Greg Laurie: A New Beginning

For some people, happiness is as elusive as a feather floating on a strong breeze. It’s in their sights, then escapes before they can lay hold. Is happiness just out of bounds for some people? Or are they looking in the wrong places? Pastor Greg Laurie addresses those concerns today on A NEW BEGINNING from one of this past year’s most requested messages. We’re studying Paul’s counsel in Philippians. It’s some of the Bible’s strongest encouragement, even though the words were written while Paul was in chains. Listen on harvest.org --- Listen to our new devotional podcast 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 post pictures of their food on social media. And, admittedly, a lot of it looks really good. But have you noticed the food that’s to die for is also the food you can die from? Isn’t that true? And in the bigger picture, that’s the way sin is. Sin first says “live it up” . . . then says, “you’ll never live that down.” Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie points out where we can find real satisfaction in life. We go to the Author of Life Himself to find out what He recommends. Listen on harvest.org --- Listen to our new devotional podcast 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.

Pastor Greg Laurie’s continuing in our Walk This Way series! He’s taking us into the book of James where we find instruction and direction for walking in the way of Jesus. Don't miss this! Notes 1. God is angry with me and wants to ruin my life. “I have loved you with an everlasting love.” —Jeremiah 31:3 2. God loves me and accepts me as I am (this is the opposite of the first one and is also wrong in a different way). God does love you and accepts you as you are, but He does not want to leave you that way! 3. Follow your heart. The modern use of the word heart is primarily thought of as emotion. Do not follow your heart; follow God’s heart (in other words, His Will). “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you.” —Ezekiel 36:26 4. Trust your gut. The problem with trusting your gut is when selfishness is the motivating factor. Instead of trusting our gut, we should trust in the Lord. 5. We need to learn to love ourselves. The real problem is, we love ourselves too much. 6. You deserve to be happy. “Every man, whatsoever his condition, desires to be happy.” —Augustine (A.D. 397) God is happy! Jesus said, “Happy are they that hear the Word of God and keep it.”  7. God wants us to follow our dreams. God loves you and His plan for you is better than your plan. God is omniscient (all-knowing).  What bothers you or brings tears to your eyes is a concern to God. God knows your tomorrow! The way to life is through death, the way to up is down, and the way to happiness is sadness.  8. We need to live our lives God’s way, not the way of the world. Wisdom is known by its actions. Wisdom is known by its good fruit. God’s wisdom is pure (moral purity). A wise person is not so arrogant to think they cannot learn anything; they will talk to a person, not about a person. We need to be bridge builders, not bridge burners. 9. If I live a good life, I will go to Heaven. There will be bad people in Heaven. There will be good people in Hell. It is not enough to know about God; we need to know God. Scripture Referenced Jeremiah 17:9 Proverbs 16:25 Proverbs 3:5–6 Luke 11:28 Psalm 147:4 Psalm 56:8 1 Kings 3:9 James 1:5 James 3:13 James 3:17–18 --- 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 special episode, we revisit an interview between Pastor Greg Laurie and his friend and mentor, the late Pastor Chuck Smith. Pastor Chuck shares about his family, his family experienced, and his start in ministry.  The conversation touches many subjects, including: Pastor Chuck’s early love of the Bible How he encountered the Lord in a special way as a teenager  His original plans to be a medical doctor How he met his wife, Kay This interview took place in 2012. Pastor Chuck Smith went to be with the Lord on October 3, 2013.  --- Catch the powerful story of Chuck Smith, Greg Laurie, and more in the upcoming feature film, Jesus Revolution. Get your tickets at https://jesusrevolution.movie/  This podcast is supported by the generosity of our Harvest Partners.Support the show: https://bit.ly/anbsupportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Author Max Lucado has pointed out that a car’s windshield is a lot bigger than the rearview mirror, because we need to focus on where we’re going, not where we’ve been. Too many of us want to drag our past failures right into our present. Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie helps us break from the sins of our past, and focus on finishing our lives well. It’s among the most requested messages from the past year. Glad you’re joining us for one of our top ten listener favorites. Listen on harvest.org --- Listen to our new devotional podcast 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.

As a rule, people don’t walk much anymore. Oh, some might do a couple of miles on the treadmill at the gym, but they drove three laps around the parking lot to get the closest parking space. In biblical times, everybody walked . . . a lot! And running? Well, that was the speeding they did when they were late for work. Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie points out how Paul the Apostle offers counsel on how we can run the race of life with endurance, and how we can run to win. Listen on harvest.org --- Listen to our new devotional podcast 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.

Coming up today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie focuses on Paul’s words in Philippians. While he was under house arrest, he wrote some of the most inspiring counsel on where to find happiness and joy! And as Pastor Greg presents one of the most requested studies of the past year, we see Paul talks about the Christian life as a race. And much like a coach inspiring his runners, today on A NEW BEGINNING we’ll be inspired to run with purpose and intent, so we finish well. Listen on harvest.org --- Listen to our new devotional podcast 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 people decide one day to get back to the gym. They make the commitment on Monday, and they’re all in! Tuesday, there they are. Wednesday. Thursday, a little late. Friday... oops missed that day. And by the following Wednesday they want their money back. Some people come to Christ full of passion and resolve. But today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie points out, it’s not how you start, but how you finish. It’s an important study in Nehemiah where we’ll learn to finish well. Listen on harvest.org --- Listen to our new devotional podcast 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.

Every Sunday morning belongs to God . . . unless it’s a beautiful day, then you gotta get out in the fresh air. Every Sunday morning belongs to God . . . unless the weather’s awful, then you gotta watch the forecast. Devotions, every morning . . . unless you didn’t sleep well, or were out late the night before. God isn’t content with the leftovers of our lives. He wants to be top priority. And today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie points out that principle even extends to our financial management. Listen on harvest.org --- Listen to our new devotional podcast 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’re back in our Walk This Way series for this Sunday message. Open your Bible to James 3 and join Pastor Greg Laurie as he goes over the power of our words. Get good encouragement from this message! Notes There is power in what we say to others. Words matter, especially words of encouragement. More people have died by words than any weapon of man ever devised. The tongue is the most destructive weapon on the face of the earth. 1. What you say reveals who you are. The control of the tongue is a barometer of Christian maturity. The first sin committed after the fall was a sin of the tongue (Genesis 3:12). 2. We need to control what we say.  James is telling us that the uncontrolled tongue has a direct pipeline to Hell. 3. Our words used right can do so much good. 4. Our words used wrong can do so much damage.  Ways our words hurt others: 1. Gossip and backbiting (Proverbs 20:19). Gossip is like junk food—you know it is bad, but you eat it anyway. Ways our words hurt others: 2. Innuendo. Ways our words hurt others: 3. Misuse of our words in flattery. Gossip is saying behind a person’s back what you would never say to their face. Flattery is saying to a person’s face what you would never say behind their back. 1. Controlling your words is a sign of spiritual maturity.  T – Is it true? H – Will it help? I – Is it inspiring? N – Is it necessary? K – Is it kind? 2. The greatest use of our words is to proclaim God’s Word.   When you speak for God, take it very seriously! 3. Use your words to build up, not tear down. 4. Use your words to praise God, because this is the highest and greatest use of our tongue. It’s not enough to think it; you need to say it out loud! 5. Use your words to preach the gospel, because this is God’s primary way of reaching nonbelievers. 6. Use your words to confess your sins. You can think it, but you need to say it out loud … I have sinned. The best use of our words: Build up, not tear down; encourage, not discourage. Praise God. Proclaim the gospel. Confess your sins. Scripture Referenced Proverbs 18:21 Matthew 12:36–37 Proverbs 26:22 Proverbs 6:23–24 1 Timothy 3:1 1 Peter 4:11 Ephesians 5:19  Hebrews 13:15  Psalm 34:1 Daniel 9:4–5 --- 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.