Greg Laurie - The Power of Your Personal Story

August 8, 2025 | 27:40

Join Pastor Greg Laurie for a time of encouragement, worship, and Bible study.

#PersonalStory #Testimony #Gospel #Missions #Witness/Witnessing #Evangelism #Faith #Peopleinyourlife #Salvation #Boldness #Truth #Love #LoveyourNeighbor

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Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie | Greg Laurie - The Power of Your Personal Story | August 8, 2025

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Greg laurie: welcome to "harvest with greg laurie."
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This tv show is all about helping you get to know god
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Better because god loves you and god has a plan for you
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And god wants to transform your life.
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And he's told us everything you need to know about
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Him and life in general in this book,
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The bible, the user's manual of life.
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So we're gonna be talking about what the bible
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Says and what god wants to do in your life.
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Again, welcome, and god bless you.
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♪ this is the day, ♪
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♪ the day when life begins. ♪
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♪ this is the day, ♪
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♪ the day when life begins. ♪♪
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Greg: god has put his people in the culture
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To influence it, to make a difference.
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God is not calling us as believers to isolate,
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But rather to infiltrate, to influence.
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♪♪♪
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Greg: "go therefore and make disciples of all the nations,
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Baptizing them in the name of the father and the son and the
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Holy spirit, teaching them to observe all things
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That i have commanded you, and lo, i am with
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You, even to the end of the age."
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♪♪♪
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Greg: i'm here on what is called the high line.
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It's a park in new york city, in an area
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Known as the meatpacking district.
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It's really a cool place 'cause it's sort of
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Elevated above the streets here of the city.
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In fact, this is where the trains used to run.
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But now it's a gathering place.
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People from all around the city will come and take pictures and
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Talk with each other, have lunch.
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Some will be out jogging.
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A place where people get together to engage.
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In the bible there's a story in john chapter 4
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Of a woman who went to a well.
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Now, back in biblical times, the well was actually the place
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Where you would get water, of course, but it
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Was where the women would get together
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And share the latest gossip of the day.
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And there is a story of a woman who was burned out and immoral
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And had been married and divorced multiple times.
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I'll talk about this later, but jesus engaged her where she was.
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Jesus invaded her world.
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Jesus did not say that the whole world should go to church but he
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Did say the church should go to the whole world.
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We need to engage people where they're at, enter their world,
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So to speak, and in john 4 jesus entered the world
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Of that burned-out, immoral woman.
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And you know what happened?
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A conversion took place.
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I might add, a very unexpected conversion.
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You know, i've found that there are times when i've engaged
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People with the message of the gospel and asked them if they
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Want to receive christ into their life and they say, "yes."
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Then there are times when i've engaged people with the message
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Of the gospel and they've said, "absolutely not."
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But then there have been times where i've engaged people with
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The gospel and they've surprised me by wanting to
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Believe when i did not expect them to believe.
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You never know what's gonna happen.
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That's why you need to throw the seeds of the gospel
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Out there to as many people as you can.
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The bible says, "be instant in season and out of season."
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Or as another translation puts it, "be on duty at all times."
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♪♪♪
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Greg: now, i told you my mom was married
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And divorced seven times.
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I had a full-time ministry sharing the gospel
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With my mother's former husbands.
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Not kidding. i tried to reach every one.
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You know, in the midst of all these guys my mom married and
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Divorced, she picked one guy that i thought was fantastic.
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He was an attorney from new jersey
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And his name was oscar laurie.
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He was different from all the other guys my mom married.
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My mom was sort of attracted to what you might call a barfly.
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These are the guys, you know, they're end of the bar and their
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Shirts are unbuttoned a few too many buttons, you know?
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By the way, anything past this button may
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Be too much but it's just my thought.
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Anyway, so, you know, these are the guys she was drawn to.
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They were drinkers, they were smokers,
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They were party guys, as was my mom.
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But somehow she finds this guy named oscar.
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He doesn't drink, he doesn't smoke.
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What did my mother see in him?
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And he was a very good man.
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And so we lived there in new jersey with him, and he adopted
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Me and he gave me my name, of course.
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And he treated me as a father should treat his son.
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He gave me an allowance. i had to do chores.
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I have to be responsible.
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And i found myself calling him "dad" and though he was not my
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Biological father, i felt and still feel he was my father.
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And so i loved him, and that's why it was so hard when i came
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Out of school one autumn day in new jersey and
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A black cadillac is packed to the gills with
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Suitcases and i say, "what's going on?"
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She says, "we're leaving new jersey
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And we're going to hawaii."
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'course, i was excited because at that point i'd never been to
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Hawaii before and i said, "where's dad?"
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And my mom said, "he's not coming."
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Well, i didn't see him for years.
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So now fast forward many years.
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I'd become a christian. i married.
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We have one son at this point, christopher.
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And i was invited to speak in new york city.
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So i thought, "i wonder if my dad is even still alive?"
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So because he was an attorney, i had a girl in our church that
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Worked for the bar association track him down.
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She found him immediately.
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He was living in a place called red bank in new jersey.
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So i called his office and i--remember, i haven't talked to
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Him for years, and i called and i said, "hi, is mr. laurie in?"
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The secretary said, "i'm sorry, he's out to lunch."
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I said, "well, will you tell him i called?"
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She said, "well, what's your name?"
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I said, "greg laurie."
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She said, "how do you spell your last name?"
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I said, "the same way he does, l-a-u-r-i-e, and i'm
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His son so please tell him to call me."
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I got a call quickly afterwards.
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"greg," he says, "come and visit us.
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Come to our home for the weekend."
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"oh no, i really couldn't."
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You know, i knew he had remarried, had a new family.
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I didn't wanna get, you know, mess things up.
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I didn't want to intrude."
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He kept pressing me, "come to our home.
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We want you to come to our home after you're done speaking."
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So i did my speaking engagement there in new york.
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We got on the train, pulled in the station.
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I get off and there's my dad.
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He looks just like he looked before.
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A little older, of course, but it was just such
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A great time and we reconnected and before i
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Knew it, i'm calling him "dad" again.
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And we went over a lot of history and what had happened to
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Me and how he'd tried to get custody of me but my mom fought
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Him and i'm thinking, "why did my mom fight him?"
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I mean, good night.
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I was effectively left to myself but
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She didn't want him to have me.
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Well, anyway, so i sit down that night at dinner.
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I met his nice wife, barbara, nice italian
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Catholic lady, an amazing cook.
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She whipped us up an italian feast, fantastic.
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And after we're done eating, barbara says, "greg, tell me all
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About your faith and how you became a
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Christian and how you became a minister."
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I said, "okay, barbara," and i'm sharing my testimony, my story,
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And as i'm speaking she's, like, responding to everything i'm
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Saying, "that's great, that's great."
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And on the other side of the table, there sits my father.
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He has his hands kind of up to his face,
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Kind of like, like this...
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And i feel like i'm in a court of law and he's the judge.
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And i'm giving my testimony, literally, and i feel like i'm
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Not doing very well 'cause he's not reacting.
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No visible reaction. so i thought, "okay."
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So i shared the whole story and she said, "thanks for sharing
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That story," and i was getting ready to go to bed and my dad
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Asked me if i would walk with him in the morning.
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One very important detail i left out.
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He had just had a heart attack about two months before.
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Blacked out at the steering wheel of his car and
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Ran into a pole and almost killed himself.
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So now he's on medication, he has to change
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His diet, and he has to walk every morning.
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So he says, "will you walk with me in the morning, greg?"
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"yes, dad, i will."
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So i get a knock on the door, you know, 6 o'clock in the
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Morning, new jersey time, 3 o'clock in the morning,
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California time, so i'm like, "oh, so tired, oh."
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So we're walking along, and the brisk
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New jersey air is hitting us in the face.
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I'm still kind of waking up and my dad says to me, "greg,
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I listened very carefully to what you said last night."
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I said, "right."
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And he said, "i wanna become a christian right now."
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It's like, "wake up call, boom!" i mean, "what?"
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He says, "i wanna become a christian right now."
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I thought, "he didn't understand what i was saying.
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It couldn't happen this quickly."
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So i went over it again, and he says, "yes, i understand.
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I want to become a christian right now, greg."
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I said, "well, fantastic." he says, "what do i need to do?"
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I wasn't expecting this, so i said, "well, you need to pray
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And ask christ to come into your life."
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We're in a park at this point. he drops to his knees.
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Well, i'm like, "oh," and so i get down on my knees.
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I wasn't gonna kneel in the park but, since he was there,
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I thought i'd get down there with him.
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And so i lead him in this prayer and he prays it so sincerely.
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And after we're done praying, he says, "greg,
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I feel like jesus just came in my life.
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Pray for my heart now, greg. pray for my heart.
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I believe god wants to heal me."
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"okay, really? let's pray."
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And i prayed for his heart. so then we're done praying.
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He gets up and he says, "i want
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To go over to my doctor's office.
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It's right near here and i want to tell him, 'i just asked jesus
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In my heart, and my heart's healed.'"
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"now, dad, we don't know if your heart's healed."
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"no, i want to talk to him."
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So we walk over into the doctor's office, a nice jewish
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Gentleman, and my dad walks in with me.
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He says, "this is my son, greg laurie.
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He's a preacher from california."
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Already, that doesn't sound good to an east
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Coast person, "preacher from california."
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"and i just accepted jesus in my heart, doc, and my--
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I believe he healed my heart."
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Doctor's saying, "now, oscar, calm down.
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We don't know." he ran a bunch of tests on him.
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Guess what? his heart was better.
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And god gave him 15 more years. amazing.
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♪♪♪
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Greg: you know, it's right here in this very
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Area that my father came to jesus christ.
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I'm in new york city.
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My dad worked in this city for many years, but i was able to
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Lead him in that prayer in new jersey.
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We all play a part in leading others to jesus christ.
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Sometimes we sow seed, sometimes we water
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The seed that others have sown.
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And sometimes, we reap where others have sown and watered.
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But god wants to use you to
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Reach other people with the gospel.
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I read an interesting story in the news a while back
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About a guy that went fishing for what
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Is known as the muskellunge fish.
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Big giant fish.
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And he's cruising around, out there in this lake and he sees
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The biggest one he's ever seen in his life.
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So he goes and he casts his line in, and the fish isn't biting.
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Then he goes and returns again, casts his line.
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He can see the fish is in this area,
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But the fish will not take the line.
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So as he's coming back for the third time and cruising along,
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He sees the fish right under the boat, so he does a crazy thing.
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He puts on a glove, reaches down, grabs the muskie by the
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Gill, and pulls it, thrashing, into the boat.
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It was the biggest ever.
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In fact, if he had used a line, it would have been the biggest
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Muskellunge fish ever caught but because he didn't catch it
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Properly he wasn't able to take that title.
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So they actually sent a newspaper reporter out
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To record this and the reporter said to
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This man, "so what caused you to do it?"
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He says, "well, i saw the fish and
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I was just fool enough to grab it."
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I like that.
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Sometimes, we need to just be fool enough to grab it.
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By that, i mean, crazy enough to just say, "hey, would you like
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To accept jesus christ into your life right now?"
00:12:14.210 --> 00:12:17.113
You never know what's gonna happen.
00:12:17.113 --> 00:12:19.215
Jesus said, "lift up your eyes and look.
00:12:19.215 --> 00:12:21.784
The field is ripe to harvest, but the laborers are few."
00:12:21.784 --> 00:12:25.688
So i'm encouraging you, look for opportunities and just be fool
00:12:25.688 --> 00:12:29.692
Enough to grab it.
00:12:29.692 --> 00:12:31.827
♪♪♪
00:12:31.827 --> 00:12:39.568
Greg: someone asked me the other day, "how do you share your
00:12:42.805 --> 00:12:45.241
Faith without offending people?
00:12:45.241 --> 00:12:47.209
That's a good question. here's a simple answer.
00:12:47.209 --> 00:12:49.678
Ready for it?
00:12:49.678 --> 00:12:51.013
If you want to win some, be winsome.
00:12:51.013 --> 00:12:54.183
What does that mean? it means be nice about it.
00:12:54.183 --> 00:12:56.552
Look, we should not compromise.
00:12:56.552 --> 00:12:59.355
We stand on the foundation of scripture, and we boldly share
00:12:59.355 --> 00:13:03.659
The gospel, but we share the truth in love.
00:13:03.659 --> 00:13:06.996
You know, sometimes people have truth right, but there's no
00:13:06.996 --> 00:13:09.799
Compassion, there's no love, and it almost is like they wanna win
00:13:09.799 --> 00:13:13.502
An argument more than win the soul.
00:13:13.502 --> 00:13:15.905
Well, that's not our objective.
00:13:15.905 --> 00:13:17.506
We want to build that bridge, not burn it.
00:13:17.506 --> 00:13:20.009
So, be friendly, be pleasant, be nice.
00:13:20.009 --> 00:13:23.379
Listen, be a good listener, because as i've told you before,
00:13:23.379 --> 00:13:27.283
Everyone's favorite subject is themselves.
00:13:27.283 --> 00:13:29.952
Establish rapport.
00:13:29.952 --> 00:13:31.687
Establish contact, and then through the communication
00:13:31.687 --> 00:13:35.524
Process, bring the good news of jesus to them.
00:13:35.524 --> 00:13:39.395
Start there.
00:13:39.395 --> 00:13:40.763
♪♪♪
00:13:41.430 --> 00:13:45.568
Greg: point number one, telling your story, also known
00:13:45.568 --> 00:13:49.038
As your testimony, is a powerful bridge for the gospel message.
00:13:49.038 --> 00:13:54.109
Again, telling your story, your testimony,
00:13:54.109 --> 00:13:56.378
Is a powerful bridge for the gospel message.
00:13:56.378 --> 00:13:59.215
It's one of the most effective tools
00:13:59.215 --> 00:14:01.183
You have in your evangelistic toolbox.
00:14:01.183 --> 00:14:04.253
Now, here's why your story is important.
00:14:04.253 --> 00:14:08.057
Because people can argue with the facts,
00:14:08.057 --> 00:14:10.326
But they can't argue with your story.
00:14:10.326 --> 00:14:12.661
See, you might say something about god and they'll say,
00:14:12.661 --> 00:14:14.730
"well, i disagree with that," and you can have
00:14:14.730 --> 00:14:16.899
A debate or however you wanna approach it.
00:14:16.899 --> 00:14:19.068
But when you tell them your story of what
00:14:19.068 --> 00:14:21.637
Happened to you, they can't debate you.
00:14:21.637 --> 00:14:24.607
It's what happened to you.
00:14:24.607 --> 00:14:26.041
So it's a great way to start a conversation
00:14:26.041 --> 00:14:29.144
And, listen, it's also a great way to share
00:14:29.144 --> 00:14:32.281
With someone without preaching at them.
00:14:32.281 --> 00:14:36.252
In other words, if i say, "you need
00:14:36.252 --> 00:14:38.153
To accept jesus christ right now.
00:14:38.153 --> 00:14:39.989
You need to turn from your sin," and
00:14:39.989 --> 00:14:41.523
By the way, there's a place for that.
00:14:41.523 --> 00:14:43.225
But if i say that, a person might be put off
00:14:43.225 --> 00:14:45.027
And say, "hey, man, don't preach to me."
00:14:45.027 --> 00:14:47.062
So if instead i say, "let me tell you my story.
00:14:47.062 --> 00:14:49.765
You know, i wasn't raised in the church.
00:14:49.765 --> 00:14:51.300
This is where i came from. this is what i used to do."
00:14:51.300 --> 00:14:54.103
And now i'm finding common ground with them and then i say,
00:14:54.103 --> 00:14:56.972
"but one day, i went to a crusade, or i went to a church
00:14:56.972 --> 00:15:00.743
Service or a christian came up to me and said this.
00:15:00.743 --> 00:15:03.579
And you know, when they said this
00:15:03.579 --> 00:15:05.414
Statement i realized i needed god."
00:15:05.414 --> 00:15:07.483
So you're telling your story, but at the same
00:15:07.483 --> 00:15:10.252
Time you're sharing the gospel with them.
00:15:10.252 --> 00:15:12.721
And this is a great way to begin.
00:15:12.721 --> 00:15:14.623
John 4:39 says, "the samaritans of the city believed in jesus
00:15:14.623 --> 00:15:18.861
Because of the word of the woman who testified,
00:15:18.861 --> 00:15:21.730
'he told me all that i ever did.'"
00:15:21.730 --> 00:15:24.266
You know, the apostle paul was a
00:15:24.266 --> 00:15:27.169
Great orator, a brilliant intellect.
00:15:27.169 --> 00:15:31.040
Yet in almost every occasion when he stood before
00:15:31.040 --> 00:15:33.242
Non-believers, he began with his testimony.
00:15:33.242 --> 00:15:36.245
And i think one of the best ways to start your presentation of
00:15:36.245 --> 00:15:39.715
The gospel is tell what god has done for you.
00:15:39.715 --> 00:15:43.218
Here's just a few takeaway tips on sharing your story.
00:15:43.218 --> 00:15:47.222
Number one, don't glorify or exaggerate your past.
00:15:47.222 --> 00:15:52.661
Don't glorify or exaggerate your past.
00:15:52.661 --> 00:15:55.597
Accuracy is important, so is truthfulness.
00:15:55.597 --> 00:15:58.867
I bring this up because i've heard people give their
00:15:58.867 --> 00:16:01.637
Testimony and then maybe i don't see 'em for a while and i maybe
00:16:01.637 --> 00:16:05.274
Hear 'em ten years later and i'm thinking,
00:16:05.274 --> 00:16:07.810
"wow, their testimony's a little more
00:16:07.810 --> 00:16:09.378
Dramatic than it was ten years ago."
00:16:09.378 --> 00:16:12.314
Now, either they went back and did a whole bunch
00:16:12.314 --> 00:16:13.949
Of new stuff or they're exaggerating.
00:16:13.949 --> 00:16:17.219
And so, be truthful in telling your story.
00:16:17.219 --> 00:16:21.724
And this is another thing.
00:16:21.724 --> 00:16:23.125
Don't boast about what you gave up for god; boast of what he
00:16:23.125 --> 00:16:27.029
Gave up for you.
00:16:27.029 --> 00:16:29.098
Don't boast about what you gave up for god; boast about what
00:16:29.098 --> 00:16:31.166
He gave up for you.
00:16:31.166 --> 00:16:32.501
Let me illustrate.
00:16:32.501 --> 00:16:33.836
Sometimes people will say, "you know, i was living the best
00:16:33.836 --> 00:16:36.238
Life, partying and women and money and drugs,
00:16:36.238 --> 00:16:39.475
It was so, man--then i came to jesus."
00:16:39.475 --> 00:16:45.014
And all of a sudden, you have this weird accent.
00:16:45.014 --> 00:16:46.382
"jesus.
00:16:46.382 --> 00:16:49.118
And now i carry the old rugged cross."
00:16:49.118 --> 00:16:54.590
And then you might say, "i've given up so much to follow god.
00:16:54.590 --> 00:16:57.426
I made such sacrifice.
00:16:57.426 --> 00:16:58.761
I--" hey, shut up.
00:16:58.761 --> 00:17:02.498
You wanna know what you gave up?
00:17:02.498 --> 00:17:04.600
You gave up guilt, you gave up a big hole in your heart.
00:17:04.600 --> 00:17:10.172
News flash, you gave up hell, buddy.
00:17:10.172 --> 00:17:13.342
Hell. what did god give you?
00:17:13.342 --> 00:17:15.978
Fulfillment, purpose, the removal of guilt, and the
00:17:15.978 --> 00:17:19.581
Absolute certainty that you will go to heaven when you die.
00:17:19.581 --> 00:17:22.718
Don't tell me what you gave up for god.
00:17:22.718 --> 00:17:24.453
Tell me what god gave up for you when he sent his
00:17:24.453 --> 00:17:26.855
Son to die on the cross in your place.
00:17:26.855 --> 00:17:29.525
That's a good testimony.
00:17:29.525 --> 00:17:35.397
As we bring the gospel, we need to speak
00:17:35.397 --> 00:17:37.566
In a language people understand.
00:17:37.566 --> 00:17:40.102
I mentioned earlier you can't use christianese.
00:17:40.102 --> 00:17:42.504
People don't know what you're saying.
00:17:42.504 --> 00:17:44.807
You know, when you walk up to a person
00:17:44.807 --> 00:17:46.141
And say, "hey, you, heathen.
00:17:46.141 --> 00:17:49.278
Philistine, come here for a second.
00:17:49.278 --> 00:17:52.714
You know, have you repented?
00:17:52.714 --> 00:17:56.118
Are you justified?
00:17:56.118 --> 00:17:58.087
Are you sanctified? are you washed in the blood?
00:17:58.087 --> 00:18:00.122
Are you part of the body?"
00:18:00.122 --> 00:18:01.523
You know, you might as well have just landed from another planet.
00:18:01.523 --> 00:18:06.528
They don't know what you're saying, so speak their language.
00:18:06.528 --> 00:18:09.498
Listen to this, the days of cultural christianity are over.
00:18:09.498 --> 00:18:14.470
What do i mean by that?
00:18:14.470 --> 00:18:15.804
Well, there was a time in america, especially,
00:18:15.804 --> 00:18:18.240
And closer to our birth, when we had a strong
00:18:18.240 --> 00:18:22.044
Judeo-christian ethic in our culture.
00:18:22.044 --> 00:18:25.380
It was in everything that we did.
00:18:25.380 --> 00:18:27.983
But as time has passed and we progressed,
00:18:27.983 --> 00:18:30.586
If you wanna use that word.
00:18:30.586 --> 00:18:32.020
Others might say, "regressed."
00:18:32.020 --> 00:18:33.755
I would certainly choose that term.
00:18:33.755 --> 00:18:35.991
And as we've gotten away from this, we don't see cultural
00:18:35.991 --> 00:18:38.760
Christianity like we used to see it.
00:18:38.760 --> 00:18:41.430
There was a time when you'd go up to someone and tell 'em about
00:18:41.430 --> 00:18:44.233
Jesus and they'd say, "i'm already a christian."
00:18:44.233 --> 00:18:47.402
But you know, a lot of people don't say that anymore.
00:18:47.402 --> 00:18:51.006
Cultural christianity is over with.
00:18:51.006 --> 00:18:52.508
There's just a lot of people now
00:18:52.508 --> 00:18:53.842
That don't profess faith in christ at all.
00:18:53.842 --> 00:18:56.478
And in a way, it's good because the problem
00:18:56.478 --> 00:18:58.213
With cultural christianity is a lot of people
00:18:58.213 --> 00:19:00.649
Thought they were christians who weren't.
00:19:00.649 --> 00:19:03.051
Now people just say, "i'm not a christian.
00:19:03.051 --> 00:19:05.687
And that's where i'm at," you know?
00:19:05.687 --> 00:19:07.589
So how do you reach a culture like this?
00:19:07.589 --> 00:19:09.658
The answer is simply this, with a powerful
00:19:09.658 --> 00:19:12.060
Message of the gospel of jesus christ.
00:19:12.060 --> 00:19:14.863
That's what our culture needs to hear.
00:19:14.863 --> 00:19:16.732
Paul says in romans 1:16, "i am not ashamed of the gospel of
00:19:16.732 --> 00:19:20.435
Christ, for it is the power of god unto salvation to
00:19:20.435 --> 00:19:24.273
Everyone who believes."
00:19:24.273 --> 00:19:25.607
Listen, the gospel is filled with power.
00:19:25.607 --> 00:19:29.211
I don't need to edit it, i don't need to add to it,
00:19:29.211 --> 00:19:32.314
I don't need to subtract from it,
00:19:32.314 --> 00:19:34.082
I don't need to apologize for it,
00:19:34.082 --> 00:19:36.051
I need to just proclaim it and stand back and watch god work.
00:19:36.051 --> 00:19:39.588
♪♪♪
00:19:39.588 --> 00:19:45.394
Greg: that's right, "the gospel is the power of god unto
00:19:45.394 --> 00:19:47.729
Salvation to everyone who believes."
00:19:47.729 --> 00:19:50.832
Don't underestimate it.
00:19:50.832 --> 00:19:52.301
Don't add to it, don't take away from it.
00:19:52.301 --> 00:19:54.469
Just proclaim it and stand back and watch what god will do.
00:19:54.469 --> 00:19:58.840
You know, in the book of acts, the 17th chapter, is an
00:19:58.840 --> 00:20:01.510
Interesting story about the apostle paul.
00:20:01.510 --> 00:20:05.180
He went to the city of athens.
00:20:05.180 --> 00:20:07.115
Now, at that time, athens, greece, was like the
00:20:07.115 --> 00:20:09.952
Intellectual and cultural center of the whole world.
00:20:09.952 --> 00:20:13.288
All the great philosophers and poets came from athens, and they
00:20:13.288 --> 00:20:17.426
Would gather there to meet together, discuss
00:20:17.426 --> 00:20:20.529
The latest things, and they were also
00:20:20.529 --> 00:20:22.831
Really big on worshiping false gods.
00:20:22.831 --> 00:20:26.335
In fact, paul took a little tour of the city, did a little
00:20:26.335 --> 00:20:28.737
Sightseeing, and kind of looked around and everywhere he looked,
00:20:28.737 --> 00:20:32.674
There was, like, an image erected to some god, some--it
00:20:32.674 --> 00:20:35.877
Might be the sun, it might be the trees, it might
00:20:35.877 --> 00:20:38.247
Be, well, you name it, they worshiped it.
00:20:38.247 --> 00:20:40.515
But just in case the athenians missed one of the gods, they had
00:20:40.515 --> 00:20:45.120
One erected to "the unknown god."
00:20:45.120 --> 00:20:47.522
So paul went to an area called the areopagus.
00:20:47.522 --> 00:20:50.726
That was the meeting place of the philosophers,
00:20:50.726 --> 00:20:53.695
Sort of the city square, if you will.
00:20:53.695 --> 00:20:56.498
Paul went into that place and he
00:20:56.498 --> 00:20:58.100
Proclaimed the gospel of jesus christ.
00:20:58.100 --> 00:21:00.402
Now, listen, the two dominant thoughts of the day,
00:21:00.402 --> 00:21:04.439
The two main philosophies, were the beliefs
00:21:04.439 --> 00:21:07.175
Of the epicureans and the stoics.
00:21:07.175 --> 00:21:10.646
The epicureans followed the philosopher, epicurus, and
00:21:10.646 --> 00:21:14.616
Basically their philosophy was, "hey, eat, drink, and be merry.
00:21:14.616 --> 00:21:18.153
Tomorrow, we die."
00:21:18.153 --> 00:21:19.521
We still even use the phrase "epicurean" today.
00:21:19.521 --> 00:21:22.357
It means a person who loves pleasure.
00:21:22.357 --> 00:21:24.126
These people lived for the moment, enjoy the moment.
00:21:24.126 --> 00:21:27.663
There's nothing beyond the grave, that's it.
00:21:27.663 --> 00:21:30.465
But then, this other group was interesting, the stoics.
00:21:30.465 --> 00:21:33.635
They followed the teachings of the philosopher, zeno, and zeno
00:21:33.635 --> 00:21:38.206
Taught that god was in everything.
00:21:38.206 --> 00:21:40.442
God was in the trees, god was in the earth, in--
00:21:40.442 --> 00:21:44.379
It was sort of a new age philosophy.
00:21:44.379 --> 00:21:46.581
Man, it reminds me a lot of today.
00:21:46.581 --> 00:21:49.017
Do you know what the largest category of
00:21:49.017 --> 00:21:51.887
Religious people in america is today?
00:21:51.887 --> 00:21:54.389
You might say, "well, roman catholics?"
00:21:54.389 --> 00:21:55.991
No. "southern baptists?"
00:21:55.991 --> 00:21:57.392
Again, no.
00:21:57.392 --> 00:21:58.727
The largest category that has been classified, now it's a
00:21:58.727 --> 00:22:02.798
Religious group, are called the nones.
00:22:02.798 --> 00:22:05.000
Not n-u-n-s, but n-o-n-e-s, nones.
00:22:05.000 --> 00:22:09.171
Nones are people that believe that there is a
00:22:09.171 --> 00:22:12.240
Supreme being out there, they're just not
00:22:12.240 --> 00:22:14.409
Certain of who that supreme being is.
00:22:14.409 --> 00:22:17.045
It's sort of an updated version of new age philosophy.
00:22:17.045 --> 00:22:20.716
Frankly, it's not much different than
00:22:20.716 --> 00:22:22.884
What they were into 2,000 years ago.
00:22:22.884 --> 00:22:26.621
It was malcolm muggeridge who once said, "all news
00:22:26.621 --> 00:22:30.692
Is old news happening to new people."
00:22:30.692 --> 00:22:34.229
Or as the bible says, "there's nothing new under the sun."
00:22:34.229 --> 00:22:37.132
So you say, "well, greg, how do we reach people like this?
00:22:37.132 --> 00:22:40.335
How do we reach people in the 21st century
00:22:40.335 --> 00:22:42.504
That don't have firm beliefs?"
00:22:42.504 --> 00:22:45.307
We reach them in the same way that paul reached people in the
00:22:45.307 --> 00:22:48.377
1st century, with the message of the gospel.
00:22:48.377 --> 00:22:51.313
So let's review what we've learned.
00:22:51.313 --> 00:22:53.448
Your story is a powerful bridge to bring others to jesus christ.
00:22:53.448 --> 00:22:58.420
When you tell your story be accurate.
00:22:58.420 --> 00:23:01.623
Don't exaggerate it.
00:23:01.623 --> 00:23:03.492
Don't talk about what you've given up for god; talk about
00:23:03.492 --> 00:23:06.795
What god has given up for you.
00:23:06.795 --> 00:23:09.765
Speak a language that people understand.
00:23:09.765 --> 00:23:13.135
And this is the big one, be fool enough to grab it, meaning get
00:23:13.135 --> 00:23:17.239
Out there and ask the question.
00:23:17.239 --> 00:23:19.641
As i said earlier, be on duty at all times.
00:23:19.641 --> 00:23:23.445
♪♪♪
00:23:23.445 --> 00:23:29.618
Greg: so the mission is clear.
00:23:29.618 --> 00:23:31.319
We're commanded to go into all the world and preach the gospel,
00:23:31.319 --> 00:23:35.056
To share the good news anytime, anywhere.
00:23:35.056 --> 00:23:38.860
So go to your family, go to your neighborhood, go to your
00:23:38.860 --> 00:23:42.898
Workplace, go to your sphere of influence, go and tell someone.
00:23:42.898 --> 00:23:48.370
Greg: maybe god has spoken to your heart and
00:23:52.274 --> 00:23:55.510
You have seen your need for jesus christ.
00:23:55.510 --> 00:23:58.980
Jesus christ is the son of god who
00:23:58.980 --> 00:24:02.017
Came from heaven to this earth.
00:24:02.017 --> 00:24:04.286
He was born in a manger.
00:24:04.286 --> 00:24:06.388
He died on a cross.
00:24:06.388 --> 00:24:08.023
He rose again from the dead. why?
00:24:08.023 --> 00:24:10.025
Because he loves you, and he wants a relationship with you.
00:24:10.025 --> 00:24:13.595
Listen, i'm not talking about religion.
00:24:13.595 --> 00:24:15.764
I don't wanna be a religious person.
00:24:15.764 --> 00:24:17.566
I don't think you wanna be one either.
00:24:17.566 --> 00:24:19.568
I'm talking about relationship with god.
00:24:19.568 --> 00:24:23.138
Jesus, who died and rose again, stands at the door of your life
00:24:23.138 --> 00:24:27.642
And he knocks and he says if you'll hear his voice
00:24:27.642 --> 00:24:30.579
And open the door, he will come in.
00:24:30.579 --> 00:24:32.581
Question, have you asked jesus christ
00:24:32.581 --> 00:24:34.916
To come and live inside of you?
00:24:34.916 --> 00:24:36.852
You might say, "well, i think so, i'm not sure."
00:24:36.852 --> 00:24:39.054
Hey, if someone moved into your house in the middle of the
00:24:39.054 --> 00:24:41.423
Night, do you think you would be aware of it?
00:24:41.423 --> 00:24:44.092
I'm sure you would.
00:24:44.092 --> 00:24:45.627
And in the same way, if christ has come to
00:24:45.627 --> 00:24:47.596
Live inside of you, you will know.
00:24:47.596 --> 00:24:49.798
And if you don't know, maybe he has not come in yet.
00:24:49.798 --> 00:24:53.602
He's just a prayer away.
00:24:53.602 --> 00:24:55.337
All you need to do is say, "jesus,
00:24:55.337 --> 00:24:57.472
I want this relationship with you.
00:24:57.472 --> 00:24:59.374
I want you to forgive me of my sin.
00:24:59.374 --> 00:25:01.676
I want to go to heaven when i die."
00:25:01.676 --> 00:25:03.812
Would you like to do that?
00:25:03.812 --> 00:25:05.180
Would you like christ to come into your life?
00:25:05.180 --> 00:25:07.849
If so, why don't you just pray this simple prayer with me?
00:25:07.849 --> 00:25:10.952
You can pray it out loud or you can pray
00:25:10.952 --> 00:25:12.888
It in the quietness of your heart.
00:25:12.888 --> 00:25:15.390
But this is a prayer where you're asking jesus christ to be
00:25:15.390 --> 00:25:18.460
Your savior and lord.
00:25:18.460 --> 00:25:20.195
Pray this with me now, "lord jesus, i know that i'm a sinner,
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But i know that you're the savior, who died on the cross
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For my sin and rose again from the dead.
00:25:28.703 --> 00:25:31.206
Now come into my life.
00:25:31.206 --> 00:25:33.842
I choose to follow you from this moment forward.
00:25:33.842 --> 00:25:38.346
Thank you for hearing this prayer
00:25:38.346 --> 00:25:40.448
And answering this prayer.
00:25:40.448 --> 00:25:42.150
In jesus's name, amen."
00:25:42.150 --> 00:25:45.186
Did you just pray that prayer with me?
00:25:45.186 --> 00:25:47.422
If so, i want you to know on the authority of scripture that
00:25:47.422 --> 00:25:50.258
Christ himself has come to live inside of you.
00:25:50.258 --> 00:25:53.528
And i would love to send to you at no charge
00:25:53.528 --> 00:25:56.431
Something called the new believer's bible.
00:25:56.431 --> 00:25:59.034
It's a very friendly translation of the
00:25:59.034 --> 00:26:01.102
New testament you'll find very understandable.
00:26:01.102 --> 00:26:04.272
And it's filled with hundreds of notes that
00:26:04.272 --> 00:26:06.441
I wrote that will encourage you in this commitment
00:26:06.441 --> 00:26:09.544
You've just made to follow jesus.
00:26:09.544 --> 00:26:11.546
Let me send that to you at no charge.
00:26:11.546 --> 00:26:14.149
And let me be the first to say to you, "congratulations
00:26:14.149 --> 00:26:18.019
And welcome to the family of god."
00:26:18.019 --> 00:26:22.757
Male announcer: "revelation: a book of promises,"
00:26:22.757 --> 00:26:25.026
By greg laurie.
00:26:25.026 --> 00:26:26.428
Why study revelation?
00:26:26.428 --> 00:26:28.063
The word "revelation" means unveiling.
00:26:28.063 --> 00:26:30.799
God's desire is to reveal, not conceal.
00:26:30.799 --> 00:26:34.369
And this book unveils pictures of the spirit world,
00:26:34.369 --> 00:26:37.205
Great cataclysmic events in store for the planet,
00:26:37.205 --> 00:26:40.175
And the coming antichrist.
00:26:40.175 --> 00:26:42.377
But as greg laurie explains, the primary objective
00:26:42.377 --> 00:26:45.046
Of this book isn't to reveal the antichrist.
00:26:45.046 --> 00:26:47.949
It's to reveal jesus christ and his soon coming.
00:26:47.949 --> 00:26:51.620
"revelation: a book of promises" is designed to help you see
00:26:51.620 --> 00:26:55.123
Jesus as the centerpiece, the star,
00:26:55.123 --> 00:26:57.959
And the focus of revelation.
00:26:57.959 --> 00:27:00.295
With this eminently practical guide, you can experience the
00:27:00.295 --> 00:27:03.632
Blessing promised to those who read, hear, and keep the words
00:27:03.632 --> 00:27:07.702
Of this prophetic book.
00:27:07.702 --> 00:27:09.471
After all, bible prophecy is not given to inflate our brains,
00:27:09.471 --> 00:27:13.274
But to enlarge our hearts.
00:27:13.274 --> 00:27:16.211
Request "revelation" by greg laurie
00:27:16.211 --> 00:27:18.380
When you give today.
00:27:18.380 --> 00:27:19.748
♪ this is the day, the day when life begins. ♪♪
00:27:21.082 --> 00:27:21.082

Greg Laurie - The Power of Your Personal Story

August 8, 2025 | 27:40

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