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August 27, 2021 3:00 am
Today on A New Beginning, Pastor Greg Laurie provides some great instruction on presenting that Good News most effectively.Â
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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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Today's episode of a new beginning is brought to you by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God. Learn more@harness.org and while you're there, browse our library of free e-books designed to help you grow in your faith with the message of the gospel as our society doesn't need more more more new or otherwise read Lori says we need the gospel to apologize for relationship with them in any number of ways angels writing burning board but he chose to use people to reach people regular, probable, unpredictable body with the power of the message itself. Lori provides great instruction on presenting the good news most effectively leaders details on a free training course take this lesson cultural together.
The world will was a time in America, closer to our upper when we have 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 is we've gotten away from this we don't see cultural Christianity like we used to see it.
There was a time when you go to someone tell them about Jesus. That's am already a Christian. But you know a lot of people cultural Christianity is over with. There's just a lot of people love 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 were not people just think I'm not a Christian and that's where I met you know. So how do you reach a culture like this. 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. Britt is the power of God about salvation to everyone who believes.
Lesson 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 and watch God work extra hard job is to let the lion out of the cage.
Most Christians will say yes if the gospel preached the gospel. I love the gospel the way, what is the gospel.
I have no idea, but I believe in it really can we even know what the gospel is withdrew that term around a lot and I wonder well. A poll was taken to reveal that only 4% of adults in America defined the term. The great commission. Quote John 316 and defined the gospel. 7/10 Americans have no clue what John 316 so that most Americans are the gospel. It said most Americans have really don't know if they have what is the gospel. I think we all know what the basic term means what is the word gospel me good it's exactly right now. This is very important.
There are certain elements that must be in place for the gospel to be the gospel and sometimes in so-called presentations of the gospel that I've heard there are things added that don't belong there are there are things that are subtracted that must be there. We must be very careful because we don't want to find ourselves guilty of presenting a false gospel. Galatians 16 pulses.
I'm astonished that you're quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel which is really no gospel at all. Some people are throwing you into confusion and they're trying to pervert the gospel of Christ, and I fear that there is a so-called presentation of the gospel being offered to people of the day that gives false hope to gospel that says just pray that's Jesus in your heart and you will be safe. Well, it's true. If you ask him in your heart you can be safe. But the Bible also mentions repentance. The Bible also speaks about transformation that we don't do those things before we come to Christ. But if we really come to Christ. Our life should change and if our life is not changed how we really come to Christ lesson in the gospel that offers the hope of heaven does not warn of the reality of hell is not the gospel. Any gospel that promises the forgiveness of God, but does not make mention of the need for the sinner to turn from their sin is not the gospel. So what elements must be in place for the gospel to be the gospel will already define the term means good news and I think to fully appreciate the good news. I have the first know the bad things we've all heard these good news bad news jokes over the years I heard 120 guys wondering if there's baseball in heaven, so they made a deal that if one of them died before the other would somehow communicate back from heaven.
If there's baseball there. So one of the guys died in and he went to the other side in his buddy Joe was left on earth and one day you know he speaks to his friend Joe from the heavens. This is the true story earlier this speaks to his friends up. Remember, says Joe. I have some good news and some bad. Joe says what's a good Joe.
The good news is there is baseball in heaven with Joe being the great baseball penny was was overjoyed to hear that Dennis buddy said, now the bad news you're pitching on Friday so the gospel is good news. Well before I can appreciate it. I have to know the bad news right. What's about Curtis. We are all sinners separated from God.
No matter how good we try to be your home moral we try to be or even how religious we try to be. We still fall short of God's standards.
No understand when you tell a person who's not a Christian that they have sinned.
They're not going to know what you're talking about.
So you have to defined terms for them.
Clearly the Bible says all of sin and fallen short of the glory of God. Romans 323 and verse from 18 says if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
So the Bible clearly says we sin, but what his word sin mean well in Ephesians 21 it says you were dead in trespasses and sins, two different words are used versus the word trespass that means crossing the line. You know you seen the sign in the park. Maybe where the grass was just planted no trespassing.
So if you step over under that freshly planted grass. You just cross the line. That's trespassing. So to committed trespasses to break one of the 10 Commandments it to do something God told you not to do. That's one translation of sin, but the other word that she is there in Ephesians when it says trespasses and sins. This word comes from a Greek word that means to miss the mark and it goes back to the first century version of archery. Okay, so we are firing the arrows at the target and let's just say you and I decided to have a contest that we each had to narrow and so you walked up to the target and you got 9/10 arrows in the bull's-eye and only one arrow when outside of the bull's-eye. Then I walked up and I fired all 10 arrows and I miss the target altogether, but one of them.
When you okay so I miss the mark and you miss the mark right so you feel that I got more in the new got in so I win no to miss the mark means we miss God's standard. What is God's standard ready for this absolute perfection. And if you have been a one point of the law. The Bible says you're guilty of all of its accredited some of sin, the more than others will concede that point but one sin is enough to keep you out of heaven because God doesn't grade on the curve in this sort of refutes the argument, but I'm a good person will you know maybe you are a good person to some degree, but you're not good enough to see because you fallen short personal essay while I'm not a sinner then you say what you believe in the 10 Commandments while people say yes I do you know the 10 Commandments. No, I don't what you believe in them, yes I do see my go over some of this commitment say have you ever stolen. Have you ever taken the Lord's name in vain. Have you always honored your father and mother have you ever live.
The noise never done any of those in your line right now basically, most people will yeah okay lied once rice bowl twice or you know another honest and tell you more than you wanted to know. Talk to a girl made a recommitment to Christ and she said to me, I broke every commandment except one, and she never murdered anyone she's broken all the others. She is honest about at least why did God give us the 10 Commandments to make us righteous.
They live up to these standards and if you live by these standards will get into heaven.
No 10 Commandments were not given to make me write this to show me.
I need help. The 10 Commandments were given to open my eyes shut my mouth because is it I'm good I'm wonderful I'm toast as I fall short of God's standards so we might point those commandments out and help them to identify the ones that they have broken. We probably all met to say they've lived a good life.
They've treated people fairly and because of that they're confident they're going to heaven. How do you set the record straight and point out their need for Savior.
Pastor Greg has the answer in just a moment, everybody Greg Laurie here encouraging you to join us as we give her what we call harvesting that home. It's worse and it's a message of the word of God. You can watch it with your family and your front room or you can watch it on the go on your tablet on your phone or your computer.
Take it with you.
Take the word of God with you. Join us or harvested home Harvest were talking about presenting the gospel a in Pastor Greg's message, how to lead others to Jesus, helping them see their need for Savior know a person may say they're a good person. Let me say something that might surprise you. I think there are good people out there like I've met people were Christians I think are nicer than some Christians I've met right. But here's the problem. Being a good person. Being a nice person will not get you into heaven because heaven is not for good people.
Heaven is for forgiven people. Okay, we've all fallen short. Here's the bottom line when we say a person is not good when I'm saying that there are not people who have done a good thing. What were saying is no one good enough. There are good people in general, but no one good enough to get to heaven on their own merit and the person might save you will will will using your good enough. No, I'm a sinner too and that's where Jesus comes in because he paid the price for us.
God poured his own wrath and anger on Jesus who died in our place. Romans 5628 says when we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners now is likely to die for a good person that someone might be willing to die for someone who's especially good God showed his great love toward us the way we were yet sinners, Christ died for us because there was no way that Greg Laurie or any of us could satisfy the righteous demands of God. God sent his son to die in our place because we face a future into hell. Jesus died for us now if you dare use the word hell get ready as you can get pushback. People like to hear the word hell is I think one of the reasons Christian skirt the subject and really want to talk about hell. Listen if you only promise the glories of heaven and you don't want about the reality of hell you not to come in the whole gospel.
I'm not saying we should focus primarily on health, but we certainly shouldn't edit it out of the message she might be sharing the gospel something you Jesus is filled the void in my life and I have Julian piece of them so happy that's cool man I can see religions done a lot for you. I'm happy for you but I really have avoid my life. They might say and I don't really feel pretty good. You know if I could drink a couple of years ago, a good buzz going on some happy and I'm I like the way my life is going, and I don't think I need what you have little so what happens to me when I die, will you like warm climates wait see here's the thing you're focusing on the fringe benefits of salvation. You're not addressing the chorus. The fringe benefits of salvation are keys, purpose, fulfillment, joy. But the biggest thing about salvation. You know you want to know what it is you're going to hell anymore. You're going to heaven. That's the biggest thing the young you have to know that okay so if I only offer Jesus is sort of an additive like a new product out of the market that will make their teeth whiter and given more spring in their step. That's not true gospel preaching. I have been telling the truth that you're separated from God by sin and there is a place called hell no you might be surprised to know that most Americans believe in some kind of an afterlife. 84% 82% of Americans believe in heaven and 70% believe in hell, so a lot of people believe in hell. They just don't think they're going there because for every American who believes is going to hell is 120 who believe they're going to have that's in direct contradiction to what Jesus said because he said in Matthew seven Rod is a way that leads to destruction, and many there are that go that way, but narrow is the way that leads to life, and few there are. Find know this, you can edit hell out of Scripture that you know Jesus spoke more about hell and all the other preachers in the Bible put together surprises. Some people why because he and he alone knows the horrors and reality of hell. I here's what's going to be aspect.
Yorty know what I have to tell you always. I did act like they bring this question up himself.
How can a God of love.
Send someone that hell right. How many of you heard that question, here's your answer because he's a God of love and justice he invented know this hell was not made for people hell was created according to Jesus, for the devil and his angels ever person ends up in hell. God is in effect giving them what they wanted all along. See it's not that God sending anyone to hell, it's that you send yourself there because you're living this life you want to live without God and God saying what I meant to give you their free will and even go on but listen you have to kinda climb over my dead body. To get there. As I sent my son Jesus Christ to die in the cross in your place so you don't have to go to this place called hell. Listen, the last thing that God wants is for any man or woman made in his image to spend eternity separated from him this place called hell.
That's why he sent Jesus and only Jesus was qualified to bridge the gap between a holy God and sinful humanity. How can you say Jesus Christ is the only way to the father. I'm just saying what Jesus said in John 14 six Jesus said I am the way the truth and the life and no man comes of the father but by me.
Acts 412 says there is salvation and no other name under heaven. No other name men can call upon to be say. Paul said the same thing in first Timothy 25 there's one God and one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus. This is not multiple choice. Now let me say something that may surprise.
I do believe all roads lead to God, so summonses I believe all roads lead to God. You could say I believe that whatever road you're on your get to God, if you're a believer of your nonbeliever. You'll get to God, but only one road leads to heaven see the difference. You can live without, one day you will stand before God.
Even the atheists will stand before God because the Bible says every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is the Lord to the glory of God the father, so you will stand before God and then you'll face your sins and if you said no to Jesus Christ, shall face the repercussions of those sins.
So a road will lead to the God but only one road will get you in the heaven, and that is the road, through Jesus Christ, who died in our place and satisfied the righteous demands of God. Listen, here's the bottom line when you sharing the gospel you want to know what you gotta make a beeline to ready for this. You make a beeline to the cross yet since of the gospel message is not your testimony that just a bridge to get started. The essence of the gospel message is not just that Jesus will make you a happier person so he will do that for you.
The essence of the gospel message is I don't have to go to hell. I can go to heaven because Jesus Christ died on the cross. Also, brothers verse with the as to what I did that come with eloquence or superior wisdom. I just don't want to know anything else among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. Paul says in first Corinthians 117 Chrysler. That's a me to baptize, but to preach the gospel now with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its years ago I was in Billy Graham's home great honor the greatest evangelist is ever lived in human history and is kind of intimidating hang around Billy Graham of type and even though I got to know him quite well. I'm still nervous and were sitting at the table and in Billy turned to me and he said Greg would you like to choke NHS when he said, who teaches him of the way Billy spoke whatever he said sounded a Florida you want to Coke yes don't even like Coke but I wanted to. We set it so I'm drinking to go get him really want something, I got asked really a question want to make you get a chance like this again. I got asked him a question. My mind went blank. Finally, a question came as did Billy let me ask you this, even older Billy was speaking to a younger Billy. What advice would you give yourself what would you say someone is done this for years to a younger version of you.
Without skipping a beat Lisette I would preach more on the cross and the blood of Christ. That's for the power. While this evangelist remembered that what's true of a preacher is true of a Christian when you are talking to someone about Jesus, you talk about the blood that he said you talk about the death that he died.
You talk about his resurrection. Here's a problem sometimes in our attempt to cross over. We don't bring the cross we want to be cool. We want to relate.
We want to get along and we want them to like us. This can become a model we can have to get to the bottom line say tell him there is centered. Tell them there's a judgment tell them Jesus died on the cross with the power it Gomez sets up by rogue presentations of the gospel.
So go the never mention the cross as far as I'm concerned that's on the presentation of the gospel at all. Greg Laurie clarifying what is and isn't appropriate, effective presentation of the gospel good insight today here on a new beginning from today's message called how to lead others to Jesus. You can get an instant replay of the study by going to harvest.org just look for that title how to lead others to Jesus but to take this help a significant step further. Why not check out the online training course. Pastor Greg has developed to coincide with his tell someone series is completely free. In this course, you'll receive a lesson per week comes via email and at the end of six weeks will be better able to share your faith with confidence and with a firm grasp of the gospel message so sign up for free today@harvest.org Pastor Greg, I'm a sucker for crime show you now, especially when they solve real-life crime stories, especially cold cases yes and we happen to have a real life retired cold case detective with us today and as much as I'd like to sit here and hear some stories of cases he's worked on. He assured pacer to talk about a more important case right yeah that's right it's a brand-new book for my friend Jay Warner Wallace and the J sensor Jim Knight has. Yes – J Warner Wallace in his new book is called person of interest, subtitled why Jesus still matters in a world that rejects the Bible you know I think this book is really neat.
Jim because you are basically looking at the impact of Jesus on culture in general, there are actually people walking around.
That will say Jesus Christ never existed. This is all a man-made method course at such a ridiculous statement but what would you say that someone that would say well all we have is the biblical account you can't trust that. So why should we even believe that amending Jesus ever even walked this earth okay so I'm with you for a point of argument or trial.
Yeah, just for sake of argument, but just toss out the biblical management can't trust that he ever exist. You can't trust the Bible says about is okay fine as you take it out. Is there a way to make the case for Jesus even if every single Bible in the history of Bibles had all been destroyed. What turns out there is just Like when you make a case in a cold case where you got saved a husband and kills his wife and then he gets rid of her body and we take a missing persons report.
He says oh she ran off and so then years later we decide this is a shame she never came back.
Something is up was opened as a homicide now working as a homicidal finger. We got no crime scene. He moved to clean the place up, got no physical evidence about how to make that convocation to a jury will hear that we do it. I was told the jury on the day of the murder. A bomb went off, something explosive happened, but there was a long fuse that burned up to that explosion and there's all kinds of shrapnel afterward to make this case to you from simply the fuse and the fallout all the stuff that led up to this day right and all the stuff that fall. That is all you did was look at the history of humanity, everything that leads up to the appearance of this explosive moment that breaks that that BC and A.D. you want, you know, before the common era, and other common area where we want to turn it something explosive had us right there that changes history publicists examine the fewest was examine the fallout. Here's what you gonna discover is that yes there is only one cause for that turn in history. His name is Jesus of Nazareth and you can reconstruct the story of Jesus without any reference to any biblical manuscript just from the fallout of history in the arts in music and literature in science and education is an effective example this all you did was go and visit the top 15 universities in the world today as you discover they are all founded by Christians in the top 15 all founded by Christians netting up a Christian anymore right but they were founded by Christian HOSPITAL as Ryan relief organization will send all that song. Guess what, if you just took.
It was the buildings you don't know Bibles now just the buildings. The buildings of the campuses of those top 50 schools.
Your discover they're covered in verses yes there covered in artwork of Jesus. Yeah, you can reconstruct the story of Jesus just from the buildings of the top 15 universities in the world.
So unless you're willing to destroy all of it on the top 50 universities your to be stuck with the story of Jesus. Even if you didn't have a new test, and a nation called the United States of America what is the role of Jesus Christ in the Bible itself, and the establishing of our country elegantly again just as great. Even people who would state. I'm not a religious person are not a pastoral say about this he realizes I was a fraction between science and in faith right now I can't do both will really go back and look at the thing called the scientific revolution and all of the fathers of all of the scientific disciplines you can discover the vast majority were Christians who also wrote about Jesus in their private writings and all you had was the private writings of the top scientists in the history of science. Yes, you can reconstruct the story of Jesus what you want to get rid of all those people to from history, you're still stuck with the stopwatches like taking a drink from a fire hydrant here talking to Jim 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. Dave is going to give you the contact information and will send you person of interest. Yeah that's right it's brand-new. In fact we have advanced copies.
You won't find it anywhere else just yet, so thanks for sending an investment so that this daily study can continue and let us thank you with a copy of person of interest by J Warner Wallace.
You can write a set a new beginning.
Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300. We can take your call anytime 20 4/7 again at 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest John for the next time the final installment pastor great practical series tell someone to an end. Next time beginning and cast with me all my harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God learn how to become harvest partner sign up for daily devotions and find resources to help you grow in your faith harvest.org