Nicodemus was a highly intelligent, cultured, and moral individual. In this message, Pastor Greg Laurie breaks down his conversation with Jesus. It’s not one between rabbi and carpenter, but between God and man.

Notes:
Focus verse: John 2:23–3:16

We all want our lives to matter.

Nicodemus was a highly intelligent, cultured, and moral individual.

This is not a conversation between a rabbi and a carpenter.
It is a conversation between God and man.

Read John 2:23–25

Read John 3:3–10

Jesus saw in Nicodemus a man who was hungry for truth.

Everyone is empty, lonely, and afraid to die.

The true mark of spiritual growth and maturity is not feeling superior but humble.

Nicodemus was the spiritual leader in Israel.

Nicodemus came to Jesus by night.

Better to have a weak beginning and a strong finish than the opposite.

In the end, Nicodemus turned out to be one of the bravest followers of Christ.

John 19:39

The great Nicodemus approached Jesus with great respect.

Being born again is a supernatural act of God making a person spiritually alive
when they were dead in sin.

John 3:16–17

God loves you.
John 3:16

God proved His love by sending His Son.

God’s love is unconditional and universal.

God’s gift of salvation is available for everyone who believes.

To believe is to adhere to, to commit to, to have faith in, to rely upon, to trust in.

Read John 3:19–21

If you are included in the whosoever of John 3:16, then you won't be included in the whosoever of Revelation 20:15.

Jesus will receive and reveal Himself to any person who will come to Him honestly.

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Learn more about Greg Laurie and Harvest Ministries at harvest.org.

This podcast is supported by the generosity of our Harvest Partners.

Support the show: https://harvest.org/support

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The recent, tragic death of One Direction's Liam Payne has shocked so many. If celebrities have it all—fame, money, success—why is it we keep hearing the same story over and over again? Pastor Greg Laurie helps us recognize some truths about humanity.

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Learn more about Greg Laurie and Harvest Ministries at harvest.org

This podcast is supported by the generosity of our Harvest Partners

Support the show: https://harvest.org/support

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A noted author of children’s books said, “One advantage of marriage is that, when you fall out of love with him or he falls out of love with you, it keeps you together until you fall in again.” It’s true that relationships heat up and cool down over time. But marriage is the constant commitment that remains in place through it all . . . or should be. Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie points out how to honor this commitment between a man and a woman and their God.

Listen on harvest.org

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Learn more and subscribe to Harvest updates at harvest.org

A New Beginning is the daily half-hour program hosted by Greg Laurie, pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Southern California. For over 30 years, Pastor Greg and Harvest Ministries have endeavored to know God and make Him known through media and large-scale evangelism. This podcast is supported by the generosity of our Harvest Partners.

Support the show: https://harvest.org/support

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Remember Mr. Rogers? Yes, the “won’t you be my neighbor” Mr. Rogers? He was once quoted as saying, “For a couple with young children, divorce seldom comes as a “solution” to stress, only as a way to end one form of pain and accept another.” In our culture, divorce is often seen as the easiest path, or the one with less pain. Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie wants to show you an alternative. We’ll see how God has a plan. A plan to give you hope.

Listen on harvest.org

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Learn more and subscribe to Harvest updates at harvest.org

A New Beginning is the daily half-hour program hosted by Greg Laurie, pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Southern California. For over 30 years, Pastor Greg and Harvest Ministries have endeavored to know God and make Him known through media and large-scale evangelism. This podcast is supported by the generosity of our Harvest Partners.

Support the show: https://harvest.org/support

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trials strengthen our faith. Just like exercise strengthens muscles, trials strengthen our faith muscles. Today, Pastor Greg Laurie points out we need to put our faith to work to show that our faith works. He says “the faith that cannot be tested is a faith that cannot be trusted. We’re glad you’re along today on A NEW BEGINNING for an important message to help us move forward in times of testing.

Listen on harvest.org

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Learn more and subscribe to Harvest updates at harvest.org

A New Beginning is the daily half-hour program hosted by Greg Laurie, pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Southern California. For over 30 years, Pastor Greg and Harvest Ministries have endeavored to know God and make Him known through media and large-scale evangelism. This podcast is supported by the generosity of our Harvest Partners.

Support the show: https://harvest.org/support

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jesus told us to cast our cares upon Him. But He never said, “In this world ye shall have no problems.” The Bible tells us to be anxious for nothing . . . it doesn’t say you won’t have anything to be anxious about. When the disciples cried out to Jesus in the midst of the storm, it was a real storm! But today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie shows us how the Lord is with us in the midst of the storms of life. He may not deliver us from the storm but He will deliver us through the storm.

Listen on harvest.org

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Learn more and subscribe to Harvest updates at harvest.org

A New Beginning is the daily half-hour program hosted by Greg Laurie, pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Southern California. For over 30 years, Pastor Greg and Harvest Ministries have endeavored to know God and make Him known through media and large-scale evangelism. This podcast is supported by the generosity of our Harvest Partners.

Support the show: https://harvest.org/support

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our culture says “wait to have sex . . . until the third or fourth date.” They say, before you marry someone, try living together for a while to see if it works out. Marriage as long as we both shall...live? No. Want. It’s pretty obvious that’s not the way God intended. Maybe that’s why half of marriages fail. Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie gives the best advice there is. It doesn’t come from magazines or talk shows but from the inventor of marriage.

Listen on harvest.org

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Learn more and subscribe to Harvest updates at harvest.org

A New Beginning is the daily half-hour program hosted by Greg Laurie, pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Southern California. For over 30 years, Pastor Greg and Harvest Ministries have endeavored to know God and make Him known through media and large-scale evangelism. This podcast is supported by the generosity of our Harvest Partners.

Support the show: https://harvest.org/support

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jesus never dealt with any two people in the same way. He is the perfect example of how we can connect with people in our world. So, what would He say to the doubter?

Notes:

Focus verse: Matthew 11

When Jesus walked this earth, He encountered many people,
and He always had time for individuals.

John the Baptist was not just significant but super-significant.

John offered hope to the people, calling them back to God.

John was fearless. He called out the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and professionally religious.
Matthew 3:7–8

John baptized our Lord in the Jordan river and said,
“He must increase, and I must decrease.”

John’s job was to prepare the way for the Messiah.

Read: Matthew 11:1-11

Before wearing “many crowns,” Jesus would wear the crown of thorns.
Before the throne would come the cross.

Doubt is not a sin.

Sometimes we need to go through the foyer of doubt to get into the sanctuary of certainty.

Moses was ready to quit.

Elijah was ready to quit after Carmel and hearing Jezebel’s threats.

Doubting Thomas wanted to know for himself what the others knew.

The Apostle Paul was discouraged.

John the Baptist had a troubled mind and a broken heart.

Jesus responded with scriptures from the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah.
Isaiah 35:5–6 / Isaiah 61

“God blesses those who do not turn away because of me.”
Matthew 11:6

God never rebukes any who come to Him with sincere questions or honest doubts.

Jesus used the opportunity to speak of John’s greatness.
Matthew 11:1-8

It does not matter what others think of us or even what we think of ourselves.
What really matters is what Jesus thinks about us.

Matthew 11:11

John was a friend of the Bridegroom.
We are the bride of the Bridegroom.

Doubt is a matter of the mind.

Unbelief is a matter of the will.

Doubt has questions.
Unbelief rejects answers.

Jesus refocused John’s priorities.

Jesus used Scripture and referred John back to the prophecies of the Messiah in Isaiah.

Jesus kept on with His purpose and asked John to trust and follow.

When we stand before God on that final day, we will realize that He never sat on his hands, they were nailed to the cross!

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Learn more about Greg Laurie and Harvest Ministries at harvest.org.

This podcast is supported by the generosity of our Harvest Partners.

Support the show: https://harvest.org/support

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.