability? In a culture that grows increasingly autonomous, it is essential that we pursue one another with intentionality. From a man that has been blessed by the ministry of XXXChurch and the Gross family, I am thankful for Craighis heart for and devotion to life lived together. I pray that this book will serve as a practical guide for openness and intimacy that reflects the communal nature of our Creator.

Levi (the Poet) Macallister, spoken word and performance artist

In a time when many of us communicate through quick, abbreviated texts, and social media lends itself to the proclamation of truth through a series of monologues, Craig Gross reminds us that life is about authentic relationships; relationships that seek truth through true accountability!

Michael Guido, road pastor, PR Ministries

Open by Craig Gross gives us a simple yet fresh look at what it really takes to overcome the many things that can consume us and can keep us from experiencing sustainable freedom through Christ and community. This book is a true road map to living life openly, honestly and with genuine courage.

Judah Smith, pastor, City Church; New York Times best-selling author, Jesus Is

2014 by Craig William Gross a/k/a Craig Gross

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Unless otherwise noted, Scriptures are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com.

Scriptures marked NKJV are from THE NEW KING JAMES VERSION. 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

The Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file with the Library of Congress

ISBN: 978-1-4002-0532-5

ISBN: 978-1-4002-0533-2 (eBook)

14 15 16 17 18 19 RRD 6 5 4 3 2 1

I wanted to dedicate this book to three people who have inspired me to go small.

Jeanette, thank you for always being willing to do the work for the ministry that oftentimes I even overlook. I couldnt do this without you, nor would I want to. I owe you several more dedications for the wife role you play in my life.

Michelle Truax, thanks for being on this roller coaster with me for ten years. Your contributions to this ministry on a daily basis behind the scenes have been an amazing blessing. Heres to the next ten! Goshyoull be really old then.

Adam Palmer, thanks for the motivation for this project and for being the guy behind the computer making me sound like I can spell and talk in complete sentences, and for adding your voice to these conversations. Thanks for encouraging me to go small!

CONTENTS

Go small.

Say it out loud.

Really loud, like youre excited.

Sounds funny, huh? Thats because we are so predisposed to the notion that bigger is better. This never became more clear to me than when I reached one of my childhood dreams of becoming an NFL player. Well, maybe my dream wasnt exactly fulfilled, because my dream was to get drafted by the Dallas Cowboys and lead them to multiple Super Bowls, all while having some great, transcendent spiritual impact on all those who watched me thank God as I received the MVP trophy.

Realistically, my career has been far from that, but it has been thirteen years of professional football, including stops in the now defunct UFL, with eight different NFL teams and countless teammates. Its been fun, but not the dream scenario I thought God had mapped out for me.

There was, however, a small moment along that journey when my focus changed. It happened in year nine, when the phone stopped ringing and teams were no longer eager to sign me. I had to make a choice.

Thats when I went small. Or maybe my circumstances led me to go small. Regardless, I finally stopped fighting the very thing God was trying to show me would bring me the greatest joy.

Out of work and possibly transitioning into life after football, I began looking for things to do and ended up coaching at our local high school, mostly to fill time, but also as an opportunity to stay around the game of football. However, as I got to know the team, the players, and the coaches, I realized these young men were real people with real stories, just like the people in any NFL locker room. They were no different, and their lives were just as important.