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Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie - What's It Going To Take?

October 31, 2025 | 27:40

Greg Laurie - What's It Going To Take?
Join Pastor Greg Laurie for a time of encouragement, worship, and Bible study.
#Hopelessness #Loneliness #BrokenHeart #Brokenness #Emptiness #God'sWill #Plan #Purpose #Future #Hope #Jesus #Salvation #Sin #Forgiveness #GregLaurie

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Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie | Greg Laurie - What's It Going To Take? | October 31, 2025
  • ...
  • 00:00:00.633 --> 00:00:01.334
  • Greg laurie: doesn't matter where you're from,
  • 00:00:05.005 --> 00:00:05.839
  • Doesn't matter if you're a man or a woman,
  • 00:00:06.840 --> 00:00:09.242
  • Doesn't matter if you're young or old or if
  • 00:00:09.242 --> 00:00:11.077
  • You're rich or you're poor, your life feels like one long scroll,
  • 00:00:11.077 --> 00:00:16.616
  • And no matter how far you swipe, you're still empty inside.
  • 00:00:16.683 --> 00:00:20.220
  • What you're looking for isn't found on a screen or an ai voice
  • 00:00:20.320 --> 00:00:24.657
  • That speaks to you and flatters you, it's found in a living god
  • 00:00:24.758 --> 00:00:25.859
  • Who has a plan and a purpose for your life tonight.
  • 00:00:28.728 --> 00:00:32.432
  • ♪ this is the day, ♪
  • 00:00:35.602 --> 00:00:37.904
  • ♪ the day when life begins ♪
  • 00:00:37.904 --> 00:00:43.176
  • ♪ this is the day, ♪
  • 00:00:43.176 --> 00:00:45.745
  • ♪ the day when life begins ♪♪
  • 00:00:45.745 --> 00:00:51.985
  • Greg: i wanna talk to you about your life and the
  • 00:00:56.056 --> 00:00:59.659
  • Direction your life is taking.
  • 00:00:59.659 --> 00:01:01.861
  • The title of my message is "what's it going to take?"
  • 00:01:01.861 --> 00:01:05.498
  • Now, you might think that i was raised in a christian home.
  • 00:01:05.498 --> 00:01:10.637
  • Well, the very opposite was the case.
  • 00:01:10.637 --> 00:01:13.606
  • I was raised in a home where there was no mention of jesus,
  • 00:01:13.606 --> 00:01:17.610
  • There was no church, there were no bibles.
  • 00:01:17.610 --> 00:01:20.947
  • My mother was living her "la vida loca" life, going from
  • 00:01:20.947 --> 00:01:26.119
  • Husband to husband, from marriage to marriage.
  • 00:01:26.119 --> 00:01:29.355
  • She was married and divorced seven times and had a lot of
  • 00:01:29.355 --> 00:01:33.026
  • Boyfriends in between.
  • 00:01:33.026 --> 00:01:34.394
  • She was also a raging alcoholic, so i spent part of my childhood
  • 00:01:34.394 --> 00:01:39.365
  • Living with my grandparents when i was a little boy, and because
  • 00:01:39.365 --> 00:01:44.838
  • Of this i felt, well, alone.
  • 00:01:44.838 --> 00:01:47.774
  • I felt abandoned, and i felt like, "what is my life
  • 00:01:47.774 --> 00:01:52.879
  • Even about?
  • 00:01:52.879 --> 00:01:54.214
  • I don't think anyone really wants me."
  • 00:01:54.214 --> 00:01:56.349
  • And at night, i would pull the covers over my head after my
  • 00:01:56.349 --> 00:01:59.986
  • Grandparents had gone to bed, and i would talk to an imaginary
  • 00:01:59.986 --> 00:02:04.124
  • Character i came up with, and i called him mr. nobody.
  • 00:02:04.124 --> 00:02:08.628
  • The sad thing is i was 30 years old when i did this.
  • 00:02:08.628 --> 00:02:11.431
  • No, not really, but mr. nobody, and i would talk to this person
  • 00:02:11.431 --> 00:02:17.203
  • That wasn't really there, and i'd kind of pour my little heart
  • 00:02:17.203 --> 00:02:19.806
  • Out to him, and then i--my life took its own course in the
  • 00:02:19.806 --> 00:02:25.078
  • Wrong direction.
  • 00:02:25.078 --> 00:02:26.412
  • I got into partying, i got into drinking and drugs and so forth,
  • 00:02:26.412 --> 00:02:30.283
  • But at the age of 17, i heard about jesus christ, and suddenly
  • 00:02:30.283 --> 00:02:35.355
  • It dawned on me: mr. nobody had a name, and his name was jesus,
  • 00:02:35.355 --> 00:02:40.226
  • You see?
  • 00:02:40.226 --> 00:02:41.561
  • [congregation cheering]
  • 00:02:41.561 --> 00:02:45.632
  • That's who i really was searching for.
  • 00:02:45.632 --> 00:02:48.968
  • So coming back to my grandparents's home, they had a
  • 00:02:48.968 --> 00:02:51.738
  • Portrait of jesus hanging on the wall, and as a little boy, i
  • 00:02:51.738 --> 00:02:56.342
  • Would just stare at that portrait of christ, and i would
  • 00:02:56.342 --> 00:03:00.346
  • Think, "wow, i wish i could have met jesus."
  • 00:03:00.346 --> 00:03:03.416
  • I thought of him merely as a historical figure that lived and
  • 00:03:03.416 --> 00:03:07.387
  • Died, and i didn't really know much more of that story, but i
  • 00:03:07.387 --> 00:03:11.291
  • Thought about jesus, and think how cool it would be if you
  • 00:03:11.291 --> 00:03:14.861
  • Could sit down with jesus and have a cup of coffee?
  • 00:03:14.861 --> 00:03:18.765
  • Would jesus drink coffee? i don't know.
  • 00:03:18.765 --> 00:03:21.701
  • But just imagine for a moment, you're gonna go out,
  • 00:03:21.701 --> 00:03:23.570
  • Get a cup of coffee with jesus.
  • 00:03:23.570 --> 00:03:25.738
  • I'd order a cappuccino.
  • 00:03:25.738 --> 00:03:27.740
  • I don't like all these syrups and things
  • 00:03:27.740 --> 00:03:29.742
  • People put into coffee.
  • 00:03:29.742 --> 00:03:31.844
  • You go into, like, a starbucks now and people say, "i'll have a
  • 00:03:31.844 --> 00:03:35.014
  • Venti iced mocha chocolate frappucinno with six pumps
  • 00:03:35.014 --> 00:03:40.420
  • Of toffee nut syrup."
  • 00:03:40.420 --> 00:03:42.455
  • Just go to 31 flavors, that's not even coffee.
  • 00:03:42.455 --> 00:03:47.026
  • I don't know, would jesus drink coffee, maybe?
  • 00:03:47.026 --> 00:03:49.229
  • Maybe a matcha, maybe some tea, herbal tea perhaps, who knows?
  • 00:03:49.229 --> 00:03:55.235
  • But just imagine sitting across the table from jesus.
  • 00:03:55.235 --> 00:03:59.405
  • You could ask him anything, you could tell him anything.
  • 00:03:59.405 --> 00:04:03.009
  • I think younger people would want questions to the big issues
  • 00:04:03.009 --> 00:04:06.913
  • Of life like, "why am i here?
  • 00:04:06.913 --> 00:04:09.983
  • What is my purpose in life?
  • 00:04:09.983 --> 00:04:11.751
  • What is the meaning of my life?"
  • 00:04:11.751 --> 00:04:14.520
  • The older folks might want to know more about their life, if
  • 00:04:14.520 --> 00:04:18.391
  • It really mattered, and they would want to know what happens
  • 00:04:18.391 --> 00:04:21.861
  • When they die, because deep down inside we're all searching for
  • 00:04:21.861 --> 00:04:26.266
  • Meaning, because you see, in effect, we're born with a hole
  • 00:04:26.266 --> 00:04:29.469
  • In our heart.
  • 00:04:29.469 --> 00:04:30.870
  • It's sort of like a spiritual void that cannot be filled with
  • 00:04:30.870 --> 00:04:35.541
  • Anything this world has to offer.
  • 00:04:35.541 --> 00:04:38.311
  • You know, as a kid, i was more interested not in what happens
  • 00:04:38.311 --> 00:04:42.582
  • After i die as much as i was interested
  • 00:04:42.582 --> 00:04:45.018
  • In what happens when i live.
  • 00:04:45.018 --> 00:04:47.287
  • In other words, not is there life after death, but is there
  • 00:04:47.287 --> 00:04:50.256
  • Life during life?
  • 00:04:50.256 --> 00:04:52.258
  • I was looking for a meaningful life, a purposeful life, and a
  • 00:04:52.258 --> 00:04:57.063
  • Lot of people are, you probably are yourself.
  • 00:04:57.063 --> 00:05:00.333
  • But think about generation z.
  • 00:05:00.333 --> 00:05:02.302
  • They have more information than any generation ever, and yet
  • 00:05:02.302 --> 00:05:06.639
  • They've been described as the hopeless generation.
  • 00:05:06.639 --> 00:05:09.709
  • Seventy-two percent of them use ai companions regularly instead
  • 00:05:09.709 --> 00:05:15.281
  • Of human interaction because they have no
  • 00:05:15.281 --> 00:05:18.051
  • One else to talk to.
  • 00:05:18.051 --> 00:05:20.486
  • Generation z has the highest suicide rate of any generation
  • 00:05:20.486 --> 00:05:25.591
  • In american history.
  • 00:05:25.591 --> 00:05:28.061
  • Then you have high school students, 42% of high school
  • 00:05:28.061 --> 00:05:31.798
  • Students experience constant sadness,
  • 00:05:31.798 --> 00:05:35.501
  • 22% of high school students have contemplated suicide.
  • 00:05:35.501 --> 00:05:41.074
  • Is that a description of someone i'm talking to right now?
  • 00:05:41.074 --> 00:05:44.477
  • You're a hopeless person, you're constantly sad, you've even
  • 00:05:44.477 --> 00:05:48.848
  • Contemplated suicide.
  • 00:05:48.848 --> 00:05:51.351
  • Billie eilish and her song "everything i wanted," saying,
  • 00:05:51.351 --> 00:05:54.420
  • Quote, "i had a dream, i got everything i wanted, not what
  • 00:05:54.420 --> 00:05:58.291
  • You think, and if i'm honest, it might have been a nightmare,"
  • 00:05:58.291 --> 00:06:01.961
  • End quote.
  • 00:06:01.961 --> 00:06:03.296
  • Then there's tom brady.
  • 00:06:03.296 --> 00:06:05.465
  • He's so successful they call him the goat,
  • 00:06:05.465 --> 00:06:08.167
  • The greatest of all time.
  • 00:06:08.167 --> 00:06:09.502
  • Someone called me the goat the other day.
  • 00:06:09.502 --> 00:06:11.671
  • They said, "hey, goat."
  • 00:06:11.671 --> 00:06:13.239
  • I said, "you mean the greatest of all time?"
  • 00:06:13.239 --> 00:06:15.308
  • He said, "no, old goat, get out of my way."
  • 00:06:15.308 --> 00:06:17.877
  • "oh, sorry."
  • 00:06:17.877 --> 00:06:20.279
  • But tom brady, despite all of his success, made
  • 00:06:20.279 --> 00:06:22.982
  • This statement.
  • 00:06:22.982 --> 00:06:24.784
  • He said, "i have three super bowl rings, and i think there's
  • 00:06:24.784 --> 00:06:28.121
  • Something greater out there.
  • 00:06:28.121 --> 00:06:29.722
  • I reached my goal, my dream, my life.
  • 00:06:29.722 --> 00:06:32.658
  • I think, god, it's got to be more than this," it is.
  • 00:06:32.658 --> 00:06:36.529
  • Brad pitt said, "we're supposed to care about the car, the
  • 00:06:36.529 --> 00:06:39.799
  • Condo, but if that's true, why does it all feel like
  • 00:06:39.799 --> 00:06:42.635
  • Desperation, loneliness, and isolation?"
  • 00:06:42.635 --> 00:06:45.938
  • Good question, brad pitt.
  • 00:06:45.938 --> 00:06:48.708
  • You're searching for god.
  • 00:06:48.708 --> 00:06:50.042
  • That's what we all want deep down inside.
  • 00:06:50.042 --> 00:06:52.245
  • Listen, i don't know you necessarily, but i know a few
  • 00:06:52.245 --> 00:06:55.448
  • Things about you, even if i've never met you.
  • 00:06:55.448 --> 00:06:58.451
  • I know that everybody is empty inside, i know that everyone is
  • 00:06:58.451 --> 00:07:03.589
  • Lonely inside, i know that everyone is guilty inside, and i
  • 00:07:03.589 --> 00:07:08.394
  • Know that everyone is afraid to die.
  • 00:07:08.394 --> 00:07:11.697
  • Doesn't matter where you're from, doesn't matter if you're a
  • 00:07:11.697 --> 00:07:14.634
  • Man or a woman, doesn't matter if you're young or old or if
  • 00:07:14.634 --> 00:07:17.970
  • You're rich or you're poor, your life feels like one long scroll,
  • 00:07:17.970 --> 00:07:23.109
  • And no matter how far you swipe, you're still empty inside.
  • 00:07:23.109 --> 00:07:26.979
  • What you're looking for isn't found on a screen or an ai voice
  • 00:07:26.979 --> 00:07:31.384
  • That speaks to you and flatters you, it's found in a living god
  • 00:07:31.384 --> 00:07:35.388
  • Who has a plan and a purpose for your life tonight.
  • 00:07:35.388 --> 00:07:39.192
  • [congregation cheering]
  • 00:07:39.192 --> 00:07:45.231
  • But we talk about god, and we ask, "well, what is god like?"
  • 00:07:45.231 --> 00:07:49.001
  • Is god sort of like a cosmic boss waiting to fire you when
  • 00:07:49.001 --> 00:07:53.339
  • You mess up?
  • 00:07:53.339 --> 00:07:54.740
  • Is god like an angry judge holding a lightning bolt?
  • 00:07:54.740 --> 00:07:58.811
  • According to jesus, god is like a father who loves you deeply
  • 00:07:58.811 --> 00:08:05.551
  • And misses you when you are away from him.
  • 00:08:05.551 --> 00:08:08.321
  • I heard a story about a father and son that went into a
  • 00:08:08.321 --> 00:08:11.057
  • Hardware store, and as they were checking out, there was a large
  • 00:08:11.057 --> 00:08:15.127
  • Jar of candy there, and the hardware store owner said to the
  • 00:08:15.127 --> 00:08:19.365
  • Young boy, "go ahead, son, grab a handful of candy," and the
  • 00:08:19.365 --> 00:08:23.102
  • Little boy just looked up at his father.
  • 00:08:23.102 --> 00:08:25.538
  • The hardware store owner again said, "son, go ahead,
  • 00:08:25.538 --> 00:08:28.274
  • Grab a handful of candy.
  • 00:08:28.274 --> 00:08:29.942
  • It's free, no charge."
  • 00:08:29.942 --> 00:08:31.277
  • Again, the little boy just looked up at his father.
  • 00:08:31.277 --> 00:08:34.747
  • The hardware store said it to the little guy again.
  • 00:08:34.747 --> 00:08:37.183
  • Finally, the father just reached in, grabbed a big handful of
  • 00:08:37.183 --> 00:08:40.586
  • Candy, and they walked out, and as they got in the car, the dad
  • 00:08:40.586 --> 00:08:44.156
  • Asked his son, "son, why didn't you grab a handful of candy?"
  • 00:08:44.156 --> 00:08:47.760
  • The little boy said, "dad, because your hand is bigger
  • 00:08:47.760 --> 00:08:51.130
  • Than mine."
  • 00:08:51.130 --> 00:08:52.465
  • [congregation applauding]
  • 00:08:52.465 --> 00:08:57.570
  • God's hand is bigger than yours.
  • 00:08:57.570 --> 00:09:00.606
  • God's plan for your life is better than your plan
  • 00:09:00.606 --> 00:09:03.776
  • For yourself.
  • 00:09:03.776 --> 00:09:05.111
  • The bible promises that god is able to do exceedingly above and
  • 00:09:05.111 --> 00:09:08.481
  • Beyond that which you can ask or think.
  • 00:09:08.481 --> 00:09:11.984
  • One of my favorite verses in the bible is where the lord says in
  • 00:09:11.984 --> 00:09:15.187
  • Jeremiah 29:11, "'i know the thoughts that i think toward
  • 00:09:15.187 --> 00:09:19.158
  • You,' says the lord, 'thoughts of peace and not of evil to give
  • 00:09:19.158 --> 00:09:23.162
  • You a future and a hope.'"
  • 00:09:23.162 --> 00:09:24.931
  • God has a future for you.
  • 00:09:24.931 --> 00:09:26.966
  • There's hope for you.
  • 00:09:26.966 --> 00:09:28.901
  • He has a plan for you, a purpose for you, and i wanna talk to you
  • 00:09:28.901 --> 00:09:33.439
  • About a story that jesus told that shows us what god is like.
  • 00:09:33.439 --> 00:09:38.711
  • We often call it the parable of the prodigal son.
  • 00:09:38.711 --> 00:09:41.914
  • It's found in the gospel of luke, chapter 15.
  • 00:09:41.914 --> 00:09:44.450
  • So jesus is basically saying, "you all want
  • 00:09:44.450 --> 00:09:47.219
  • To know what god is like.
  • 00:09:47.219 --> 00:09:48.554
  • Here's what god is like: god is like a father who had two sons,
  • 00:09:48.554 --> 00:09:54.160
  • And the younger son told his father, 'i want my share of the
  • 00:09:54.160 --> 00:09:57.897
  • Estate now instead of waiting until you die,' so his father
  • 00:09:57.897 --> 00:10:02.468
  • Agreed to divide his wealth between his sons, and a few days
  • 00:10:02.468 --> 00:10:05.938
  • Later, his younger son packed all of his belongings and took a
  • 00:10:05.938 --> 00:10:09.809
  • Trip to a distant land, and there he wasted all of his money
  • 00:10:09.809 --> 00:10:13.980
  • On wild living, and about the time his money ran out, others
  • 00:10:13.980 --> 00:10:18.351
  • Ran out with it, and a great famine swept over the land and
  • 00:10:18.351 --> 00:10:22.488
  • He began to starve.
  • 00:10:22.488 --> 00:10:24.223
  • He persuaded a local farmer to hire him to feed his pigs, and
  • 00:10:24.223 --> 00:10:27.927
  • The boy became so hungry that even the food he was feeding the
  • 00:10:27.927 --> 00:10:31.764
  • Pigs looked good to him, but no one gave him anything."
  • 00:10:31.764 --> 00:10:37.169
  • So this kid, he's like a nepo baby.
  • 00:10:37.169 --> 00:10:40.806
  • His parents are very wealthy.
  • 00:10:40.806 --> 00:10:42.642
  • They had servants, they had everything you could want, but
  • 00:10:42.642 --> 00:10:46.345
  • This kid was binging on too many "fast and furious" movies.
  • 00:10:46.345 --> 00:10:51.050
  • He wanted to go out and have his own personal adventures.
  • 00:10:51.050 --> 00:10:54.854
  • He was tired of the rules and regulations of his dad, so
  • 00:10:54.854 --> 00:10:59.291
  • Effectively he says, "look, dad, i know you're gonna drop dead
  • 00:10:59.291 --> 00:11:02.061
  • One day and i'll get an inheritance.
  • 00:11:02.061 --> 00:11:04.296
  • I'd rather not wait, can you just give it to me now?"
  • 00:11:04.296 --> 00:11:08.234
  • And off that boy went.
  • 00:11:08.234 --> 00:11:11.003
  • And as soon as the money ran out, his friends ran out
  • 00:11:11.003 --> 00:11:14.807
  • With it.
  • 00:11:14.807 --> 00:11:16.142
  • Reminds me of a story i heard of two guys that were out camping
  • 00:11:16.142 --> 00:11:18.711
  • In the forest.
  • 00:11:18.711 --> 00:11:20.146
  • As they're getting up in the morning, they heard a rustling
  • 00:11:20.146 --> 00:11:24.316
  • In the bushes, and suddenly they look and a large bear is running
  • 00:11:24.316 --> 00:11:28.120
  • At them full speed.
  • 00:11:28.120 --> 00:11:29.822
  • One of the friends is putting on his running shoes.
  • 00:11:29.822 --> 00:11:33.059
  • His buddy says, "you don't think you can outrun
  • 00:11:33.059 --> 00:11:35.294
  • That bear, do you?"
  • 00:11:35.294 --> 00:11:36.629
  • He says, "i don't need to outrun the bear, i need to outrun you."
  • 00:11:36.629 --> 00:11:41.133
  • You see, that's how some friends are.
  • 00:11:41.133 --> 00:11:45.137
  • They run out when things get hard, and you think you have
  • 00:11:45.137 --> 00:11:50.543
  • Certain friends, but boy, you'll find out fast, especially if you
  • 00:11:50.543 --> 00:11:54.547
  • Give your life to jesus christ.
  • 00:11:54.547 --> 00:11:56.949
  • You know, when i became a christian at age 17 on a high
  • 00:11:56.949 --> 00:12:00.619
  • School campus, i had a bunch of friends i used to hang out with,
  • 00:12:00.619 --> 00:12:05.491
  • And we did drugs together, and they hadn't seen me for a while
  • 00:12:05.491 --> 00:12:10.229
  • Since i'd become a believer in jesus.
  • 00:12:10.229 --> 00:12:13.199
  • And so, as i was walking across our campus, someone saw me and
  • 00:12:13.199 --> 00:12:17.036
  • Recognized me from a little bible study that we had there,
  • 00:12:17.036 --> 00:12:20.172
  • And they said, "brother greg, brother greg!"
  • 00:12:20.172 --> 00:12:22.641
  • I'm like, "and what?"
  • 00:12:22.641 --> 00:12:24.110
  • "brother greg!"
  • 00:12:24.110 --> 00:12:25.478
  • I'm thinking, "i'm not your brother unless it's a brother
  • 00:12:25.478 --> 00:12:27.379
  • From another mother, what?
  • 00:12:27.379 --> 00:12:28.748
  • Who are you?"
  • 00:12:28.748 --> 00:12:30.516
  • "bro!" "yes?"
  • 00:12:30.516 --> 00:12:32.451
  • "you don't have a bible yet.
  • 00:12:32.451 --> 00:12:33.886
  • I saw you became a christian."
  • 00:12:33.886 --> 00:12:35.921
  • "yeah, i did." "you need a bible, bro."
  • 00:12:35.921 --> 00:12:37.790
  • "okay."
  • 00:12:37.790 --> 00:12:39.125
  • "here's a bible," and he gives me this bible, and it was maybe
  • 00:12:39.125 --> 00:12:41.994
  • The ugliest bible i've ever seen.
  • 00:12:41.994 --> 00:12:44.864
  • It was all beat up and thrashed, and it had two popsicle sticks
  • 00:12:44.864 --> 00:12:48.801
  • Glued together in the shape of a cross.
  • 00:12:48.801 --> 00:12:51.170
  • "it's the word of god, bro.
  • 00:12:51.170 --> 00:12:53.005
  • Start reading it."
  • 00:12:53.005 --> 00:12:54.340
  • I'm like, "okay, bye," and i was embarrassed by this bible, and
  • 00:12:54.340 --> 00:13:00.179
  • So i'm trying to shove it into the pocket of my jacket, and i
  • 00:13:00.179 --> 00:13:03.149
  • Even ripped it to hide it.
  • 00:13:03.149 --> 00:13:05.151
  • And i thought, "i haven't seen my friends for a while, i'll go
  • 00:13:05.151 --> 00:13:07.319
  • Over and see what they're up to," so i go over and walk in
  • 00:13:07.319 --> 00:13:10.222
  • The door and they're all sitting around.
  • 00:13:10.222 --> 00:13:12.258
  • They said, "laurie, where have you been?"
  • 00:13:12.258 --> 00:13:14.093
  • I said, "nowhere."
  • 00:13:14.093 --> 00:13:15.761
  • "laurie, what have you been up to?"
  • 00:13:15.761 --> 00:13:17.129
  • I said, "nothing, really."
  • 00:13:17.129 --> 00:13:19.131
  • "hey, you wanna get high?"
  • 00:13:19.131 --> 00:13:20.499
  • I said, "no."
  • 00:13:20.499 --> 00:13:21.834
  • "you don't?" "no."
  • 00:13:21.834 --> 00:13:23.636
  • And see, one thing i forgot to tell you is when i
  • 00:13:23.636 --> 00:13:25.871
  • Went into my friend's house, i was embarrassed that they would
  • 00:13:25.871 --> 00:13:28.440
  • See the bible, so i pulled it out of my pocket and put it in
  • 00:13:28.440 --> 00:13:32.011
  • The bushes in front of his house.
  • 00:13:32.011 --> 00:13:34.180
  • So i'm in this room not admitting that i'd become a
  • 00:13:34.180 --> 00:13:36.949
  • Christian, not wanting to tell them what had happened to me,
  • 00:13:36.949 --> 00:13:39.885
  • And suddenly the front door bursts open, and this guy's
  • 00:13:39.885 --> 00:13:42.988
  • Mother is standing there holding my bible, and she says, "who
  • 00:13:42.988 --> 00:13:47.293
  • Does this belong to?"
  • 00:13:47.293 --> 00:13:49.228
  • Every eye in the room went to that bible, and then they all
  • 00:13:49.228 --> 00:13:52.097
  • Went to me, like they knew there was a connection.
  • 00:13:52.097 --> 00:13:54.900
  • I said, "oh, that's mine."
  • 00:13:54.900 --> 00:13:57.303
  • One of them said, "what is that, greg?"
  • 00:13:57.303 --> 00:13:58.838
  • I said, "it's a bible."
  • 00:13:58.838 --> 00:14:00.573
  • "no, a what?" "it's a bible."
  • 00:14:00.573 --> 00:14:02.341
  • "a what?" "a bible!"
  • 00:14:02.341 --> 00:14:04.276
  • And i grabbed it, and then one of my friends said, "oh, are we
  • 00:14:04.276 --> 00:14:07.279
  • Gonna be christians now and follow jesus?"
  • 00:14:07.279 --> 00:14:11.183
  • I said, "no, i'm gonna hit you in the mouth, that's what i'm
  • 00:14:11.183 --> 00:14:13.352
  • Gonna do," so i hadn't read 1 corinthians 13 or anything
  • 00:14:13.352 --> 00:14:18.057
  • Else yet.
  • 00:14:18.057 --> 00:14:19.792
  • I just thought, "what's going on?"
  • 00:14:19.792 --> 00:14:21.260
  • And all my friends turned on me right there on the spot, and i
  • 00:14:21.260 --> 00:14:25.631
  • Realized these guys are not gonna be my friends anymore.
  • 00:14:25.631 --> 00:14:28.300
  • They start to mock me, and i walked out of there realizing i
  • 00:14:28.300 --> 00:14:31.804
  • Need to get some new friends.
  • 00:14:31.804 --> 00:14:33.739
  • Listen, you want to be a real revolutionary today?
  • 00:14:33.739 --> 00:14:37.309
  • People talk about revolution.
  • 00:14:37.309 --> 00:14:39.311
  • You wanna really stand up from the crowd, you wanna be a real
  • 00:14:39.311 --> 00:14:42.748
  • Rebel, you wanna be punk rock for real?
  • 00:14:42.748 --> 00:14:45.684
  • Follow jesus christ.
  • 00:14:45.684 --> 00:14:47.386
  • That's the most radical thing you can do.
  • 00:14:47.386 --> 00:14:54.593
  • Greg: greg laurie here.
  • 00:14:58.130 --> 00:14:59.465
  • You know, there is a very special group of people
  • 00:14:59.465 --> 00:15:02.635
  • I want to introduce you to.
  • 00:15:02.635 --> 00:15:04.904
  • Without them, harvest ministries could not even exist,
  • 00:15:04.904 --> 00:15:08.474
  • So who are these amazing people?
  • 00:15:08.474 --> 00:15:10.743
  • We call them harvest partners.
  • 00:15:10.743 --> 00:15:13.012
  • They are people who have chosen to give monthly to harvest to
  • 00:15:13.012 --> 00:15:16.415
  • Keep the gospel moving forward.
  • 00:15:16.415 --> 00:15:18.817
  • Will you become a harvest partner and help us fulfill the
  • 00:15:18.817 --> 00:15:23.022
  • Great commission in our lifetime?
  • 00:15:23.022 --> 00:15:25.090
  • Let's do this together.
  • 00:15:25.090 --> 00:15:27.226
  • Greg: so this boy runs away from his father, all of his money
  • 00:15:30.329 --> 00:15:34.333
  • Runs out, and he hits bottom, and he says, "this is horrible,
  • 00:15:34.333 --> 00:15:39.805
  • This sucks," right?
  • 00:15:39.805 --> 00:15:41.607
  • "what am i doing?
  • 00:15:41.607 --> 00:15:43.075
  • I got it better back home.
  • 00:15:43.075 --> 00:15:44.843
  • In fact, even the guys that just work for my dad
  • 00:15:44.843 --> 00:15:47.479
  • Have it better than me.
  • 00:15:47.479 --> 00:15:48.914
  • I mean, here i am literally thinking about eating the food
  • 00:15:48.914 --> 00:15:52.851
  • I'm feeding the pigs," and the boy says, "i'm
  • 00:15:52.851 --> 00:15:56.221
  • Just gonna go home.
  • 00:15:56.221 --> 00:15:57.656
  • I'm gonna say, 'dad, look, i'm no longer worthy to be
  • 00:15:57.656 --> 00:16:00.559
  • Called your son.
  • 00:16:00.559 --> 00:16:01.894
  • Just make me like one of your hired hands just so, you know, i
  • 00:16:01.894 --> 00:16:06.332
  • Get three square meals a day and have a place to sleep.
  • 00:16:06.332 --> 00:16:09.368
  • I'm gonna go home again.'"
  • 00:16:09.368 --> 00:16:10.736
  • So the boy's making his way home.
  • 00:16:10.736 --> 00:16:12.838
  • He's reciting his little speech, and he's going to say to his
  • 00:16:12.838 --> 00:16:16.575
  • Father what he's gonna do, and then i love the story as jesus
  • 00:16:16.575 --> 00:16:21.113
  • Tells it.
  • 00:16:21.113 --> 00:16:22.481
  • He says that as the boy was a long ways off, the father saw
  • 00:16:22.481 --> 00:16:26.318
  • Him and began to ran-- run toward him.
  • 00:16:26.318 --> 00:16:31.457
  • He was so excited to see his son return again, and the boy said,
  • 00:16:31.457 --> 00:16:36.495
  • "dad, i've failed.
  • 00:16:36.495 --> 00:16:37.896
  • I've sinned.
  • 00:16:37.896 --> 00:16:39.231
  • I'm no longer worthy to be called your son," and the father
  • 00:16:39.231 --> 00:16:42.101
  • Wasn't even listening.
  • 00:16:42.101 --> 00:16:43.435
  • He says, "let's have a party.
  • 00:16:43.435 --> 00:16:46.805
  • Let's have barbecue.
  • 00:16:46.805 --> 00:16:49.141
  • Let's rejoice because my son who was dead is alive again, and he
  • 00:16:49.141 --> 00:16:53.812
  • Who was lost is found."
  • 00:16:53.812 --> 00:16:55.614
  • [congregation cheering]
  • 00:16:55.614 --> 00:17:02.287
  • What is god like?
  • 00:17:02.287 --> 00:17:04.289
  • God is like a father who misses his son, who misses his
  • 00:17:04.289 --> 00:17:08.761
  • Daughter, who longs for the return, who will welcome you if
  • 00:17:08.761 --> 00:17:14.400
  • You come to him tonight.
  • 00:17:14.400 --> 00:17:16.769
  • You know, the boy stunk.
  • 00:17:16.769 --> 00:17:18.137
  • Don't forget, he was hanging out with pigs, but the father didn't
  • 00:17:18.137 --> 00:17:21.740
  • Say, "take a bath and maybe i'll give you a hug."
  • 00:17:21.740 --> 00:17:24.376
  • He accepted him as he was.
  • 00:17:24.376 --> 00:17:26.845
  • Sometimes people say, "i need to clean my life up and come
  • 00:17:26.845 --> 00:17:30.149
  • To god."
  • 00:17:30.149 --> 00:17:31.550
  • No, you need to come to god and he'll clean your life up.
  • 00:17:31.550 --> 00:17:35.687
  • You come as you are.
  • 00:17:35.687 --> 00:17:40.692
  • You come with your sins, you come with your addictions, you
  • 00:17:40.692 --> 00:17:44.797
  • Come with your problems.
  • 00:17:44.797 --> 00:17:46.765
  • You come as you are, and christ will change you tonight, but you
  • 00:17:46.765 --> 00:17:50.869
  • Must come to him, and i love how the father ran to the son.
  • 00:17:50.869 --> 00:17:55.574
  • You know that in this culture, it was considered undignified
  • 00:17:55.574 --> 00:17:59.111
  • For an older man to run, not to mention it's harder for an older
  • 00:17:59.111 --> 00:18:04.450
  • Man to run?
  • 00:18:04.450 --> 00:18:06.151
  • I know this from experience.
  • 00:18:06.151 --> 00:18:08.987
  • You know, i hear people say that when they run, they get the
  • 00:18:08.987 --> 00:18:11.557
  • Runner's high.
  • 00:18:11.557 --> 00:18:13.358
  • There's a release of endorphins.
  • 00:18:13.358 --> 00:18:15.494
  • Man, i get that runner's high.
  • 00:18:15.494 --> 00:18:17.329
  • I think maybe if i've experienced the eater's high,
  • 00:18:17.329 --> 00:18:20.099
  • You know, like my food arrives, oh, i'm excited.
  • 00:18:20.099 --> 00:18:23.602
  • But runners, i know--but the father was willing to lose his
  • 00:18:23.602 --> 00:18:27.906
  • Dignity, if you will, to get to his son as quickly as possible.
  • 00:18:27.906 --> 00:18:34.313
  • So you ask, "greg, how do i come into this relationship with god?
  • 00:18:34.313 --> 00:18:39.518
  • How can i know for certain that when i die, i will go to heaven?
  • 00:18:39.518 --> 00:18:43.856
  • How can i have all of my sin forgiven?"
  • 00:18:43.856 --> 00:18:47.493
  • Here's what you need to do.
  • 00:18:47.493 --> 00:18:48.827
  • You need to, number one, admit you're a sinner.
  • 00:18:48.827 --> 00:18:52.231
  • The bible says, "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory
  • 00:18:52.231 --> 00:18:55.834
  • Of god."
  • 00:18:55.834 --> 00:18:57.269
  • The word sin means to cross a line.
  • 00:18:57.269 --> 00:18:59.338
  • The bible speaks of trespass in sin, sort of like when you see
  • 00:18:59.338 --> 00:19:04.009
  • The sign in the park where the grass has been planted and it
  • 00:19:04.009 --> 00:19:07.412
  • Says, "no trespassing."
  • 00:19:07.412 --> 00:19:09.748
  • So sin is when you break a commandment, but sin is also
  • 00:19:09.748 --> 00:19:14.553
  • Falling short of a mark.
  • 00:19:14.553 --> 00:19:16.121
  • It means you're not perfect, none of us are.
  • 00:19:16.121 --> 00:19:19.158
  • That's where jesus comes in.
  • 00:19:19.158 --> 00:19:20.893
  • That's why he died on the cross for you 2000 years ago and took
  • 00:19:20.893 --> 00:19:25.397
  • God's judgment in your place.
  • 00:19:25.397 --> 00:19:28.100
  • Jesus came to pay a debt he did not owe because you owed a debt
  • 00:19:28.100 --> 00:19:32.371
  • You could not pay.
  • 00:19:32.371 --> 00:19:39.811
  • So you have to admit you're a sinner, but a lot of people say,
  • 00:19:39.811 --> 00:19:43.282
  • "well, no, i believe if i just live a good life, i'll get to
  • 00:19:43.282 --> 00:19:46.318
  • Heaven," really?
  • 00:19:46.318 --> 00:19:48.187
  • Do you think you've lived a good enough life to get to heaven?
  • 00:19:48.187 --> 00:19:51.423
  • Let me say something that might shock you.
  • 00:19:51.423 --> 00:19:53.559
  • There's gonna be some bad people in heaven, and there's gonna be
  • 00:19:53.559 --> 00:19:56.929
  • Some good people in hell.
  • 00:19:56.929 --> 00:20:00.532
  • You said, "well, you lost me there, preacher.
  • 00:20:00.532 --> 00:20:02.801
  • What do you mean by that?"
  • 00:20:02.801 --> 00:20:04.169
  • There's gonna be some bad people in heaven.
  • 00:20:04.169 --> 00:20:07.139
  • Think about that man we call the thief on the cross,
  • 00:20:07.139 --> 00:20:09.908
  • Remember him?
  • 00:20:09.908 --> 00:20:11.310
  • When jesus was crucified, there were men on each side of him.
  • 00:20:11.310 --> 00:20:15.147
  • We call them thieves, but the word used in the original
  • 00:20:15.147 --> 00:20:17.816
  • Language means they were guilty of a greater crime.
  • 00:20:17.816 --> 00:20:21.153
  • They were probably murderers, probably insurrectionists, and
  • 00:20:21.153 --> 00:20:26.291
  • Yet here they are crucified next to jesus, and both of them
  • 00:20:26.291 --> 00:20:30.162
  • Joined the chorus of mockery coming from the crowd saying,
  • 00:20:30.162 --> 00:20:33.599
  • "he saved others, let him save himself if he's really the son
  • 00:20:33.599 --> 00:20:37.469
  • Of god."
  • 00:20:37.469 --> 00:20:38.837
  • Then jesus gives the first of seven statements from the cross,
  • 00:20:38.837 --> 00:20:43.875
  • And the first statement was, "father, forgive them, for they
  • 00:20:43.875 --> 00:20:47.379
  • Know not what they do."
  • 00:20:47.379 --> 00:20:49.381
  • And suddenly, like a flash, one of those criminals believed on
  • 00:20:49.381 --> 00:20:53.752
  • The spot, and turned to jesus and said, "lord, remember me
  • 00:20:53.752 --> 00:20:58.590
  • When you come into your kingdom," and jesus said,
  • 00:20:58.590 --> 00:21:01.426
  • "truly, truly, i say to you today, you will be with me in
  • 00:21:01.426 --> 00:21:05.631
  • Paradise," so a bad person made it to heaven.
  • 00:21:05.631 --> 00:21:09.067
  • [congregation cheering]
  • 00:21:09.067 --> 00:21:14.172
  • You need to admit you're a sinner, but then there's gonna
  • 00:21:14.172 --> 00:21:16.775
  • Be good people in hell.
  • 00:21:16.775 --> 00:21:18.977
  • Oh yes, hell is real.
  • 00:21:18.977 --> 00:21:22.981
  • Jesus spoke more about hell than all the other preachers of the
  • 00:21:22.981 --> 00:21:26.151
  • Bible put together.
  • 00:21:26.151 --> 00:21:28.420
  • Well, how could a god of love send people to hell?
  • 00:21:28.420 --> 00:21:31.089
  • God doesn't send people to hell.
  • 00:21:31.089 --> 00:21:32.991
  • We send ourselves there by rejecting his gracious offer of
  • 00:21:32.991 --> 00:21:37.162
  • Forgiveness, you see?
  • 00:21:37.162 --> 00:21:40.399
  • The last thing god wants is for any man or woman uniquely made
  • 00:21:40.399 --> 00:21:44.836
  • In his image to spend eternity separated from him in a place
  • 00:21:44.836 --> 00:21:49.241
  • Called hell, that's why jesus died on the cross for you.
  • 00:21:49.241 --> 00:21:52.744
  • But you say, "how could there be a good person in hell?"
  • 00:21:52.744 --> 00:21:55.981
  • A person who depended on their own religious works to
  • 00:21:55.981 --> 00:21:59.818
  • Get them to heaven.
  • 00:21:59.818 --> 00:22:01.219
  • Jesus said in that final day, "people will come to me saying,
  • 00:22:01.219 --> 00:22:04.890
  • Lord, lord, did we not cast out demons in your name?
  • 00:22:04.890 --> 00:22:09.628
  • Did we not do miracles in your name?"
  • 00:22:09.628 --> 00:22:12.564
  • Others might say, "did we not get baptized in your name, or
  • 00:22:12.564 --> 00:22:16.568
  • Receive communion in your name?"
  • 00:22:16.568 --> 00:22:18.637
  • And jesus says, "and i will say to them, depart from me, i never
  • 00:22:18.637 --> 00:22:23.008
  • Knew you."
  • 00:22:23.008 --> 00:22:24.343
  • It's not enough to know about god, you need to know god and
  • 00:22:24.343 --> 00:22:28.580
  • Ask him to come into your life, you see?
  • 00:22:28.580 --> 00:22:34.019
  • The story that jesus told began with these words: "a man had
  • 00:22:34.019 --> 00:22:37.989
  • Two sons."
  • 00:22:37.989 --> 00:22:39.925
  • I, too, am a man with two sons.
  • 00:22:39.925 --> 00:22:43.462
  • One is named christopher, the other is named jonathan.
  • 00:22:43.462 --> 00:22:47.866
  • Both of my sons were raised in the church, as jonathan said a
  • 00:22:47.866 --> 00:22:52.371
  • Few moments ago.
  • 00:22:52.371 --> 00:22:54.172
  • And we raised them to know the lord, we read bible stories to
  • 00:22:54.172 --> 00:22:58.477
  • Them, we prayed with them, but both of my sons for a time
  • 00:22:58.477 --> 00:23:03.115
  • Became prodigals.
  • 00:23:03.115 --> 00:23:04.449
  • They were still wonderful sons, but they were just out there
  • 00:23:04.449 --> 00:23:08.720
  • Living their lives, wanting to see what this world and this
  • 00:23:08.720 --> 00:23:13.125
  • Culture had to offer.
  • 00:23:13.125 --> 00:23:15.394
  • Thankfully, my older son, christopher, after being a
  • 00:23:15.394 --> 00:23:19.231
  • Prodigal for a number of years, made a recommitment to christ.
  • 00:23:19.231 --> 00:23:23.068
  • He got married to a young lady named brittany.
  • 00:23:23.068 --> 00:23:26.405
  • They had a little baby girl that's here tonight.
  • 00:23:26.405 --> 00:23:29.408
  • She's gonna be 18 years old, her name is stella, and another one
  • 00:23:29.408 --> 00:23:33.879
  • On the way named lucy, who's a young lady as well, but he was
  • 00:23:33.879 --> 00:23:39.184
  • Walking with the lord.
  • 00:23:39.184 --> 00:23:40.519
  • He was actually working for us at the church as a graphic
  • 00:23:40.519 --> 00:23:43.789
  • Designer, but jonathan was still struggling.
  • 00:23:43.789 --> 00:23:47.225
  • He was still resisting, but he admired his older brother, and
  • 00:23:47.225 --> 00:23:51.563
  • One day they were having a conversation, and christopher
  • 00:23:51.563 --> 00:23:54.699
  • Said to jonathan, "jonathan, what's it gonna take for you to
  • 00:23:54.699 --> 00:23:58.503
  • Get right with god?"
  • 00:23:58.503 --> 00:24:00.539
  • That's why i called this message tonight "what's it gonna take?"
  • 00:24:00.539 --> 00:24:04.810
  • What's it gonna take?
  • 00:24:04.810 --> 00:24:06.178
  • Jonathan didn't know what to say, because jonathan was using
  • 00:24:06.178 --> 00:24:10.081
  • Drugs at that time, and as i said, being a prodigal.
  • 00:24:10.081 --> 00:24:13.985
  • Well, the next day our son christopher died tragically in
  • 00:24:13.985 --> 00:24:19.157
  • An automobile accident, and he's been in heaven now 18 years in a
  • 00:24:19.157 --> 00:24:25.030
  • Few days from right now.
  • 00:24:25.030 --> 00:24:27.466
  • And so jonathan was at work, and they came to his workplace and
  • 00:24:27.466 --> 00:24:32.337
  • Said, "you need to go home right now," and they brought him to
  • 00:24:32.337 --> 00:24:35.540
  • Our house, and there we were.
  • 00:24:35.540 --> 00:24:37.008
  • We had heard the news that christopher was gone, and
  • 00:24:37.008 --> 00:24:42.247
  • Jonathan realized, "i need to get right with god because he
  • 00:24:42.247 --> 00:24:45.851
  • Had wanted to talk to his brother about this."
  • 00:24:45.851 --> 00:24:48.119
  • Now, i'm not saying that christopher died so jonathan
  • 00:24:48.119 --> 00:24:52.290
  • Would make a recommitment.
  • 00:24:52.290 --> 00:24:53.625
  • I'm saying the tragic thing is christopher died, but he's in
  • 00:24:53.625 --> 00:24:57.329
  • Heaven, and we'll see him again because he's not just a part of
  • 00:24:57.329 --> 00:25:01.466
  • Our past but also a part of our future.
  • 00:25:01.466 --> 00:25:08.940
  • But those words resonated in jonathan's heart:
  • 00:25:08.940 --> 00:25:12.043
  • "what's it gonna take?
  • 00:25:12.043 --> 00:25:13.378
  • What's it gonna take?"
  • 00:25:13.378 --> 00:25:14.713
  • And jonathan made a recommitment to christ right after that, and
  • 00:25:14.713 --> 00:25:19.751
  • Now he's been serving the lord for many years, and he's a
  • 00:25:19.751 --> 00:25:23.421
  • Pastor at our church, and god got hold of him.
  • 00:25:23.421 --> 00:25:27.359
  • My question,
  • 00:25:27.359 --> 00:25:31.096
  • My question for you tonight is: what's it going to take?
  • 00:25:31.096 --> 00:25:35.133
  • What's it gonna take to wake you up?
  • 00:25:35.133 --> 00:25:36.868
  • We all think, "oh, i'll just live forever.
  • 00:25:36.868 --> 00:25:38.970
  • You know, i'm young, i've got my whole life in front of me."
  • 00:25:38.970 --> 00:25:41.806
  • Well, maybe you do, and i hope you do.
  • 00:25:41.806 --> 00:25:44.809
  • Well, my son was only 33 years old, but the good news is i do
  • 00:25:44.809 --> 00:25:49.447
  • Know he went to heaven.
  • 00:25:49.447 --> 00:25:50.849
  • I do know i'll see him again, but the bible says, "prepare to
  • 00:25:50.849 --> 00:25:54.586
  • Meet your god."
  • 00:25:54.586 --> 00:25:55.954
  • Are you prepared to meet god tonight?
  • 00:25:55.954 --> 00:25:59.591
  • What happens after you die?
  • 00:25:59.591 --> 00:26:02.627
  • That's up to you.
  • 00:26:02.627 --> 00:26:04.529
  • According to the bible, you have two options: heaven or hell,
  • 00:26:04.529 --> 00:26:08.400
  • Life or death.
  • 00:26:08.400 --> 00:26:10.001
  • Listen: you may never have another moment like you have
  • 00:26:10.001 --> 00:26:14.105
  • Right now.
  • 00:26:14.105 --> 00:26:15.440
  • This is the time.
  • 00:26:15.440 --> 00:26:16.808
  • Not tomorrow, not next week, not next month, now.
  • 00:26:16.808 --> 00:26:20.078
  • The bible says, "now, today is the day of salvation."
  • 00:26:20.078 --> 00:26:27.352
  • Greg: hi, my name is greg laurie.
  • 00:26:31.156 --> 00:26:32.524
  • I started searching for god at a very young age, and my search
  • 00:26:32.524 --> 00:26:37.562
  • Led me into a lot of wrong directions including drug use
  • 00:26:37.562 --> 00:26:41.466
  • That i almost destroyed my life completely.
  • 00:26:41.466 --> 00:26:44.202
  • But someone told me about jesus christ and it changed
  • 00:26:44.202 --> 00:26:48.607
  • My life forever.
  • 00:26:48.607 --> 00:26:49.975
  • And i want you to know that whatever course your life is on
  • 00:26:49.975 --> 00:26:52.711
  • Right now, it can change if you realize there's a god in heaven
  • 00:26:52.711 --> 00:26:56.514
  • Who loves you and he has a plan for your life.
  • 00:26:56.514 --> 00:27:00.418
  • I prayed this prayer to ask jesus into my life
  • 00:27:00.418 --> 00:27:03.455
  • At the age of 17, but here i am at the age of 70,
  • 00:27:03.455 --> 00:27:07.225
  • And i can tell you i made the best choice i ever could make.
  • 00:27:07.225 --> 00:27:10.695
  • You can make that same choice yourself.
  • 00:27:10.695 --> 00:27:12.998
  • You could just say, "jesus help me.
  • 00:27:12.998 --> 00:27:15.166
  • Forgive me of my sin.
  • 00:27:15.166 --> 00:27:16.868
  • I wanna go to heaven when i die.
  • 00:27:16.868 --> 00:27:18.737
  • I want a relationship with you."
  • 00:27:18.737 --> 00:27:21.473
  • If you would pray a prayer like that, god will hear you
  • 00:27:21.473 --> 00:27:24.142
  • And answer you.
  • 00:27:24.142 --> 00:27:25.744
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:25.810 --> 00:27:30.000