Programs And Podcasts

Everyone wants to feel that their life has a bigger purpose. We try to find meaning in our careers, our families, charity work, or special talents. But at the end of the day, none of that is going to last into eternity. So where is the true meaning found? Pastor J.D. explains how to start living out your ultimate purpose as he continues our series, Question Everything.

Religious pride can look respectable while keeping the heart far from God.

Teaching from Luke 14, Dr. Youssef takes us inside a Pharisee’s dinner, where Jesus confronts man-made rules, exposes self-righteousness, and warns of the eternal danger of exalting ourselves before a holy God.

Through His teaching on humility and the parable of the great banquet, Jesus also exposes the excuses people make for rejecting God’s gracious invitation. Worldly priorities, possessions, and self-sufficiency can keep a person from responding to the Gospel.

This episode calls listeners to:

• Reject pride and self-righteousness,
• Examine the difference between religion and genuine faith,
• Humble themselves before a holy God,
• Repent of excuses that keep them from Christ,
• Recognize their spiritual poverty and need for grace,
• Intercede urgently for those who remain lost.

God’s invitation is gracious, but it must not be treated lightly. True faith humbles itself, receives His grace, and lives in readiness for the Day of Judgment.

Scripture Focus: Luke 14:1-24

If today’s teaching stirred a question, burden, or need for prayer, you don’t have to walk through it alone.

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What book of the Bible reminds us that life is short and wisdom means making the most of the time God has given us? Ecclesiastes.

This remarkable book refuses to let us avoid one of life’s most uncomfortable realities: our time here is brief. Life “under the sun” is fleeting, our accomplishments will not last forever, and eventually every one of us will leave behind everything we have accumulated.

But Ecclesiastes does not confront us with mortality simply to make us somber. It reminds us that life is short so we will learn to receive it as a gift. And that perspective changes how we think about everything—including our money.

Consider Mount Everest, the highest mountain on Earth, rising more than 29,000 feet above sea level.

For generations, climbers dreamed of reaching its summit. But even today, with modern equipment and experienced guides, the journey remains extraordinarily dangerous. At roughly 26,000 feet, climbers enter what is commonly called the “death zone,” where the air contains too little oxygen for the human body to survive indefinitely.

A climber who reaches the summit cannot stay there. No matter how breathtaking the view, it's eventually time to descend.

Imagine two climbers standing at the top. One spends the moment focused entirely on everything that has gone wrong. His ankle hurts. The air is painfully thin. He is exhausted. The conditions are uncomfortable.

The other notices those same realities but also looks around. He sees the vastness of the mountains stretching beneath him. He thanks God for the beauty of creation and recognizes how extraordinary it is simply to be standing there.

Both climbers are in the same place. But only one is truly receiving the moment.

Ecclesiastes teaches us that life is something like standing on that summit. You just arrived, and you will not be here long. Many came before you. Many will come after you. But for this brief moment in history, you are here.

Sometimes your stay is filled with sunshine and calm. Sometimes it brings icy winds and cloud cover. Some seasons feel wonderfully full; others bring pain, disappointment, or loss.

Yet through it all, Ecclesiastes keeps reminding us: You are alive. Receive the life God has given you.

Near the conclusion of Ecclesiastes, the Preacher turns our attention directly toward the brevity of life:

“Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, ‘I have no pleasure in them.’” - Ecclesiastes 12:1

A few verses later, the imagery becomes even more vivid:

“Before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.” - Ecclesiastes 12:6–7

Ecclesiastes asks us to think honestly about aging and death. That may sound discouraging, but the purpose is surprisingly life-giving.

If you knew you could remain on the summit only a little longer, you would pay closer attention to the view. In the same way, remembering that our earthly lives are limited can help us become more grateful for the life we have today.

Ecclesiastes repeatedly reminds us that we will age, decline, and eventually die. Death appears throughout the book because the reality of our mortality exposes the limits of everything we are tempted to treat as ultimate.

Money cannot stop death. Achievement cannot stop death. Possessions cannot stop death. Even wisdom, though better than folly, cannot make us immortal.

That realization could lead to despair. Instead, Ecclesiastes repeatedly points us toward gratitude. 

Because life is temporary, ordinary gifts become precious. A meal shared with people you love

Coming up today here on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie speaks with Pastor Chuck Swindoll on the incredible care and providence of the Lord.

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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.

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We were made for connection, but relationships don’t always come easy. In today’s conversation, Debra Fileta breaks down the “seasons” (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter) that relationships naturally go through. She provides practical tools and encouragement to help us tend to our relationships well, ultimately guiding us to follow Christ’s example of love first.

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Improve Your Sex Life to Improve Your Marriage -- A great sex life is something you make, not something you find.This exclusive free video series contains research-backed strategies for improving sexual satisfaction and communication that have already helped thousands of couples experience greater mutual pleasure and closeness than ever before.

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What do you say to someone who’s fallen away from the faith, especially when you care deeply about them? Is there a way to sensitively deal with the situation without coming across as “holier than thou?” Chip lays out a few strategies to help you effectively talk with your friend or loved one.

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