Greg Laurie: A New Beginning

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://harvest.org/supportSee 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://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Previously aired in an edited version on radio, this episode features Pastor Greg’s full messaging, giving his testimony of how he came to Christ. At the time he was only in his 20s. Listen in for a compelling story! Learn more about the upcoming film of the Jesus Movement of the 1960s and ’70s in the upcoming feature film, https://jesusrevolution.movie/ only in theaters February 2023! --- 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 you see thousands of enthusiastic sports fans at a stadium, do they keep their team loyalty a secret? No! They yell and scream and wear the team colors. Sometimes those colors are painted on their faces! And it’s a just a game. Do we have that same overt pride in following Christ? Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie helps us see the importance of making our faith a public declaration. If our faith is a big secret, the question is... why? 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://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Certain things can upset marital equilibrium. The thermostat is too hot...or too cold, the toilet paper roll was replaced incorrectly, or not replaced at all, the TV remote control is missing again, the car was parked without enough gas to make it back to the gas station. Those things never happen to you? You must be single! Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie continues his Christian family series with 5 biblical principles toward a successful marriage. 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://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some young couples spend a small fortune on their wedding, planning it down to the most minute detail. And the event is over in a few hours. Then, quite often, they don’t invest the same amount of care and attention in the marriage that they promised would last a lifetime. But it’s never too late to take corrective action. Whether you’ve been married 50 minutes, or 50 years, Pastor Greg Laurie has some important insight to strengthen your relationship. Glad you’re along today for A NEW BEGINNING. 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://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scour the TV listings from front to back and you’ll have a hard time finding a series that extols the virtues of traditional families. Long gone are the Father Knows Best kinds of TV shows. Yet the influence of media on the home is at an all-time high! Art doesn’t imitate life, it dictates trends, pushes an agenda. Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie helps us get back to God’s plan for the home . . . a plan for the family that He designed when He designed the family. 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://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’ve all had experience putting our best foot forward. A first date. A job interview. We let people see the best side of ourselves. Is it who we are? Well, some version of who we are. But God knows all the versions of who we are. And we can’t fool Him when it comes to where we stand with His Son. Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie urges us to consider the genuineness of our faith and walk with God. We’ll learn how to put our best foot forward toward eternity. 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://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this Sunday message, Pastor Greg Laurie gives us encouragement perfect for the New Year with a message titled, “Happiness: Where to Find It.” Most people deep down inside want to be happy. It’s even in our Declaration of Independence that in the United States of America we want to be happy. Even those who say they don’t want to be happy, and want to be unhappy, find a certain happiness in their unhappiness. You may be surprised to know that God wired you to want to be happy, and according to the Bible, you can be happy—you should be happy. But you just need to look for it in the right place. Here are a few places not to look for happiness. Being beautiful or handsome will not bring personal happiness. Sometimes people think, “If I was as handsome or beautiful as the people that I see in magazines or as the movie stars, I’d be happy.” We’re always trying to look our best with surgery, airbrushing, Photoshop, Instagram filters, and other enhancements. But there will always be someone more attractive, and physical attractiveness will not make you happy. Personal possessions will not bring personal happiness. Your life may improve or be more comfortable, but possessions will not bring the real happiness you’re searching for. For many, having more money leads to depression. Proverbs 27:20 says, “Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied” (NKJV). Having relationships will not make you happy. We are wired for a relationship. We are wired to have someone to love and marry one day. That’s not bad, but if you say marriage is going to make you happy, you are going to be in for a big shock. People let us down. Parents let down children. Children let down parents. Husbands let down wives. Wives let down husbands.  Pursuing pleasure will never bring personal happiness. There are many fine pleasures in life that are good. A nice meal. A beautiful sunset. Time with people you love. Those are good pleasures, and then there are perverse pleasures that are sinful. The Bible even says these can be fun for a time, but there are repercussions. 1 Timothy 5:6 says that she “who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives” (NKJV). Here’s the bottom line of Paul’s happiness, found in Philippians 4:4. He says, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!” (NASB). That is the key. It is rejoicing in the Lord. It is not rejoicing in your condition, rejoicing in your circumstances, rejoicing in your current emotional state, or something else. It’s rejoicing in the Lord and filling your mind with the truth of God. It changes your outlook. I’m not talking about positive thinking. I’m talking about having a mind that is filled with God’s truth—having the mind of Christ. --- 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.

Are we desperate enough for another spiritual awakening in America? In this exciting conversation, Pastor Greg Laurie sits down with Jon Erwin, the director of Jesus Revolution to talk about the making of this landmark film, coming to theaters in February of 2023.  Learn more about the film at 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://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.