Greg Laurie: A New Beginning

According to the Mayo Clinic, adults with strong social support minimize many health problems, including depression, high blood pressure, and unhealthy weight gain. So there go – more friends, less weight. But, in reality, we need connections in our lives. And today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie points out the blessing of having a friendship with Jesus. “What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear.” Join Pastor Greg in John chapter 5.

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 doesn’t want us to remain how He found us. He wants us to grow, to be refined. It’s a lifelong process, and it’s one even the most famous biblical figures experienced.

Notes:

Focus verses - Mark 1, Mark 10
 
Jesus picked ordinary men.
 
We all are called by God.
 
Jesus meets us where we are; not where we think we should be.
 
You are called by God.
 
James and John struggled with pride, impatience, and a fiery zeal.
 
#1 The Raw Elements
Mark 1:19–20
 
James and John were impulsive.
 
Jesus is constantly calling us closer to Himself.
 
Read Luke 9:53–56
 
James and John were nicknamed “The Sons of Thunder.”
 
#2 The Refining Process
Mark 10:37–41
 
God’s discipline is a sign of His love.
 
"But He knows where I am going.
And when He tests me, I will come out as pure as gold." Job 23:10 (NLT)
  
James and John started out as rough, impulsive, self-seeking men,
but they didn’t stay that way.
 
#3 The Finished Product
Acts 12:1–2
 
“I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Revelation 1:9 (NKJV)
 
The process of being refined by God is lifelong.
 
1. Pray
2. Serve
3. Give
4. Be Present

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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.

Some people just want to try a little bit of Jesus. As though Christianity was one of the dishes at a religion buffet. “Give me just a small scoop of that. I just want to bring a smile to my face, not a change to my heart.” But when we truly invite Jesus in, He’ll make us new people, head to toe, free from the chains of our past. And today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie helps us watch that moment of transformation in a man whose best efforts had come up short.

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 may think Jesus is only for the needy, the neglected, the “down and out.” But Pastor Greg Laurie has pointed out before, Jesus is for the “up and outers,” as well. He’s for those who’ve tried and failed, He’s for those who’ve tried and succeeded. He’s for everyone! For God so loved the world! Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie helps us follow the trajectory of one man’s walk of faith. He knew there was something more out there . . . and he found it!

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.

Many believers have a time of doubt once a while. It’s not a good feeling, is it? We may wish we had the faith of those men and women in the Bible: steadfast, immovable, faith as solid as a rock. Well today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie points out that even some our biblical heroes encountered doubt. In fact, we’ll focus on one in particular today. But Pastor Greg draws the distinction between doubt and unbelief. We’ll see doubt is temporary, and can lead to a stronger faith.

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.

Bad things do happen . . . even to God’s children. We see it in the Bible. Job’s tragedies were mind boggling. Joseph was sold into slavery by his own brothers. The disciples faced persecution and even martyrdom for their faith. When we face challenges, how do we keep that from turning to doubt? Pastor Greg Laurie answers that today on A NEW BEGINNING from a study in Matthew. We’ll see how doubt can often be a passageway that leads to real growth and a stronger faith.

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 nation Israel has been through a lot over the last few years. Those who know history – and particularly biblical history – know Israel’s been through a lot, period. What’s the current state of Israel, spiritually? And what’s God’s plan for His chosen people as we move into the End Times? Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie tackles those questions with the help of his good friend, NY Times best-selling author, speaker and Bible prophecy expert, Joel Rosenberg.

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.

Failure wasn't the end of Simon Peter's story, and it doesn't have to be the end of our's either. God offers us second chances.

Notes:

Focus verses - Luke 22, Matthew 26
  
God sees the big picture.
 
God chose Peter for his potential, not his perfection.
 
Failure doesn’t have to be the end of your story.
 
"I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten…”
Joel 2:25
 
Jesus entered Peter’s world by the Sea of Galilee.
 
Jesus saw what Peter would become, not just what he was.
 
Peter saw sin. Jesus saw a spiritual leader.
 
Our shortcomings and failures come as no surprise to God.
 
Often the doorway to success is entered through the hallway of failure.
 
The past cannot be changed, but our response to it can be.
God can take our endings and turn them into beginnings.
 
Peter was always talking.

Peter confessed Jesus is the Christ.
Matthew 16:13–17
 
Peter reprimanded Jesus.
Matthew 16:22–23
 
Peter was at the transfiguration of Jesus.
Mark 9:2–6
 
Peter is infamous for his denial of Jesus.
 
Read Luke 22:31–32
 
Satan can do nothing in the life of the child of God without our Father’s permission.
 
God has built a wall of protection around you.
 
Were it not for the prayers of Jesus, we wouldn’t have a chance.
 
"But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren."
Luke 22:32
 
#1 Peter’s first step down was self confidence.
Matthew 26:33
 
Peter’s words revealed unfounded confidence in himself and
directly contradicted what Jesus said.
 
#2 Peter’s next step down was his prayerlessness.
Matthew 26:39–41
 
Jesus was in anguish as He contemplated the horrors of the cross.
All He wanted was for the disciples to be present and praying.
 
Pride and prayerlessness go hand in hand.
 
Peter had no idea about the storm that was brewing.
 
Prayerlessness can be as much of a sin as breaking a commandment.
It’s a sin of omission.
James 4:17
 
#3 Peter fell because he trusted human efforts instead of God’s power.
Matthew 26:51-53
 
Peter just couldn’t get it right:
1. He was boasting when he should have been listening.
2. He was sleeping when he should have been praying.
3. He was fighting when he should have been surrendering.
 
Peter fought the wrong enemy with the wrong weapon.
 
Our enemies are not flesh and blood and they cannot be defeated with ordinary weapons.
 
Read Matthew 26:69–75
 
#4 Peter warmed himself by the enemy’s fire.
 
Following at a distance, Peter became cold.
 
“…and he [Peter] went in and sat with the servants to see the end.”
Matthew 26:58
 
#5 Peter denied Christ.
 
Peter wanted to be near Jesus, but he didn't want to stand up for Him.
 
Peter denied Christ for the third time.
Matthew 26:74
 
Peter had lost all sense of reality and seemingly all awareness of God.
Luke 22:59–62
 
Peter’s disappointment would lead to a divine appointment.
Peter’s greatest test would lead to his greatest trust in God.
 
Jesus never gave up on Peter, and He never gives up on us.
 
"Return, faithless people; I will cure you of backsliding."
Jeremiah 3:22 (NIV)

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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.

Why do we wear sunglasses? To keep the bright lights from hindering our ability to see what’s lurking in the shadows. Well today on A NEW BEGINNING, we’ll all put on some spiritual sunglasses. These prevent what’s lurking in the shadows from hindering our ability to see the bright light of Christ. Pastor Greg Laurie brings an eye-opening study that examines what’s going on in our world, and especially in the Middle East . . . so we can see what’s coming very soon in God’s End Times plan.

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.

Have you ever seen some wild new clothing style that’s catching on like wildfire? And you wonder, who was the first person to try that? And how did they get everyone else to follow their lead? Some people are influencers, plain and simple. Well today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie points out that we’re called to be influencers as we follow Christ. It’s our privilege and responsibility to show others what a Christ-like life looks like, and show them how to follow our lead.

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.