Greg Laurie: A New Beginning

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