Pastor Greg Laurie's message tonight is called "What is the Meaning of Life?" taken from the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 15.

7:10 P.M. - Video is being shown, which shows some highlights of the Ventura Crusade this past August.



7:20 P.M. - Things are getting underway now as a short intro-video is being shown. The audience is excited. There is a lot of energy in this place tonight!

Pastor Ricky Ryan from Santa Barbara is on stage and welcoming the crowd. He introduces Pastor Greg Denham from Calvary Chapel of Auburn. Greg opens this evening in prayer.

7:25 P.M. - Ricky Ryan introduces Jennifer Knapp. She opens with "Charity" and follows with "A Little More." She closes with "Whole Again."

The arena is totally full tonight. The crowd is very receptive. Jennifer is a powerful singer!

Pastor Ricky Ryan is at the platform and showing some of the products from the crusade which are available here at Arco Arena at the product booths, or you can purchase any of these materials on our Web site too! The proceeds from these profits go to help support these crusades.

Pastor Ricky Ryan prepares the audience for tonight's offering. He prays for the offering tonight. The offering received tonight helps to pay for these crusades and outreaches. Greg Laurie and the Harvest Crusade Staff receive no honorariums from these events.

7:50 P.M. - Pastor Greg Denham introduces Pastor Greg Laurie and welcomes him to Arco Arena. Pastor Greg Laurie shares that we had over 700 people who came forward to make a decision to follow Christ.

Pastor Greg Laurie introduces Delirious! Their opening song is "Bliss." After that they perform "Deeper." They follow with "God's Romance." Next is "Did You Feel The Mountains Tremble?" Lead singer Martin encourages the crowd to join in singing this song. He encourages the audience to lift their hands to the heavens and cry out to the Lord in prayer for this nation. A true spirit of worship is evident here tonight! After that is "Great is the Lord." Lyrics to this song are so effective. I wish I could express to you the powerful passion for the Lord that this group exhibits. Next Martin sings "History Maker" followed by "Holy is the Lord." Martin tells the crowd, "There's only one place to be tonight and that is Sacramento!!" Martin sits at the keyboard to close in the final song "America." He shares that as the Prime Minister of England said, they want to stand shoulder to shoulder with us following the tragic attack on America. Lyrics to this song start out "America, you're too young to die, you shake beneath the sky...everybody come on, it's time to sing a new song.... Africa, you're too young to die, I look at you and hear the angels cry..."



7:35 P.M. - Pastor Greg comes to the platform and prays for tonight's crusade, that God would speak to each heart and bring many people to Himself. The title of this message is "What is the Meaning of Life?" Pastor Greg asks the question, "Have you ever had one of those 'close brushes' with death?" In a very real sense, he says that is what has happened in America. He shares that these were people, just like you and me!! It could have been any of us on those flights that day.

Pastor Greg asks if we have ever asked ourselves questions like "Why do I exist?", or "What is the meaning of life?" or "Why am I here on this earth?", or "What do I live for?". Greg shares how the story of the "Parable of the Prodigal Son" in Luke 15:15-22 is something that most of us can relate to. Greg reads the story from the Bible and shares how this story gives us a "Snapshot of God." He says it is a picture of a God of love who desperately cares about us and is very interested in the course our lives take, and a God who is saddened when we push Him out of our lives and who anxiously awaits our homecoming. Pastor Greg shares how the boy in this story came from an affluent home (they had servants), not like countless homes in America today where Fathers have abandoned their kids. Greg shares how his mother was married and divorced seven times and how his own father was an alcoholic and how he began to drink and he tried drugs. But the boy in this story must have just felt too controlled and wanted to get out on his own. Greg shares about how we always want what we can't have, how people always think, "If I just had this or that, or if I had more money, I would be happy." He shares that no matter how much we try to push into our lives, we are never happy. He says it's because we have a heart problem. Only God can solve the deep problems and emptiness of our hearts.

Pastor Greg shares how the Prodigal in the story had to see for himself. He had asked his father to give him his share of the estate now! This was a supreme insult to his father, because in this day land was passed from generation to generation. The land always stayed in the family. Family honor was very improtant. The Bible tells how he wasted all of his money on wild living. But his fair-weather friends dropped him like a hot rock when the money was gone. Greg shares that that's how a lot of friends are. Pastor Greg says, "Want to find out how many real friends you have? Totally commit your life to Jesus Christ and you will know real fast!"

Pastor Greg says that maybe many of you have "hit bottom" recently. Maybe something happened in your life and you became angry at God. You may justify your actions by saying their is too much hypocrisy in the church. Pastor Greg says "Allow me to apologize for all the hypocrites that are in the church!!" Greg says that Christians should wear a sign around their neck that says "Under construction." He says that Jesus did not say "Follow my people," but rather "Follow Me." Greg shares that the prodigal son finally comes to his senses and realizes that life outside of his father's house is insane! Suddenly, like a flash, he realizes it was not his father, but it was him. He recognizes the love and patience of his father and how he offended Him. He shares that the boy in the story went home, and how the father runs toward the son and throws his arms around his son and smothered him with kisses. So Greg asks, "How does Your Heavenly Father feel about you?" Greg says that God will accept you how you are, but He will change you and clean you up!! He says that Jesus said "Come to Me, all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest." Greg shares how God came in the form of man to pay a debt He did not owe for a debt you could not pay.

Pastor Greg prays and asks that every person hearing this message would see their need for Jesus and to realize they need to be ready for the Lord's return.

Hundreds of people are making their way down to the floor to make a decision to follow Christ. As people are streaming forward, Delirious? sings a worship song as people continue to come down to the floor here at Arco Arena. Pastor Greg shares that "Today is the day of salvation. Don't put this off. You never know when your last day on this earth may be."

Pastor Greg shares how when he received Christ on his high school campus, he was the Last one to go forward! He tells the crowd that there is still time, not to put off this important decision!

Pastor Greg prays with all who have come to the Arena floor tonight. "God, I am sorry for my sins, but I thank you for sending Jesus, the Son of God to die on that cross and to shed His blood for every sin I have ever committed. Jesus, I want to follow you. Thank you for loving me, and accepting me, in Jesus' name I pray. Amen!!"



9:20 P.M. - If you have either listened to this broadcast or even if you have been reading along with this text page, you can pray right where you are and receive this free gift of salvation that only Jesus Christ can give. If you have prayed to receive Christ, let us know by pressing the "Feedback" button and we will send you the New Believer's New Testament that is being given to all who have come forward tonight.

Tomorrow night is the final night of the Sacramento Harvest Crusade! Please come down to Arco Arena if you are in this area, or if not, be sure to join us via the webcast. Tomorrow's musical guests will be the Harvest Crusade Band, The Katinas, Paul Overstreet and Crystal Lewis. We will also be having a candelight prayer service as we will all come together in prayer for our nation.