Thrive Harbor

Many Christians know Romans 8:28: "God works all things together for good for those who love him." But life is hard, and we doubt that promise. Joseph's brothers faced the same temptation when they experienced his harsh treatment of them. But through their story, we see how God's seeming harshness is actually His mercy; He does not seek to destroy us, but to save us. Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include Genesis 42-43; 50:20; Romans 8:28, 29, 32; Acts 3:1-10; Luke 19:47; and Hebrews 12:4-11.

The climax of Joseph's story is his forgiveness of his brothers. Although they had brutally abused and betrayed him, Joseph is willing to reconcile. Why? How did Joseph possess the largeness of soul necessary to forgive and love his family? One answer is that God had to take Joseph on what might be called "the inward journey." He had to form his character through suffering to make him into the person of greatness he became. Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include Genesis 37:2; 39:2; 40-42; Psalms 30:5; 105:18-21; Hebrews 2:10; 2 Corinthians 4:17; 5:17; Romans 5:3-4; Isaiah 28:23-29; Philippians 3:13-14; and John 21.

Joseph's character formation was long and intense. Before God used him mightily, he made Joseph pass through trials and temptations—which are as instructive for us in our day as they were for him in his. This message was given by Joe Schneider, pastor emeritus of Peninsula Bible Fellowship and one of Thrive's board members.

Judah will come to play a critical part in the story of Joseph, and later the story of Jesus. But first he must pass through a tough series of circumstances—some of his own making—before God brings redemption to his story. In this message, Tim Stobbe, pastor of Waypoint North, unpacks what Genesis 38 teaches us through Judah's journey.

The story of Joseph is one of the most beautiful and redemptive stories in the Bible. But it begins with a terrible tragedy. In this message, Michael Bouterse, director of Thrive Harbor, looks at what Genesis 37 teaches about God's relationship to tragic events in our lives. Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include Genesis 12:3; 15:13-14; 37; 42:21-22; 2 Kgs 6; Psalm 105:19; and Hebrews 5:8.

Jake Chambers, pastor of Local Church, teaches on the challenge of being content in Christ, the sixth of six talks for Thrive's Fall Retreat. Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include 1 Timothy 6:2-21 and Jeremiah 2:12-13.

Jake Chambers, pastor of Local Church, teaches on Christlike character as the goal of the disciple's life as the fifth of six talks for Thrive's Fall Retreat. Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include 1 Timothy 3-4.

Jake Chambers, pastor of Local Church, teaches on having a posture of prayer as the fourth of six talks for Thrive's Fall Retreat.Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include 1 Timothy 1-2; Acts 1:13-14; 2:42; 6:4; 19:13-20; Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 11:1-4; and Philippians 4:4-7.

Jake Chambers, pastor of Local Church, teaches on the difference between living from a foundation of fear versus a foundation of love as the third of six talks for Thrive's Fall Retreat. Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include 1 Timothy 1:5; 2 Corinthians 5:14; John 13:34-35; 14:2; 15:1-13; and 1 John 4:8, 16, 18-19.

Jake Chambers, pastor of Local Church, teaches on the disciple's motto—that Jesus has come into the world to save sinners, "of whom I am the chief"—for the second of six talks for Thrive's Fall Retreat. Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include 1 Timothy 1:1, 15; 1 Corinthians 15:3-6; and Isaiah 6.

Jake Chambers, pastor of Local Church, teaches on the definition of a true disciple for the first of six talks at Thrive's Fall Retreat. Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include Matthew 4:19; 28:18-20.

After a wayward period, Jacob returns to Bethel and renews his commitment to God. The steps he takes to rekindle his faith show how we, too, can get back on track spiritually. Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include Genesis 31:3; 34-36; Colossians 4:17; and Ephesians 4:20-24.

A costly detour results in tragedy befalling Jacob's family. What does that detour show us about the Bible's wisdom in shepherding us through suffering and injustice? In this message, Michael Bouterse, director of Thrive Harbor, looks at the heartwrenching story of Dinah for hidden pointers to God's grace. Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include Genesis 2:24 28:20-22; 31:13; 33:18; 34:1-31; 49:5-7; 1 John 1:9; 2 Samuel 13:1-22; and Romans 12:9-21.

Jacob has spent a lifetime on the run, from God and from the consequences of his actions. But when God corners him, he has no choice but to confront God—and himself. In this message, Michael Bouterse, director of Thrive Harbor, speaks on the way God brings us to the end of ourselves in order to draw us into deeper relationship with Him. Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include Genesis 27:18; 32-33 and Proverbs 28:13.

Jacob came from a dysfunctional family and created a dysfunctional family of his own. How can God's grace redeem broken families and broken stories? In this message, Conner Dill, part of Thrive Harbor, unpacks how God's grace meets Jacob, his wives, and his children.

Jacob, the man who outschemes everyone, finally meets his match in his conniving father-in-law, Laban. Tricked into an unwanted marriage, Jacob learns that even when his plans fall apart, God's plans never fail. This message was given by Ken Templeton, interim pastor at Gig Harbor Foursquare.

Many people think the Bible is filled with stories of religious heroes. But Genesis is filled with villains. The people God uses in the Bible often don't come off as moral exemplars to be emulated but as trophies of his grace and mercy. In this message, Michael Bouterse, director of Thrive Harbor, looks to the story of Jacob and Esau for evidence of God's grace in working through flawed and broken people. Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include Genesis 24:67; 25:21-23, 27-34; 28:10-15; Romans 10:17; and Ephesians 2:8-9.

Many people who grew up in Christian homes drift from the faith they were raised in. With Abraham now off the scene, how will God train his son, Isaac, to make his father's faith his own? In this message, Dale King, pastor of Calvary Fellowship, explores the way God forms Isaac's faith in Genesis 26. Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include Genesis 15:6; 21:33; 26; 1 Corinthians 15:33; and Hebrews 11:13.

Following the death of Abraham, his son Isaac fathers twin boys, Jacob and Esau—whose rivalry nearly tears the family apart. In this message, Dustin Polley, director of Thrive Kitsap, looks at how Genesis 25 points to God's ability to redeem messed up families. Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include Genesis 25; Malachi 1:2-5; Romans 9:1-24; and Micah 6:8.

The Bible is a story that is epic and complex. One key to understanding it is the concept of covenant. The series of covenants God makes with humans gives us the Bible's plot line, revealing how His promises point to a coming kingdom—and a coming king. Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include John 5:39; Matthew 25:34; Genesis 1:26; 6:5; 8:20-9:17; 12:1-3; 13:14-17; Revelation 11:15; Exodus 19:5-6; Deuteronomy 28; 2 Samuel 7:11-16; 1 Chronicles 17:14; Psalm 132; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 36:24-28; Luke 1:32-33; 22:20; 2 Corinthians 3:6; Galatians 3:13, 16, 29; and Romans 8:3-4.

Isaac and Rebekah had a remarkable, unconventional love story. In this message Tim Cedarland, Thrive's director emeritus, shows how this romantic tale points beyond itself to something greater: a Father seeking a bride for His beloved Son.

When Abraham's wife, Sarah, dies, Abraham does something unusual: he buries her in a foreign land. But Abraham knows that God has promised him that land and that one day Sarah will rise again. In this message, Thrive alumnus David Baumgaertel unfolds the hidden significance of Genesis 23 and the Christian's future hope to which it points.Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include Genesis 3:15; 12:1-3; 13:15; 15:6, 18-19; 22:20-23:20; and Hebrews 11:17-19.

When Abraham's wife, Sarah, dies, Abraham does something unusual: he buries her in a foreign land. But Abraham knows that God has promised him that land and that one day Sarah will rise again. In this message, Thrive alumnus David Baumgaertel unfolds the hidden significance of Genesis 23 and the Christian's future hope to which it points.Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include Genesis 3:15; 12:1-3; 13:15; 15:6, 18-19; 22:20-23:20; and Hebrews 11:17-19.

The most dramatic moment in Abraham's life is when God asks him to sacrifice Isaac, his beloved son. But at the last minute, God spares Isaac and substitutes an animal instead. In this message, Tim Cedarland, Thrive's director emeritus, looks at what Genesis 22 teaches about trust, obedience, and God's provision.

It's been said that all of our problems in life come from lack of belief in the goodness of God. When God made a promise to Abraham and Sarah that they would have a son in their old age, it sounded too good to be true—but then He fulfilled it! In this message, Joe Schneider, one of Thrive's board members, looks at the miraculous birth of Isaac in Genesis 21 and what it shows us about the riches of God's goodness.Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include Genesis 21; Proverbs 8:22-31; and 2 Corinthians 5:21.

God often uses us in spite of us, and Abraham was no exception. In this message, Michael Bouterse, director of Thrive Harbor, unpacks Abraham's blunder with Abimelech and how the gospel gives us the power to be faithful witnesses to the world around us. Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include Genesis 12:10-20; 13:18; 18:1; 20; 22:1-19; 50:20; Galatians 3:9; Matthew 6:33; and Romans 8:28.

When you become a Christian, God changes you from the inside out and makes you new. But how should we relate to old people and patterns as we live out this new life? In this message, Michael Bouterse, director of Thrive Harbor, explores what Genesis 19 says about how God's people should relate to the world. Only as Christians maintain their distinctiveness from the world can they actually serve and bless the world as Jesus would. Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include Genesis 12:4; 13:10-13; 14:12-13; 18:16-33; 19; 23:3-5; 2 Peter 2:7-8; Ruth 4:1-12; and James 1:13-15.

What would it be like to meet God? In Genesis 18, Abraham finds out. Through his encounter with God, Abraham learns that God desires to meet with His people, that He is a righteous judge, and that He at the same time delights to show mercy. This message was given by Tim Guenther of Thrive Harbor. Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include Genesis 18; Exodus 33:20; Psalm 19:1; John 17:24; Luke 24:13-35; Romans 10:9; Matthew 26:42; 2 Corinthians 5:21; and Isaiah 53.

God is a promise-making and a promise-keeping God. In this message, Cedric van Duyn, pastor of Anthem Church, explores some of the ways the promises God made to Abraham in Genesis 17 echo in the New Testament.

In Hebrews 6:12 we read that "faith and patience inherit the promises”—or in other words, trusting in God means waiting. In this message Jake Chambers, pastor of Local Church, looks to the story of Abram and Sarah in Genesis 16 to unpack the messy and frequently painful fallout of taking matters into our own hands when we feel God isn't coming through for us—but also God's incredible patience with us even when we're impatient with him.

One of the most significant moments of Abraham's life happens in Genesis 15. God made an agreement with Abraham called a covenant—and He promised him He would fulfill it no matter what. In this message, Conner Dill, a member of Thrive Harbor, explains why the covenant with Abraham is so earth-shaking and how it reveals to us the character of God.

No one follows God in a vacuum. For Abram, his walk with God was lived out against the tough backdrop of paganism, cross-cultural experiences, and—in Genesis 14—Middle Eastern politics. In this message, Dustin Polley, director of Thrive Kitsap, expounds the story of Abram defeating a coalition of kings who had taken his nephew captive.

God promised to bless Abram, and for him that blessing included material riches. But God had to teach Abram how to have riches without getting attached to them, a lesson he learned one day when he and his nephew Lot got into a little dispute over real estate. This message was given by Tim Guenther, a member of Thrive Harbor.

Three of the world's great religions trace their roots back to Abraham. But who was he and why is he so significant? In this message, Peter Churness, pastor of One Hope Church, introduces us to this central figure in the biblical story.

At the Tower of Babel, humanity marshaled their creative powers to rival the Creator. What began as an expression of human pride became a monument to human folly, and a pointer to the better way of Jesus, the one who ascended through descending and ruled through serving. This message was given by Michael Bouterse, director of Thrive Harbor. Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include Genesis 1:28; 10:1-11:9; 12:1-3; Daniel 4:30; Revelation 2:17; Philippians 2:7; and Matthew 11:28-29.

The Bible says that God is a righteous judge. He gives us over to what we ask for and uses judgment to restrain evil. But He always provides a way of escape—much as He did for Noah and his family in the days of the flood. In this message, Tim Cedarland, Thrive's director emeritus, shows how the story of Noah points to the salvation Jesus offers us from the judgment still to come.

Genesis 5:1 and Matthew 1:1 summarize the Old and New Testaments. The former is the "book of the generations of Adam," whereas the latter is the "book of the generations of Jesus Christ." And in Genesis 5 we see that Adam's book consistently, repeatedly ends in death. Only with the arrival of Jesus is death swallowed up by life. This message was given by Eric Lundquist, a special guest speaker.

Richard & Laura Wilson spent decades of their lives serving God in Venezuela. In this message, they share about how God called each of them to that work and how we can lean in to saying “yes” to God's call on each of our lives.We apologize that due to a technical problem there is a slight interruption in the audio at approximately the 5-minute mark.

Jesus said that His disciples are the light of the world. In this message, Tim Guenther, one of Thrive Harbor's leaders, shares about his recent trip to Cambodia and how his time there showed how God's people can walk out their calling to shine Christ's light around the world. Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include Ephesians 2:10; Matthew 5:14-16; 6:22; 26:13; John 15:4-12; Acts 7:60; Mark 12:30-31; and 1 John 4:19.

At the end of the Bible, we see people from every ethnic family on earth worshipping God. In this talk, Tyler Pease, Regional Director for Perspectives USA, shows from Scripture that God's heart is for all people groups to know Him. This can only happen if His people go to the ends of the earth with the gospel, hence why missions is so important.

During their long journey through the desert, the Israelites learned that God is a faithful provider. In this message, Michael Bouterse, director of Thrive Harbor, teaches on Exodus 16 and what it says about God's provision in our lives. Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include Exodus 3:1; 1 Samuel 23:14; Matthew 4:1; Revelation 12:6; Hosea 2:14; Jeremiah 2:2; Proverbs 30:7-9; and Philippians 4:19.

For the final night of Thrive's series on "Sexuality Redeemed," Michael Bouterse, director of Thrive Harbor, explores the hidden enemy beneath so many of our sexual addictions and struggles: shame. Shame over sexual sin done by us or to us wants to sabotage our souls, but through the cross of Christ and the body of Christ, we can know freedom from shame. Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include 1 Corinthians 6:18; 8:1-3; Genesis 2:25; 3:7-13; John 1:29; Colossians 3:13-14; Hebrews 9:13-14; Luke 15; Psalm 139:23-24; Hebrews 12:2; and 1 John 1:7.

We invited Thrivers to submit questions for a live Q&A panel as part of our Sexuality Redeemed series.

Our sexuality is part of God's very good design. But in a fallen world, this area of our lives is often deeply haunted by pain, sin, and shame. In this talk, Michael Bouterse, director of Thrive Harbor, teaches on our sexuality and the ways that we find health, hope, and healing for our sexual stories. Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include Luke 15:17-24, 30; Romans 6:6; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Psalm 51:17; and Genesis 41:51.

Jake Chambers, pastor of Local Church, shares out of Romans 12:1-2 for the first Thrive night of 2025, challenging us to use the start of a new year to put off bad habits and pursue godly habits.

Christmas celebrates God's profound entrance into our world in the person of Jesus—the Maker of the universe come as a helpless, vulnerable baby. In this last Thrive message of 2024, Conner Dill offers a reflection on the Christmas story. Scripture passages cited in this message include Matthew 1:18-24; 2:1-14; and Luke 1:26-38; 2:1-20.

One of the first things humanity does after the fall is to build a city. Why? In this message, Michael Bouterse, director of Thrive Harbor, looks at how Cain's city and descendants gives us a pattern for how all of us operate as sinners in a fallen world, desperately seeking hope and security through our own ingenuity and strength. Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include Genesis 4:17-26; Nehemiah 1:3; and Psalm 9:9; 18:1-2; 27:1.

What is the way of Jesus and what is the way of the world? In this talk Bill Bowers teaches on the difference between American culture and the kingdom of God, challenging God's people to move toward the values of the kingdom. Based in Puyallup, WA, Bill leads Pursuing More, a ministry dedicated to true transformation and growth in intimate relationship with God.

After humanity's exile from Eden, the question the rest of the Bible wrestles with is, "How can we get back?" And the story of Cain and Abel offers us hints. In this message, Michael Bouterse, director of Thrive Harbor, explores how Cain's murder of his brother in Genesis 4 shows the right and wrong way to get back to God. Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include Genesis 3:17; 4:1-16; Jude 11; Hebrews 11:4; 12:22-24; James 1:13-14; 1 John 3:12; and John 7:7.

Genesis 3 ends with Adam and Eve exiled from the Garden of Eden. And yet even this punishment is an exhibit of God's mercy that points ahead to a future day of redemption. In this talk, Michael Bouterse, director of Thrive Harbor, explores what Genesis 3 teaches about God's mercy and justice, and how the two fit together. Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include Genesis 1:22, 27, 28; 2:15; 3:1-24; 4:17; Isaiah 26:9; Romans 1:24, 26, 28; 11:32; Matthew 26:31; and Zechariah 13:7.

Immediately after the first sin, Adam and Eve are ashamed to be naked and cover themselves. Why? What's the relationship between sin and shame, and why does shame hold such power over us? In this talk, Michael Bouterse, director of Thrive Harbor, explores what Genesis 3 teaches about the consequences of sin. Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include Genesis 2:25; 3:1-13, 21; Hebrews 4:13; and Ephesians 4:24.