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August 26, 2021 3:00 am
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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.
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You are listening to a new beginning with Greg Laurie, a podcast made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God this at our website and learn more about harvest partners@harvest.org telling your story is read the gospel message is: telling your story coming up to the pastor read more to tell people what God has done for you to make sure it's the whole truth and nothing but so much the day you gave up. Nobody don't boast about what you gave up for God knows that what he gave up for you beginning Greg Laurie featured speaker of the harbingers coming to Southern California and exciting. One night event October 3. Mark your calendar for today. Pastor Greg blames them our story of what Christ is to do for them. So today good insight on relaying our story series. How many of you have ever shared your faith with someone rigid you should, you have ever let a person the Christ you love them in prayer. Personally, okay, good.
Now very impressive. By the way, how many of you have never led some of the Christ. Don't be a breath that will mock you.
I promise it's okay right good. The problem is not a kid I want to help you with that because I believe that opportunities are everywhere.
We just need the kind of June in Kanab like on the radio you get to that frequency. You need to tune in to the frequency of the leading of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, lift up your eyes field are white.
The harvest sometimes will ask someone if they want to believe in Jesus Christ and they say no okay sometimes we have someone that they want to believe in Jesus Christ and they say yes and sometimes someone who is in a believer asks us how to come to Christ that are happening you happen to be a number of years ago. Interestingly, with my father now. I told her my mom was buried in divorce seven times. I had a full-time ministry sharing the gospel with my mother's former husband. Not kidding. I tried to reach everyone, and I told you a story about one that I was able to reach out toward the end of his life, but you know, in the midst of all these guys. My mom married and where she picked one guy that I thought was fantastic. He was an attorney from New Jersey and his name was Oscar Lori. He was different from all the other guys my mom married my mom was sort of attracted to what you might call a barfly. These are the guys you know that none of the bar and their children button a few too many buttons, you know, these are the guys she was drawn to.
They were drinkers they were smokers they were party guys as well. My mom, but somehow she finds this guy named Oscar he doesn't drink.
He doesn't smoke my mother, Celia and he was a very good man and so we lived there New Jersey with him and he adopted me and gave me my name. Of course, and he treated me as a father should treat a son.
He gave me an allowance I had to do chores have to be responsible and I felt myself calling them dad that we was not my biological father. I felt and still feel he was my father. And so I loved him and that's why was so hard when I came out of school one autumn day in New Jersey in the black Cadillac is packed to the gills with suitcases and I say what's going on. She says were leaving New Jersey going to Hawaii is excited because at that point had never been to Hawaii before and I said where's dad and my mom said he's not coming why didn't see them for years, so no fast-forward many years I've become a Christian. I married we have one son at this point Christopher and I was invited to speak in New York City, so I thought I wonder if my dad is even still alive so because he was a attorney I had a girl in our church at work for the Bar Association tracking down to front him immediately. He was living in a place called Red Bank in New Jersey so I called his office and and I remember haven't talked on for years and when I called they said hi is Mr. Lori and the secretary said I'm sorry he's out to lunch.
I civil we tell him I called she said what your name is Greg Laurie. She said how do you spell your last name is in the same way he fell. You are i.e. I miss son so please, call me.
I got a call quickly afterwords Greg. He says come and visit us condor over the weekend. Oh no I really couldn't get on you. We had remarried had a new family that it wanted you know mess things up by I didn't want to intrude it. He Presently come to our home. We want to become to our home after your done speaking, so I did my speaking engagement there in New York got on the train pulled in the station.
I got up and there's my dad. He looks just like you look before little older, of course, but it was just such a great time and we reconnected and before I knew it. I'm calling them dad again and we went over a lot of history and what it happened to me in how we try to get custody of me but my mom bottom and I'm thinking one of my mom fight. I mean good night. I was effectively left to myself, but she didn't want him to have a well anyway so I sit down that night at dinner I met his nice wife Barbara nice Italian Catholic lady and amazing cook. She whipped us up by the Italian fees fantastic and after were done eating harvest is Greg tell me all about your faith and how you became a Christian and how you became a minister I said okay Barbara I'm sharing my testimony. My story, and as I'm speaking she's not responding to everything that's great that's great.
And on the other side of the table there since my father is a chance Kanab up to his face, and I feel like I'm in a court of law, and he's the judge that I'm giving my testimony literally and I feel like I'm not doing very well because he's not reacting no visible reaction. So I that okay so I chose the whole story and she said thanks for sharing that story does get ready go to bed. My dad asked if I would walk with them in the morning. One very important detail and left out. He had just had a heart attack about two months before blacked out of the steering will of his car and ran into a pole and almost killed himself. So now is on medication just to change his diet and he has to walk every morning choices will you walk with me in the morning Greg, yes, that I will so I get a knock on the door. You know 6 o'clock in the morning New Jersey time 3 o'clock in the morning California time so I like so tired 02 were walking along in the risk New Jersey errors and hidden us in the face and still can awaken up on my dad says to me Greg. I listened very carefully to what you said last night, is that right and he said I want to become a Christian.
Right now it's like wake up call about what he says I want to become a Christian.
Right now is that he didn't understand what I was saying it couldn't happen this quickly so I went over it again and he says yes I understand.
I want to become a Christian. Right now Greg I said will fantastic. He says will I need to do.
I wasn't expecting this so I said well you need to pray and ask Christ to come in your life were in the park at this point he drops to his knee. Climate once I get on my knees. I wasn't going to kneel in the park with since he was out I get down there with them and so I leave them in this prairie phrase it so sincerely and afterward them phrases Greg II feel like Jesus just came on my life. Pray for my heart now. Greg pray for my heart. I believe God wants to heal me.
Okay, really.
Let's pray and I pray for his heart, so that we don't pray gets a reason I want to go to my doctor's office. It's right near here and I want to tell them I just as Jesus in my heart and my heart feel that we don't know if your heart you know I want to talk to. So we walked over into the doctor's office a nice Jewish gentleman and my dad walks in with me says this is my son Greg Laurie. He's a preacher from California already. That doesn't sound good to an East Coast person preacher from California and I just accepted Jesus in my heart talk in my I believe he healed my heart Dr. Singh now lost her calm down. We don't know when to test on guess what his heart was and God gave him 15 more years who I know I tell you that because you never know what it's getting up and sometimes you think you're making so much progress when you're ready to close the deal and they don't want to.
Another time to get that you made no progress and actually you've made more than you thought. That's why Paul says 1000 other waters. God gives the increase. We all play a role in the salvation of others.
Some of the sow the seed, through our godly living. Others water the seeds.
You may be something we said or did. For a person and mention our faith in others.
Three brothers have stowed and water, but I think there comes a moment when you got it just each of those who come to the Lord as a personal story to tell testimony.
Why is that story important.
Pastor Greg will answer that question just a moment. So many listeners have commented on the help they received from Pastor Greg's teachings's books and God's word hi Pastor Greg, thank you for writing about your personal loss and help the hurting heart. I read your book many times in the past two years. After my dear son went to had been three days before his 20 birthday. I continually refer to your book for encouragement and help as you know firsthand what it's like to lose your own precious son.
I also appreciate your podcasts and glean wisdom from please pray for me as I still cry God bless you, your ministry and your dear family, thank you for being God's messenger for information on Pastor Greg's book for hurting hearts search for that title@harvest.org if you have some words to share how Pastor Greg studies in God's word touched your life, drop him an email greg@harvest.org. Do it today, would you that's great@harvest.org today. Pastor Greg is offering some practical help for our evangelism efforts in his message called how to lead others to Jesus. available@harvest.org know this, Jesus never dealt with any two people in exactly the same way. Then repeat that Jesus never dealt with any two people in exactly the same way. There is not a one-size-fits-all approach to evangelism and I bring this up because some people are rather robotic in their sharing. They say the same things over and over again and I think you need to adapt to a situation in Jesus of course is on modeling this in the story of the woman at the well that we looked at last time together.
He's engaging her.
He asked her for a drink of water. Initially she's sarcastic she's flippant, even cynical, but is beginning to get closer now and the woman makes this amazing statement in John four verse 25 she said will I know Messiah is coming who is called Christ when he comes, he will tell us all things.
Jesus says I speak to you am he. Other words girl you're talking to him right now because member. He told her you're living with a guy right now. She didn't think anyone knew that Jesus did to shave at five husbands are shacking up with some dude right okay so I know she is what we know Messiah comes in all think you, I'm the Messiah, and she believes it right there on the spot.
John 428.
The woman left her water pot went away in the city and said of the men come see a man who told me all the things that I ever did. Could this be the crime. So this brings me to my first point. If you're taking notes. Point number one telling your story also known as your testimony, the powerful British for the gospel message again telling your story, your testimony is a powerful bridge for the gospel message is one of the most effective tools you have in your evangelistic toolbox. This woman only minutes old and the faith immediately goes out and tells others.
Now here's why your story is important because people can argue with the facts, but they can't argue with your story so you might say something about God nothing will. I disagree with that and you can have a debater how everyone approaches but when you tell them your story of what happened to you. They can debate you. It's what happened to you, so it's a great way to start a conversation and listen. It's also a great way to share with someone without preaching them. In other words, if I say you need to accept Jesus Christ.
Right now you need to turn from your sin.
By the way, there's a place for when I say that a person might be put on think Damon don't preach to me.
So Vincent I think limiting my story and I was raised in the church and this is where I came from. This is what I used to do. Nine. Finding common ground with them and then I say but one day I went to a crusader. I went to a church service are Christian came up to me and said this and you know when they said this statement, I realized I needed God so you're telling your story, but at the same time you're sharing the gospel with them. And this is a great way to begin. John 439 says the Samaritans of that city believed in Jesus because of the word of the woman who testified he told me all that I ever did you know the apostle Paul was a great orator of brilliant intellect. Yet, in almost every occasion when he stood before nonbelievers he began with this testimony, letting one of the best ways to start your presentation of the gospel is tell what God is done for you.
Just if you take away tips on sharing your story number one don't glorify or exaggerate your past don't glorify or exaggerate your past accuracy is important, so his truthfulness. I bring this up because I heard people give their testimony and then maybe I don't see them for a while and I may be here in 10 years later and I'm thinking well that testimonies a little more dramatic than it was 10 years ago now. Either they went back and did a whole bunch of new stuff for their exaggerating and so be truthful in telling your story, and this is another thing don't boast about which you gave up for God.
Most of what he gave up for you. Don't boast about which you gave up forgot boast about when he gave her for you. Let me illustrate that intensity will sick you know I was in live in the best light party and in women and money and how bad it then I came to Jamie's mom said you have this weird accent change this and now I carry the old rugged Cross menu. I think I've given up so much to follow God made such a 5K shot up one in which you gave a given field you give up a big hole in your heart you/you gave up. Nobody tell what it God give you fulfillment purpose the removal of guilt absolute certainty that you will go to heaven when you die, don't tell me what you gave up her God tell me what God gave up for you when he sent his son to die on the cross and your place that a good testimony.
You know all the apostle formally Saul of Tarsus actually did give up quite a bit to follow Jesus, but I love the way he phrased it when he says you know all the things that I thought were so important, or gone from my life compared to the hypo good job knowing Christ Jesus is my master first then everything I used to think was significant is no longer significant. It's doggone. I dumped it in the trash so I can embrace Christ and be embraced by love that is that stuff John Don done it meant nothing to me now.
Point number two as we bring the gospel we need to speak in the language.
People understand I mentioned earlier, you can use Christian ease people to know what you're saying and only walk up to a person say hey you heathen Phyllis think of everything you repented. Are you justified are you sanctified are you washed in the bluntly part of the body. You might as well just landed from another that they don't know what you're saying.
So speak their language. Listen to this. The days of cultural Christianity are over what I mean by that, when there was a time in America, especially closer to our birth when we had a strong Judeo-Christian ethic in our culture. It was in everything that we did, but as time is past that we progress you want to use that word. Others might say regress, I would certainly choose that term as we gotten away from this we don't see cultural Christianity like we used to see it and there was a time when you go to someone in tell them about Jesus.
That's am already a Christian. But you know a lot of people don't say that anymore cultural Christianity is over with.
There's just a lot of people now the don't profess faith in Christ, of all and in a way it's good because a problem with cultural Christianity is a lot of people thought they were Christians who were not people just think I'm not a Christian and that's where I met you know so this is a new thing. In fact, if we were to compare our culture to another culture I think would be very much like the first century culture that the church was born in that when Paul spoke on Mars Hill which was in Athens Greece that was a cultural and intellectual center of the world and today our culture is just like Marcel all Marcel was about was according to act 17 finding out about her hearing.
The newest thing. They just love new five new ideas and there were two dominant philosophical ideas that were prominent in the day of Paul.
There were the beliefs of epic curious and the beliefs of the Stoics, who followed Zeno so epic. Curious love the Epicureans Zeno the Stoics okay so the Epicureans their basic philosophy was is no order to the universe is no God, no absolute no judgment to might as well just live for the moment. Have fun. There were the party animals of the first century, then the Stoics are different there more discipline their bully was almost similar to a Buddhist like worldview or what we might call New Age mysticism. I thought God was in all things God was a knee-jerk God was in the earth. Okay this at some familiar to the culture were facing today know some people say to God's and you and God's and me and all beliefs are right in their own way or another person say hey man, Jesse, drink and be religious. Have fun and forget about and I read an interesting article in USA Today that talked about the fastest growing religious groups in America you want to know who they are the called the nuns not in UMS but NONES the nuns according to this article. This religious group doesn't have any faith, affiliation about that the nation's second largest category, second only to Catholics. They outnumber the top Protestant denomination of Southern Baptist. One of the nuns believe this article says nothing in particular. There just open to spirituality never engage a person about Jesus José Wyman. This spirituality that's who the nuns are one person said identified with them. They just let go of their believe there's not much I can prove so instead of saying I believe I say well maybe your they believe in reincarnation and astrology, and 50% of them feel a deep connection with nature and the earth. Yes, well there's nothing new under the sun. This goes back thousands of years to honey reach a culture like this the same way the first century church reached.
Nothing's changed the culture is really changed and the answer hasn't really changed the answer is simply this, with a powerful message of the gospel of Jesus Christ for their culture needs to hear. Paul says in Romans 116 I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God that salvation to everyone who believes, listen.
The gospel is filled with power. I don't need to edit it.
I don't need to add to it. I don't need to subtract from it.
I don't need to apologize for it.
I need to just proclaim it and stand back after our job is to let the lion out of the great war great insight today. And all this week on a new beginning series called tell someone you can bring others to Jesus and because of the importance of this information. Pastor Greg has developed a helpful online training course that corresponds with the series. It's also called tell someone it's a six week course that comes to a lesson per week via email and it's absolutely free at the end of six weeks.
You can be fully equipped and ready to share your faith, just as Jesus has commanded us all to do. Learn more about the engaging free. Tell someone training course@harvest.org well, it's a real treat to have J Warner Wallace with us today. These are former atheist and a retired cold case detective and he's just released a brand-new book called person of interest.
He puts his investigative skills to work examining the deity and uniqueness of Christ without depending on the New Testament is our proof. He points out there are other ways to make a compelling case beyond a shadow of a doubt.
Witnesses from that time the historical record, and so on.
Pastor Greg is speaking with Jim Wallace.
Are there telltale signs and some is not telling the truth. Oh yeah, so it's over what we do. A lot of times were looking at this is how I first investigated Scripture. I was amazed at the interviewer and our team is working on investigative team is working undercover had super long hair and longer go to not have wearing today and so I thought well you know that that was. I love doing interviews. I loved looking for deception indicators when people say things and there's a process called forensic statement analysis and what you're doing as you would have somebody to say that crime occurred yesterday a murder. He was okay know what all she did me a favor on this piece of paper which happens to have 24 lines. I just want you to write down everything you did yesterday from the day you got the moment he got up to the moment he went to bed and I give my pen so any changes they make, they have to cross out and I've got a you can't his backside on these different side so that allows me to do is to see what their pace is bright how many lines did they used to describe each our people will compress time or expand time and they're either trying to hide something or minimize something or maybe they're just impressed by what happened in that moment, Bill. Tell me something about that day in terms of how they expand and compress I'm looking for things like pronoun use.
This is my good friend Greg. I used a first name.
This is not good for the past are now calling the pastor yeah so I'm looking for the context of how the pronouns change over the course of the description right. I love my my wife Susan. I we went on vacation. It was beautiful.
I love my lovely wife, Susie was asked us what we describe.
I took a Susie on vacation. Bonding describes my life. I took the wife on a vacation, not the possessive pronoun now is like the wife he was going on with that now. Maybe that's what you do all the time, or it might be that you changed here because at that point in the day you were upset about something, so I'm looking at all those deception indicators and wiring to the gospel of Mark for the first time I didn't think much of it. But then someone told me that an early bishop in the church name Fabius said that Mark's gospel was are the feet of Peter at that contest that casinos mark March not know if Mark was in the at the at the scene we on them to Peter was, is there any evidence in Mark's gospel that points to Peter.
Specifically, I'm looking for deception indicators places where you know how how the story is different.
Comparing the other gospels I think are actually a lot of forensic evidence in Mark that demonstrates that Peter is a source of success and so this is how I approached it right because the discipline I had in my pocket.
This I just I knew there a certain number skills if you at this but this way if there's a murder from 20 years ago.
Witnesses sometimes are dead by the time I get to the case and not that the guy she did the interviews of the gals. The detectives wrote the interests of the supplemental reports sometimes they're dead to so now I've got an account of a supplemental report I got no access to the witness and I got no access to the report writer – the Gospels got no access to the no access to the report writer's job to determine what happened 30 years ago. I use the same process to determine what happened, is magnificent. How long that that that time is gone by in the end, there are linguistic there little things that people say or don't say that tell you a lot about what this is like my daughters would hate agreement with me because I would then What would come in. I was eight before you say anything, just know that every word that comes on your mouth and then analyze a test and she was my gosh, is all.
And before you standing also know that everything you could've said, but chose not to say I'm also not holding asked what is you like my, what's the point just invested so that made it easier right but the point is that process you could actually apply the gospel out. All this explosive information is contained in this book that we are offering to you. It's called person of interest by J Warner Wallace why Jesus still matters in a world that rejects the Bible. I will send you this book for your gift of any size because we want to put quality resources into your hands and we also want to give you an opportunity to support us as we teach the word of God and proclaim the gospel around this planet. So if you like your own copy is going to give you the contact information and will send you person of interest, yet it's right it's brand-new and we so much appreciate your investments of this daily study can continue when you send a donation today. Let us thank you with a copy of person of interest. You can write a new beginning.
Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call us at 1-800-821-3300. We can take your call anytime 24 seven. Again, dial 1-800-821-3300. We know the importance of sharing the gospel. What is the gospel. How do we make sure we're presenting it properly. Pastor Greg has important insights on that next time tell someone series continues here on a new beginning and everybody thinks her list. Beginning this is a podcast made possible by harvest partners. So for more content that can help you know God and equip you to make him known to others or to learn more about how you can become a harvest partner, just go to harvest.org