Greg Laurie: A New Beginning

It’s a statistical certainty that someo ne listening to A NEW BEGINNING today has just received the toughest news of their life. A diagnosis. A court order. An eviction. A pink slip. A phone call. It’s so often a phone call. What do you do when you don’t know what to do? Today, Pastor Greg Laurie reassures you that God knows, God sees, and God cares. And God has power that’s bigger than this crisis. And he can make a way when there seems to be no way.

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.

Sometimes we may think that our effort, by itself, does count for much. Maybe we’re the only believer in our family . . . or the only Christian at work . . . or the only one in our group of friends at school. The odds are against us. Well today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie takes us to one of the most encouraging stories in the Old Testament. We’ll catch up with a military leader about to fight a battle, when God told him to send most of his army home so that God alone would get credit for the victory.

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.

Let’s say you want to sell your car. You think it’s worth about 10 thousand dollars. But right away, someone pays you 15 thousand dollars. Sold! So what was your car worth? Well, it was worth what the buyer was willing to pay. Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie brings us some encouraging insights on OUR worth based on the One who purchased us with the blood of His only begotten Son. And given our real worth, we’ll see how the Lord has equipped us for real Kingdom work.

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.

During Jesus’ earthly ministry, He didn’t restore sight to just one eye. He didn’t feed most of the 5,000. He didn’t calm the storm on only half the Sea of Galilee. And He didn’t give part of His life on the cross to pay for some of our sins. As someone has said, “Sin had left a crimson stain, and He didn’t wash it light pink.” Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie points out how Jesus gave His all . . . and the only appropriate response from us is to give our all.

Learn more about this year's Harvest Crusade!

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Become a Harvest Partner this month and receive Life Hacks, Pastor Greg Laurie’s thoughtful book in which he imparts years of wisdom gathered as a Christ-follower, pastor, evangelist, husband, and more.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After all the deep truths covered in 1 John, we see an added “P.S.” in John’s following epistles. Pastor Greg Laurie shares they’re filled with love, warning, and encouragement.

Notes:

Focus verse - 2 John 1
 
2nd and 3rd John are filled with love, warning and encouragement.
 
We can find comfort in God’s Word—His ultimate love letter to us.
 
1st John was written to give assurance to believers.
(1 John 5:13)
 
The Bible promises, “He who began a good work in you will complete it.”
(Philippians 1:6)
 
Salvation is God’s work from beginning to end. It’s not based on how you feel, it’s based on what Jesus did.
 
John was refuting something called Gnosticism.
 
Gnostics did not believe that God came into this world and walked among us.
 
“If a person claiming to be a prophet acknowledges that Jesus Christ came in a real body, that person has the Spirit of God.”
(1 John 4:2)
 
To be a Christian, you must believe that Jesus was born of a virgin and was God among us; that He was fully God and fully man and He died on the cross for our sins, and He bodily rose three days later and will come again.
 
1 John can be divided into three sections:
1. God is Light (1 John 1:1–2:2)
2. God is Love (1 John 2:3–4:21)
3. God is Life (1 John 5)

 
Read: 2 John 1:1–3
 
1. God wants us to walk in truth and love.
 
Truth without love is harsh. Love without truth is hollow.
 
Truth anchors us while love moves us.
Truth gives us the message; love gives us the method.
 
Love is obeying the Lord.
 
2. When we walk in truth and love the devil will be opposing us.
(2 John 1:7–8)
 
John has warned us about both Antichrist and Antichrists.
 
3. God cares about every area of your life.
(3 John 1:1–2)
 
“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.”
(3 John 1:2)
 
God does want us to prosper, but what is Biblical prosperity?
In short, it is knowing and walking with God and bringing forth spiritual fruit.
 
God can and will bless you with wealth, but with that wealth comes responsibility.
(1 Timothy 6:17–18)
 
If you are blessed financially that’s not a sin, it’s a stewardship.
 
“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.”
(3 John 1:2)
 
God does not heal everyone, but He does still heal today.
 
4. Coming to Christ is life-changing; continuing with Christ is life-sustaining.
(3 John 1:3–4)
 
“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”
(3 John 1:4)
 
“A good character is the best tombstone. Those who love you and were helped by you will remember you, so carve your name on hearts, not marble.” —C.H. Spurgeon
 
5. God’s people should underwrite God’s work.
(3 John 1:5–8)
 
It pleases God when we support God’s Word financially.
(3 John 1:6)
 
We should not have a discomfort talking or hearing about giving.
The Bible speaks more about giving than prayer or faith.
 
There are over 2,000 verses on the topic of money, possessions, and giving.
 
Giving is not just about finances, it’s a test of trust and obedience to God.
 
We share in the reward when we invest our money.
 
6. There are real and fake believers in the church.
(3 John 1:9–11)
 
Ultimately, it is God who will sort out the real and the counterfeit.
 
7. Be a Demetrius not a Diotrephes.
(3 John 1:9, 12)
 
Demetrius v.  Diotrephes
Had a good testimony.  Had a poor testimony.
Respected by all.  Rebuked by John for being divisive and proud.
Welcoming and faithful. Kicked people out of the church and drove them away.
 
1. Walk in truth and love.
2. Support God’s people and God’s work.
3. Be a bridge-builder, not a bridge-burner.
4. Leave a godly legacy.
5. Don’t be a Diotrephes, be a Demetrius.

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.

With all the current events unfolding in the Middle East, there's a lot of differing views floating around on Israel's role in Scripture. In this podcast, Pastor Greg Laurie gives his take.

Topics covered:

• Intro - 0:00
• Thoughts on Israel - 2:00
• Thoughts on Iran - 13:00
• Prophetic timeline - 20:45
• How Christians should feel - 28:20
• Answering common questions - 32:00

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Watch this episode on the Harvest+ app.

Did you pray with Pastor Greg? Go to harvest.org/bible for your free New Believer’s Bible.

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

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Sometimes, after we put on sunglasses, we realize how harsh the light really was? That’s sort of a picture of life without God – blinding, confusing, and glaring. Well, here on National Sunglasses Day, Pastor Greg Laurie shares how seeing life through the lens of God’s truth changes everything. Today on A NEW BEGINNING, from a Harvest Crusade message, Pastor Greg takes us to Jesus’ answer to the question, “what good thing must I do to have eternal life?”

Learn more about this year's Harvest Crusade!

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Become a Harvest Partner this month and receive Life Hacks, Pastor Greg Laurie’s thoughtful book in which he imparts years of wisdom gathered as a Christ-follower, pastor, evangelist, husband, and more.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What’s the best way to chart a course for a successful Christian life over the long haul? We might ask someone who’s walked that path over the long haul. There’s no discounting the wisdom that comes with experience. Well today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie looks back over the past 50 years of ministry at his home church, Harvest Christian Fellowship. The Lord has blessed, but it hasn’t always been easy. So today he offers some good perspective for all of us on the path of faith.

Learn more about this year's Harvest Crusade!

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Become a Harvest Partner this month and receive Life Hacks, Pastor Greg Laurie’s thoughtful book in which he imparts years of wisdom gathered as a Christ-follower, pastor, evangelist, husband, and more.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ever been caught in gridlock? Maybe you’re trying to get out of the parking lot of a large sporting event. You’re stuck. You can’t go forward, you can’t back up, you can’t go to the right or the left. Only thing you can do is look up. Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie takes us to a time of challenge in the history of the Israelites. They needed help. They were stuck. They looked up, and God came through. We’ll see what lessons we can learn for our own spiritual gridlock.

Learn more about this year's Harvest Crusade!

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Become a Harvest Partner this month and receive Life Hacks, Pastor Greg Laurie’s thoughtful book in which he imparts years of wisdom gathered as a Christ-follower, pastor, evangelist, husband, and more.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’ve all gotten used to spam calls, right? We can sometimes see them coming. Maybe we don’t answer the phone. If we do, we have our way of ending the call as quickly as possible. When the Devil comes calling, some of us forget all those defensive techniques. We sit there and listen to his sales pitch. Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie returns to our series in Joshua with some practical advice on saying no to our enemy no matter how tempting his offer.

Learn more about this year's Harvest Crusade!

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Become a Harvest Partner this month and receive Life Hacks, Pastor Greg Laurie’s thoughtful book in which he imparts years of wisdom gathered as a Christ-follower, pastor, evangelist, husband, and more.

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.