Thursday, April 19, 2012
Keep it Simple!
The Simplicity of the Gospel
I have traveled all around the world and have preached in every kind of venue imaginable, yet I never cease to be amazed by the power of the gospel. Regardless of how educated or how illiterate people are, no matter how wealthy or how poor they are, whatever their circumstances, the gospel always connects.
People have sometimes come away from a Harvest Crusade commenting on how simple my message was. But that simplicity was intentional. As I am preparing a message, I reach a point where I start clearing away the clutter so that it is as simple as it possibly can be. Why? Because I don't want anything to clutter the message of the cross of Jesus Christ.
The apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Corinth, "For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified" (1 Corinthians 2:2). I can't emphasize this enough. The message is not Christianity; it is Jesus Christ. The message is not religion. I don't want to make people religious. I don't even want to be religious myself. In fact, if it weren't for a relationship with Jesus, I would not be a religious person. Some people love the rituals of religion. Not me. I have no interest in them whatsoever. But I have the greatest interest in having a relationship with God.
I once had the opportunity to ask Billy Graham, "If you knew as a younger man what you know today after preaching the gospel all of these years, what would you tell yourself that you need to do more of?"
He told me, "I would preach more on the cross and the blood of Christ, because that is where the power is."
I thought that was good advice. And I've tried to keep it.
Greg Laurie - Harvest.org
| For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. | |
I have traveled all around the world and have preached in every kind of venue imaginable, yet I never cease to be amazed by the power of the gospel. Regardless of how educated or how illiterate people are, no matter how wealthy or how poor they are, whatever their circumstances, the gospel always connects.
People have sometimes come away from a Harvest Crusade commenting on how simple my message was. But that simplicity was intentional. As I am preparing a message, I reach a point where I start clearing away the clutter so that it is as simple as it possibly can be. Why? Because I don't want anything to clutter the message of the cross of Jesus Christ.
The apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Corinth, "For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified" (1 Corinthians 2:2). I can't emphasize this enough. The message is not Christianity; it is Jesus Christ. The message is not religion. I don't want to make people religious. I don't even want to be religious myself. In fact, if it weren't for a relationship with Jesus, I would not be a religious person. Some people love the rituals of religion. Not me. I have no interest in them whatsoever. But I have the greatest interest in having a relationship with God.
I once had the opportunity to ask Billy Graham, "If you knew as a younger man what you know today after preaching the gospel all of these years, what would you tell yourself that you need to do more of?"
He told me, "I would preach more on the cross and the blood of Christ, because that is where the power is."
I thought that was good advice. And I've tried to keep it.
Greg Laurie - Harvest.org
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Christmas In Heaven
Merry Christmas to all of you! (Christmas in Heaven, Greg Laurie, Harvest.org)
Christmas is a day of joy. But for me and my family, it is also tinged with sadness, because it is a day when Christopher's absence is intensely felt.I have to tell you, Topher loved Christmas! It was always a big deal to him as a little boy, and when he became a father, he wanted it to be a big deal for his daughters. He always was so thoughtful in his choice of gifts and often made them by hand, which was always a special treat for me. He also had fantastic "wrapping skills," which I am completely devoid of.
On that first Christmas night, while the shepherds kept watch over their flocks, the angel brought this good news: "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people" (Luke 2:10).
This is how heaven celebrated the first Christmas. On this holy night, in effect, heaven momentarily came to earth. Heaven and earth are always co-existing, but sometimes they can seem worlds apart and other times separated by only a thin veil. When tragedy hits, when illness prevails, heaven can sometimes seem distant.
But when we join the angels in worship, and see God in His greatness, heaven can seem so very, very close. For us as believers, we are just a heartbeat away from heaven right now. As David put it, "There is but a step between me and death" (1 Samuel 20:3).
Christmas in heaven is better than Christmas on earth. It is pure bliss. Not twinkling lights, but the radiant light of heaven itself. Not metal angels on trees, but real, holy angels of God all around.
You see, in heaven there is peace. On earth there is war. In heaven there is perfect harmony. On earth there is often friction among family and friends. In heaven, feasting and perfection. On earth there is fattening food and expanding waistlines.
We don't need to sorrow for our loved ones who are celebrating Christmas in heaven, but we do sorrow for ourselves over their absence.
Today, however, remember to let the ones on earth you love know it. Tell them verbally. Because you never know if you or I or someone we hold dear might be in heaven next Christmas.
So have a blessed and merry Christmas day.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Time for What Matters
Time for What Matters
So what is the difference between a lie and an excuse? Not all that much. An excuse has been defined as the skin of a reason stuffed with a lie. Or another way to put it: an excuse is a lie all dressed up for dinner.
| Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don't act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Ephesians 5:16-17 | |
So what is the difference between a lie and an excuse? Not all that much. An excuse has been defined as the skin of a reason stuffed with a lie. Or another way to put it: an excuse is a lie all dressed up for dinner.
Even after we become Christians, we can still offer excuses. And sometimes we make excuses as to why we can't read the Bible: "Well, I am so busy. This life is so full. I just can't find time to read the Bible." Or, "The Bible is so big. I don't know where to start." Or, "Sometimes I don't understand it." Or, "You know, I read the Bible in church on Sunday. Isn't that enough?" These are excuses, not reasons.
Let's say that you got a call this week from your doctor, who said, "You know those tests we did on you? We need to talk." And when you meet with your doctor, you learn that you only have weeks to live. I would venture to say that your schedule would open up and that you would have time to read the Bible, because you would want to know about the afterlife that you are headed toward. I would predict that you would have time to pray, because you would need God's strength to get through what lies ahead.
You see, it all depends on our perspective. We will make time for what is important. We find time to read the newspaper. We find time to watch our favorite TV programs. We find time to surf the Web and spend hours looking at nothing. And yet we don't have time to open up the Word of God and let Him speak to us.
You see, it all depends on our perspective. We will make time for what is important. We find time to read the newspaper. We find time to watch our favorite TV programs. We find time to surf the Web and spend hours looking at nothing. And yet we don't have time to open up the Word of God and let Him speak to us.
We need to make time for the things that really matter.
Greg Laurie
Harvest.org
Greg Laurie
Harvest.org
Sunday, August 14, 2011
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