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Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie - How Do We Know The Bible Is True?

September 7, 2025 | S E | 29:0

Greg Laurie - How Do We Know The Bible Is True?
Join Pastor Greg Laurie for a time of encouragement, worship, and Bible study.
#inActive #Bible #WordofGod #Truth #PromisesofGod #Doubt #Unbelief #Faith #Believe #Jesus #SpiritualGrowth #SpiritualFoundation #Discipline #Salvation #Work #RelationshipwithGod

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Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie | Greg Laurie - How Do We Know The Bible Is True? | September 7, 2025
  • Greg laurie: the bible made certain promises to me and,
  • 00:00:05.151 --> 00:00:07.287
  • By nature, i've always been a skeptical person.
  • 00:00:07.420 --> 00:00:10.590
  • I don't know about you.
  • 00:00:10.690 --> 00:00:12.258
  • I'm not the first to believe something
  • 00:00:12.392 --> 00:00:14.027
  • Because someone else says it's true.
  • 00:00:14.160 --> 00:00:14.828
  • I wanna know for myself.
  • 00:00:16.162 --> 00:00:18.164
  • And so when i heard all these promises available to me if i
  • 00:00:18.164 --> 00:00:22.235
  • Became a christian, i thought, eh, i don't really know.
  • 00:00:22.235 --> 00:00:25.738
  • And even if it were true for other people, i'm not sure it
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  • Would be true for me personally.
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  • But i was proven wrong.
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  • Christ did everything he promised he would do for me.
  • 00:00:34.447 --> 00:00:39.252
  • ♪ this is the day, ♪
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  • ♪ the day when life begins ♪
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  • ♪ this is the day, ♪
  • 00:00:50.163 --> 00:00:52.665
  • ♪ the day when life begins ♪♪
  • 00:00:52.665 --> 00:00:57.270
  • Greg: quick question: how many of you go to the gym or a health
  • 00:00:59.706 --> 00:01:03.109
  • Club or you work out on a regular basis?
  • 00:01:03.109 --> 00:01:05.778
  • Raise your hand up, you work out.
  • 00:01:05.778 --> 00:01:07.113
  • Okay, you're a pretty fit bunch.
  • 00:01:07.113 --> 00:01:08.848
  • That's pretty impressive.
  • 00:01:08.848 --> 00:01:10.183
  • You know, interesting people show up in gyms, don't they?
  • 00:01:10.183 --> 00:01:14.053
  • There's the headphone guy.
  • 00:01:14.053 --> 00:01:16.089
  • That's the guy who's oblivious to the grunts and odd noises
  • 00:01:16.089 --> 00:01:20.160
  • He's making as he's doing his reps.
  • 00:01:20.160 --> 00:01:22.929
  • That's the guy that drops the weight on the ground and doesn't
  • 00:01:22.929 --> 00:01:25.899
  • Even know how loud it is.
  • 00:01:25.899 --> 00:01:27.834
  • Then, there's the guy who dominates certain places.
  • 00:01:27.834 --> 00:01:31.237
  • Like, they're on the bench and they won't get off the bench and
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  • You're waiting.
  • 00:01:34.174 --> 00:01:35.508
  • And then there's the perspirator.
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  • The person that sweats on everything, but they don't wipe
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  • The equipment down after they get up.
  • 00:01:41.347 --> 00:01:43.917
  • I saw one guy in a treadmill and he was running and there were
  • 00:01:43.917 --> 00:01:48.488
  • Literally puddles of perspiration next to
  • 00:01:48.488 --> 00:01:52.358
  • The treadmill.
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  • No one wanted to use it after that.
  • 00:01:53.693 --> 00:01:55.762
  • And then there are the people that just go to the gym and
  • 00:01:55.762 --> 00:01:58.331
  • Stand around and talk.
  • 00:01:58.331 --> 00:01:59.732
  • They may even go four times a week and they wonder, why don't
  • 00:01:59.732 --> 00:02:04.003
  • I lose weight?
  • 00:02:04.003 --> 00:02:05.338
  • Why am i not getting in better shape?
  • 00:02:05.338 --> 00:02:07.407
  • That's because you stand around and talk.
  • 00:02:07.407 --> 00:02:09.776
  • I read that 67% of those that buy gym memberships
  • 00:02:09.776 --> 00:02:15.348
  • Never use them, 67%.
  • 00:02:15.348 --> 00:02:18.885
  • And by the way, i also found this out.
  • 00:02:18.885 --> 00:02:20.620
  • Most people join gyms actually in march and april.
  • 00:02:20.620 --> 00:02:23.923
  • I would've thought it was january, new year's resolution.
  • 00:02:23.923 --> 00:02:27.360
  • It's march and april, because they wanna get their bodies
  • 00:02:27.360 --> 00:02:31.064
  • Swimsuit ready, right?
  • 00:02:31.064 --> 00:02:33.266
  • So my objective in the gym is just to remain mobile and
  • 00:02:33.266 --> 00:02:38.738
  • Functional so i can get up and sit down and walk across the
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  • Room and that sort of thing.
  • 00:02:42.675 --> 00:02:44.944
  • And there's a saying, "no pain, no gain," and i think there's
  • 00:02:44.944 --> 00:02:49.449
  • Some truth to it.
  • 00:02:49.449 --> 00:02:50.783
  • And the christian life can be that way too.
  • 00:02:50.783 --> 00:02:53.052
  • The bible compares the christian life to various forms
  • 00:02:53.052 --> 00:02:56.656
  • Of discipline.
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  • We are to be disciplined like a farmer who patiently sows his
  • 00:02:58.057 --> 00:03:02.462
  • Crops and waits for them to grow.
  • 00:03:02.462 --> 00:03:05.231
  • We are to be like soldiers that endure hardship.
  • 00:03:05.231 --> 00:03:09.235
  • In fact, paul wrote to timothy, "endure hardship as a follower
  • 00:03:09.235 --> 00:03:14.173
  • Of jesus christ."
  • 00:03:14.173 --> 00:03:15.775
  • And we don't like that word "discipline."
  • 00:03:15.775 --> 00:03:18.645
  • You know, we're looking for the shortcut, the hack, the faster
  • 00:03:18.645 --> 00:03:23.016
  • Way to get something done.
  • 00:03:23.016 --> 00:03:24.617
  • But some things just take commitment and
  • 00:03:24.617 --> 00:03:28.288
  • Regular discipline.
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  • Just as physical discipline is necessary for bodily fitness,
  • 00:03:29.656 --> 00:03:34.594
  • Spiritual discipline is essential for spiritual growth.
  • 00:03:34.594 --> 00:03:39.365
  • The bible tells us in the book of philippians to "work out our
  • 00:03:39.365 --> 00:03:43.236
  • Own salvation with fear and trembling."
  • 00:03:43.236 --> 00:03:46.539
  • Now, that verse doesn't say work for your salvation, because
  • 00:03:46.539 --> 00:03:51.010
  • Salvation is a gift from god to us.
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  • The bible says it's not by works of righteousness that we have
  • 00:03:54.447 --> 00:03:58.017
  • Done, but according to his mercy he has saved us.
  • 00:03:58.017 --> 00:04:00.920
  • "by grace you've been saved through faith, not of works,
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  • Lest any man should boast."
  • 00:04:03.489 --> 00:04:04.824
  • But yet, we're told to work out our own salvation.
  • 00:04:04.824 --> 00:04:08.728
  • And the idea of that is carry it to the goal and complete.
  • 00:04:08.728 --> 00:04:12.598
  • Sort of the idea of going into a mine and getting that silver out
  • 00:04:12.598 --> 00:04:17.170
  • Of the mine.
  • 00:04:17.170 --> 00:04:18.504
  • So, working it out in your life.
  • 00:04:18.504 --> 00:04:20.006
  • And then it goes on to say, "for it is god who works in you both
  • 00:04:20.006 --> 00:04:23.843
  • To will and do of his good pleasure."
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  • So you need to constantly be moving forward, constantly
  • 00:04:27.847 --> 00:04:31.517
  • Applying yourself.
  • 00:04:31.517 --> 00:04:33.086
  • How many of you have tried stand up paddling, stand up paddling?
  • 00:04:33.086 --> 00:04:37.657
  • Okay, quite a few of you.
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  • Okay, so, i'm not very good at it,
  • 00:04:39.058 --> 00:04:42.562
  • And i've gone out many times.
  • 00:04:42.562 --> 00:04:44.831
  • And now my wife, man, she got up, like the second time
  • 00:04:44.831 --> 00:04:48.267
  • She tried, she's cutting across the face of the wave,
  • 00:04:48.267 --> 00:04:51.637
  • And she's, like, on the cover of surfer magazine.
  • 00:04:51.637 --> 00:04:55.208
  • And i'm just trying to stand, just stand without falling.
  • 00:04:55.208 --> 00:04:58.778
  • And so, what i've found is you have to get some momentum,
  • 00:04:58.778 --> 00:05:01.447
  • And while you're moving, it gives you more stability.
  • 00:05:01.447 --> 00:05:04.550
  • So, it comes down to this: stall and you fall, right?
  • 00:05:04.550 --> 00:05:08.621
  • And the same is true in the christian life,
  • 00:05:08.621 --> 00:05:10.490
  • Stall and you fall.
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  • The moment you're not moving forward, you are in effect,
  • 00:05:11.824 --> 00:05:14.694
  • By default, going backwards.
  • 00:05:14.694 --> 00:05:17.630
  • It's been said the christian life is like a grease pole.
  • 00:05:17.630 --> 00:05:20.666
  • You're either climbing, or you're slipping.
  • 00:05:20.666 --> 00:05:23.503
  • So we need these disciplines in our life.
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  • And listen to this.
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  • You never outgrow these spiritual disciplines, starting
  • 00:05:27.206 --> 00:05:31.644
  • With having a prayer life, learning to spend time with the
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  • Lord, listen to the lord, call out to the lord.
  • 00:05:35.848 --> 00:05:38.851
  • And then, there's the importance of being involved in church.
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  • Not going sporadically or occasionally or when it occurs
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  • To you, but having a discipline.
  • 00:05:47.660 --> 00:05:50.029
  • "we're going to church now."
  • 00:05:50.029 --> 00:05:53.399
  • The bible tells us to not forsake the assembling of
  • 00:05:53.399 --> 00:05:56.369
  • Ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but to exhort
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  • One another, or encourage one another, or correct one another,
  • 00:06:00.540 --> 00:06:03.776
  • Both are definitions of exhort, daily.
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  • And it's something we all should be doing,
  • 00:06:07.880 --> 00:06:09.382
  • And being active in our church.
  • 00:06:09.382 --> 00:06:11.484
  • So, when we're here and we're worshipping, worship.
  • 00:06:11.484 --> 00:06:14.921
  • Don't just stand there like a statue, you know?
  • 00:06:14.921 --> 00:06:17.557
  • That's why we put the lyrics on the screen, engage.
  • 00:06:17.557 --> 00:06:20.827
  • And when opportunities come to serve,
  • 00:06:20.827 --> 00:06:22.895
  • Volunteer, say, "i'll do that."
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  • And when the opportunity comes to give,
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  • Invest in the work that god is doing.
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  • And that brings me to another very important discipline that i
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  • Wanna focus on in this message, and that is the discipline of
  • 00:06:33.539 --> 00:06:38.044
  • Consistent bible study.
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  • It's so very important.
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  • Listen to this.
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  • Success or failure in the christian life depends on how
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  • Much of the word of god you get into your life on a daily basis
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  • And how obedient you are to it.
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  • Let me say that again.
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  • Success or failure in the christian life depends on how
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  • Much of god's word you get into your life on a regular basis and
  • 00:06:59.065 --> 00:07:03.436
  • How obedient you are to it.
  • 00:07:03.436 --> 00:07:06.372
  • And we're told in scripture how important that is.
  • 00:07:06.372 --> 00:07:09.542
  • The sermon on the mount, you've all heard of that.
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  • At the conclusion, jesus said this, "everyone who hears these
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  • Words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who
  • 00:07:16.415 --> 00:07:20.753
  • Built his house on the rock.
  • 00:07:20.753 --> 00:07:22.688
  • And the rain came down and the streams rose and the winds blew
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  • And beat against that house, yet it did not fall, because it had
  • 00:07:25.825 --> 00:07:29.262
  • Its foundation on the rock."
  • 00:07:29.262 --> 00:07:31.597
  • Then he went on to say, "but whoever hears these sayings of
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  • Mine that does not put them into practice, he's like a foolish
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  • Man who built his house on the sand.
  • 00:07:37.703 --> 00:07:39.839
  • And the rain came down on the streams rose and it fell with a
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  • Great crash."
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  • What is your life built on?
  • 00:07:44.110 --> 00:07:46.312
  • Build it on a relationship with christ and build it on the word
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  • Of god because the storms are gonna come and the streams are
  • 00:07:51.183 --> 00:07:54.554
  • Gonna rise and the fires are gonna rage.
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  • But if you're built on god's word, you will stand strong.
  • 00:07:57.690 --> 00:08:02.461
  • Don't build your life on your fickle emotions.
  • 00:08:02.461 --> 00:08:05.932
  • Don't build your life and the opinions of other people, or
  • 00:08:05.932 --> 00:08:09.769
  • What is culturally popular.
  • 00:08:09.769 --> 00:08:11.938
  • Here's what the bible says of itself, psalm 19, verse 7.
  • 00:08:11.938 --> 00:08:16.375
  • "the law of the lord," or we could just as easily say the
  • 00:08:16.375 --> 00:08:19.245
  • Word of god, "is perfect, converting the soul; the
  • 00:08:19.245 --> 00:08:23.583
  • Testimony of the lord is sure, making wise this simple."
  • 00:08:23.583 --> 00:08:27.119
  • This phrase "converts the soul" means it revives, it restores,
  • 00:08:27.119 --> 00:08:32.391
  • It transforms, and it refreshes.
  • 00:08:32.391 --> 00:08:35.861
  • That's what study of the word of god will do for you.
  • 00:08:35.861 --> 00:08:39.865
  • I can think of times in my life when i've been overwhelmed with
  • 00:08:39.865 --> 00:08:44.437
  • Grief or worry, and how the right passage just helped me and
  • 00:08:44.437 --> 00:08:49.875
  • Refreshed me and refocused me and encouraged me.
  • 00:08:49.875 --> 00:08:53.646
  • And that's why we need to be familiar with god's word.
  • 00:08:53.646 --> 00:08:57.450
  • One of the things that a young believer is going to face
  • 00:08:57.450 --> 00:09:00.453
  • Is doubt.
  • 00:09:00.453 --> 00:09:01.954
  • Don't forget in the first temptation in the garden of
  • 00:09:01.954 --> 00:09:04.256
  • Eden, satan came to adam and eve and said, "did god really say
  • 00:09:04.256 --> 00:09:09.395
  • What you thought you heard him say?"
  • 00:09:09.395 --> 00:09:11.631
  • Immediately trying to instill doubt into their minds.
  • 00:09:11.631 --> 00:09:16.569
  • And that is why we need to know the word of god.
  • 00:09:16.569 --> 00:09:18.771
  • Remember, when jesus was tempted by the devil in the wilderness
  • 00:09:18.771 --> 00:09:23.242
  • For 40 days, every time a temptation came his way, he
  • 00:09:23.242 --> 00:09:27.446
  • Responded by saying, "it is written, it is written,
  • 00:09:27.446 --> 00:09:31.417
  • It is written."
  • 00:09:31.417 --> 00:09:32.752
  • "why don't you turn that stone into a piece of bread?"
  • 00:09:32.752 --> 00:09:34.253
  • Jesus says, "no, because it is written, 'man shall not live by
  • 00:09:34.253 --> 00:09:38.290
  • Bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth
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  • Of god.'"
  • 00:09:41.527 --> 00:09:42.895
  • And we need to learn to do that as well.
  • 00:09:42.895 --> 00:09:45.765
  • We need to open the word of god and love the word of god.
  • 00:09:45.765 --> 00:09:50.036
  • A growing believer will delight in the study of scripture.
  • 00:09:50.036 --> 00:09:54.240
  • Okay, so let's go to psalm 19.
  • 00:09:54.240 --> 00:09:57.576
  • So we will read the phrase "the law of the lord" a few times.
  • 00:09:57.576 --> 00:10:02.481
  • You could just as easily substitute "the bible" or "the
  • 00:10:02.481 --> 00:10:07.019
  • Word of god" in the place of "the law of the lord."
  • 00:10:07.019 --> 00:10:11.590
  • Psalm 19, verse 7, "the law," or the word, "of the lord is
  • 00:10:11.590 --> 00:10:16.328
  • Perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the lord is
  • 00:10:16.328 --> 00:10:19.832
  • Sure, making wise the simple; the statutes of the lord are
  • 00:10:19.832 --> 00:10:24.103
  • Right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the lord is pure,
  • 00:10:24.103 --> 00:10:28.407
  • Enlightening the eyes; the fear of the lord is clean, enduring
  • 00:10:28.407 --> 00:10:32.712
  • Forever; the judgments of the lord are true and
  • 00:10:32.712 --> 00:10:36.716
  • Righteous altogether.
  • 00:10:36.716 --> 00:10:38.350
  • More to be desired are they than gold, yes, than much fine gold;
  • 00:10:38.350 --> 00:10:42.488
  • Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
  • 00:10:42.488 --> 00:10:46.125
  • Moreover by them is your servant warned, and in keeping them
  • 00:10:46.125 --> 00:10:50.596
  • There is great reward."
  • 00:10:50.596 --> 00:10:52.898
  • Point number one, if you're taking notes, the word of god
  • 00:10:52.898 --> 00:10:55.868
  • Is perfect.
  • 00:10:55.868 --> 00:10:57.336
  • The word of god is perfect.
  • 00:10:57.336 --> 00:11:00.339
  • That's what the scripture says.
  • 00:11:00.339 --> 00:11:03.008
  • This is in direct contrast to the flawed, imperfect reasoning
  • 00:11:03.008 --> 00:11:09.215
  • Of humanity.
  • 00:11:09.215 --> 00:11:10.716
  • Culture changes, but the bible never does.
  • 00:11:10.716 --> 00:11:14.620
  • So you stand on god's word.
  • 00:11:14.620 --> 00:11:17.623
  • Things become dated so quickly.
  • 00:11:17.623 --> 00:11:19.558
  • "oh, i got the brand new iphone," or, "i got the brand
  • 00:11:19.558 --> 00:11:23.129
  • New android phone."
  • 00:11:23.129 --> 00:11:24.463
  • Who cares?
  • 00:11:24.463 --> 00:11:25.798
  • But anyway.
  • 00:11:25.798 --> 00:11:27.166
  • Now, they make some cool stuff.
  • 00:11:27.166 --> 00:11:29.802
  • No, sort of.
  • 00:11:29.802 --> 00:11:31.137
  • But anyway, "oh, i got the new this, i got the new that.
  • 00:11:31.137 --> 00:11:34.473
  • Oh, here comes the new model.
  • 00:11:34.473 --> 00:11:35.941
  • Oh, you have the old model.
  • 00:11:35.941 --> 00:11:37.309
  • This is the new model."
  • 00:11:37.309 --> 00:11:38.778
  • How about yearbook photos?
  • 00:11:38.778 --> 00:11:40.312
  • Does anyone ever look good in their yearbook photo?
  • 00:11:40.312 --> 00:11:43.482
  • It's almost like they capture us at the most awkward moment of
  • 00:11:43.482 --> 00:11:46.986
  • Our life.
  • 00:11:46.986 --> 00:11:48.354
  • And then these photographers, they always pose you in a
  • 00:11:48.354 --> 00:11:51.223
  • Strange way where your head sort of turned or something odd, and
  • 00:11:51.223 --> 00:11:55.161
  • You look at it and everybody cringes, it's so dated.
  • 00:11:55.161 --> 00:11:58.831
  • But the bible isn't dated.
  • 00:11:58.831 --> 00:12:00.199
  • The bible is always relevant.
  • 00:12:00.199 --> 00:12:02.568
  • The word of god is perfect.
  • 00:12:02.568 --> 00:12:03.903
  • It means it's whole, it's complete, and it's sufficient.
  • 00:12:03.903 --> 00:12:07.973
  • You don't need to add to it.
  • 00:12:07.973 --> 00:12:09.508
  • You certainly don't need to take away from it.
  • 00:12:09.508 --> 00:12:12.344
  • 2 timothy 3:16 says, "all scripture is given
  • 00:12:12.344 --> 00:12:16.715
  • By inspiration of god."
  • 00:12:16.715 --> 00:12:18.818
  • Another translation of that would be, "all scripture is
  • 00:12:18.818 --> 00:12:22.555
  • Breathed by god."
  • 00:12:22.555 --> 00:12:24.623
  • There's no mistakes, there's no contradictions.
  • 00:12:24.623 --> 00:12:28.160
  • The word of god is perfect.
  • 00:12:28.160 --> 00:12:30.095
  • Everything you need to know about god is in the bible.
  • 00:12:30.095 --> 00:12:34.166
  • Everything you need to know about life, in effect, is also
  • 00:12:34.166 --> 00:12:37.603
  • In the bible.
  • 00:12:37.603 --> 00:12:38.938
  • And maybe that's why the bible remains the best-selling book of
  • 00:12:38.938 --> 00:12:41.841
  • All time.
  • 00:12:41.841 --> 00:12:43.175
  • Every hour in america, more than 2000 copies of the bible
  • 00:12:43.175 --> 00:12:47.880
  • Are sold.
  • 00:12:47.880 --> 00:12:49.248
  • Every year in america more than 20 million copies of the bible
  • 00:12:49.248 --> 00:12:53.485
  • Are sold.
  • 00:12:53.485 --> 00:12:54.854
  • Five billion copies of the bible have been sold and they continue
  • 00:12:54.854 --> 00:12:59.859
  • To sell.
  • 00:12:59.859 --> 00:13:01.227
  • It is god's word to each of us.
  • 00:13:01.227 --> 00:13:03.395
  • Now, this is an amazing book.
  • 00:13:03.395 --> 00:13:06.098
  • It's actually not one singular book.
  • 00:13:06.098 --> 00:13:08.567
  • In some ways, it's a collection of 66 books written over a 1500
  • 00:13:08.567 --> 00:13:15.341
  • Year period of time by 40 authors from so many different
  • 00:13:15.341 --> 00:13:22.181
  • Walks of life.
  • 00:13:22.181 --> 00:13:23.549
  • Kings, presidents--excuse me, peasants.
  • 00:13:23.549 --> 00:13:26.085
  • No presidents.
  • 00:13:26.085 --> 00:13:27.419
  • What am i saying?
  • 00:13:27.419 --> 00:13:29.421
  • Kings, peasants, philosophers, fishermen, poets, statesmen,
  • 00:13:29.421 --> 00:13:35.194
  • And scholars.
  • 00:13:35.194 --> 00:13:36.729
  • Yet, all of these authors inspired by god write about one
  • 00:13:36.729 --> 00:13:40.833
  • Consistent theme, which is god's redemption of mankind.
  • 00:13:40.833 --> 00:13:46.238
  • Every one of these men was directed by the lord to write
  • 00:13:46.238 --> 00:13:49.708
  • These words because 1 peter 1:20 says, "it was the holy spirit
  • 00:13:49.708 --> 00:13:54.513
  • Who moved the prophets to speak from god."
  • 00:13:54.513 --> 00:13:57.016
  • But back to my initial question.
  • 00:13:57.016 --> 00:13:59.418
  • How can we know the bible is the word of god?
  • 00:13:59.418 --> 00:14:03.155
  • A few thoughts about that.
  • 00:14:03.155 --> 00:14:05.124
  • First, i would say the bible is confirmed by archaeology.
  • 00:14:05.124 --> 00:14:09.929
  • The bible is confirmed by archaeology.
  • 00:14:09.929 --> 00:14:12.364
  • In fact, archaeology has been called the bible's best friend.
  • 00:14:12.364 --> 00:14:17.236
  • From the discovery of the cyrus cylinder in 1870 to the pool of
  • 00:14:17.236 --> 00:14:21.907
  • Siloam in 2004, archaeology has confirmed again and again the
  • 00:14:21.907 --> 00:14:27.112
  • Bible was right all along.
  • 00:14:27.112 --> 00:14:29.615
  • For instance, there were critics who would say, "you know,
  • 00:14:29.615 --> 00:14:31.917
  • There's no person named pontius pilate.
  • 00:14:31.917 --> 00:14:34.687
  • We can't find any historical evidence for that," though he
  • 00:14:34.687 --> 00:14:37.756
  • Plays prominently in the gospel accounts, especially in
  • 00:14:37.756 --> 00:14:41.193
  • The story of the crucifixion of jesus.
  • 00:14:41.193 --> 00:14:43.996
  • Well, once again, archaeology reveals in 1961 they find
  • 00:14:43.996 --> 00:14:49.134
  • A stone dating back to ad 30 with the words "pontius pilate"
  • 00:14:49.134 --> 00:14:54.840
  • On it and he's identified as a prefect of rome.
  • 00:14:54.840 --> 00:14:57.176
  • That's me leaning on the stone and i was arrested for doing
  • 00:14:57.176 --> 00:15:00.446
  • That, by the way.
  • 00:15:00.446 --> 00:15:01.780
  • Now, that's a reproduction of the stone.
  • 00:15:01.780 --> 00:15:03.615
  • The real stone is in a museum.
  • 00:15:03.615 --> 00:15:05.884
  • But that's the pilate stone, so called.
  • 00:15:05.884 --> 00:15:08.821
  • So once again, archaeology proves the bible was right
  • 00:15:08.821 --> 00:15:11.657
  • All along.
  • 00:15:11.657 --> 00:15:13.025
  • Critics would say, "you know, we think david is a
  • 00:15:13.025 --> 00:15:15.361
  • Fictitious character.
  • 00:15:15.361 --> 00:15:16.895
  • There's no historical evidence for david."
  • 00:15:16.895 --> 00:15:19.798
  • But then archaeology, once again, reveals a special stone
  • 00:15:19.798 --> 00:15:25.671
  • Dating back to the 9th century bearing the name of david saying
  • 00:15:25.671 --> 00:15:29.441
  • "house of david."
  • 00:15:29.441 --> 00:15:31.377
  • There's much more i could say, but archaeology confirms
  • 00:15:31.377 --> 00:15:34.413
  • The bible.
  • 00:15:34.413 --> 00:15:35.748
  • I know the bible is true because it's confirmed by science.
  • 00:15:35.748 --> 00:15:40.419
  • People think that science and the bible contradict each other.
  • 00:15:40.419 --> 00:15:44.256
  • Many have scoffed at the bible, saying it's so unscientific.
  • 00:15:44.256 --> 00:15:47.893
  • Did you know there was a time when our great astronomers
  • 00:15:47.893 --> 00:15:51.130
  • Thought you could count the stars?
  • 00:15:51.130 --> 00:15:53.165
  • They did their very best and determined that there are
  • 00:15:53.165 --> 00:15:56.068
  • 850 stars.
  • 00:15:56.068 --> 00:15:58.137
  • One, two, three, four, five.
  • 00:15:58.137 --> 00:16:01.407
  • And then, with a little more sophistication, they expanded
  • 00:16:01.407 --> 00:16:04.176
  • That number to 1500.
  • 00:16:04.176 --> 00:16:06.879
  • But then in the 17th century galileo took out his telescope
  • 00:16:06.879 --> 00:16:13.552
  • And said, "i think the number is much higher than we
  • 00:16:13.552 --> 00:16:16.188
  • Previously thought."
  • 00:16:16.188 --> 00:16:17.523
  • Well, actually the bible dealt with this, and if you'd just
  • 00:16:17.523 --> 00:16:20.225
  • Read it, you would notice the bible says of the stars that god
  • 00:16:20.225 --> 00:16:24.630
  • Stretched forth the heavens into a limitless expanse that can
  • 00:16:24.630 --> 00:16:28.767
  • Never be measured and filled it with stars which are numerous as
  • 00:16:28.767 --> 00:16:32.071
  • The sand upon the seashore.
  • 00:16:32.071 --> 00:16:34.406
  • In other words, god is saying, "they're innumerable, you can't
  • 00:16:34.406 --> 00:16:38.210
  • Count them all."
  • 00:16:38.210 --> 00:16:39.578
  • And it's been proven that we can't assess the number of
  • 00:16:39.578 --> 00:16:42.314
  • The stars.
  • 00:16:42.314 --> 00:16:43.682
  • The numbers range from 200 billion stars to 70 sextillion.
  • 00:16:43.682 --> 00:16:50.289
  • I said sex and stars.
  • 00:16:50.289 --> 00:16:52.024
  • It's all there.
  • 00:16:52.024 --> 00:16:54.159
  • You can't count them.
  • 00:16:54.159 --> 00:16:55.894
  • Go down to the beach and pick up the sand and let it slip through
  • 00:16:55.894 --> 00:16:59.164
  • Your fingers.
  • 00:16:59.164 --> 00:17:00.499
  • That's how many stars there are and limitless galaxies.
  • 00:17:00.499 --> 00:17:04.136
  • Bible told us that all along.
  • 00:17:04.136 --> 00:17:06.572
  • The bible has so much to say about so many things.
  • 00:17:06.572 --> 00:17:11.009
  • But most importantly, the bible tells us know--how to know god.
  • 00:17:11.009 --> 00:17:14.880
  • Here's another thought.
  • 00:17:14.880 --> 00:17:16.415
  • I know the bible is true because it gave to me the experience
  • 00:17:16.415 --> 00:17:21.753
  • It promised.
  • 00:17:21.753 --> 00:17:23.222
  • Now, maybe that's not important to you, but it's important
  • 00:17:23.222 --> 00:17:26.291
  • To me.
  • 00:17:26.291 --> 00:17:27.659
  • The bible made certain promises to me and, by nature, i've
  • 00:17:27.659 --> 00:17:30.729
  • Always been a skeptical person.
  • 00:17:30.729 --> 00:17:32.798
  • I don't know about you.
  • 00:17:32.798 --> 00:17:34.399
  • I'm not the first to believe something because someone else
  • 00:17:34.399 --> 00:17:37.469
  • Says it's true.
  • 00:17:37.469 --> 00:17:38.837
  • I wanna know for myself.
  • 00:17:38.837 --> 00:17:40.606
  • And so when i heard all these promises available to me if i
  • 00:17:40.606 --> 00:17:44.610
  • Became a christian, i thought, eh, i don't really know.
  • 00:17:44.610 --> 00:17:48.113
  • And even if it were true for other people, i'm not sure it
  • 00:17:48.113 --> 00:17:51.617
  • Would be true for me personally.
  • 00:17:51.617 --> 00:17:55.187
  • But i was proven wrong.
  • 00:17:55.187 --> 00:17:56.889
  • Christ did everything he promised he would do for me.
  • 00:17:56.889 --> 00:18:01.827
  • For instance, god says that he would forgive my sins, and i
  • 00:18:01.827 --> 00:18:05.397
  • Asked him to forgive me, and he did.
  • 00:18:05.397 --> 00:18:08.100
  • "if we will confess our sin," 1 john 1:9 says, "he's faithful
  • 00:18:08.100 --> 00:18:11.803
  • And just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from
  • 00:18:11.803 --> 00:18:14.306
  • All unrighteousness."
  • 00:18:14.306 --> 00:18:15.674
  • So when i go and visit a place for the first time, i'll ask
  • 00:18:15.674 --> 00:18:19.578
  • Someone, maybe they pick me up at the airport, "hey, where's a
  • 00:18:19.578 --> 00:18:21.747
  • Good place to eat?"
  • 00:18:21.747 --> 00:18:23.081
  • "oh, this is the best place to eat."
  • 00:18:23.081 --> 00:18:24.950
  • And now i'm gonna say this, i am now going to determine if this
  • 00:18:24.950 --> 00:18:28.554
  • Person's opinion on food can be trusted.
  • 00:18:28.554 --> 00:18:31.757
  • And i'll go to that restaurant and it's some of the worst food
  • 00:18:31.757 --> 00:18:34.059
  • I've ever had.
  • 00:18:34.059 --> 00:18:35.494
  • But i'll give them one more chance.
  • 00:18:35.494 --> 00:18:37.596
  • "you gotta go to this other place.
  • 00:18:37.596 --> 00:18:38.997
  • It's the second best place," and it's worse than the first place.
  • 00:18:38.997 --> 00:18:42.201
  • So now they go into my category of "people i don't listen to for
  • 00:18:42.201 --> 00:18:46.505
  • Food recommendations."
  • 00:18:46.505 --> 00:18:48.974
  • Then there are other people that make a recommendation, "this is
  • 00:18:48.974 --> 00:18:52.311
  • Amazing," and it is amazing.
  • 00:18:52.311 --> 00:18:54.713
  • I was over in maui recently and our campus pastor lucho said, "i
  • 00:18:54.713 --> 00:19:00.385
  • Know of a great bakery.
  • 00:19:00.385 --> 00:19:01.753
  • You're gonna love it."
  • 00:19:01.753 --> 00:19:03.088
  • And i told him upfront, "i'm gonna put you in a category
  • 00:19:03.088 --> 00:19:04.723
  • Right now, lucho, so i hope it's good."
  • 00:19:04.723 --> 00:19:07.593
  • And i have to say, it was a great choice, so i can trust him
  • 00:19:07.593 --> 00:19:11.029
  • Now for food.
  • 00:19:11.029 --> 00:19:12.397
  • That's good to know, right?
  • 00:19:12.397 --> 00:19:14.166
  • But god makes promises.
  • 00:19:14.166 --> 00:19:15.500
  • Can they be trusted?
  • 00:19:15.500 --> 00:19:17.236
  • Will they happen for me?
  • 00:19:17.236 --> 00:19:19.538
  • That sense of guilt was removed from me.
  • 00:19:19.538 --> 00:19:22.341
  • The bible said if i came to jesus christ, i would become a
  • 00:19:22.341 --> 00:19:25.510
  • Different person, and that has happened to me.
  • 00:19:25.510 --> 00:19:28.480
  • Now, i'm still a work in progress, but i found it to
  • 00:19:28.480 --> 00:19:32.417
  • Be true.
  • 00:19:32.417 --> 00:19:33.785
  • Haven't you?
  • 00:19:33.785 --> 00:19:35.120
  • The bible--haven't you?
  • 00:19:35.120 --> 00:19:36.555
  • Hello?
  • 00:19:36.555 --> 00:19:37.889
  • Thank you.
  • 00:19:37.889 --> 00:19:39.258
  • Well, maybe it hasn't worked for you guys.
  • 00:19:39.258 --> 00:19:43.028
  • The bible promised that if i would not worry about anything,
  • 00:19:43.028 --> 00:19:47.566
  • But i would pray about everything, that god would give
  • 00:19:47.566 --> 00:19:49.835
  • Me a peace that passes all human understanding.
  • 00:19:49.835 --> 00:19:52.804
  • I found that to be true.
  • 00:19:52.804 --> 00:19:54.806
  • The bible told me if i would pray about things, god could
  • 00:19:54.806 --> 00:19:57.476
  • Change circumstances, and i've seen that as well.
  • 00:19:57.476 --> 00:20:01.980
  • I've seen so many things that god promised come true in
  • 00:20:01.980 --> 00:20:05.250
  • My life.
  • 00:20:05.250 --> 00:20:06.618
  • I believe in the bible because it gave me the experience
  • 00:20:06.618 --> 00:20:09.288
  • Of promise.
  • 00:20:09.288 --> 00:20:10.622
  • That's not the only reason i believe in it.
  • 00:20:10.622 --> 00:20:11.957
  • It's just one of many.
  • 00:20:11.957 --> 00:20:13.325
  • I believe in the bible because it's the one book that dares to
  • 00:20:13.325 --> 00:20:16.528
  • Predict the future with 100% accuracy.
  • 00:20:16.528 --> 00:20:22.267
  • And that's an amazing thing.
  • 00:20:22.267 --> 00:20:24.269
  • There are many specific prophecies the bible has made.
  • 00:20:24.269 --> 00:20:28.140
  • Many of them have already been fulfilled, so we can look back
  • 00:20:28.140 --> 00:20:31.410
  • With 2020 hindsight and see how accurate scripture is.
  • 00:20:31.410 --> 00:20:35.914
  • I'm not talking about the mayan calendar or the so-called
  • 00:20:35.914 --> 00:20:40.552
  • Prophecies of nostradamus.
  • 00:20:40.552 --> 00:20:43.288
  • I'm talking about bold prophecies and i can talk all
  • 00:20:43.288 --> 00:20:46.091
  • Day about this.
  • 00:20:46.091 --> 00:20:47.426
  • But the bible said the jewish people will be scattered to the
  • 00:20:47.426 --> 00:20:50.696
  • Four corners of the earth.
  • 00:20:50.696 --> 00:20:52.297
  • They'll be re-gathered in their land and they'll become a
  • 00:20:52.297 --> 00:20:55.267
  • Nation again.
  • 00:20:55.267 --> 00:20:56.702
  • And after this happens, they'll be surrounded by enemies intent
  • 00:20:56.702 --> 00:21:00.339
  • On their destruction.
  • 00:21:00.339 --> 00:21:01.707
  • All this is spoken of in scripture and it's happening
  • 00:21:01.707 --> 00:21:04.609
  • Before our very eyes as we sit here right now.
  • 00:21:04.609 --> 00:21:08.880
  • This is the amazing thing about the bible.
  • 00:21:08.880 --> 00:21:11.550
  • But the bible is a book that not--must not just be read, it
  • 00:21:11.550 --> 00:21:15.987
  • Must be obeyed.
  • 00:21:15.987 --> 00:21:18.490
  • James 1:22 says, "remember, it's a message to obey, not just
  • 00:21:18.490 --> 00:21:23.462
  • Listen to."
  • 00:21:23.462 --> 00:21:24.830
  • And if you don't obey, you're only fooling yourself.
  • 00:21:24.830 --> 00:21:27.599
  • You're like someone that goes and looks in the mirror and then
  • 00:21:27.599 --> 00:21:31.069
  • Forgets what they saw and walks away.
  • 00:21:31.069 --> 00:21:33.472
  • But if you keep looking steadily into that mirror, god's word, it
  • 00:21:33.472 --> 00:21:38.844
  • Will set you free.
  • 00:21:38.844 --> 00:21:40.178
  • And if you do what it says and don't forget what you've heard,
  • 00:21:40.178 --> 00:21:43.048
  • God will bless you for doing it.
  • 00:21:43.048 --> 00:21:45.317
  • Have you ever looked in the mirror and seen something that
  • 00:21:45.317 --> 00:21:47.452
  • Alarmed you?
  • 00:21:47.452 --> 00:21:49.087
  • When you get older, it just seems like it always alarms
  • 00:21:49.087 --> 00:21:51.490
  • You somewhat.
  • 00:21:51.490 --> 00:21:53.592
  • But, you know, you look at--whoa, that's been on my face
  • 00:21:53.592 --> 00:21:56.428
  • All day long?
  • 00:21:56.428 --> 00:21:57.796
  • No wonder people were laughing at me and taking photos of me
  • 00:21:57.796 --> 00:22:00.766
  • With their phones.
  • 00:22:00.766 --> 00:22:02.367
  • So maybe you make a correction.
  • 00:22:02.367 --> 00:22:04.369
  • Try a magnifying mirror.
  • 00:22:04.369 --> 00:22:06.538
  • Oh, those are alarming.
  • 00:22:06.538 --> 00:22:09.574
  • But i look at the scripture and it shows me who god is, it shows
  • 00:22:09.574 --> 00:22:13.445
  • Me who i should be, so i should obey what it says.
  • 00:22:13.445 --> 00:22:18.016
  • And then, the bible should be treasured as well.
  • 00:22:18.016 --> 00:22:21.653
  • Psalm 119:11 says, "your word have i treasured in my heart,
  • 00:22:21.653 --> 00:22:26.491
  • That i might not sin against you."
  • 00:22:26.491 --> 00:22:29.961
  • Treasure it and memorize it.
  • 00:22:29.961 --> 00:22:34.232
  • Now, some people say, "i can't remember things.
  • 00:22:34.232 --> 00:22:36.768
  • I can't memorize things."
  • 00:22:36.768 --> 00:22:38.136
  • Oh, give me a break.
  • 00:22:38.136 --> 00:22:39.471
  • Of course you can.
  • 00:22:39.471 --> 00:22:40.839
  • I have all kinds of useless trivia in my brain and i never
  • 00:22:40.839 --> 00:22:45.243
  • Remember trying to memorize, but there it is.
  • 00:22:45.243 --> 00:22:48.780
  • Annoying jingles, "1-877-kars4kids."
  • 00:22:48.780 --> 00:22:55.654
  • You ever seen that commercial?
  • 00:22:55.654 --> 00:22:57.489
  • But it's worse for me.
  • 00:22:57.489 --> 00:22:59.257
  • I remember commercials from the '50s.
  • 00:22:59.257 --> 00:23:02.060
  • "stanley, stanley, stanley chevrolet, two blocks off the
  • 00:23:02.060 --> 00:23:06.031
  • Santa ana freeway--" why do i know that?
  • 00:23:06.031 --> 00:23:09.935
  • "flintstones, meet the flintstones they're the modern
  • 00:23:09.935 --> 00:23:12.904
  • Stone-age family."
  • 00:23:12.904 --> 00:23:14.272
  • I don't remember memorizing that.
  • 00:23:14.272 --> 00:23:16.608
  • "from the town of bedrock--" "come and listen to a
  • 00:23:16.608 --> 00:23:19.744
  • Story about a man named jed, a poor--" now, some of you who are
  • 00:23:19.744 --> 00:23:22.914
  • Younger say, "i don't know what's happening right now."
  • 00:23:22.914 --> 00:23:27.886
  • I don't either.
  • 00:23:27.886 --> 00:23:29.921
  • I'm just telling you i have things that have been in my
  • 00:23:29.921 --> 00:23:32.557
  • Brain for many, many years.
  • 00:23:32.557 --> 00:23:35.360
  • But even better than that, i have passages that have stayed
  • 00:23:35.360 --> 00:23:38.396
  • In my brain that comfort me.
  • 00:23:38.396 --> 00:23:41.199
  • Because when you're facing a crisis, thinking about
  • 00:23:41.199 --> 00:23:45.704
  • That story about the man named jed isn't gonna help you.
  • 00:23:45.704 --> 00:23:49.674
  • But the bible will.
  • 00:23:49.674 --> 00:23:51.376
  • That's why you need to commit it to memory.
  • 00:23:51.376 --> 00:23:54.212
  • The word of god gives incredible wisdom, point number six.
  • 00:23:54.212 --> 00:23:57.949
  • Verse 7, "the testimony of the lord is sure, making wise
  • 00:23:57.949 --> 00:24:01.353
  • The simple."
  • 00:24:01.353 --> 00:24:02.921
  • This word "simple" comes from a root word that speaks of an open
  • 00:24:02.921 --> 00:24:06.791
  • Door, it speaks of a person with a mind like an open door.
  • 00:24:06.791 --> 00:24:10.829
  • Everything comes in, everything goes out.
  • 00:24:10.829 --> 00:24:14.266
  • They're open to everything, they're closed to nothing.
  • 00:24:14.266 --> 00:24:17.602
  • And that's how some people are.
  • 00:24:17.602 --> 00:24:19.471
  • Just whatever the culture says, "oh, that's what i believe now,"
  • 00:24:19.471 --> 00:24:23.241
  • Instead of thinking biblically.
  • 00:24:23.241 --> 00:24:25.010
  • And that's why we're doing this little series on hot
  • 00:24:25.010 --> 00:24:27.712
  • Button issues.
  • 00:24:27.712 --> 00:24:29.614
  • And, you know, if i believe what the bible says, things start
  • 00:24:29.614 --> 00:24:32.150
  • Making sense.
  • 00:24:32.150 --> 00:24:33.518
  • If i believe that man is intrinsically good and the
  • 00:24:33.518 --> 00:24:36.388
  • Reason he does bad things is because of his environment, and
  • 00:24:36.388 --> 00:24:39.858
  • If we can change his own environment we can change the
  • 00:24:39.858 --> 00:24:42.994
  • Man, i'm gonna be very disappointed by what i see
  • 00:24:42.994 --> 00:24:46.197
  • In life.
  • 00:24:46.197 --> 00:24:47.566
  • But if i believe what the bible says, that man is basically a
  • 00:24:47.566 --> 00:24:50.201
  • Sinner who has broken god's commandments and only christ can
  • 00:24:50.201 --> 00:24:54.139
  • Change him in the heart, i'll see things a lot differently.
  • 00:24:54.139 --> 00:24:59.277
  • Some will say, "yeah, but what if you come to a passage in the
  • 00:24:59.277 --> 00:25:02.280
  • Bible you don't agree with?"
  • 00:25:02.280 --> 00:25:06.251
  • Okay, simple answer: change your opinion because you're wrong and
  • 00:25:06.251 --> 00:25:09.487
  • God is right.
  • 00:25:09.487 --> 00:25:10.822
  • How about that?
  • 00:25:10.822 --> 00:25:12.190
  • "well, i don't agree."
  • 00:25:12.190 --> 00:25:13.658
  • Who cares? who cares?
  • 00:25:13.658 --> 00:25:20.298
  • Who are you to critique god?
  • 00:25:20.298 --> 00:25:23.501
  • Who are you to critique scripture?
  • 00:25:23.501 --> 00:25:27.138
  • Romans tells us in chapter 9, "who are you, a mere human
  • 00:25:27.138 --> 00:25:31.376
  • Being, to criticize god?
  • 00:25:31.376 --> 00:25:32.877
  • Should the thing that was created say to the one who
  • 00:25:32.877 --> 00:25:37.148
  • Created it, 'why did you make me like this?'"
  • 00:25:37.148 --> 00:25:39.718
  • So the word of god is perfect, it transforms us, it makes
  • 00:25:39.718 --> 00:25:43.121
  • Us wise.
  • 00:25:43.121 --> 00:25:44.489
  • What else do we know?
  • 00:25:44.489 --> 00:25:45.824
  • The word of god is something that will make you happy.
  • 00:25:45.824 --> 00:25:50.328
  • Psalm 19, verse 8, "the statutes of the lord are right, rejoicing
  • 00:25:50.328 --> 00:25:55.133
  • The heart."
  • 00:25:55.133 --> 00:25:56.501
  • Rejoicing the heart.
  • 00:25:56.501 --> 00:25:57.836
  • It will bring you happiness in life.
  • 00:25:57.836 --> 00:26:01.373
  • Bible says, psalm 1, "happy is the man that doesn't walk in the
  • 00:26:01.373 --> 00:26:05.744
  • Counsel of the ungodly or stand in the way of sinners."
  • 00:26:05.744 --> 00:26:08.413
  • Listen, you can be happy without sin.
  • 00:26:08.413 --> 00:26:11.883
  • You can be happy without having sex outside of marriage.
  • 00:26:11.883 --> 00:26:16.588
  • You can be happy without drugs or alcohol.
  • 00:26:16.588 --> 00:26:19.557
  • You can be happy without selfishness.
  • 00:26:19.557 --> 00:26:23.762
  • Happiness comes from a relationship with god.
  • 00:26:23.762 --> 00:26:26.698
  • Greg: hi, i'm greg laurie. i've got some good news for you.
  • 00:26:30.669 --> 00:26:33.371
  • God loves you, and god has a plan for your life.
  • 00:26:33.371 --> 00:26:37.208
  • Here's the problem: we're separated from god by our sin
  • 00:26:37.208 --> 00:26:40.679
  • Because we've all broken his commandments.
  • 00:26:40.679 --> 00:26:43.615
  • But the good news is that 2,000 years ago, god sent
  • 00:26:43.615 --> 00:26:47.085
  • His son, jesus christ, to die on the cross for your sin,
  • 00:26:47.085 --> 00:26:51.489
  • And then to rise again from the dead.
  • 00:26:51.489 --> 00:26:53.892
  • The same jesus who died and rose is alive and ready
  • 00:26:53.892 --> 00:26:57.195
  • To come into your life right now.
  • 00:26:57.195 --> 00:26:59.731
  • Would you like your sin forgiven?
  • 00:26:59.731 --> 00:27:01.800
  • Would you like to know that when you die you will go to heaven?
  • 00:27:01.800 --> 00:27:04.669
  • If so, pray this simple prayer with me right now.
  • 00:27:04.669 --> 00:27:07.972
  • Just say, "lord jesus, i know i'm a sinner, but i believe
  • 00:27:07.972 --> 00:27:11.676
  • You're the savior, who died on the cross for my sin.
  • 00:27:11.676 --> 00:27:15.146
  • I turn from my sin now, and i choose to follow you
  • 00:27:15.146 --> 00:27:18.650
  • From this moment forward."
  • 00:27:18.650 --> 00:27:21.019
  • Did you just pray that prayer with me?
  • 00:27:21.019 --> 00:27:22.854
  • If you did, god in heaven has heard you.
  • 00:27:22.854 --> 00:27:26.224
  • Congratulations, and welcome to the family of god.
  • 00:27:26.224 --> 00:27:26.224