Whether it’s a small folk group or a large orchestra, beautiful music comes when everyone plays together in rhythm and harmony. If each is playing a different tune, they have a word for that: yuck! Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie points out the importance of unity in our efforts to bring the Gospel to our generation. In a time of division and disunity in the culture, it’s more important than ever that we all come together “in one accord,” as the Bible puts it.

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Become a Harvest Partner today and join us in knowing God and making Him known through media and large-scale evangelism, our mission of over 30 years.

Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.

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Everything we have ultimately belongs to God, and we are called to faithfully manage what He has entrusted to us. Listen in to Pastor Jonathan Laurie's message as he explores this life-changing truth.

Notes:

Luke 20
  
1 Thessalonians 4:14 (MSG)
Since Jesus died and broke loose from the grave, God will most certainly bring back to life those who died in Jesus.
 
Good parents get involved.
 
God created systems of authority, starting with the family.
 
Exodus 20:12 (NKJV)
"Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you.”
 
If you learn to submit to authority, things will go well for you.
 
Because we love our children, we discipline them.
 
“If you raise your children, you’ll get to spoil your grandchildren.
If you spoil your children, you’ll get to raise your grandchildren.”
 
1 Timothy 5:8 (NKJV)
But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
 
Provide: pronoeō
to give careful thought to, take thought for, take into consideration, have regard for,
to think about beforehand in a solicitous manner, care for, provide for someone
 
Teaching your children to honor your authority will naturally lead them to honor the Highest Authority, God Himself.
 
The Vineyard Isn’t Yours
Luke 20
 
Read Luke 20:1–8 (NKJV)
 
The Scene of the Crime
Luke 20:1–8
 
“They knew perfectly well, and they knew perfectly well when they had rejected John’s ministry. That was the trouble with them. God never condemns men for ignorance. God’s judgments are upon men who, having the light, disobey it.”  —G. Campbell Morgan
 
You were created on purpose, and you were created for a purpose.
 
God loves you. He is the ultimate authority.
 
There will come a day when God asks you,
“What did you do with my Son?”
 
Read Luke 20:9–19 (NKJV)
 
Stewards, Not Owners
Luke 20:9–19
 
The Son they wanted to get rid of was the same Son who would rise again from the dead.
 
Psalm 24:1 (NKJV)
The earth is the LORD's, and all its fullness,
The world and those who dwell therein.
 
Job 1:21 (NKJV)
"Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there.
The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away;
Blessed be the name of the LORD."
 
Read Luke 20:20–26 (NKJV)
 
Image Bearers
Luke 20:20–26
 
Luke 20:25 (NKJV)
"Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."
 
Genesis 1:27 (NKJV)
So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
 
Job 1:21 (NKJV)
"Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there.
The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away;
Blessed be the name of the LORD."
 
“I didn’t thank God that it happened. In fact, I would have given anything to have Christopher back. I would have gladly taken his place. But I wasn’t given that choice. So, I simply said, ‘Lord, he is Yours. I dedicated him to You when he was a little boy, and I dedicate him back to You.’”  —Greg Laurie

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Become a Harvest Partner today and join us in knowing God and making Him known through media and large-scale evangelism, our mission of over 30 years.

Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.

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We think if we had a nicer car, or a bigger house, or a larger salary, or a new face, or new body, then we’d be content. But Max Lucado says: “The good life begins not when circumstances change but when our attitude toward them does.” 

And writing to the Christians in Philippi, the apostle Paul said, “Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.” (Philippians 4:11–12 NLT).

Paul was in difficult circumstances when he wrote these words. He wasn’t spouting theories from an ivory tower. He was under house arrest, writing from the school of hard knocks. Yet Paul found contentment because he rejoiced in the Lord.

Earlier in Philippians 4, he wrote, "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!" (verse 4 NKJV). He didn’t say that we should rejoice in circumstances. Sometimes that’s hard to do. But Paul did say that we should rejoice in the Lord. Listen in to this episode now for more encouragement!

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Become a Harvest Partner today and join us in knowing God and making Him known through media and large-scale evangelism, our mission of over 30 years.

Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.

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The home renovation business is a 600 billion dollar industry. Reviving an old home takes some skill and a lot of hard work. Well, God has a blueprint for reviving our culture . . . and He’s looking for our involvement in the project. Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie continues his opening message in a new series called The Upside-Down Life. It’s a look at the part we’re called to play in bringing a spiritual renovation to the world in which we live.

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Become a Harvest Partner today and join us in knowing God and making Him known through media and large-scale evangelism, our mission of over 30 years.

Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.

Support the show: https://bit.ly/anbsupport

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Before Covid, few of us had ever been subjected to a quarantine. But that experience effectively isolated us in a bubble. In a spiritual sense, sometimes believers are constantly isolated from the world in a self-imposed quarantine. We don’t want to be OF the world so we try not to be IN the world. Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie points out how that neglects one of our most important responsibilities. It’s the kick off of a new series in Acts called The Upside-Down Life.

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Become a Harvest Partner today and join us in knowing God and making Him known through media and large-scale evangelism, our mission of over 30 years.

Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.

Support the show: https://bit.ly/anbsupport

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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.

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Become a Harvest Partner today and join us in knowing God and making Him known through media and large-scale evangelism, our mission of over 30 years.

Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.

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Ever been so hungry you felt weak? Not just hunger pangs, not just in a “hangry” mood. You actually felt sluggish and powerless. Food is at the top of your mind. Well, we can start to feel weak spiritually . . . but so many times our spiritual food ISN’T at the top of our minds. Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie points out just what God’s Word does for the weary traveler on the road of life. We’ll see it gives us actual power for living. And we shouldn’t deprive ourselves.

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Become a Harvest Partner today and join us in knowing God and making Him known through media and large-scale evangelism, our mission of over 30 years.

Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.

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When people hear what Jesus has done for us, they’ll see what Jesus can do for them. That’s the essence of sharing the Gospel. But what HAS Jesus done for us? If we’ve lost sight of how our life has changed, it may be time to for some soul searching before we go out soul winning. Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie helps us reignite the passion in our hearts, and ignite our afterburners in our efforts to share Christ with those who need to meet Him. Today’s study is from the series called Refresh.

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Become a Harvest Partner today and join us in knowing God and making Him known through media and large-scale evangelism, our mission of over 30 years.

Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.

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Why do some believers grow deep roots while others fade out fast? Jesus answered that question 2,000 years ago in the Parable of the Sower.

Turns out, spiritual growth isn’t one big decision—it’s thousands of small, daily choices. Bible or phone? Church or no church? Those choices add up, and they shape who you become.

Pastor Greg Laurie walks us through the four kinds of hearts Jesus describes: Hardened, shallow, crowded, and fruitful. And he shares the real “golden key” to lasting spiritual growth.

Notes:

Luke 8

 
The Christian life is more than praying a prayer and getting “fire insurance.”
 
It's following Jesus as your Savior and as your Lord.
 
Life is one long string of choices.
 
By not choosing spiritual growth, we choose spiritual decline.
 
Deuteronomy 30:19 (NKJV)
"I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life.”
 
If you want to go forward as a Christian, you will.
 
God has given us everything we need for spiritual growth and progress.
2 Peter 1:3
 
Read Luke 8:11–15 (NLT)
 
Which of these four soils represents you best?
Only one out of four makes it.
 
The job of the Sower is to throw the seed out far and wide.
 
This type of sowing seed was known as “broadcasting.”
 
Our job is to sow the seed of the word of God.
 
God does the work of conversion.
 
The Apostle Paul shows us how we each have a role to play.
1 Corinthians 3:6–7
 
The only way to tell if someone is really a Christian is through the test of time.
 
1 John 2:19 (NLT)
These people left our churches, but they never really belonged with us; otherwise they would have stayed with us. When they left, it proved that they did not belong with us.
 
Prodigals come to faith, fall away, and return later.
 
Some people have a weak beginning but a strong finish.
That is better than a strong beginning and no finish.
 
The Hardened Heart
Luke 8:12
 
Mark 4:15 (NLT)
“Only to have Satan come at once and take it away.”
 
Whenever you share the gospel with people, expect satanic opposition.
 
Every time you hear the gospel, your heart can get softer or harder.
 
Shallow Hearts
Luke 8:13
 
These are the hearers who seem to be converted but never get grounded in the faith.
 
They are living on an emotional high and a state of spiritual euphoria.
 
Perhaps they have experienced a supernatural touch from God.
 
Faith that cannot be tested is faith that cannot be trusted.
 
Christianity is Christ!
 
“Christianity has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult and left untried.”
—G.K. Chesterton
 
Some people are simply impulsive by nature.

Some people fall away because they have built their faith on the wrong foundation.
 
Some people fall away because of persecution.
 
Mark 4:17 (NLT)
But since they don't have deep roots, they don't last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God's word.
 
2 Timothy 3:12 (NKJV)
Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
 
Some people fall away because unbelief set in, causing them to doubt God at the first emotional low.
 
Infested Hearts
Luke 8:14
 
Second best is often the worst enemy of the best.
 
Excessive worry can crowd out spiritual growth.
Mark 4:19
 
We live in a time when people are obsessed with extending their lives.
 
God determines the length of our lives.
Job 14:5
 
Fruitful Hearers
Luke 8:15
 
The golden key to spiritual growth is how you hear and respond to God’s word.
 
Mark 4:20 (NLT)
“Those who hear and accept God's word.”
 
The difference isn’t exposure to the word.
It’s what the heart does once it lands.
 
The Bible is everywhere, but it’s not in our hearts.
 
The issue is not access. It’s appetite.
 
Luke 12:48 (NIV)
From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.
 
The hardest thing about studying the Bible is sitting down and opening it.
 
Standing the test of time, finishing the spiritual life well, is not a mystery.
It is maintaining a close and vibrant relationship with Christ.
 
Read the Bible daily.
Pray about things.
Go to church regularly.
Share your faith.

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Become a Harvest Partner today and join us in knowing God and making Him known through media and large-scale evangelism, our mission of over 30 years.

Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.

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Pain can deepen us. It can make us more compassionate, thoughtful, and ready to care for others walking through their own valleys.

In Part 1 of Greg Laurie's conversation with Chuck Swindoll, they talk candidly about grief, calling, preaching, and the lessons God teaches through it all. Watch the rest of this episode on The Greg Laurie Show.

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Become a Harvest Partner today and join us in knowing God and making Him known through media and large-scale evangelism, our mission of over 30 years.

Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.

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Imagine coming upon a burning car with someone trapped inside. And you help them get free. Or imagine seeing a toddler heading toward a busy street just as momma turns her head. And you scoop him up just in the nick of time. It’s a good day when you save someone from peril! Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie points out, we save someone from eternal peril when we help them come to Christ. And when that happens, it’s a very good day! Practical help today with evangelism.

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Become a Harvest Partner today and join us in knowing God and making Him known through media and large-scale evangelism, our mission of over 30 years.

Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.

Support the show: https://bit.ly/anbsupport

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.