Greg Laurie: A New Beginning

Have you experienced the joy of Christmas? In today’s episode, Pastor Greg Laurie shares how the jubilance of the Advent season transcends even the toughest circumstances. Listen in for a new message from Luke 2. Notes The joy of Christmas is not in what’s opened Christmas day. Joy does not come from what is under the tree but from who died on the tree! The Lord needed Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem to fulfill Micah 5:2. History is His story. Jesus wasn’t a mere man or just one of the prophets. Jesus was God in human flesh! Christmas is not a rags-to-riches story, but rather a riches-to-rags story. When Jesus arrived, almost everyone missed it.  1. The highest message came initially to the lowest of people. 2. The message of the first Christmas was a message of joy!  Great joy which shall be to all people! At the cross, Christ defeated sin. At the resurrection, Jesus defeated death. 3. Fear robs us of the joy of Christmas. “Do not be afraid, the Messiah has come!” The message of Christmas is fear not and have joy! The condition of joy is to let go of fear. Joy and happiness are something you choose, not wait to feel. “Rejoice in the Lord, always. Again, I will say, rejoice!” —Philippians 4:4 Joy is a powerful magnet the Christian has because the nonbeliever has nothing like it. 4. We can have joy this Christmas because we have a Savior: Christ the Lord. Jesus is not just your Savior; Jesus is also your Lord! Scripture Referenced Micah 5:2 Luke 5:32 Philippians 4:4 --- 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 a special episode, we revisit a conversation between Pastor Greg Laurie and Franklin Graham. The two discuss the legacy of Billy Graham, and Franklin reminisces about Christmas traditions in the Graham household.  Franklin also describes his start at the far-reaching ministry, Samaritan’s Purse, and shares stories of impact through their initiative, Operation Christmas Child.  Watch the video of this full interview here. Franklin Graham has devoted his life to meeting the needs of people around the world and proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The eldest son of Billy and Ruth Bell Graham, he serves as President and CEO of Samaritan's Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Learn more about Samaritan’s Purse at SamaritansPurse.org. --- This year-end, support the work of evangelism through Harvest Ministries by going to harvest.org/support. 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.

There’s a certain wisdom that comes from growing older . . . from learning some of the lessons of life. There’s even more wisdom that comes when we embrace God’s Word as our pattern for living. And today on A New Beginning, Pastor Greg Laurie looks to the Bible for practical principles we can put to use. If you missed some of the principles he’s already covered, we invite you to catch up by listening to the previous two programs online at harvest.org. There’s good insight coming your way worth taking some notes. View and subscribe to Pastor Greg’s weekly notes. --- 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.

No one ever teaches us how to worry. Our parents don’t sit us down and say, “Okay, kids, I want you to put your head in your hands, look really discouraged, and stress out on something you can’t change.” No, we pretty much picked it up on our own. Well today on A New Beginning, Pastor Greg Laurie helps us lay down that which we’ve picked up. He’ll offer up some practical precepts in a message called What I Would Tell My Younger Self. Insight for everyone, particularly young people. View and subscribe to Pastor Greg’s weekly notes. --- 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.

Have you noticed how our perspective changes in life? Some of us hated certain vegetables when we were kids. And now? Well, we may still hate those vegetables but that’s not the point! The point is our perspective changes. Right? We eat vegetables ‘cause they’re good for us. Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie helps us realize that a changing perspective is good evidence that we’re maturing. And today we’ll see how we can embrace and enhance that maturing process. View and subscribe to Pastor Greg’s weekly notes. --- 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.

“If I had only known.” It’s a sentence filled with regret. “If I had only known that would be the last time I’d see my mom.” “If I’d only known the house wasn’t safe to live in . . . or, the water wasn’t safe to drink, or the car wasn’t safe to drive.” Many may have a similar regret when they one day stand before the Lord. Today on A New Beginning, Pastor Greg Laurie brings us face to face with the regret that enveloped a certain Old Testament king. It serves as a strong warning to all of us. View and subscribe to Pastor Greg’s weekly notes. --- 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.

Be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. That was an exhortation from the Apostle Paul in First Corinthians. We DO the work of the Lord, and we’re to BE steadfast and immovable. When the winds of change blow through our culture, we’re to be solid as a rock. And today on A New Beginning, Pastor Greg Laurie points out how to do that as we consider a man who showed us how NOT to do that. We’re considering an epic failure in the Old Testament. View and subscribe to Pastor Greg’s weekly notes. --- 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.

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.  Starting off our Christmas series, 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://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this special promo episode, Pastor Greg Laurie joins his wife, Cathe Laurie, to discuss the Christmas season and to share the unique ministry Harvest provides through Harvest at Home, our online church community. They also review the powerful series, The Chosen, and explain why it’s an amazing tool for evangelism.  Listen tomorrow for the first message in Pastor Greg’s Christmas series, “With God, Nothing Is Impossible.” Hear it on this podcast or join us at harvest.org/live! You can request The Chosen, season one, when you make a gift of any size to Harvest Ministries this month. Your donations help support this podcast and other outreach efforts. Just go to harvest.org/support. --- 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.

According to one survey, only 5% of people read owners’ manuals. Maybe that’s why one lady called Kitchen Aid to ask which was the best spin cycle in her clothes washer for drying her lettuce. And then wanted to know why her clothes were turning green. Well, we have an owner’s manual for life – the Bible. But so many leave it on the shelf. Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie helps us recognize the Bible for what it is – it’s a book that gives the prescription for life. View and subscribe to Pastor Greg’s weekly notes. --- 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.