Greg Laurie: A New Beginning

David had just been chosen—by God himself—as the next king of Israel. God is for him . . . but quickly it seems everyone else is against him. What do we do when we’re surrounded by critics and naysayers . . . adversaries and avengers? Pastor Greg Laurie brings us good counsel today on A NEW BEGINNING as we consider practical life lessons learned from David, the Psalmist . . . David, the future King. If life has seemed like an uphill battle lately, you’ll get some good encouragement for the climb.

Listen on harvest.org

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Learn more and subscribe to Harvest updates at harvest.org

A New Beginning is the daily half-hour program hosted by Greg Laurie, pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Southern California. For over 30 years, Pastor Greg and Harvest Ministries have endeavored to know God and make Him known through media and large-scale evangelism. This podcast is supported by the generosity of our Harvest Partners.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More people complain about headaches than any other health condition. About 45 million people suffer from them each year. The major causes? Stress and lack of sleep, among others. There’s a lot on our minds. Many people feel overwhelmed much of the time. But today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie helps us chart a new path. He’ll talk about the giants we face . . . those forces that seem bigger than we are. We’ll learn today how to stand against them in the power of God.

Listen on harvest.org

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Learn more and subscribe to Harvest updates at harvest.org

A New Beginning is the daily half-hour program hosted by Greg Laurie, pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Southern California. For over 30 years, Pastor Greg and Harvest Ministries have endeavored to know God and make Him known through media and large-scale evangelism. This podcast is supported by the generosity of our Harvest Partners.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pastor Jonathan Laurie shares lessons from the story of Jonah, a reluctant evangelist who ran from God’s calling.

Notes:

Focus verse - Jonah 2

Matthew 23:25–27 (NKJV)
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence.
 
“Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.
 
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.”
 
Jonah 4:3 (NLT)
“Just kill me now, Lord! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.” 
 
#1 God Appoints Circumstances to Bring Us Back
 
Sometimes we think God is punishing us.
 
God paid Jesus back for our sin.
 
Jonah was a historical, biblical character.
2 Kings 14:25
 
Matthew 12:40 (NKJV)
“For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”
 
God appoints circumstances and storms.
Not to pay us back, but to bring us back.
 
#2 God Still Sees in the Dark
Jonah 2:1 (NLT)
 
Read: Jonah 2:1–9 (NLT)
 
While Jonah sat in darkness inside the great fish, he prayed.
God heard and delivered Jonah out of his fishy prison.
 
Psalm 139:11–12 (NLT)
I could ask the darkness to hide me
and the light around me to become night—
but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.
To you the night shines as bright as day.
Darkness and light are the same to you.
 
Israel worshipped one God — the true Creator.
 
Romans 12:1 (NKJV)
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
 
Read: Jonah 2:10 –3:5 (NKJV)
 
#3 Saved From and Saved For
 
God rescued Jonah from darkness so Jonah could reach others in darkness.
 
2 Corinthians 5:18–20 (NLT)
 
Mark 16:15–16 (NLT)
And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.
   
Romans 10:14 (NLT)
But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?

Learn more about this year's Harvest Crusade!

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Learn more about Greg Laurie and Harvest Ministries at harvest.org.

This podcast is supported by the generosity of our Harvest Partners. 

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pastor Greg Laurie has pointed out before how pervasive loneliness is. Well, today is National Cheer Up the Lonely Day. What? You didn’t know? But today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg doesn’t offer warm platitudes to make us smile, he introduces us to the Friend who sticks closer than a brother. From a recent Harvest Crusade, he shows us how Jesus offers connection and purpose . . . and He offers the promise of eternal life.

Listen on harvest.org

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Learn more and subscribe to Harvest updates at harvest.org

A New Beginning is the daily half-hour program hosted by Greg Laurie, pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Southern California. For over 30 years, Pastor Greg and Harvest Ministries have endeavored to know God and make Him known through media and large-scale evangelism. This podcast is supported by the generosity of our Harvest Partners.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

God has never encountered a problem or a crisis too big for Him to handle. He’s never said, “Uh-oh.” So when we encounter something we can’t handle, we need to look to our God who can handle anything. And today on A NEW BEGINNING, as Pastor Greg Laurie returns to our studies of the life of David, we’ll see what happened when David faced a giant-sized problem. It’s a familiar story, but sometimes we miss the practical application. That’s Pastor Greg’s focus as we begin today’s study.

Listen on harvest.org

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Learn more and subscribe to Harvest updates at harvest.org

A New Beginning is the daily half-hour program hosted by Greg Laurie, pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Southern California. For over 30 years, Pastor Greg and Harvest Ministries have endeavored to know God and make Him known through media and large-scale evangelism. This podcast is supported by the generosity of our Harvest Partners.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some tend to think that God only uses perfect people . . . people with no blindspots, no failings, no shortcomings. But the more we study the Bible, the more we see how God used imperfect people to do remarkable things for His Kingdom. How can we be the kind of person God is looking for? Pastor Greg Laurie answers that today here on A NEW BEGINNING as we examine the life of a great leader of Israel who God chose personally, over and above other candidates who appeared more impressive.

Listen on harvest.org

---

Learn more and subscribe to Harvest updates at harvest.org

A New Beginning is the daily half-hour program hosted by Greg Laurie, pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Southern California. For over 30 years, Pastor Greg and Harvest Ministries have endeavored to know God and make Him known through media and large-scale evangelism. This podcast is supported by the generosity of our Harvest Partners.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We see the social media posts of certain friends and marvel at how great their life is. Lunch on the beach in Cabo. Sipping a hot chocolate in a ski chalet in Aspen. Social media has become a collection of highlight reels – because people want to look good. But today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie points out God follows you . . . no, not on social media, in real life. And He’s most impressed by things that would never show up in a highlight reel.

Listen on harvest.org

---

Learn more and subscribe to Harvest updates at harvest.org

A New Beginning is the daily half-hour program hosted by Greg Laurie, pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Southern California. For over 30 years, Pastor Greg and Harvest Ministries have endeavored to know God and make Him known through media and large-scale evangelism. This podcast is supported by the generosity of our Harvest Partners.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When the alarm goes off early so we can get up and work out, it’s easy to wish we could strengthen our muscles while we lie there in bed. But we know it doesn’t work that way. When it comes to growing strong in our faith, sometimes we have to exercise our faith . . . and sometimes that comes at the most painful, distressing times of life. Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie helps us get through the toughest times of our lives. Today, we’ll see our faith grows as we lean hard on the Lord.

Listen on harvest.org

---

Learn more and subscribe to Harvest updates at harvest.org

A New Beginning is the daily half-hour program hosted by Greg Laurie, pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Southern California. For over 30 years, Pastor Greg and Harvest Ministries have endeavored to know God and make Him known through media and large-scale evangelism. This podcast is supported by the generosity of our Harvest Partners.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Discover how to overcome hesitation and share your faith boldly with Pastor Greg Laurie’s new series, "The Reluctant Evangelist," exploring the story of Jonah.

Notes:

Focus verse - Jonah 1

#1 CHRISTIANS HAVE BEEN CALLED TO EVANGELIZE.

#2 WHY DON’T WE SHARE OUR FAITH MORE? 

THE FEAR OF REJECTION OR OFFENDING SOMEONE.

WE DON’T SHARE THE GOSPEL DUE TO OUR LACK OF CONFIDENCE OR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE OF THE SCRIPTURES.

1 PETER 3:15

THE OBJECTIVE IN EVANGELISM IS NOT TO WIN THE ARGURMENT, BUT TO WIN THE SOUL.

ABOUT HALF OF ALL AMERICAN ADULTS SAY THEY’RE SOMEWHAT OPEN TO HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT FAITH OR THE GOSPEL WITH A STRANGER.

WE DON’T SHARE OUR FAITH BECAUSE WE DON’T REALLY CARE.

PEOPLE DON’T CARE ABOUT HOW MUCH YOU KNOW UNTIL THEY KNOW HOW MUCH YOU CARE.

2 TIMOTHY 2:26

EFFECTIVE SHARING OF ONE’S FAITH STARTS WITH A CONCERN AND A BURDEN.

JONAH ACTUALLY DID HATE THE PEOPLE GOD CALLED HIM TO PREACH TO.

#3 JONAH WAS THE RELUCTANT EVANGELIST.

JONAH WAS NOT JUST RELUCTANT, HE WAS RECALCITRANT.

READ JONAH 1:1–3

"…FOR THEIR WICKEDNESS HAS COME UP BEFORE ME."
JONAH 1:2

NINEVAH, A CITY OF THE ASSYRIANS, WAS LEGENDARY FOR ITS CRUELTY.

THE NINEVITES WERE THE AVOWED ENEMIES OF ISRAEL.

THIS WOULD BE LIKE GOD CALLING AN ISRAELI TO GO PREACH TO TEHRAN.

GOD LOVES THE PEOPLE OF IRAN.
THEY ARE SUFFERING UNDER A CRUEL AND AUTHORITARIAN ISLAMIC REGIME.

WE ARE HEARING STORIES OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF IRANIANS COMING TO CHRIST.

GOD TAKES NO PLEASURE IN THE DEATH OF THE WICKED.
EZEKIEL 33:11

CHRISTIANS WANT TO SEE PEACE IN THE LAND.

#4 WE HAVE OUR MODERN NINEVAHS.

GOD HAS NOT GIVEN UP ON CALFORINA.

THE BOOK OF JONAH IS ALL ABOUT SALVATION-
THE SALVATION OF SOME PAGAN SAILORS FROM A STORM.
THE SALVATION OF A DISOBEDIENT PROPHET.
THE SALVATION OF ONE OF THE MOST WICKED CITIES ON EARTH.

GOD SEEMS TO GO OUT OF HIS WAY TO FIND THE MOST UNLIKELY PEOPLE TO USE.

LET’S CONSIDER MOSES’ RESPONSE WHEN CALLED BY GOD TO SPEAK FOR HIM.
EXODUS 4:10–13

JEREMIAH FELT HE WAS TOO YOUNG.

THERE IS NO GOOD REASON YOU CAN OFFER AS TO WHY GOD CANNOT AND WILL NOT USE YOU.

GOD IS NOT LOOKING FOR ABILITY. HE IS LOOKING FOR AVAILABILITY.

JONAH REPENTED OF HIS SIN. HE CALLED ON THE LORD
AND GOD HAD MERCY ON HIM.
JONAH 2:10–3:2

GOD’S ORDERS ARE THE SAME FOR US AS THEY WERE FOR JONAH.
THE METHOD IS THE SAME TOO. THE GREAT COMMISSION IS, “GO INTO ALL THE WORLD AND PREACH THE GOSPEL.”

GOD HAS CHOSEN VERBAL COMMUNICATION TO REACH PEOPLE.
ROMANS 10:14

THERE ARE ONLY TWO ROADS IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE:
THE ROAD OF OBEDIENCE OR THE ROAD OF DISOBEDIENCE.

#5 THE REASON JONAH DID NOT GO WAS BECAUSE OF A FEAR OF SUCCESS.
JONAH 4:2

#6 WE NEED TO GO TO PEOPLE WHO ARE UNLIKE US.

IF GOD BROUGHT REVIVAL TO NINEVAH, IMAGINE WHAT HE CAN DO TODAY.

START BY PRAYING FOR THEM AND NEVER STOP CARING FOR THEM.

GOD CAN SAVE ANYONE AND WANTS TO SAVE EVERYONE.
1 TIMOTHY 2

#7 SHARING OUR FAITH CAN BE EXCITING AND FUN!

JESUS TOLD US THERE IS JOY IN HEAVEN OVER EVERY SINNER WHO COMES TO REPENTANCE.
LUKE 15:7

THERE IS A HAPPINESS THAT WE ARE MISSING OUT ON IF WE ARE NOT SHARING OUR FAITH. ACTS 20:35

EVERY STEP AWAY FROM GOD IS ALWAYS A STEP DOWN.

WE FAIL TO REALIZE GOD’S PLAN FOR US IS BETTER THAN OUR PLAN FOR OURSELVES.

LETS’ COMMIT TO PRAY FOR PEOPLE THAT DON’T KNOW THE LORD.

Learn more about this year's Harvest Crusade!

---

Learn more about Greg Laurie and Harvest Ministries at harvest.org.

This podcast is supported by the generosity of our Harvest Partners.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Lord wants us to turn this world right side up for Him. But all too often, the world turns the church upside down. Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie takes us to a recent Harvest Crusade for his message called, It’s Time for Another Jesus Revolution. Jesus Revolution is another name for the Jesus Movement of the 60s and 70s . . . and it’s also the name of the hit movie that told the story of Pastor Greg’s life as he grew up during that turbulent time.

Listen on harvest.org

---

Learn more and subscribe to Harvest updates at harvest.org

A New Beginning is the daily half-hour program hosted by Greg Laurie, pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Southern California. For over 30 years, Pastor Greg and Harvest Ministries have endeavored to know God and make Him known through media and large-scale evangelism. This podcast is supported by the generosity of our Harvest Partners.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.