Greg Laurie On New Book and Upcoming Movie: ‘We Want To Reach People That Don’t Know The Lord’
By Movieguide® Staff
On May 17, Pastor Greg Laurie released his new book, “Lennon, Dylan, Alice & Jesus,” which highlights the lives of famous rockstars and how fame, money, and success do not lead to a full life.
Laurie, the senior pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship, said that the book’s purpose is to “build bridges” to reach the world with the Gospel.
“I’ve always been a fan of pop culture, always been interested in it. God has called me to be an evangelist and evangelists build bridges to the culture he lives in or she lives in,” Laurie explained on the A NEW BEGINNING podcast. “Take Paul on Mars Hill recorded in Acts 17. At that time, Athens was the cultural and intellectual center of the planet. It also was a city that had 1000s of altars erected to various idols, various gods that they worship. So Paul went sightseeing and took in the sights and sounds of Athens, and the Bible says ‘his spirit was disturbed.’ And so he got up in front of the people in the town square and began to speak to them. But it’s interesting how we started. He said, ‘Men of Athens, I perceive that you are spiritual.’ One translation says, ‘religious.’ Then Paul quoted their own poets to build a bridge to the message that was based on the Gospel.”
“So I take this concept, and I use it in my preaching,” he continued. “I’ll often start one of my evangelistic messages that I would do at one of our events that we call Harvest Crusades. And I might start by quoting a movie star, quoting a rock star, quoting a billionaire, saying something that lines up with what the Bible tells us as an example. I’m not basing my message on what actors or rock stars, say, but I use that to build a bridge to my listener, and then I tell them what the Bible said.”
Laurie said that his new book highlights everyone’s need for Jesus.
“I’m showing through their lives that the things this culture offers are not really going to meet the deepest needs of our life,” he explained. “Success isn’t going to do it. A new record isn’t going to do it. global fame isn’t going to do it. A bunch of cars or a mansion, that won’t do it. A bunch of girls, that won’t do it. No, they need Jesus.
“It’s a book that shows what happens when you make the right and the wrong choices. But ultimately, it’s a book that I think will offer hope and say to you, ‘There is no one that is beyond the reach of God.'”
Read More: Greg Laurie Releases New Book About Faith and Rock & Roll: ‘No One Is Beyond The Reach Of God’
While many of the people Laurie mentions in the book are dead, he hopes the book encourages the younger generation living today.
“It will speak to a generation alive today,” he said. “It will connect to them because we were dealing with a lot of the same issues they’re dealing with right now. So I’m looking to build bridges.”
Aside from his new book, Laurie also noted that the new Kingdom Story movie, JESUS REVOLUTION tackles the same themes.
“That’s why I write books like Lennon, Dylan, Alice and Jesus or I make movies like A RUSH OF HOPE, and JESUS REVOLUTION,” he said. “We have our events in stadiums and arenas because we want to reach people that don’t know the Lord. Jesus did not say the whole world should go to church, but he did say the church should go to the whole world. I want to go to where people are, and reach unexpected people in unexpected places, in unexpected ways, with the Gospel that can change their life.”
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Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
