By The Roots

“By the Roots”

Greg Culpen

February 8, 2026

Tammy started to get to work, determined the weeds would get out of here. She wanted a well-kept garden desperately, but right now, it looked more like a garden of dandelions and crab grass. We all know how amazing and awesome they are…RIGHT?? Hours later, Tammy went back into the house, satisfied with her hard work. The area where dandelions used to reign was now mainly just overturned soil—weed free at last.

Tammy could hardly believe her eyes. She’d been so busy that she’d forgotten about the garden for weeks, and it was completely overgrown again! So, Tammy got to work. Again, she yanked everything out of the ground. When she finished, there was not a plant standing. Yet, the weeds just grew back, even bigger and stronger than ever it seemed. Tammy was getting discouraged. What was she doing wrong?

She mentioned her dilemma to her gardener friend Mary. “I just don’t know what to do! Why do these weeds keep coming back?” “My dear girl,” Mary replied. “Have you been planting good plants in their place?” The question might sound like a rhetorical one, but it wasn’t. Tammy hadn’t been planting anything in the garden….at all—she’d just been trying to remove the weeds and hoping good plants would grow on their own…or at least that it’d stay weed-free. Mary could see the confusion on Tammy’s face and so she continued to explain, “You must plant good plants in the garden, so weeds don’t grow. And you’ll want to nurture those plants and watch for weeds sneaking through, pulling them before they multiply.”

Just a thought about this illustration:

Like weeds, If we want to get rid of sin in our life, we must not only put it off but also put on Christ Jesus. We need to turn away from sin and toward the Savior and actively pursue Him.

Make decisions to watch, read, spend our time, etc., in ways that promote His Fruit growing in our lives. For example, if you struggle with complaining, don’t just stop complaining, but also start praising. If you struggle with an addiction, don’t just stop, but also start filling your time with pursuing Jesus. What do you need to put off/put on today?

Let’s pray…

Our conversation today is about…foundations! Talk openly……

When I think about foundations, an oak tree comes to mind…. You might ask why? Let’s understand the complexity of it

Biologyinsights.com states that…. Oak trees, recognized for their majestic presence and longevity, often prompt questions about their hidden underground structures.

The root system of an oak tree is a complex and extensive network, vital for its stability and nutrient absorption. When an oak acorn first germinates, it rapidly develops a taproot, which grows vertically and deeply into the soil. This initial taproot serves to anchor the young tree and access deeper water sources, becoming primary for early establishment. As the oak tree matures, its root system undergoes a transformation. The prominent taproot often becomes less dominant, outgrown by an extensive network of lateral roots that spread horizontally. These lateral roots are responsible for absorbing most of the water and nutrients, typically within the top three feet of soil. They can extend significantly beyond the tree’s canopy, sometimes reaching two to three times the width of the crown or even up to 90-100 feet from the trunk.

WOW…..that is huge area that makes an oak tree so strong and able to withstand just about anything.

What’s also something that is parallel to this thought about a root system is us as humans and what we are deeply rooted in. What I mean is……Our faith as well as our sin…. Or…. the good and the bad.

**Talk about crab grass…..relational to sin

Sin separates us from God, moving us away from His love and grace. It’s that voice in our head that leads us astray. We must understand that sin is not just about actions; it’s about our thoughts and intentions.

ROMANS 3:23

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” 

1 JOHN 1:8

“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” 

What are the steps we need to take to rid ourselves of sin…. Well, first we must understand that sin will forever be around us.

In the book of Matthew, chapter 13 in the Parable of the Weeds…. We see a coexistence of good & evil in the world. A man sows good seed in his field and another comes a sow’s weeds among it. This teaches us that good & evil exist together until final judgement, when they will be separated. It also emphasizes the need to focus on personal growth and to weed out negativity in one’s life. So what do we do to rid ourselves of sin…

Confession and repentance are powerful steps for us on our path to freedom from sin. They’re not simply about feeling guilty; they are liberating acts that open the door to God’s forgiveness and grace. When we confess our sins, we acknowledge our faults and genuinely seek to turn away from them.

1 JOHN 1:9

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

PROVERBS 28:13

“Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.”

What about the temptation of sin?

The Bible offers words of encouragement to remind us that with God’s help, we can resist the pressures that lead us into sin. We are encouraged to turn to prayer and scripture, leaning on God for support. By grounding ourselves in faith, we can face challenges with courage and determination.

JAMES 1:12

“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”

So…. We have looked at this one aspect which is the sin that can be rooted in our lives. Now lets look at the other side of this coin…..

**Again, the crab grass concept…. can be shaped in a different way. Our Faith…..talk about it and tattoo

What are we doing daily to strengthen our roots and a strong foundation in Christ? We talked about this in our staff meeting this past Tuesday and this is some of the thoughts they had

*Being in the Word

*Realizing the consequences of our sin

*Refraining from being judgmental

*Being a stable guide for our children

*Music…. The power of the lyrics and the ability to convict us or give us hope, strength and assurance in God’s love

*Prayer

*Fellowship with other believers

The transformative power of Christ

By embracing a relationship with Him, we discover a way to live that is grounded in grace. He empowers us to let go of what hinders our spiritual growth and to walk confidently in our faith. Knowing that we can leave our burdens at His feet is liberating. Through His guidance, we are transformed from the inside out, allowing us to live our best lives, free from the chains of sin.

2 CORINTHIANS 5:17

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come!”

Hillsong Worship (I am who you say I am)

Free at last, He has ransomed me, His grace runs deep
While I was a slave to sin, Jesus died for me, Yes, He died for me

As we strive to get rid of sin, accountability and community play a crucial part in our journey.  When we can share our heartaches, victories, and struggles it helps us stay committed to living sin-free lives. Community can provide guidance, encouragement, and sometimes even a gentle push when we need it! Do you have an accountability person in your life that helps you?

What about God’s forgiveness and grace…

ISAIAH 1:18

“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” 

His forgiveness is a fresh start, offering us the chance to move forward in faith. We must regularly be reminding ourselves of the depth of God’s love, which encourages us to let go of guilt and embrace a renewed identity.

Let’s extend that same grace to ourselves and to others in our journey together, fostering a loving environment where we all can grow. When we rid our lives of sin, we can start to live a renewed life.

 ​​​​ **Band makes their way to the platform

Crystal and I were talking while traveling to Richmond and she said something that has stuck with me, and it made so much sense…..especially for today.

“Don’t take old soil to a new garden!”

Think about that…..talk openly

We are not in this alone, as God consistently promises to support us. In those moments when we feel weak or overwhelmed, let’s lean into His power. It’s in our weakness that His strength shines the brightest, reminding us that we don’t need to rely solely on our abilities.

Through prayer, scripture reading, and community, we can find the strength to fight our battles against sin. Let’s cultivate an attitude of reliance on God, trusting that He will provide what we need to overcome. Is Christ your Cornerstone?