Greg Laurie: Changing the Culture Begins With an Awakened Church

Christians who want to change America’s culture must begin with the spiritual condition of the church, Pastor Greg Laurie told ministry leaders during a recent TPUSA Faith gathering.

Drawing from the Book of Jonah, Laurie said the church possesses “two secret weapons” that are too often neglected: “One of them is praying, and the other one is preaching the gospel.”

Jonah was called to carry God’s warning to Nineveh, a city infamous for its violence and wickedness. But before Jonah could help awaken that city, God had to confront the reluctant prophet himself.

“Nothing will happen through you until it first happens to you,” Laurie said.

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That lesson remains vital for us today. While America faces cultural confusion, spiritual darkness and growing despair among younger generations, lasting change will not come through political victories alone.

“We need to preach the gospel,” Laurie said. “It’s the only thing that will change the human heart.”

Culture and technology continually change, but humanity’s need for Jesus does not. Laurie urged pastors to give Gen Z and Gen Alpha the truth rather than a diluted message designed to win approval.

“Every generation needs the gospel,” he said.

That gospel, Laurie explained, is simple: God loves us, but our sin separates us from Him. When we repent and place our faith in Jesus Christ alone, He forgives us and transforms our lives.

Laurie also challenged churches to make evangelism part of their identity by encouraging believers to invite those who do not know Jesus and by giving people regular opportunities to respond to the gospel.

“We’re not all called to be evangelists, but we are all called to evangelize,” he said.

Without new believers, churches eventually become stagnant. Laurie summarized the choice bluntly: “We can evangelize or we can fossilize.”

America needs another spiritual awakening, but Laurie said it must begin in God’s house. Before we can transform the culture around us, we must ask God to revive us, renew our churches and make us bold witnesses for Jesus Christ.

James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact media@.