Greg Laurie: A New Beginning

The true Christmas story is far more powerful—and far more personal—than the version we often see wrapped in sentiment and tradition. Through Luke 2, Pastor Greg looks at how Christmas has been romanticized and even sidelined, yet the real story remains explosive: God stepped out of Heaven and into human history.

Notes:

Taking Christmas Back

Luke 2

 

The real Christmas story is explosive.

That’s because the gospel is the power of God unto salvation.

 

Christmas has been hijacked.

 

Christmas has been emptied of its meaning.

 

Portland, Oregon just had its annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony.

 

Christmas has perhaps been far too romanticized even by well-meaning Christians.

 

The beauty of the true Christmas story has explosive power.

 

The night when God Himself came to this earth.

 

The first Christmas is when God stepped out of Heaven and entered history.

 

Mary was living in Nazareth, a town known for its wickedness.

 

Mary was a nobody in a nothing town in the middle of nowhere.

 

The angel Gabriel had announced to Mary that she would be the mother of the Messiah.

 

Luke 1:28–30 (NLT)

Gabriel appeared to her and said, "Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!"

Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean.

"Don't be afraid, Mary," the angel told her, "for you have found favor with God!

 

Read Luke 2:1–7

 

Joseph is the unsung hero of the Christmas story.

 

God’s selection of Joseph was just as significant as His selection of Mary.

God, the Father in Heaven, chose Joseph to be a stepfather or father figure on earth for Jesus.

 

Jesus grew up in many ways like any other child.

 

We are in danger of becoming a fatherless society in America.

 

That’s why Joseph matters.

 

Hearing that Mary was pregnant, Joseph was willing to simply “put her away quietly,” to break the engagement.

 

But the angel of the Lord came to Joseph, too.

 

Matthew 1:20–21 (NKJV)

But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins."

 

Luke is very meticulous in his reporting.

 

Luke was not an eyewitness to the life of Jesus.

 

He carefully researched and had first-person interviews with the principal characters of the story.

It was his desire to bring a historical and accurate record of the life of Jesus.

 

These are not fairy tales or legends Luke invented.

Luke 1:3

 

Caesar Augustus was the first real Roman emperor.

His real name was Caius Octavius.

 

The Roman Republic was now the Roman Empire.

 

One inscription that was found called Augustus Caesar “the savior of the whole world.”

 

Luke 2:11–12 (NKJV)

"For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger."

 

The angel was saying, “Augustus is not the savior of Rome, Jesus is.”

 

In a time when man wanted to be God, God became a man.

 

God incarnate born on the dirt floor of a filthy cave.

 

God became a fetus. Deity in diapers.

 

Babies are so amazing and so helpless.

You have to cradle their heads.

 

“It was clearly a leap down— as if the Son of God rose from his splendor, stood poised on the rim of the universe irradiating light, and dove headlong, speeding through the stars over the Milky Way to earth’s galaxy . . . where he plunged into a huddle of animals. Nothing could be lower.” — R. Kent Hughes

 

This symbolized Jesus’s whole life on this earth, from the cradle to the cross.

 

2 Corinthians 8:9 (NKJV)

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.

 

Luke 2:7 (NKJV)

And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

 

That phrase became emblematic of Jesus’s life and ministry on earth.

 

Christ said, “In my Father’s house are many mansions.”

 

We didn’t have any room for Him, but He has many rooms for us.

 

We effectively lose Jesus at Christmas.

 

We say things like, “I would like to go to church, but I’m just too busy.”

 

When Mary and Joseph got back home, they realized Jesus was gone.

 

This can happen to us, too.

Not that we lose our salvation, but we can lose sight of Jesus.

 

It’s not about Christmas presents but His Christmas presence.

 

The message of Christmas is, “let us worship.”

 

We need a savior because we are sinners.

Spiritual momentum is building! Help us continue to meet this unique moment by supporting our evangelistic efforts in 2026—give before the year ends!

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Become a Harvest Partner today and join us in knowing God and making Him known through media and large-scale evangelism, our mission of over 30 years.

Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.

Support the show: https://bit.ly/anbsupport

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a special episode, we revisit a conversation between Pastor Greg Laurie and Franklin Graham. The two discuss the legacy of Billy Graham, and Franklin reminisces about Christmas traditions in the Graham household. 

Franklin also describes his start at the far-reaching ministry, Samaritan’s Purse, and shares stories of impact through their initiative, Operation Christmas Child. 

Watch the video of this full interview here.

Spiritual momentum is building! Help us continue to meet this unique moment by supporting our evangelistic efforts in 2026—give before the year ends!

—

Become a Harvest Partner today and join us in knowing God and making Him known through media and large-scale evangelism, our mission of over 30 years.

Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.

Support the show: https://bit.ly/anbsupport

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the key words here are Harvest Ministries and A NEW BEGINNING is just two letters: Go! In fulfilling the Great Commission, that may be the hardest step. Go. Get up and get started. Today, on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie helps kindle a fire within us . . . a fire that won’t let us remain silent. We’ll see sharing our faith is a joy and a privilege. We’re featuring a message Pastor Greg recently presented at The Bold For Jesus evangelism conference in Spokane, Washington.

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Become a Harvest Partner today and join us in knowing God and making Him known through media and large-scale evangelism, our mission of over 30 years.

Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.

Support the show: https://bit.ly/anbsupport

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ever try to run up a downward escalator? Sounds silly, but kids try it all the time, just to see if they can. When we try to fight against the lures of temptation on our own strength, we’re running up a downward escalator. The momentum against us is just too much. Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie helps us change escalators and embrace the power and provision of God through prayer. When we’re moving in the same direction as the Spirit of God, the journey is much easier.

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Become a Harvest Partner today and join us in knowing God and making Him known through media and large-scale evangelism, our mission of over 30 years.

Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.

Support the show: https://bit.ly/anbsupport

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are you facing a challenge right now? A trial, a tragedy, a crisis, a loss? God knows what you’re going through. He’s concerned about what you’re going through. And He has the power to get you through. But today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie points out He wants us to come to Him and ask for His help. Prayer is a vital part of surviving the toughest of challenges life throws our way. And today, Pastor Greg helps us pray effectively using the Lord’s model for effective prayer.

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Become a Harvest Partner today and join us in knowing God and making Him known through media and large-scale evangelism, our mission of over 30 years.

Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.

Support the show: https://bit.ly/anbsupport

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Because of the deluge of robocalls we all get, if an unfamiliar number pops up on the phone, many people just don’t answer. Who wants those calls? Do we feel like we’re an unfamiliar number popping up God’s phone when we call on Him in prayer? Do we wonder if He’ll pick up the phone? Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie points out that God not only answers the phone, He answers our requests. We’re not an unfamiliar number at all. No, we’re family.

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Become a Harvest Partner today and join us in knowing God and making Him known through media and large-scale evangelism, our mission of over 30 years.

Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.

Support the show: https://bit.ly/anbsupport

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s said that Abraham Lincoln had an open-door policy for citizens. They could literally come right into the While House and talk with him. My how things have changed. Today, VIPs are universally unreachable . . . with one notable exception. Our God not only allows us to come to Him, He invites us, in fact He urges us. And today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie helps us take full advantage of the open door we call prayer.

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Become a Harvest Partner today and join us in knowing God and making Him known through media and large-scale evangelism, our mission of over 30 years.

Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.

Support the show: https://bit.ly/anbsupport

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If God can perfectly order the events of the Christmas story, we can entrust Him with stories of our own. We should mirror Mary's surrender and submission to God's plan. 

Notes:

Galatians 4:4 (NKJV)
But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law.
 
READ Luke 1:26–33
 
#1 God Is Always On Time
 
Luke 1:28 (NKJV)
“Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”
 
Luke 1:29 (NKJV)
But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was.
 
God is always on time.
 
READ Luke 1:34–38
 
#2 God’s Timing Requires Our Surrender
 
Luke 1:38 (NKJV)
“Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.”
 
Matthew 6:10 (NKJV)
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
 
READ Mark 8:34–36
 
God’s plan is always better.
 
Surrender doesn’t mean God makes everything comfortable.
It means God makes everything count.
 
Surrender always leads to Christ. 
 
Psalm 84:10 (NKJV)
For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
 
“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”
—Jim Elliott
 
READ Luke 1:39–45
 
#3 Our Obedience Has A Radius
 
Luke 1:15 (NKJV)
For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.
 
What is God asking you to do?
 
What areas in your life is God calling you to submit and surrender?
  
Too many Christians are satisfied with comfort when God is offering conquest.
 
Obey God.
Submit to scripture.
Live a life of integrity committed to God.
 
Let it be to me according to your word.

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Become a Harvest Partner today and join us in knowing God and making Him known through media and large-scale evangelism, our mission of over 30 years.

Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.

Support the show: https://bit.ly/anbsupport

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Someone has said worry is the advanced interest you pay on troubles that seldom come. An old Swedish proverb says worry gives a small thing a big shadow. What shadow is looming over you right now? Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie continues a series called Faith 101: A Crash Course on the Christian Life. We’ll tackle the problem of worry and anxiety. Pastor Greg points out that the Lord has given us a very powerful tool to help us put our worries to rest.

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Become a Harvest Partner today and join us in knowing God and making Him known through media and large-scale evangelism, our mission of over 30 years.

Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.

Support the show: https://bit.ly/anbsupport

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nearly 25 million real Christmas trees decorated homes last Christmas. And about 25 million Christmas trees became kindling not long after the holiday. There’s a spiritual parallel. Today, Pastor Greg Laurie points out how to keep our faith from drying out. We’ll learn to keep it re-kindled by sharing the hope we have with others. Glad you’re along for A NEW BEGINNING as Pastor Greg brings us some practical pointers on effective evangelism. It’s a good opportunity to take notes.

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Become a Harvest Partner today and join us in knowing God and making Him known through media and large-scale evangelism, our mission of over 30 years.

Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.

Support the show: https://bit.ly/anbsupport

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.