Greg Laurie: A New Beginning

Losing a loved one comes with grief, questions, longing… it can be overwhelming. But Jesus is with us through it all. Pastor Greg Laurie shares the powerful story of Jesus bringing comfort to Mary and Martha after the loss of Lazarus.

Notes:

Focus verse: John 11

Death interrupts our plans, our dreams, and our everyday lives.
Death is harsh and final and real.
 
​“And the last enemy to be destroyed is death.”
1Corinthians 15:26 (NLT)
 
Mary and Martha were devastated by the unexpected death of their brother, Lazarus.
 

​Read John 11:1–3
 
​#1 Life is filled with pain, sorrow, and the death of loved ones.
 
The unexpected death of a friend or co-worker often reminds us of our own mortality.
 
​#2 God loves us even when we suffer.
 
Mary and Martha provide us with an excellent example of what to do in a crisis.
 
We should always bring our troubles to Jesus.
 
#1 When the Israelites turned against Moses,
“…he cried out to the Lord,…”
Exodus 15:25
 
#2 When Hezekiah received a threatening letter,
“…[he] went up to the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD.”
Isaiah 37:14
 
#3 When John the Baptist was beheaded, his disciples,
“…went and told Jesus.”
Matthew 14:12
 
“God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.”
Psalm 46:1
 
Read John 11:4–7
 
When hardship, tragedy, and even death hit in our lives, we might ask the same thing,
“If Jesus really loved me, why did He let this happen?”
 
Jesus was looking at the big picture.
 
​Jesus waited.
 
Read John 11:20–26
 
​Death is not the end. It is a transition from this life to the afterlife.
Death does not have the final word, Christ does.
 
“Where were you, Lord?”
 
Mary and Martha brought their doubts to Jesus.
 
There is nothing wrong with asking God, “Why?”
 
We live on promises not explanations.
 
​"And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?"
John 11:26
 
Read John 11:32–36
 
#3 Jesus weeps with us in our times of pain.
 
Jesus was God and man. As a man He felt our pain and sorrows.
Isaiah 53:3–4
 
​Hebrews 2:17–18
 
​Read John 11:33, 38
 
Jesus was angry with death itself.

 Jesus thanked his Father for hearing His prayer and then raised Lazarus from the dead.
John 11:43–44
 
#4 God can be glorified through human suffering and bring good out of bad.
 
Sometimes God will be glorified through the removal of the affliction.
Other times He will be glorified through the enduring of the affliction.
 
We develop hope through hardship.
Romans 5:3–4
 
Our faith is real, and it will sustain us in our hour of need.
 
The tomb is not the entrance to death, but to life.
 
​Jesus defeated death at the cross of Calvary.
Death died when Christ rose.
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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.

The second law of thermodynamics says things tend toward disorder. As time goes on, things fall apart. When it comes to our homes, a clean room never stays that way for long. And today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie points out there’s a spiritual parallel. Our Christian lives can get messy and out of sorts. But we’ll learn Jesus can come and sort it out . . . if we let Him. Pastor Greg urges us to open the door and let Jesus have access to every room of our spiritual house.

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.

The successful Christian life doesn’t happen by accident. It takes focus and effort. Salvation is a free gift . . . but Christian growth involves some work and sacrifice on our part. And today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie continues his series in John called The Seven Signs of Jesus. We’ll learn how to map out a plan to keep us moving full speed in the right direction. If you’ve had a few stumbles and sputters in your walk with the Lord, this is a great opportunity to knuckle down and buckle up.

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.

We can make two mistakes when it comes to the afterlife. Some people think hell won’t be too bad. They joke that all their friends will be there – they’ll just party all the time. There won’t be any parties there. The other mistake we can make is thinking heaven isn’t all that good . . . especially if you don’t play the harp. Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie helps us see what’s really waiting for believers. We’ll learn about the abundant life in the here and now, and eternal life in the hereafter.

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.

Jesus didn’t tell us to argue someone into the kingdom . . . or to protest our culture into the faith . . . or even to isolate ourselves from those who don’t believe. Pastor Greg Laurie has said we’re not to isolate but infiltrate. We’re to be salt and light in a culture that needs the hope of the Gospel. Well today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg helps us set a course for taking this life-saving message to those whose eternal lives hang in the balance. It’s the very reason we’re here.

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.

Nothing takes the place of a sold-out relationship with the Lord. Not a big check in the offering plate, not packing a pew with friends and relatives on Sunday morning, not even the “God is my co-pilot” bumper stick on the back of the car. No, as Pastor Greg Laurie points out today on A NEW BEGINNING, Jesus doesn’t so much want what we have or what we can do. He wants us. He wants to be in first place, top priority, in our lives. And He wants us to follow Him.

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.

Adulthood toughens us. Every time we’re lied to, let down, or taken advantage of, we build a thicker skin and vow, “Never again.” Over time, that can make us skeptical, and even cynical. But today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie reminds us that a hardened heart can’t fully connect with God. It’s like we’re turtles hiding in our shells, keeping everyone out. But good news is coming. Pastor Greg helps us come out of that shell and open our hearts to 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.

Modern radios are very selective. They pick up one station at a time. So as you listen to A NEW BEGINNING, you’re not hearing the latest hit on the Polka Parade, or pork belly prices from the farm report. Today, Pastor Greg Laurie points out we need to be just as selective with our hearing. It’s all too easy to let the voices of our culture plant ideas and values in our heads. But today, we’ll see two brokenhearted individuals who were tuned in to Jesus.

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.

A miracle is defined as “a surprising and welcome event that is not explainable by natural or scientific laws and is therefore considered to be the work of a divine agency.” Essentially, something awesome, God did it. So many of us have needed a miracle at times . . . maybe you need one right now. Well today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie talks about these kind of supernatural events, and what part our faith plays in the story. Good encouragement is coming.

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.

It makes no sense to complain the car won’t start if it’s out of gas. It makes no sense to complain about sitting in the dark if we haven’t turned on the light switch. Well, when it comes to Christianity, author G.K. Chesterton said, “The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried.” Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie helps us try a real walk with God. It offers joy and contentment, and dispels loneliness and discouragement.

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.