Greg Laurie: A New Beginning

What is God like? The answer may depend on who you ask. Instead of allowing others to form our view of Him, we need to find the answer ourselves—and we can only do that by diving into the Word. Don’t miss your chance to know Him better through this powerful message from Pastor Greg Laurie.  Notes The Bible refers to the Almighty as “Father.” The New Testament picture of God is as a loving heavenly Father. God the Father longs for fellowship with us. The Old Testament is a beautiful picture of a loving God. After David was selected by God, his troubles began. The same can be true for us. David was willing to forgive his enemies.  David reached out to a potential rival, even an enemy, and loved him. God specializes in picking up people who have been dropped in life. The word kindness means, “grace.” Grace is not based on merit; it’s based on love. Just as David reached out to Mephibosheth, God reaches out to us!  This is a picture of what God is like: David, like Jesus, showed forgiveness and love instead of judgment. Mephibosheth was afraid when he heard David wanted to see him.  “Nothing twists or deforms the soul more than a low or unworthy conception of God.” —A. W. Tozer 1. Don’t let other people form your view of God. Jesus said, “Follow Me.” 2. Forgive your enemies, whether they deserve it or not. 3. Leave the past in the past. David, out of sheer love for Jonathan, demonstrated grace to Jonathan’s son, Mephibosheth. Mephibosheth had nothing, deserved nothing, and could repay nothing. Mephibosheth was adopted as a son and invited to eat at the king’s table. Other Scripture Referenced Psalm 27:4 --- 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://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this short episode, Pastor Greg Laurie addresses the question about whether we need to shelter our children. He gives us important insight on preparing our children for the real world. Listen in to good family insight! --- 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://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When we hide behind a facade–a false-front–trying to pretend we’re someone we’re not, we’re not fooling God. He knows who we really are. In fact, He knows us better than we know ourselves. Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie points out the peril of living an imitation life. It’s a disappointment to the Lord, and our act may not be believable to those around us either. It’s a good opportunity for a reset, and to live a life of transparent honesty going forward. 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://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jesus warned us that we may face persecution for our faith. It doesn’t mean we’re doing something wrong, it may be an indication that we’re right with the Lord. Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie points to that characteristic and several others that show us how we’re doing. If we’re walking closely with the Lord, these traits will be obvious. It’s good insight, and a good opportunity to take some notes. Pastor Greg is in the book of Acts today, reading from the New Living Translation. 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://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When we spend some serious time out in the sun, it’s pretty obvious. People can see it all over our face. “You got some sun, didn’t you?” Well today, we’ll see when we spend some time with the Son, it may be just as obvious. People will wonder what’s different about us. Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie continues our studies of the Church of the First Century in the book of Acts. Let’s see how to show we’ve been with Jesus. 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://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Great things rarely happen when we’re deep inside our comfort zones. No one’s ever heard of the great LazyBoy Revival, or the evangelistic Hammock Crusades! No, somebody’s got to get up and do somethin’! And today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie brings us some good news: God empowers and equips those He calls into service. You may already have a special God-given talent you’re not even aware of. Today, we’ll learn how to identify and use those abilities. 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://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Whether you’re a woodworker, a steel worker, or in another form of construction, you know that the tougher the job, the more the need for power tools. Hard to build a skyscraper with just a tape measure and a good idea. Well, spiritually speaking, with some of our assignments, the Lord gives us power tools. And today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie points out the importance of putting them to work. It’s part of his series in the book of Acts called The Upside Down Life. 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://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We don’t leap toward spiritual decline, but crawl toward it, little by little; and we experience it when we give the Devil a foothold. As Pastor Greg says, “Show me a Christian who’s starting to compromise, and I’ll show you a Christian who’s headed toward spiritual ruin.” Hear what else he has to say on the matter in this Sunday episode! Notes Do not make deals with the devil, you will lose. The devil is evil, the devil is wicked, and the devil is cunning. A Christian who begins to comprise is headed toward spiritual ruin. You are loved, you are needed, and your life matters! Distressed in debt and discontented. 1. Distressed. Under the pressure of stress. 2. In Debt. To have a number of creditors.  3. Discontented. To be bitter of soul, having been wronged or mistreated. God specializes in taking the outcasts of this culture and making them people of God. We see ourselves for what we are; God sees us for what we will be!  “Saul sought him every day, but God did not deliver David into his hand.” —1 Samuel 23:14 Satan is described as, “A roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” Satan believes the Bible and knows that his days are numbered.  1. We need to do God’s Will the right way at the right time. 2. We should not take vengeance on people, even if they deserve it. Forgiveness is not a suggestion in Scripture; God commands it! Forgiven people should be forgiving people! “Everyone thinks forgiveness is a lovely thing until they have someone to forgive.” —C. S. Lewis To forgive means, surrendering the right to get even.  Godly sorrow produces repentance. 3. You cannot make deals with the devil. Any person can be saved, regardless of what they have done! The price has been paid for our redemption. The debt has been canceled. Scripture Referenced Ephesians 4:27 Psalm 57:4 Ecclesiastes 3:11 Romans 12:14, 17-19 Ephesians 4:31-32 Colossians 2:14 --- 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://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this short snippet, Pastor Greg Laurie addresses the exodus of many residents from the state of California and offers an optimistic point of view for the golden state. Listen in for some encouraging thoughts.  --- 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://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Lord has many options for reaching us in a time of need. Certainly one of the most obvious and most important is the local church. In a crisis, help may be as close as the church down the street. And today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie helps us learn from the early Church. As we study the book of Acts today, we’ll see they set the example for reaching out with the care and concern of Jesus Christ and they provide us an opportunity to serve—to give as we have received. 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://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.