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Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie - What's It Going To Take?

August 25, 2025 | S25 E203 | 27:40

Greg Laurie - What's It Going To Take?
Join Pastor Greg Laurie for a time of encouragement, worship, and Bible study.
#inActive #WordofGod #Marriage #Alcohol #Hope #Generations #Success #ServantofGod

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Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie | Greg Laurie - What's It Going To Take? | August 25, 2025
  • ...
  • 00:00:00.633 --> 00:00:01.333
  • Greg laurie: doesn't matter where you're from,
  • 00:00:05.004 --> 00:00:05.838
  • Doesn't matter if you're a man or a woman,
  • 00:00:06.839 --> 00:00:09.241
  • Doesn't matter if you're young or old or if
  • 00:00:09.241 --> 00:00:11.076
  • You're rich or you're poor, your life feels like one long scroll,
  • 00:00:11.076 --> 00:00:16.615
  • And no matter how far you swipe, you're still empty inside.
  • 00:00:16.682 --> 00:00:20.219
  • What you're looking for isn't found on a screen or an ai voice
  • 00:00:20.319 --> 00:00:24.656
  • That speaks to you and flatters you, it's found in a living god
  • 00:00:24.757 --> 00:00:25.858
  • Who has a plan and a purpose for your life tonight.
  • 00:00:28.727 --> 00:00:32.431
  • ♪ this is the day, ♪
  • 00:00:35.601 --> 00:00:37.903
  • ♪ the day when life begins ♪
  • 00:00:37.903 --> 00:00:43.175
  • ♪ this is the day, ♪
  • 00:00:43.175 --> 00:00:45.744
  • ♪ the day when life begins ♪♪
  • 00:00:45.744 --> 00:00:51.984
  • Greg: i wanna talk to you about your life and the
  • 00:00:56.055 --> 00:00:59.658
  • Direction your life is taking.
  • 00:00:59.658 --> 00:01:01.860
  • The title of my message is "what's it going to take?"
  • 00:01:01.860 --> 00:01:05.497
  • Now, you might think that i was raised in a christian home.
  • 00:01:05.497 --> 00:01:10.636
  • Well, the very opposite was the case.
  • 00:01:10.636 --> 00:01:13.605
  • I was raised in a home where there was no mention of jesus,
  • 00:01:13.605 --> 00:01:17.609
  • There was no church, there were no bibles.
  • 00:01:17.609 --> 00:01:20.946
  • My mother was living her "la vida loca" life, going from
  • 00:01:20.946 --> 00:01:26.118
  • Husband to husband, from marriage to marriage.
  • 00:01:26.118 --> 00:01:29.354
  • She was married and divorced seven times and had a lot of
  • 00:01:29.354 --> 00:01:33.025
  • Boyfriends in between.
  • 00:01:33.025 --> 00:01:34.393
  • She was also a raging alcoholic, so i spent part of my childhood
  • 00:01:34.393 --> 00:01:39.364
  • Living with my grandparents when i was a little boy, and because
  • 00:01:39.364 --> 00:01:44.837
  • Of this i felt, well, alone.
  • 00:01:44.837 --> 00:01:47.773
  • I felt abandoned, and i felt like, "what is my life
  • 00:01:47.773 --> 00:01:52.878
  • Even about?
  • 00:01:52.878 --> 00:01:54.213
  • I don't think anyone really wants me."
  • 00:01:54.213 --> 00:01:56.348
  • And at night, i would pull the covers over my head after my
  • 00:01:56.348 --> 00:01:59.985
  • Grandparents had gone to bed, and i would talk to an imaginary
  • 00:01:59.985 --> 00:02:04.123
  • Character i came up with, and i called him mr. nobody.
  • 00:02:04.123 --> 00:02:08.627
  • The sad thing is i was 30 years old when i did this.
  • 00:02:08.627 --> 00:02:11.430
  • No, not really, but mr. nobody, and i would talk to this person
  • 00:02:11.430 --> 00:02:17.202
  • That wasn't really there, and i'd kind of pour my little heart
  • 00:02:17.202 --> 00:02:19.805
  • Out to him, and then i--my life took its own course in the
  • 00:02:19.805 --> 00:02:25.077
  • Wrong direction.
  • 00:02:25.077 --> 00:02:26.411
  • I got into partying, i got into drinking and drugs and so forth,
  • 00:02:26.411 --> 00:02:30.282
  • But at the age of 17, i heard about jesus christ, and suddenly
  • 00:02:30.282 --> 00:02:35.354
  • It dawned on me: mr. nobody had a name, and his name was jesus,
  • 00:02:35.354 --> 00:02:40.225
  • You see?
  • 00:02:40.225 --> 00:02:41.560
  • [congregation cheering]
  • 00:02:41.560 --> 00:02:45.631
  • That's who i really was searching for.
  • 00:02:45.631 --> 00:02:48.967
  • So coming back to my grandparents's home, they had a
  • 00:02:48.967 --> 00:02:51.737
  • Portrait of jesus hanging on the wall, and as a little boy, i
  • 00:02:51.737 --> 00:02:56.341
  • Would just stare at that portrait of christ, and i would
  • 00:02:56.341 --> 00:03:00.345
  • Think, "wow, i wish i could have met jesus."
  • 00:03:00.345 --> 00:03:03.415
  • I thought of him merely as a historical figure that lived and
  • 00:03:03.415 --> 00:03:07.386
  • Died, and i didn't really know much more of that story, but i
  • 00:03:07.386 --> 00:03:11.290
  • Thought about jesus, and think how cool it would be if you
  • 00:03:11.290 --> 00:03:14.860
  • Could sit down with jesus and have a cup of coffee?
  • 00:03:14.860 --> 00:03:18.764
  • Would jesus drink coffee? i don't know.
  • 00:03:18.764 --> 00:03:21.700
  • But just imagine for a moment, you're gonna go out,
  • 00:03:21.700 --> 00:03:23.569
  • Get a cup of coffee with jesus.
  • 00:03:23.569 --> 00:03:25.737
  • I'd order a cappuccino.
  • 00:03:25.737 --> 00:03:27.739
  • I don't like all these syrups and things
  • 00:03:27.739 --> 00:03:29.741
  • People put into coffee.
  • 00:03:29.741 --> 00:03:31.843
  • You go into, like, a starbucks now and people say, "i'll have a
  • 00:03:31.843 --> 00:03:35.013
  • Venti iced mocha chocolate frappucinno with six pumps
  • 00:03:35.013 --> 00:03:40.419
  • Of toffee nut syrup."
  • 00:03:40.419 --> 00:03:42.454
  • Just go to 31 flavors, that's not even coffee.
  • 00:03:42.454 --> 00:03:47.025
  • I don't know, would jesus drink coffee, maybe?
  • 00:03:47.025 --> 00:03:49.228
  • Maybe a matcha, maybe some tea, herbal tea perhaps, who knows?
  • 00:03:49.228 --> 00:03:55.234
  • But just imagine sitting across the table from jesus.
  • 00:03:55.234 --> 00:03:59.404
  • You could ask him anything, you could tell him anything.
  • 00:03:59.404 --> 00:04:03.008
  • I think younger people would want questions to the big issues
  • 00:04:03.008 --> 00:04:06.912
  • Of life like, "why am i here?
  • 00:04:06.912 --> 00:04:09.982
  • What is my purpose in life?
  • 00:04:09.982 --> 00:04:11.750
  • What is the meaning of my life?"
  • 00:04:11.750 --> 00:04:14.519
  • The older folks might want to know more about their life, if
  • 00:04:14.519 --> 00:04:18.390
  • It really mattered, and they would want to know what happens
  • 00:04:18.390 --> 00:04:21.860
  • When they die, because deep down inside we're all searching for
  • 00:04:21.860 --> 00:04:26.265
  • Meaning, because you see, in effect, we're born with a hole
  • 00:04:26.265 --> 00:04:29.468
  • In our heart.
  • 00:04:29.468 --> 00:04:30.869
  • It's sort of like a spiritual void that cannot be filled with
  • 00:04:30.869 --> 00:04:35.540
  • Anything this world has to offer.
  • 00:04:35.540 --> 00:04:38.310
  • You know, as a kid, i was more interested not in what happens
  • 00:04:38.310 --> 00:04:42.581
  • After i die as much as i was interested
  • 00:04:42.581 --> 00:04:45.017
  • In what happens when i live.
  • 00:04:45.017 --> 00:04:47.286
  • In other words, not is there life after death, but is there
  • 00:04:47.286 --> 00:04:50.255
  • Life during life?
  • 00:04:50.255 --> 00:04:52.257
  • I was looking for a meaningful life, a purposeful life, and a
  • 00:04:52.257 --> 00:04:57.062
  • Lot of people are, you probably are yourself.
  • 00:04:57.062 --> 00:05:00.332
  • But think about generation z.
  • 00:05:00.332 --> 00:05:02.301
  • They have more information than any generation ever, and yet
  • 00:05:02.301 --> 00:05:06.638
  • They've been described as the hopeless generation.
  • 00:05:06.638 --> 00:05:09.708
  • Seventy-two percent of them use ai companions regularly instead
  • 00:05:09.708 --> 00:05:15.280
  • Of human interaction because they have no
  • 00:05:15.280 --> 00:05:18.050
  • One else to talk to.
  • 00:05:18.050 --> 00:05:20.485
  • Generation z has the highest suicide rate of any generation
  • 00:05:20.485 --> 00:05:25.590
  • In american history.
  • 00:05:25.590 --> 00:05:28.060
  • Then you have high school students, 42% of high school
  • 00:05:28.060 --> 00:05:31.797
  • Students experience constant sadness,
  • 00:05:31.797 --> 00:05:35.500
  • 22% of high school students have contemplated suicide.
  • 00:05:35.500 --> 00:05:41.073
  • Is that a description of someone i'm talking to right now?
  • 00:05:41.073 --> 00:05:44.476
  • You're a hopeless person, you're constantly sad, you've even
  • 00:05:44.476 --> 00:05:48.847
  • Contemplated suicide.
  • 00:05:48.847 --> 00:05:51.350
  • Billie eilish and her song "everything i wanted," saying,
  • 00:05:51.350 --> 00:05:54.419
  • Quote, "i had a dream, i got everything i wanted, not what
  • 00:05:54.419 --> 00:05:58.290
  • You think, and if i'm honest, it might have been a nightmare,"
  • 00:05:58.290 --> 00:06:01.960
  • End quote.
  • 00:06:01.960 --> 00:06:03.295
  • Then there's tom brady.
  • 00:06:03.295 --> 00:06:05.464
  • He's so successful they call him the goat,
  • 00:06:05.464 --> 00:06:08.166
  • The greatest of all time.
  • 00:06:08.166 --> 00:06:09.501
  • Someone called me the goat the other day.
  • 00:06:09.501 --> 00:06:11.670
  • They said, "hey, goat."
  • 00:06:11.670 --> 00:06:13.238
  • I said, "you mean the greatest of all time?"
  • 00:06:13.238 --> 00:06:15.307
  • He said, "no, old goat, get out of my way."
  • 00:06:15.307 --> 00:06:17.876
  • "oh, sorry."
  • 00:06:17.876 --> 00:06:20.278
  • But tom brady, despite all of his success, made
  • 00:06:20.278 --> 00:06:22.981
  • This statement.
  • 00:06:22.981 --> 00:06:24.783
  • He said, "i have three super bowl rings, and i think there's
  • 00:06:24.783 --> 00:06:28.120
  • Something greater out there.
  • 00:06:28.120 --> 00:06:29.721
  • I reached my goal, my dream, my life.
  • 00:06:29.721 --> 00:06:32.657
  • I think, god, it's got to be more than this," it is.
  • 00:06:32.657 --> 00:06:36.528
  • Brad pitt said, "we're supposed to care about the car, the
  • 00:06:36.528 --> 00:06:39.798
  • Condo, but if that's true, why does it all feel like
  • 00:06:39.798 --> 00:06:42.634
  • Desperation, loneliness, and isolation?"
  • 00:06:42.634 --> 00:06:45.937
  • Good question, brad pitt.
  • 00:06:45.937 --> 00:06:48.707
  • You're searching for god.
  • 00:06:48.707 --> 00:06:50.041
  • That's what we all want deep down inside.
  • 00:06:50.041 --> 00:06:52.244
  • Listen, i don't know you necessarily, but i know a few
  • 00:06:52.244 --> 00:06:55.447
  • Things about you, even if i've never met you.
  • 00:06:55.447 --> 00:06:58.450
  • I know that everybody is empty inside, i know that everyone is
  • 00:06:58.450 --> 00:07:03.588
  • Lonely inside, i know that everyone is guilty inside, and i
  • 00:07:03.588 --> 00:07:08.393
  • Know that everyone is afraid to die.
  • 00:07:08.393 --> 00:07:11.696
  • Doesn't matter where you're from, doesn't matter if you're a
  • 00:07:11.696 --> 00:07:14.633
  • Man or a woman, doesn't matter if you're young or old or if
  • 00:07:14.633 --> 00:07:17.969
  • You're rich or you're poor, your life feels like one long scroll,
  • 00:07:17.969 --> 00:07:23.108
  • And no matter how far you swipe, you're still empty inside.
  • 00:07:23.108 --> 00:07:26.978
  • What you're looking for isn't found on a screen or an ai voice
  • 00:07:26.978 --> 00:07:31.383
  • That speaks to you and flatters you, it's found in a living god
  • 00:07:31.383 --> 00:07:35.387
  • Who has a plan and a purpose for your life tonight.
  • 00:07:35.387 --> 00:07:39.191
  • [congregation cheering]
  • 00:07:39.191 --> 00:07:45.230
  • But we talk about god, and we ask, "well, what is god like?"
  • 00:07:45.230 --> 00:07:49.000
  • Is god sort of like a cosmic boss waiting to fire you when
  • 00:07:49.000 --> 00:07:53.338
  • You mess up?
  • 00:07:53.338 --> 00:07:54.739
  • Is god like an angry judge holding a lightning bolt?
  • 00:07:54.739 --> 00:07:58.810
  • According to jesus, god is like a father who loves you deeply
  • 00:07:58.810 --> 00:08:05.550
  • And misses you when you are away from him.
  • 00:08:05.550 --> 00:08:08.320
  • I heard a story about a father and son that went into a
  • 00:08:08.320 --> 00:08:11.056
  • Hardware store, and as they were checking out, there was a large
  • 00:08:11.056 --> 00:08:15.126
  • Jar of candy there, and the hardware store owner said to the
  • 00:08:15.126 --> 00:08:19.364
  • Young boy, "go ahead, son, grab a handful of candy," and the
  • 00:08:19.364 --> 00:08:23.101
  • Little boy just looked up at his father.
  • 00:08:23.101 --> 00:08:25.537
  • The hardware store owner again said, "son, go ahead,
  • 00:08:25.537 --> 00:08:28.273
  • Grab a handful of candy.
  • 00:08:28.273 --> 00:08:29.941
  • It's free, no charge."
  • 00:08:29.941 --> 00:08:31.276
  • Again, the little boy just looked up at his father.
  • 00:08:31.276 --> 00:08:34.746
  • The hardware store said it to the little guy again.
  • 00:08:34.746 --> 00:08:37.182
  • Finally, the father just reached in, grabbed a big handful of
  • 00:08:37.182 --> 00:08:40.585
  • Candy, and they walked out, and as they got in the car, the dad
  • 00:08:40.585 --> 00:08:44.155
  • Asked his son, "son, why didn't you grab a handful of candy?"
  • 00:08:44.155 --> 00:08:47.759
  • The little boy said, "dad, because your hand is bigger
  • 00:08:47.759 --> 00:08:51.129
  • Than mine."
  • 00:08:51.129 --> 00:08:52.464
  • [congregation applauding]
  • 00:08:52.464 --> 00:08:57.569
  • God's hand is bigger than yours.
  • 00:08:57.569 --> 00:09:00.605
  • God's plan for your life is better than your plan
  • 00:09:00.605 --> 00:09:03.775
  • For yourself.
  • 00:09:03.775 --> 00:09:05.110
  • The bible promises that god is able to do exceedingly above and
  • 00:09:05.110 --> 00:09:08.480
  • Beyond that which you can ask or think.
  • 00:09:08.480 --> 00:09:11.983
  • One of my favorite verses in the bible is where the lord says in
  • 00:09:11.983 --> 00:09:15.186
  • Jeremiah 29:11, "'i know the thoughts that i think toward
  • 00:09:15.186 --> 00:09:19.157
  • You,' says the lord, 'thoughts of peace and not of evil to give
  • 00:09:19.157 --> 00:09:23.161
  • You a future and a hope.'"
  • 00:09:23.161 --> 00:09:24.930
  • God has a future for you.
  • 00:09:24.930 --> 00:09:26.965
  • There's hope for you.
  • 00:09:26.965 --> 00:09:28.900
  • He has a plan for you, a purpose for you, and i wanna talk to you
  • 00:09:28.900 --> 00:09:33.438
  • About a story that jesus told that shows us what god is like.
  • 00:09:33.438 --> 00:09:38.710
  • We often call it the parable of the prodigal son.
  • 00:09:38.710 --> 00:09:41.913
  • It's found in the gospel of luke, chapter 15.
  • 00:09:41.913 --> 00:09:44.449
  • So jesus is basically saying, "you all want
  • 00:09:44.449 --> 00:09:47.218
  • To know what god is like.
  • 00:09:47.218 --> 00:09:48.553
  • Here's what god is like: god is like a father who had two sons,
  • 00:09:48.553 --> 00:09:54.159
  • And the younger son told his father, 'i want my share of the
  • 00:09:54.159 --> 00:09:57.896
  • Estate now instead of waiting until you die,' so his father
  • 00:09:57.896 --> 00:10:02.467
  • Agreed to divide his wealth between his sons, and a few days
  • 00:10:02.467 --> 00:10:05.937
  • Later, his younger son packed all of his belongings and took a
  • 00:10:05.937 --> 00:10:09.808
  • Trip to a distant land, and there he wasted all of his money
  • 00:10:09.808 --> 00:10:13.979
  • On wild living, and about the time his money ran out, others
  • 00:10:13.979 --> 00:10:18.350
  • Ran out with it, and a great famine swept over the land and
  • 00:10:18.350 --> 00:10:22.487
  • He began to starve.
  • 00:10:22.487 --> 00:10:24.222
  • He persuaded a local farmer to hire him to feed his pigs, and
  • 00:10:24.222 --> 00:10:27.926
  • The boy became so hungry that even the food he was feeding the
  • 00:10:27.926 --> 00:10:31.763
  • Pigs looked good to him, but no one gave him anything."
  • 00:10:31.763 --> 00:10:37.168
  • So this kid, he's like a nepo baby.
  • 00:10:37.168 --> 00:10:40.805
  • His parents are very wealthy.
  • 00:10:40.805 --> 00:10:42.641
  • They had servants, they had everything you could want, but
  • 00:10:42.641 --> 00:10:46.344
  • This kid was binging on too many "fast and furious" movies.
  • 00:10:46.344 --> 00:10:51.049
  • He wanted to go out and have his own personal adventures.
  • 00:10:51.049 --> 00:10:54.853
  • He was tired of the rules and regulations of his dad, so
  • 00:10:54.853 --> 00:10:59.290
  • Effectively he says, "look, dad, i know you're gonna drop dead
  • 00:10:59.290 --> 00:11:02.060
  • One day and i'll get an inheritance.
  • 00:11:02.060 --> 00:11:04.295
  • I'd rather not wait, can you just give it to me now?"
  • 00:11:04.295 --> 00:11:08.233
  • And off that boy went.
  • 00:11:08.233 --> 00:11:11.002
  • And as soon as the money ran out, his friends ran out
  • 00:11:11.002 --> 00:11:14.806
  • With it.
  • 00:11:14.806 --> 00:11:16.141
  • Reminds me of a story i heard of two guys that were out camping
  • 00:11:16.141 --> 00:11:18.710
  • In the forest.
  • 00:11:18.710 --> 00:11:20.145
  • As they're getting up in the morning, they heard a rustling
  • 00:11:20.145 --> 00:11:24.315
  • In the bushes, and suddenly they look and a large bear is running
  • 00:11:24.315 --> 00:11:28.119
  • At them full speed.
  • 00:11:28.119 --> 00:11:29.821
  • One of the friends is putting on his running shoes.
  • 00:11:29.821 --> 00:11:33.058
  • His buddy says, "you don't think you can outrun
  • 00:11:33.058 --> 00:11:35.293
  • That bear, do you?"
  • 00:11:35.293 --> 00:11:36.628
  • He says, "i don't need to outrun the bear, i need to outrun you."
  • 00:11:36.628 --> 00:11:41.132
  • You see, that's how some friends are.
  • 00:11:41.132 --> 00:11:45.136
  • They run out when things get hard, and you think you have
  • 00:11:45.136 --> 00:11:50.542
  • Certain friends, but boy, you'll find out fast, especially if you
  • 00:11:50.542 --> 00:11:54.546
  • Give your life to jesus christ.
  • 00:11:54.546 --> 00:11:56.948
  • You know, when i became a christian at age 17 on a high
  • 00:11:56.948 --> 00:12:00.618
  • School campus, i had a bunch of friends i used to hang out with,
  • 00:12:00.618 --> 00:12:05.490
  • And we did drugs together, and they hadn't seen me for a while
  • 00:12:05.490 --> 00:12:10.228
  • Since i'd become a believer in jesus.
  • 00:12:10.228 --> 00:12:13.198
  • And so, as i was walking across our campus, someone saw me and
  • 00:12:13.198 --> 00:12:17.035
  • Recognized me from a little bible study that we had there,
  • 00:12:17.035 --> 00:12:20.171
  • And they said, "brother greg, brother greg!"
  • 00:12:20.171 --> 00:12:22.640
  • I'm like, "and what?"
  • 00:12:22.640 --> 00:12:24.109
  • "brother greg!"
  • 00:12:24.109 --> 00:12:25.477
  • I'm thinking, "i'm not your brother unless it's a brother
  • 00:12:25.477 --> 00:12:27.378
  • From another mother, what?
  • 00:12:27.378 --> 00:12:28.747
  • Who are you?"
  • 00:12:28.747 --> 00:12:30.515
  • "bro!" "yes?"
  • 00:12:30.515 --> 00:12:32.450
  • "you don't have a bible yet.
  • 00:12:32.450 --> 00:12:33.885
  • I saw you became a christian."
  • 00:12:33.885 --> 00:12:35.920
  • "yeah, i did." "you need a bible, bro."
  • 00:12:35.920 --> 00:12:37.789
  • "okay."
  • 00:12:37.789 --> 00:12:39.124
  • "here's a bible," and he gives me this bible, and it was maybe
  • 00:12:39.124 --> 00:12:41.993
  • The ugliest bible i've ever seen.
  • 00:12:41.993 --> 00:12:44.863
  • It was all beat up and thrashed, and it had two popsicle sticks
  • 00:12:44.863 --> 00:12:48.800
  • Glued together in the shape of a cross.
  • 00:12:48.800 --> 00:12:51.169
  • "it's the word of god, bro.
  • 00:12:51.169 --> 00:12:53.004
  • Start reading it."
  • 00:12:53.004 --> 00:12:54.339
  • I'm like, "okay, bye," and i was embarrassed by this bible, and
  • 00:12:54.339 --> 00:13:00.178
  • So i'm trying to shove it into the pocket of my jacket, and i
  • 00:13:00.178 --> 00:13:03.148
  • Even ripped it to hide it.
  • 00:13:03.148 --> 00:13:05.150
  • And i thought, "i haven't seen my friends for a while, i'll go
  • 00:13:05.150 --> 00:13:07.318
  • Over and see what they're up to," so i go over and walk in
  • 00:13:07.318 --> 00:13:10.221
  • The door and they're all sitting around.
  • 00:13:10.221 --> 00:13:12.257
  • They said, "laurie, where have you been?"
  • 00:13:12.257 --> 00:13:14.092
  • I said, "nowhere."
  • 00:13:14.092 --> 00:13:15.760
  • "laurie, what have you been up to?"
  • 00:13:15.760 --> 00:13:17.128
  • I said, "nothing, really."
  • 00:13:17.128 --> 00:13:19.130
  • "hey, you wanna get high?"
  • 00:13:19.130 --> 00:13:20.498
  • I said, "no."
  • 00:13:20.498 --> 00:13:21.833
  • "you don't?" "no."
  • 00:13:21.833 --> 00:13:23.635
  • And see, one thing i forgot to tell you is when i
  • 00:13:23.635 --> 00:13:25.870
  • Went into my friend's house, i was embarrassed that they would
  • 00:13:25.870 --> 00:13:28.439
  • See the bible, so i pulled it out of my pocket and put it in
  • 00:13:28.439 --> 00:13:32.010
  • The bushes in front of his house.
  • 00:13:32.010 --> 00:13:34.179
  • So i'm in this room not admitting that i'd become a
  • 00:13:34.179 --> 00:13:36.948
  • Christian, not wanting to tell them what had happened to me,
  • 00:13:36.948 --> 00:13:39.884
  • And suddenly the front door bursts open, and this guy's
  • 00:13:39.884 --> 00:13:42.987
  • Mother is standing there holding my bible, and she says, "who
  • 00:13:42.987 --> 00:13:47.292
  • Does this belong to?"
  • 00:13:47.292 --> 00:13:49.227
  • Every eye in the room went to that bible, and then they all
  • 00:13:49.227 --> 00:13:52.096
  • Went to me, like they knew there was a connection.
  • 00:13:52.096 --> 00:13:54.899
  • I said, "oh, that's mine."
  • 00:13:54.899 --> 00:13:57.302
  • One of them said, "what is that, greg?"
  • 00:13:57.302 --> 00:13:58.837
  • I said, "it's a bible."
  • 00:13:58.837 --> 00:14:00.572
  • "no, a what?" "it's a bible."
  • 00:14:00.572 --> 00:14:02.340
  • "a what?" "a bible!"
  • 00:14:02.340 --> 00:14:04.275
  • And i grabbed it, and then one of my friends said, "oh, are we
  • 00:14:04.275 --> 00:14:07.278
  • Gonna be christians now and follow jesus?"
  • 00:14:07.278 --> 00:14:11.182
  • I said, "no, i'm gonna hit you in the mouth, that's what i'm
  • 00:14:11.182 --> 00:14:13.351
  • Gonna do," so i hadn't read 1 corinthians 13 or anything
  • 00:14:13.351 --> 00:14:18.056
  • Else yet.
  • 00:14:18.056 --> 00:14:19.791
  • I just thought, "what's going on?"
  • 00:14:19.791 --> 00:14:21.259
  • And all my friends turned on me right there on the spot, and i
  • 00:14:21.259 --> 00:14:25.630
  • Realized these guys are not gonna be my friends anymore.
  • 00:14:25.630 --> 00:14:28.299
  • They start to mock me, and i walked out of there realizing i
  • 00:14:28.299 --> 00:14:31.803
  • Need to get some new friends.
  • 00:14:31.803 --> 00:14:33.738
  • Listen, you want to be a real revolutionary today?
  • 00:14:33.738 --> 00:14:37.308
  • People talk about revolution.
  • 00:14:37.308 --> 00:14:39.310
  • You wanna really stand up from the crowd, you wanna be a real
  • 00:14:39.310 --> 00:14:42.747
  • Rebel, you wanna be punk rock for real?
  • 00:14:42.747 --> 00:14:45.683
  • Follow jesus christ.
  • 00:14:45.683 --> 00:14:47.385
  • That's the most radical thing you can do.
  • 00:14:47.385 --> 00:14:50.455
  • Greg: i'm excited to announce that here at harvest, we've
  • 00:14:54.659 --> 00:14:57.262
  • Partnered with our friends at freewill.
  • 00:14:57.262 --> 00:15:00.431
  • Freewill is an easy-to-use estate planning tool that allows
  • 00:15:00.431 --> 00:15:03.801
  • You to make planned gifts to organizations of your choice.
  • 00:15:03.801 --> 00:15:07.939
  • It's a creative opportunity to support the work we're doing
  • 00:15:07.939 --> 00:15:11.075
  • Here at harvest ministries, so as you make your plans, i hope
  • 00:15:11.075 --> 00:15:14.913
  • You'll consider investing in this ministry so we can continue
  • 00:15:14.913 --> 00:15:18.783
  • To preach the gospel and teach the word of god for years
  • 00:15:18.783 --> 00:15:22.120
  • To come.
  • 00:15:22.120 --> 00:15:23.454
  • You can learn more at freewill.com/harvest.
  • 00:15:23.454 --> 00:15:26.724
  • Greg: so this boy runs away from his father, all of his money
  • 00:15:30.328 --> 00:15:34.332
  • Runs out, and he hits bottom, and he says, "this is horrible,
  • 00:15:34.332 --> 00:15:39.804
  • This sucks," right?
  • 00:15:39.804 --> 00:15:41.606
  • "what am i doing?
  • 00:15:41.606 --> 00:15:43.074
  • I got it better back home.
  • 00:15:43.074 --> 00:15:44.842
  • In fact, even the guys that just work for my dad
  • 00:15:44.842 --> 00:15:47.478
  • Have it better than me.
  • 00:15:47.478 --> 00:15:48.913
  • I mean, here i am literally thinking about eating the food
  • 00:15:48.913 --> 00:15:52.850
  • I'm feeding the pigs," and the boy says, "i'm
  • 00:15:52.850 --> 00:15:56.220
  • Just gonna go home.
  • 00:15:56.220 --> 00:15:57.655
  • I'm gonna say, 'dad, look, i'm no longer worthy to be
  • 00:15:57.655 --> 00:16:00.558
  • Called your son.
  • 00:16:00.558 --> 00:16:01.893
  • Just make me like one of your hired hands just so, you know, i
  • 00:16:01.893 --> 00:16:06.331
  • Get three square meals a day and have a place to sleep.
  • 00:16:06.331 --> 00:16:09.367
  • I'm gonna go home again.'"
  • 00:16:09.367 --> 00:16:10.735
  • So the boy's making his way home.
  • 00:16:10.735 --> 00:16:12.837
  • He's reciting his little speech, and he's going to say to his
  • 00:16:12.837 --> 00:16:16.574
  • Father what he's gonna do, and then i love the story as jesus
  • 00:16:16.574 --> 00:16:21.112
  • Tells it.
  • 00:16:21.112 --> 00:16:22.480
  • He says that as the boy was a long ways off, the father saw
  • 00:16:22.480 --> 00:16:26.317
  • Him and began to ran-- run toward him.
  • 00:16:26.317 --> 00:16:31.456
  • He was so excited to see his son return again, and the boy said,
  • 00:16:31.456 --> 00:16:36.494
  • "dad, i've failed.
  • 00:16:36.494 --> 00:16:37.895
  • I've sinned.
  • 00:16:37.895 --> 00:16:39.230
  • I'm no longer worthy to be called your son," and the father
  • 00:16:39.230 --> 00:16:42.100
  • Wasn't even listening.
  • 00:16:42.100 --> 00:16:43.434
  • He says, "let's have a party.
  • 00:16:43.434 --> 00:16:46.804
  • Let's have barbecue.
  • 00:16:46.804 --> 00:16:49.140
  • Let's rejoice because my son who was dead is alive again, and he
  • 00:16:49.140 --> 00:16:53.811
  • Who was lost is found."
  • 00:16:53.811 --> 00:16:55.613
  • [congregation cheering]
  • 00:16:55.613 --> 00:17:02.286
  • What is god like?
  • 00:17:02.286 --> 00:17:04.288
  • God is like a father who misses his son, who misses his
  • 00:17:04.288 --> 00:17:08.760
  • Daughter, who longs for the return, who will welcome you if
  • 00:17:08.760 --> 00:17:14.399
  • You come to him tonight.
  • 00:17:14.399 --> 00:17:16.768
  • You know, the boy stunk.
  • 00:17:16.768 --> 00:17:18.136
  • Don't forget, he was hanging out with pigs, but the father didn't
  • 00:17:18.136 --> 00:17:21.739
  • Say, "take a bath and maybe i'll give you a hug."
  • 00:17:21.739 --> 00:17:24.375
  • He accepted him as he was.
  • 00:17:24.375 --> 00:17:26.844
  • Sometimes people say, "i need to clean my life up and come
  • 00:17:26.844 --> 00:17:30.148
  • To god."
  • 00:17:30.148 --> 00:17:31.549
  • No, you need to come to god and he'll clean your life up.
  • 00:17:31.549 --> 00:17:35.686
  • You come as you are.
  • 00:17:35.686 --> 00:17:40.691
  • You come with your sins, you come with your addictions, you
  • 00:17:40.691 --> 00:17:44.796
  • Come with your problems.
  • 00:17:44.796 --> 00:17:46.764
  • You come as you are, and christ will change you tonight, but you
  • 00:17:46.764 --> 00:17:50.868
  • Must come to him, and i love how the father ran to the son.
  • 00:17:50.868 --> 00:17:55.573
  • You know that in this culture, it was considered undignified
  • 00:17:55.573 --> 00:17:59.110
  • For an older man to run, not to mention it's harder for an older
  • 00:17:59.110 --> 00:18:04.449
  • Man to run?
  • 00:18:04.449 --> 00:18:06.150
  • I know this from experience.
  • 00:18:06.150 --> 00:18:08.986
  • You know, i hear people say that when they run, they get the
  • 00:18:08.986 --> 00:18:11.556
  • Runner's high.
  • 00:18:11.556 --> 00:18:13.357
  • There's a release of endorphins.
  • 00:18:13.357 --> 00:18:15.493
  • Man, i get that runner's high.
  • 00:18:15.493 --> 00:18:17.328
  • I think maybe if i've experienced the eater's high,
  • 00:18:17.328 --> 00:18:20.098
  • You know, like my food arrives, oh, i'm excited.
  • 00:18:20.098 --> 00:18:23.601
  • But runners, i know--but the father was willing to lose his
  • 00:18:23.601 --> 00:18:27.905
  • Dignity, if you will, to get to his son as quickly as possible.
  • 00:18:27.905 --> 00:18:34.312
  • So you ask, "greg, how do i come into this relationship with god?
  • 00:18:34.312 --> 00:18:39.517
  • How can i know for certain that when i die, i will go to heaven?
  • 00:18:39.517 --> 00:18:43.855
  • How can i have all of my sin forgiven?"
  • 00:18:43.855 --> 00:18:47.492
  • Here's what you need to do.
  • 00:18:47.492 --> 00:18:48.826
  • You need to, number one, admit you're a sinner.
  • 00:18:48.826 --> 00:18:52.230
  • The bible says, "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory
  • 00:18:52.230 --> 00:18:55.833
  • Of god."
  • 00:18:55.833 --> 00:18:57.268
  • The word sin means to cross a line.
  • 00:18:57.268 --> 00:18:59.337
  • The bible speaks of trespass in sin, sort of like when you see
  • 00:18:59.337 --> 00:19:04.008
  • The sign in the park where the grass has been planted and it
  • 00:19:04.008 --> 00:19:07.411
  • Says, "no trespassing."
  • 00:19:07.411 --> 00:19:09.747
  • So sin is when you break a commandment, but sin is also
  • 00:19:09.747 --> 00:19:14.552
  • Falling short of a mark.
  • 00:19:14.552 --> 00:19:16.120
  • It means you're not perfect, none of us are.
  • 00:19:16.120 --> 00:19:19.157
  • That's where jesus comes in.
  • 00:19:19.157 --> 00:19:20.892
  • That's why he died on the cross for you 2000 years ago and took
  • 00:19:20.892 --> 00:19:25.396
  • God's judgment in your place.
  • 00:19:25.396 --> 00:19:28.099
  • Jesus came to pay a debt he did not owe because you owed a debt
  • 00:19:28.099 --> 00:19:32.370
  • You could not pay.
  • 00:19:32.370 --> 00:19:39.810
  • So you have to admit you're a sinner, but a lot of people say,
  • 00:19:39.810 --> 00:19:43.281
  • "well, no, i believe if i just live a good life, i'll get to
  • 00:19:43.281 --> 00:19:46.317
  • Heaven," really?
  • 00:19:46.317 --> 00:19:48.186
  • Do you think you've lived a good enough life to get to heaven?
  • 00:19:48.186 --> 00:19:51.422
  • Let me say something that might shock you.
  • 00:19:51.422 --> 00:19:53.558
  • There's gonna be some bad people in heaven, and there's gonna be
  • 00:19:53.558 --> 00:19:56.928
  • Some good people in hell.
  • 00:19:56.928 --> 00:20:00.531
  • You said, "well, you lost me there, preacher.
  • 00:20:00.531 --> 00:20:02.800
  • What do you mean by that?"
  • 00:20:02.800 --> 00:20:04.168
  • There's gonna be some bad people in heaven.
  • 00:20:04.168 --> 00:20:07.138
  • Think about that man we call the thief on the cross,
  • 00:20:07.138 --> 00:20:09.907
  • Remember him?
  • 00:20:09.907 --> 00:20:11.309
  • When jesus was crucified, there were men on each side of him.
  • 00:20:11.309 --> 00:20:15.146
  • We call them thieves, but the word used in the original
  • 00:20:15.146 --> 00:20:17.815
  • Language means they were guilty of a greater crime.
  • 00:20:17.815 --> 00:20:21.152
  • They were probably murderers, probably insurrectionists, and
  • 00:20:21.152 --> 00:20:26.290
  • Yet here they are crucified next to jesus, and both of them
  • 00:20:26.290 --> 00:20:30.161
  • Joined the chorus of mockery coming from the crowd saying,
  • 00:20:30.161 --> 00:20:33.598
  • "he saved others, let him save himself if he's really the son
  • 00:20:33.598 --> 00:20:37.468
  • Of god."
  • 00:20:37.468 --> 00:20:38.836
  • Then jesus gives the first of seven statements from the cross,
  • 00:20:38.836 --> 00:20:43.874
  • And the first statement was, "father, forgive them, for they
  • 00:20:43.874 --> 00:20:47.378
  • Know not what they do."
  • 00:20:47.378 --> 00:20:49.380
  • And suddenly, like a flash, one of those criminals believed on
  • 00:20:49.380 --> 00:20:53.751
  • The spot, and turned to jesus and said, "lord, remember me
  • 00:20:53.751 --> 00:20:58.589
  • When you come into your kingdom," and jesus said,
  • 00:20:58.589 --> 00:21:01.425
  • "truly, truly, i say to you today, you will be with me in
  • 00:21:01.425 --> 00:21:05.630
  • Paradise," so a bad person made it to heaven.
  • 00:21:05.630 --> 00:21:09.066
  • [congregation cheering]
  • 00:21:09.066 --> 00:21:14.171
  • You need to admit you're a sinner, but then there's gonna
  • 00:21:14.171 --> 00:21:16.774
  • Be good people in hell.
  • 00:21:16.774 --> 00:21:18.976
  • Oh yes, hell is real.
  • 00:21:18.976 --> 00:21:22.980
  • Jesus spoke more about hell than all the other preachers of the
  • 00:21:22.980 --> 00:21:26.150
  • Bible put together.
  • 00:21:26.150 --> 00:21:28.419
  • Well, how could a god of love send people to hell?
  • 00:21:28.419 --> 00:21:31.088
  • God doesn't send people to hell.
  • 00:21:31.088 --> 00:21:32.990
  • We send ourselves there by rejecting his gracious offer of
  • 00:21:32.990 --> 00:21:37.161
  • Forgiveness, you see?
  • 00:21:37.161 --> 00:21:40.398
  • The last thing god wants is for any man or woman uniquely made
  • 00:21:40.398 --> 00:21:44.835
  • In his image to spend eternity separated from him in a place
  • 00:21:44.835 --> 00:21:49.240
  • Called hell, that's why jesus died on the cross for you.
  • 00:21:49.240 --> 00:21:52.743
  • But you say, "how could there be a good person in hell?"
  • 00:21:52.743 --> 00:21:55.980
  • A person who depended on their own religious works to
  • 00:21:55.980 --> 00:21:59.817
  • Get them to heaven.
  • 00:21:59.817 --> 00:22:01.218
  • Jesus said in that final day, "people will come to me saying,
  • 00:22:01.218 --> 00:22:04.889
  • Lord, lord, did we not cast out demons in your name?
  • 00:22:04.889 --> 00:22:09.627
  • Did we not do miracles in your name?"
  • 00:22:09.627 --> 00:22:12.563
  • Others might say, "did we not get baptized in your name, or
  • 00:22:12.563 --> 00:22:16.567
  • Receive communion in your name?"
  • 00:22:16.567 --> 00:22:18.636
  • And jesus says, "and i will say to them, depart from me, i never
  • 00:22:18.636 --> 00:22:23.007
  • Knew you."
  • 00:22:23.007 --> 00:22:24.342
  • It's not enough to know about god, you need to know god and
  • 00:22:24.342 --> 00:22:28.579
  • Ask him to come into your life, you see? the story that jesus told began with these words: "a man had
  • 00:22:28.579 --> 00:22:34.018
  • Two sons."
  • 00:22:37.988 --> 00:22:39.924
  • I, too, am a man with two sons.
  • 00:22:39.924 --> 00:22:43.461
  • One is named christopher, the other is named jonathan.
  • 00:22:43.461 --> 00:22:47.865
  • Both of my sons were raised in the church, as jonathan said a
  • 00:22:47.865 --> 00:22:52.370
  • Few moments ago.
  • 00:22:52.370 --> 00:22:54.171
  • And we raised them to know the lord, we read bible stories to
  • 00:22:54.171 --> 00:22:58.476
  • Them, we prayed with them, but both of my sons for a time
  • 00:22:58.476 --> 00:23:03.114
  • Became prodigals.
  • 00:23:03.114 --> 00:23:04.448
  • They were still wonderful sons, but they were just out there
  • 00:23:04.448 --> 00:23:08.719
  • Living their lives, wanting to see what this world and this
  • 00:23:08.719 --> 00:23:13.124
  • Culture had to offer.
  • 00:23:13.124 --> 00:23:15.393
  • Thankfully, my older son, christopher, after being a
  • 00:23:15.393 --> 00:23:19.230
  • Prodigal for a number of years, made a recommitment to christ.
  • 00:23:19.230 --> 00:23:23.067
  • He got married to a young lady named brittany.
  • 00:23:23.067 --> 00:23:26.404
  • They had a little baby girl that's here tonight.
  • 00:23:26.404 --> 00:23:29.407
  • She's gonna be 18 years old, her name is stella, and another one
  • 00:23:29.407 --> 00:23:33.878
  • On the way named lucy, who's a young lady as well, but he was
  • 00:23:33.878 --> 00:23:39.183
  • Walking with the lord.
  • 00:23:39.183 --> 00:23:40.518
  • He was actually working for us at the church as a graphic
  • 00:23:40.518 --> 00:23:43.788
  • Designer, but jonathan was still struggling.
  • 00:23:43.788 --> 00:23:47.224
  • He was still resisting, but he admired his older brother, and
  • 00:23:47.224 --> 00:23:51.562
  • One day they were having a conversation, and christopher
  • 00:23:51.562 --> 00:23:54.698
  • Said to jonathan, "jonathan, what's it gonna take for you to
  • 00:23:54.698 --> 00:23:58.502
  • Get right with god?"
  • 00:23:58.502 --> 00:24:00.538
  • That's why i called this message tonight "what's it gonna take?"
  • 00:24:00.538 --> 00:24:04.809
  • What's it gonna take?
  • 00:24:04.809 --> 00:24:06.177
  • Jonathan didn't know what to say, because jonathan was using
  • 00:24:06.177 --> 00:24:10.080
  • Drugs at that time, and as i said, being a prodigal.
  • 00:24:10.080 --> 00:24:13.984
  • Well, the next day our son christopher died tragically in
  • 00:24:13.984 --> 00:24:19.156
  • An automobile accident, and he's been in heaven now 18 years in a
  • 00:24:19.156 --> 00:24:25.029
  • Few days from right now.
  • 00:24:25.029 --> 00:24:27.465
  • And so jonathan was at work, and they came to his workplace and
  • 00:24:27.465 --> 00:24:32.336
  • Said, "you need to go home right now," and they brought him to
  • 00:24:32.336 --> 00:24:35.539
  • Our house, and there we were.
  • 00:24:35.539 --> 00:24:37.007
  • We had heard the news that christopher was gone, and
  • 00:24:37.007 --> 00:24:42.246
  • Jonathan realized, "i need to get right with god because he
  • 00:24:42.246 --> 00:24:45.850
  • Had wanted to talk to his brother about this."
  • 00:24:45.850 --> 00:24:48.118
  • Now, i'm not saying that christopher died so jonathan
  • 00:24:48.118 --> 00:24:52.289
  • Would make a recommitment.
  • 00:24:52.289 --> 00:24:53.624
  • I'm saying the tragic thing is christopher died, but he's in
  • 00:24:53.624 --> 00:24:57.328
  • Heaven, and we'll see him again because he's not just a part of
  • 00:24:57.328 --> 00:25:01.465
  • Our past but also a part of our future.
  • 00:25:01.465 --> 00:25:08.939
  • But those words resonated in jonathan's heart:
  • 00:25:08.939 --> 00:25:12.042
  • "what's it gonna take?
  • 00:25:12.042 --> 00:25:13.377
  • What's it gonna take?"
  • 00:25:13.377 --> 00:25:14.712
  • And jonathan made a recommitment to christ right after that, and
  • 00:25:14.712 --> 00:25:19.750
  • Now he's been serving the lord for many years, and he's a
  • 00:25:19.750 --> 00:25:23.420
  • Pastor at our church, and god got hold of him.
  • 00:25:23.420 --> 00:25:27.358
  • My question,
  • 00:25:27.358 --> 00:25:31.095
  • My question for you tonight is: what's it going to take?
  • 00:25:31.095 --> 00:25:35.132
  • What's it gonna take to wake you up?
  • 00:25:35.132 --> 00:25:36.867
  • We all think, "oh, i'll just live forever.
  • 00:25:36.867 --> 00:25:38.969
  • You know, i'm young, i've got my whole life in front of me."
  • 00:25:38.969 --> 00:25:41.805
  • Well, maybe you do, and i hope you do.
  • 00:25:41.805 --> 00:25:44.808
  • Well, my son was only 33 years old, but the good news is i do
  • 00:25:44.808 --> 00:25:49.446
  • Know he went to heaven.
  • 00:25:49.446 --> 00:25:50.848
  • I do know i'll see him again, but the bible says, "prepare to
  • 00:25:50.848 --> 00:25:54.585
  • Meet your god."
  • 00:25:54.585 --> 00:25:55.953
  • Are you prepared to meet god tonight?
  • 00:25:55.953 --> 00:25:59.590
  • What happens after you die?
  • 00:25:59.590 --> 00:26:02.626
  • That's up to you.
  • 00:26:02.626 --> 00:26:04.528
  • According to the bible, you have two options: heaven or hell,
  • 00:26:04.528 --> 00:26:08.399
  • Life or death.
  • 00:26:08.399 --> 00:26:10.000
  • Listen: you may never have another moment like you have
  • 00:26:10.000 --> 00:26:14.104
  • Right now.
  • 00:26:14.104 --> 00:26:15.439
  • This is the time.
  • 00:26:15.439 --> 00:26:16.807
  • Not tomorrow, not next week, not next month, now.
  • 00:26:16.807 --> 00:26:20.077
  • The bible says, "now, today is the day of salvation."
  • 00:26:20.077 --> 00:26:26.817
  • Greg: have you watched the news lately?
  • 00:26:30.688 --> 00:26:32.289
  • It seems like the world is coming apart: war in the middle
  • 00:26:32.289 --> 00:26:36.360
  • East, instability all around us, and i'm telling you right now,
  • 00:26:36.360 --> 00:26:40.798
  • The bible predicted these things would happen in the last days.
  • 00:26:40.798 --> 00:26:44.568
  • But here's what you need to remember: jesus said, "when you
  • 00:26:44.568 --> 00:26:47.871
  • See these things begin to happen, look up, for your
  • 00:26:47.871 --> 00:26:50.941
  • Redemption is drawing near."
  • 00:26:50.941 --> 00:26:52.676
  • He didn't say, "freak out," he said, "look up."
  • 00:26:52.676 --> 00:26:56.580
  • I want you to know that i've read the last page of the bible,
  • 00:26:56.580 --> 00:26:59.516
  • And we win in the end.
  • 00:26:59.516 --> 00:27:01.385
  • We need hope in this crazy, hopeless world, in this world of
  • 00:27:01.385 --> 00:27:05.189
  • Chaos and confusion.
  • 00:27:05.189 --> 00:27:07.157
  • Jesus christ has everything you're looking for in a
  • 00:27:07.157 --> 00:27:10.928
  • Relationship with him.
  • 00:27:10.928 --> 00:27:13.063
  • I encourage you to call out to the lord and ask him to come
  • 00:27:13.063 --> 00:27:17.434
  • Into your life.
  • 00:27:17.434 --> 00:27:18.969
  • Let me send you at no charge a bible to help you get started in
  • 00:27:18.969 --> 00:27:23.907
  • Your new relationship with christ.
  • 00:27:23.907 --> 00:27:23.907