Greg Laurie: A New Beginning

God had an important message to deliver to mankind. He was surrounded by heavenly messengers called angels. But He had a different plan. He could have written His message across the sky, or fashioned creation itself to reveal His words. Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie points out that, instead, God chose to deliver the message Himself, clothed in humanity, born as a baby. Today, we’ll look at the message, and the God-man who was born in a manger. 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/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the most positive things people can say about us is that we’re “followers” of Jesus Christ. It means we’re willing to follow His lead, we’re active in our belief, we’ve put feet to our faith. And today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie takes us to Revelation 13 where we learn about a group of exactly 144,000 “followers” of Jesus. A group recorded for time and eternity in Scripture. We’ll see what makes them unique, and learn to follow in their footsteps. 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/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our minds come with built-in baloney filters. We hear something that’s too good to be true and we think, “baloney.” The trouble is, our adversary has some pretty sneaky ways of dressing up lies to look like the truth. Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie helps us tune up our spiritual discernment so we can spot the lies as they escape from the Devil’s mouth. It’s an important study, and one of the messages our listeners requested the most over the past 12 months. 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/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some might think a cashless society might be kind of handy—just scan and scoot. But today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie points out how the mark represents allegiance to the Antichrist! It’s something far more consequential than an alternate form of identification. In effect, it identifies us with the powers of darkness. It’s a hard-hitting message, and one of the studies our listeners requested the most over the past 12 months. We’re kicking off our series of top 10 messages today. Listen on harvest.org Make a gift to support Harvest Ministries and change lives in 2023! --- 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/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Not even Jesus’ family was a perfect one—but that shouldn’t be a shock. Instead, it should be a reminder that Jesus came to save. Pastor Greg Laurie helps us see God's grace in action and connect what we learn to the story of Christmas. Pastor Greg's Christmas message LIVE Notes God gives second chances! Read: Matthew 1:1–7, 15–16 Jesus’ story is not about God helping perfect people but saving lost people. In this genealogy, which is really a key part of the Christmas story, we have God, in His mercy, doing for sinners what they can’t do for themselves. Reminding us that Jesus came to heal broken lives and restore shattered hopes. David Matthew 1:1 Luke 1:32 Tamar Matthew 1:3 Rehab Ruth Bathsheba Mary Matthew 1:16 Read: Luke 1:26–29 “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” —Luke 1:28 Mary was troubled, or literally agitated. A truly spiritual person will not boast of their accomplishments. The more spiritual you are, the more aware you will become of your own sinfulness. “My soul exalts the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.” —Luke 1:46–47 Joseph Luke 1:27 God the Father, in Heaven, chose Joseph to be a stepfather, or father figure, for Jesus on earth! The angel of the Lord came to Joseph, too. The whole first chapter of Matthew speaks of the grace of God. There will never be another Joseph and Mary. Then again, there will never be another you! God is preparing you for a purpose in this life, and He is preparing you for the afterlife. That God’s grace may be richly displayed. We have the genealogy of Christ so the focus would be on Jesus and not His family. That we might have hope for our future, and the future of our family. Christmas is all about redemption—taking messed up families and making them right. Scripture Referenced Mark 3:21 Matthew 1:20–21 Ephesians 4:32 Hebrews 7:25 --- Watch Pastor Greg's Christmas message: harvest.org/live 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/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tough trials can bring us to our knees. But no doubt the most disheartening time to face those challenges is here at Christmas time. It’s a time to deck the halls, not to be sidelined and feel all alone. Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie wants you to know, you’re NOT alone. We’ll see that, within the biblical story of the birth of Christ, is found a promise of His presence in our lives. It’s a promise we can cling to today, through the weekend, and into the coming year! 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/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We think of Christmas as a season of togetherness . . . family, friends, fellowship. But real life never quite looks like the greeting cards. Maybe a loved one has passed, or someone has let us down. We may have lost a job, or lost our good health. It’s the toughest time of the year for heartache and disappointment. But today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie has a message of hope and reassurance. No matter what’s going on in your life, be assured that you are not alone. 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/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you follow many of the discussion threads on social media, they often follow a pattern. A suggestion . . . a counter suggestion . . . disagreement . . . rude disagreement . . . personal attack . . . intense, caustic tirade . . . and we close the page uttering something about humanity being doomed. It’s probably a good idea to get our input from a higher source. Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie points to our Wonderful Counselor. 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/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So many of us are thinking, “How am I gonna get all this stuff done?” It’s probably the holiday that requires the most planning and preparation . . . preparation that has so little to do with the reason for the season. Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie contrasts this Christmas with the first Christmas, and points out the joy of this season if we can refocus . . . not on all the things not yet done, but on the finished work of Christ—born in the manger, who died on the cross. 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/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Christmas holiday focuses a great deal on a birth—a special birth, to be sure. But the reason for Jesus’ birth was ultimately for our re-birth. To miss that element is to miss the message of Christmas itself. Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie helps us consider the gift of God’s Son, and how his payment years later at Calvary made it possible for us to be reborn as children of God. We’ll open Scripture to grasp the miracle of God became man. 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/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this classic interview, Pastor Greg Laurie speaks with author and speaker Joni Eareckson Tada about God’s sovereignty—and why He permits suffering in this world. What follows is a classic conversation that touches on Christmas, Heaven, and how we can glorify God in our broken bodies. You'll learn about the grace and amazing nature of God, and how He can and does work everything out for good to those who serve Him. This conversation is encouraging for those suffering through hard times or who have a loved one that is going through a difficult trial. Joni shares the words that changed her perspective on everything: “God permits what He hates to accomplish that which He loves.” Joni Eareckson Tada is an esteemed Christian stateswoman and respected global leader in disability advocacy. Although a 1967 diving accident left her a quadriplegic, she emerged from rehabilitation with a determination to help others with similar disabilities. Mrs. Tada serves as CEO of Joni and Friends, a Christian organization which provides programs and services for thousands of special-needs families around the world. --- 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/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the age of social media, people can make themselves seem quite important, quite successful. But it often only amplifies the difference between life as it is and life as they want it to be. Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie has hope for anyone who’s feeling small, unnoticed, disregarded, and dismissed. Hope for anyone who isn’t experiencing the joy of the Christmas season. God stepped into the human story, and He can step into your story. 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/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many students wait until the night before to study for a test. The adrenaline makes them razor sharp—or so they say. But then they also hope for a little good luck when the test is handed out. Well, someone has pointed out luck is when preparation meets opportunity. Now, as believers, we don’t depend on luck, we depend on the Lord, but today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie shows the wisdom in letting preparation meet opportunity as it relates to the fiery trials we may all face. 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/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many of us carry smartphones, and most of them have cameras. And it’s great to have a camera at your fingertips. But why do we take pictures? To preserve “moments.” Fleeting moments. We want to hold on to the happiness, because it so quickly disappears. Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie helps us see real joy comes on another level . . . a level that can’t be captured by a snapshot. It’s a level that brings the richest fulfillment, and also delivers us from the most fiery trials. 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/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let’s be honest, we all like getting a nod of approval when we’ve done the right thing, don’t we? And then, when we’ve messed up, we hope everyone was looking the other way. But today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie points out people of integrity do good even without getting credit, and avoid the bad even when they wouldn’t be blamed. We’ll see some tremendous examples of that today as Pastor Greg introduces us to four young men from our Scripture text. We’re in Daniel, chapter 1. 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/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

God has given each of us a job. It’s an important job. But we probably spend a lot more time at the job that’s printed on our business card than engaged in the job God has given us. God didn’t put us here to be the vice president of this, or the regional director of that. Pastor Greg Laurie points out, our main job is to show others how to know the Lord. Today on A NEW BEGINNING, some practical insight on how to do that job well. The job is discipleship . . . and we all have been called to that privilege. 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/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here’s something surprising: the story of Christmas relates to a time before Christ’s birth. Pastor Greg Laurie explains just how and leaves us with a stronger appreciation for the holiday. Listen in! Notes This story of redemption, the Christmas story, started a long time ago in a garden—and it began with a tree. The tree of the Knowledge of God and Evil. “The woman was convinced. The fruit looked so fresh and delicious, and it would make her so wise. So she ate some of the fruit.” —Genesis 3:6 The Lord gives the first Christmas verse, not Isaiah 9:6 or Micah 5:2 but Genesis 3:15 where God speaks directly to Satan. God the Father was effectively saying, “Satan, there is coming One who will crush you.” Jesus would be born to die so that we might live. The shadow of the cross lay over the beauty of that first Christmas night. The Pharaoh tried to exterminate the Jews, starting with the Hebrew baby boys. The wicked Haman tried to have the Jews wiped off the face of the earth. King Herod, hearing that One was born “The King of the Jews,” tried to kill Jesus. Nothing will stop Christ from coming again! Jesus being God, pre-existed, and He, along with the Holy Spirit and the Father, are co-equal and co-eternal. From our perspective on Earth: Unto us, a child is born. From Heaven’s perspective: Unto us, a Son is given. Jesus is in the Old Testament, concealed, and in the New Testament, revealed. A Theophany is an appearance of God. A Christophany is an appearance of Christ before Bethlehem. Note: It was not an angel of the Lord but the angel of the Lord. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and staff they comfort me.” —Psalm 23:4 A shepherd has two tools: a rod and a staff. Read: Genesis 32:24–30 Never be afraid to commit an unknown future to a known God. Something changed in the heart of Jacob. He went from wanting to win to worshipping, from fighting to surrendering, from wrestling to nestling. Jesus has always been there, and He will always be there in the future. Even when we sometimes forget about Him, He never for a moment forgets us. Scripture Referenced Isaiah 9:6 Isaiah 43:2 --- 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/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this short episode, Pastor Greg Laurie recollects his childhood desire for a friend who could hear his prayers in times of need. We all are looking for someone to give us meaning, and God tells us that if we seek Him with all our hearts we will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13). Listen in for an important truth this Christmas! --- 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/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ever been hunting for something in one of those big-box stores . . . and you feel like you’ve been walking forever? You ask an employee, “Excuse me, where are the paper towels?” And you hope they don’t just point to the other side of the store. The words you want to hear are, “C’mon, I’ll take you there.” Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie explains that new believers need that kind of assistance. We need to show them the way. It’s personal, helpful—it's called discipleship, and that’s our topic today. 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/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you take a vitamin everyday? It’s a good idea to make sure your body is getting what it needs to thrive. God has provided some spiritual vitamins in His Word. In fact, it’s more than vitamins, it’s our spiritual food, our spiritual sustenance. And today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie points out how a regular diet of God’s Word is just what Christian disciples need. If you’re not signed up to get a regular dose of God’s Word through Pastor Greg’s daily e-mail devotions, sign up at harvest.org. 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/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christian disciples are in the import/export business. No, it’s not Persian rugs or spices from India. It’s truth from Heaven. God’s Word gives us everything we need to know to grow as committed followers of the Lord. And today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie points out that it’s up to us to import those truths into our lives, and then look for opportunities to export those principles into the lives of those in our circle of influence. These are “disciplines of discipleship.” 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/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the classic, old CCM songs of days gone by was called Two Hands, by Love Song. The song said “with one hand reach out to Jesus. With the other, bring a friend.” That’s a pretty good description of discipleship in a nutshell. And today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie helps us follow the Lord wholeheartedly, and show others how to do the same. We’ll learn how to embrace the very purpose we’re here: to have fellowship with God, and to bring others into that fellowship. 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/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Google processes more than 8 1⁄2 billion searches every single day. How do we know? We Google’d it. 8 1⁄2 billion searches, and there are 7 1⁄2 billion people on the planet. A lot of us are curious. Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie speaks to one of the most curious issues of the Christian life. How can we discover God’s will for our lives, and how can we align ourselves with His plan? We’ll discover how we can find the fulfillment of living according to God’s purpose. 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/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sometimes it is easy to forget that the people God chose as Jesus’ parents were young and, in many ways, unprepared. Yet Mary and Joseph trusted in God’s plan and were faithful. Pastor Greg Laurie shows how God fulfills His promises through the obedience of regular people. Listen in for a message from Luke 1 and Matthew titled, “With God, Nothing Is Impossible.” Notes The word for power comes from the root word “dynamite.” Mary saw Jesus enter the world as her son and leave as her Savior. Mary was living in Nazareth. 1. Mary lived a Godly life in an ungodly place. Nazareth could be described as sin city. Mary models for us that it is possible to live a holy life in an unholy place. “Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young.” Mary was a nobody in a nothing town in the middle of nowhere. God uses “nobodies” to tell everybody about somebody. The Lord hand-picked Mary to fulfill this prophecy. Troubled means “disturbed,” “confused,” or “failure to function.” 2. Mary was surprised that God had selected her and not someone else. Gabriel the Archangel tells Mary what the name of her child, the Messiah, was to be. Mary was willing to do whatever God wants! 3. Mary obeyed and magnified God. Mary wonders how she, being a virgin, will conceive and Gabriel says, “For with God nothing will be impossible.” —Luke 1:37 For with God nothing will be impossible! Joseph is an unsung hero of the Christmas story. 4. God chose Joseph just as surely as He chose Mary, to be a stepfather, a father figure for Jesus on Earth! Joseph was doubtful about the supernatural conception. The angel of the Lord came to Joseph, too! If there were no virgin birth, there would be no sinless Christ. If there is no sinless Christ, there would be no atonement. 1. Jesus came to die and give His life as a ransom for many. “For even the Son of man came not to be served, but to serve others, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” —Mark 10:45 2. Jesus was born in Bethlehem to bring life in all of its fullness. 3. Christ was born in a manger so that we could be born again! God has given us the ultimate gift. For with God nothing will be impossible! Scripture Referenced 1 Timothy 4:12 Isaiah 7:14 John 10:10 --- 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/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're only days away from Harvest's biggest film event of the year: Johnny Cash: The Redemption of an American Icon. Find tickets and showtimes here: https://www.fathomevents.com/events/Johnny-Cash-the-Redemption-of-an-American-Icon --- Today, we look back two decades at a message from Pastor Greg Laurie given at the SoCal Harvest event at Angel Stadium (formerly Edison Field) of Anaheim. Pastor Greg speaks powerfully from Luke 15 on the story of the prodigal son. In this message, you’ll find answers to the major questions of life. What are you on this Earth for? What are you here for? And how can you be a happy person? No matter what kind of home you might have come from, Pastor Greg underscores the possibility of hope. He says, “Even if your parents has let you down, even if your earthly father has left you down, you have a heavenly Father who loves you and will never let you down.” To learn more about coming into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, just go here. This message was originally given on July 13, 2002. --- This podcast is supported by the generosity of our Harvest Partners.Support the show: https://bit.ly/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What’s right isn’t always popular, and what’s popular isn’t always right. It’s easy to go with the flow . . . laugh along with others at an inappropriate joke, remain silent when a co-worker is about to do something unethical. But those who never stand for something eventually will fall for anything. Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie helps us put our faith—our relationship with God—front and center in our daily lives. It’s part of walking the rewarding pathway of discipleship. 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/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s one thing to be ON the team, it’s another to be IN the action. It’s one thing to watch from the bench, it’s another to get in the game. Spiritually speaking, our salvation is a free gift from God—Jesus paid the price. But discipleship has a cost. It’s a higher level of devotion . . . and a higher level of reward! Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie helps us chart a course for genuine discipleship. And he begins by commenting on an evangelistic outreach that had just concluded. 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/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Christian life isn’t constant rainbows and butterflies. It’s not bliss, bling, and bemusement. And we shouldn’t promise that kind of life in our presentation of the Gospel. We need to be honest. Sometimes trials come our way, but the Lord is with us in the midst of them, and will help bring us through them. We’ll learn more today on A NEW BEGINNING, as Pastor Greg continues our study of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. It’s timeless insight that stretches right into the 21st Century. 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/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Remember Harvest Ministries this Giving Tuesday and help us reach people with the gospel in unique ways! Just go to harvest.org/givingtuesday Among the highest paid professions, all in the top 10 are in the medical field. Anesthesiologists top the list. Their knowledge comes at a premium. But they can save your life. What believers know is worth even more (spiritually) . . . and it can save a life for eternity. But some resist hearing the life-saving Good News. What then? Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie helps us be ready for those times when the hearers don’t have ears to hear. 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/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Lord tells us He’s not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. Yes, God judges sinners but that’s not His desire. What’s our desire? When someone is in sin, do we reflect the Lord’s objective, that we should lovingly lead them back into fellowship with God? Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie takes us to important counsel from the Sermon on the Mount—the Lord’s directives to His disciples on matters of faith, love and harmony. 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/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We've all heard the phrase “it's the most wonderful time of the year.” But is it true? Not for some of us. That's why Pastor Greg Laurie's offering us a Christian perspective on how to make this holiday season a joyful one. Don't miss this valuable, encouraging message. Notes There are more than 2,700 passages in the Bible containing words such as joy, happiness, pleasure, laughter, gladness, feasting, and celebration. God Himself is happy. Jesus said, “I have told you this to make you as completely happy as I am.” 1. Remember the reason for the season. Christmas is the celebration of the happiest message of all time. The only real happiness you will find is in Christ, not in Christmas but in Christ, not in merriment but in the Messiah. “God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself because it is not there. There is no such thing.” —C. S. Lewis 2. If you want a happy holiday, spend time with loved ones. There is power when God’s people pray with each other. 3. If you want a happy holiday, be grateful for what you have. “In everything, give thanks for this is the Will of God in Christ Jesus.” —1 Thessalonians 5:18 “Give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.” —Psalm 106:1 It is very easy to only want to give thanks when we feel like it; but according to Scripture, it is something the believer is to do regardless of circumstances. The Two Most Important Moments in a Person’s Life: When they are born and when they realize what they are born for. 4. Focus on giving instead of receiving this Christmas. “It is more blessed to give than it is to receive.” —Acts 20:35 “The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.” —Proverbs 11:25 We give God our treasure. We give God our talent. We give God our time. Every morning, God deposits into your bank of time 86,400 seconds or 1,440 minutes, equaling 24 hours. Jesus’ summary of it all was, “Real life is not measured by how much we own; it is measured by who we know and what we do with our lives.” Remember the reason for the season. Spend time with loved ones. Be grateful for what you have. Focus on giving instead of receiving this Christmas. It’s not presents under a tree, but His presence in your life. Scripture Referenced John 15:11 Hebrews 10:24–25 Hebrews 13:15 2 Corinthians 9:7 2 Corinthians 9:8 Matthew 25:15 --- 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/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we're revisiting Pastor Greg Laurie’s substantial interview with bestselling author and speaker, Randy Alcorn. They discuss the celebration of Thanksgiving for every Christian, tackle questions about Heaven and eternity, and look at the topic of happiness in relation to the Christian life. You’ll hear answers to questions such as: What do we actually have to be thankful for? What can Christians expect when they go to Heaven? Will we wear clothes in Heaven? Does belief in an afterlife change how we live today? Randy reminds us, “If your hope is in yourself, or your hope is in the economy, or stock market and your retirement plan, and your hope is always being healthy or wealthy or whatever, those things are not a solid or firm foundation for hope. Jesus Christ is the source of hope.” Randy Alcorn is a New York Times bestselling author of more than 50 books, including Heaven. He is the founder and director of Eternal Perspective Ministries, a nonprofit organization dedicated to teaching biblical truth and drawing attention to the needy and how to help them. --- 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/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Driving instructors often tell their students to look ahead on the road—don’t focus on the mailbox coming up on the right, or the approaching car on the left. If you focus on those dangers, you tend to steer that direction. On a spiritual level, we find similar advice in the Lord’s Sermon on the Mount. And today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie highlights this time-tested counsel Jesus gives us about the worries and cares that keep us from focusing where we should: on Him. 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/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

They say thousands of Thomas Edison’s early experiments initially failed, including finding the right filament for the practical electric light bulb. His friend said, what a shame, all that work and no results. Edison said, “I have gotten lots of results! I know several thousand things that won't work!" . . . How’s your life going? And how do you respond? Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie has good encouragement for anyone who’s facing tough challenges and feels like giving up. 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/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’ve all had those unfortunate moments when we’ve said something we shouldn’t have. It’s a regrettable mistake. But today on A NEW BEGINNING, we’ll see there are also times when we should have said something and we didn’t. We’ll focus on the importance of expressing our thanks to God for His goodness. And we’ll see there’s a lot more to this issue than just good manners. Today, Pastor Greg Laurie points out how it’s a pathway to a closer and more rewarding relationship with Jesus Christ. 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/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Lord tells us to cast all our cares upon Him, for He cares for us. It’s like we’ve come out of a department store with bags full of merchandise, and it’s hard to navigate our way through the parking lot. We drop this bag, then we drop that bag. We might even hear the sound of broken glass. The Lord shows up with a cart and says, I’ll take ‘em from here. Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie points out how we can leave our burdens with the Lord. He’ll know what to do with them. 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/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is there a subject you know a lot about? Maybe you’re a sports fan, or like history. Maybe you know all about songs on the radio, or you’re a bird watcher. When someone says something that’s inaccurate in your particular specialty, alarm bells go off in your mind: “nope, nope, nope.” Well, today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie says we should each be specialists in Scripture, and then when Satan tries to plant a thought that’s contrary to the Bible, right away we’ll say, “no, no, no.” 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 PartnersSupport the show: https://bit.ly/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Bible tells us “faith without good deeds is useless” (James 2:20). We should not only be talk but action when it comes to our faith, and guest speaker Pastor Jonathan Laurie’s reminding us of that in this Sunday episode. Notes James is stating that merely saying you have faith does not mean you have it. The sin of commission is knowing what is wrong and doing it anyway. The sin of omission is knowing what is right and not doing it. 1. Dead Faith. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” —John 3:16 We are saved by grace through faith, not works. But saving faith will have works. 2. Demonic Faith. A faith that only stirs our hearts, stimulates our intellect, and does not bring forth a transformed life does not bear spiritual fruit—it is not a true faith. 3. Dynamic Faith. Dynamic saving faith, to start with, is based on the Word of God. “The whole person plays a part in true saving faith. The mind understands the truth; the heart desires the truth; and the will acts upon the truth. The men and women of faith named in Hebrews 11 were people of action: God spoke, and they obeyed.” —Warren Wiersbe “Of what value is the grace I profess to receive if it does not dramatically change the way that I live. If it does not change the way that I live, it will never change my eternal destiny.” —C. H. Spurgeon Scripture Referenced Ephesians 2:8–10 (ESV) Matthew 7:18–23 (ESV) Galatians 5:22–23 (ESV) James 2:18–20 (ESV) Revelation 12:12 (ESV) Romans 10:17 (ESV) --- 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/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pastor Greg Laurie gives an update on the attendance and outcome of the SoCal Harvest at Angel Stadium of Anaheim, with over 210,000 in person and online attendance and over 8,600 professions of faith. Read the full recap here: https://harvest.org/resources/gregs-blog/post/2022-socal-harvest-recap/ What's next for Harvest Ministries? Johnny Cash: The Redemption of an American Icon Learn more: https://www.fathomevents.com/events/Johnny-Cash-the-Redemption-of-an-American-Icon Jesus Revolution Learn more: https://jesusrevolution.movie/ --- 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/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chemistry majors know that liquids can be adhesive or cohesive. Some liquids stick to other things, while others cling together. If you’ve broken a mercury thermometer and seen the little beads of mercury ball-up together, you’ve seen cohesion. Well, when impure thoughts come at us, do we let them stick inside our minds . . . or do we repel them and cling to what we know is right? Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie brings good encouragement from the Lord’s Sermon on the Mount. 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 PartnersSupport the show: https://bit.ly/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Think persecution doesn’t happen today? More than a dozen Christians die for their faith each day around the world. But even when the persecution isn’t that severe, many of us still face opposition for what we believe. We may not lose our lives, but we may lose our job, a promotion, or a friend. Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie brings us a new perspective on persecution, and on several other facets mentioned in the Beatitudes—from the Sermon on the Mount. 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/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

During World War II, everyone sacrificed. Meatless Tuesdays, rationed gasoline, sugar, meat, cooking oil, and canned goods. Nowadays, we post pictures of our excesses on social media. Self sacrifice begat the selfie. It’s been called “corrosive narcissism” . . . and culture has never been more unhappy. Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie points out the problem. We’re not following the Lord’s prescription for happiness. 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/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maybe you remember . . . there was an old TV commercial for potato chips that said, “Bet you can’t eat just one.” And they were right. When’s the last time you were satisfied with just one potato chip? With some things, one taste and you want more. A lot more. Well, the Psalmist wrote, “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” And today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie helps us do just that as we dig in to the Beatitudes . . . a biblical attitude adjustment from the Lord’s Sermon on the Mount. 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/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It seems holiness and happiness are now considered opposites. When someone is reverent, or pious, or devoted, most don’t expect to see a smile on their face. They expect a serious, somber look of concern and stillness. But Christians should be the happiest people on the planet! Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie helps us see the biblical basis for happiness. It revolves around the word blessed . . . a term we see repeatedly in the Sermon on the Mount. Listen on harvest.org --- See Johnny Cash: The Redemption of an American Icon in theaters this December. 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/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today’s episode, special guest speaker Pastor Tony Clark continues our series through the book of James with a message titled “No Discrimination Allowed.” The church should be no place for discrimination or special treatment. James urges us to be impartial and treat everyone equally. Pastor Tony shares this compelling lesson behind James 2—and shows you how to love your neighbor as yourself. Listen in! --- 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/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this short conversation, Pastor Greg Laurie sits down with Vietnam veteran and evangelist Tim Lee. They discuss his experiences in Vietnam as a Marine, his coming to Christ, and his current ministry sharing the gospel. Give a listen to a powerful testimony! --- 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/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A GPS device needs to first know where you are before it can tell you how to get where you’re going. On a spiritual level, the Bible helps us understand where we are so we can find our way along the straight and narrow path of righteousness. It helps us see our need, then it helps us meet our need. And today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie helps us examine some of the most foundational passages in helping us gain our bearings. Glad you’re along for the start of a brand new series we think you’ll really enjoy. 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/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An old man who had been walking with the Lord for many years was asked by a newer Christian, “When will I get past temptation? When will I finally reach the point when I’m no longer tempted?” The old man said, “When you’re dead.” Well, maybe we can shoot for being dead to sin. That’s our goal today on A NEW BEGINNING as Pastor Greg Laurie brings us a look at the Bible’s most famous strong man. We’ll see he was strong physically, but he became weak in the face of temptation. 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/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1998, the Etch a Sketch was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame. With it, you can draw picture after picture, as complicated as you want. If you mess up, turn it upside down, give it a shake, and start over. Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie says no matter how your life is messed up, God offers you the chance to turn your life right side up and start over. Shaking is optional. A case in point today from the Gospel of John, and the Gospel of Luke. 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/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So many people made decisions for Christ this past weekend! We had scores of people joining us for SoCal Harvest, Pastor Greg Laurie’s live evangelistic event at Angel Stadium. You can get details about the outreach at harvest.org. But we want to follow-up with them, and provide some solid insight for the rest of us. Pastor Greg helps us walk with the Lord and avoid the temptations that would make us fall. Glad you’re along for A NEW BEGINNING today as we offer practical insight for all believers. 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/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.