Thrive Harbor

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.

What's wrong with the world? The Bible's answer is sin. Sin is more than just the bad things we do. At the heart of sin is the lie of the serpent that God isn't good and trustworthy. In this talk, Michael Bouterse, director of Thrive Harbor, unpacks what Genesis 3 teaches on the nature of sin. Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include Genesis 2:17; 3:1-24; 4:7; John 8:34; Galatians 3:16; and Luke 15:11-32.

The fall in Genesis 3 explains for us why our world is broken and marred by sin. But the world didn't start out that way. Before Genesis 3, there was Genesis 1 and 2: a depiction of God's "very good" world, the world as it should be. So what can we learn from Genesis 2 about God's original design? In this talk, Conner Dill, a member of Thrive Harbor explores what Genesis says about the goodness of creation.

Every story has a beginning. And how a story begins shapes its entire trajectory. What about our world? How does our world begin, and what does that tell us about God, ourselves, and the kind of universe we're living in? In this talk, Michael Bouterse, director of Thrive Harbor, opens up a new series on Genesis exploring how the Bible begins. Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include Genesis 1:1-2:3; John 17:24; Romans 1:20; 8:28; Ecclesiastes 1:9; Ephesians 1:4-5; 2:4; Psalm 139:14; Jeremiah 2:13; and 1 John 4:8, 16.

Michael Bouterse, director of Thrive Harbor, speaks on Mary Magdalene to explore the theme of Thrive's 2024 Fall Retreat, friendship with God.

Dustin Polley, director of Thrive Kitsap, speaks on John to explore the theme of Thrive's 2024 Fall Retreat, friendship with God.

Chris Basile, a member of Thrive Kitsap, speaks on Jesus' relationship with the Father to explore the theme of Thrive's 2024 Fall Retreat, friendship with God.

Michael Bouterse, director Thrive Harbor, speaks on Moses to explore the theme of Thrive's 2024 Fall Retreat, friendship with God.

Conner Dill, a member of Thrive Harbor, speaks on Abraham to explore the theme of Thrive's 2024 Fall Retreat, friendship with God.

Dustin Polley, director of Thrive Kitsap, speaks on Adam & Eve to explore the theme of Thrive's 2024 Fall Retreat, friendship with God.

Jesus called his followers to make disciples, but how do we do it? One of the most famous disciplemaking relationships in the Bible is that between Paul and Timothy. In this talk, Michael Bouterse, director of Thrive Harbor, examines Paul and Timothy's relationship, and what it has to teach us about discipleship today. Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include 2 Timothy 1:1-8, 15; 2:2, 8, 22-24; 4:6-7, 16; Philippians 2:20-21; Acts 16:1; 19:10; 1 Corinthians 16:10; Luke 3:22; 1 Timothy 4:14; Romans 12:9; and Luke 2:41-52.

In this talk Michael Bouterse, director of Thrive Harbor, shares about his recently completed ministry sabbatical, based on 2 Chronicles 20. Other Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include 2 Samuel 7:11-16; 1 Kings 8:25; Joshua 9; and 2 Corinthians 12:9.

“One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek…” What is that one thing for you? Wisdom? Comfort? Stability? David's answer would be God Himself!  We find that 3 actions are associated with how David seeks God: Dwelling, Gazing, and Inquiring. In the second message of Thrive's series “Seek First”, we dive into the heart of David's desire for God, as found in Psalm 27.

We hear these terms- “intercessor” or “interceding”, but what do they really mean? Join us as we take a tour through the OT intercessors and answer the all-important question: Who intercedes for us now? This message was given by Timothy Guenther Scriptures cited: Genesis 18:22-33; Exodus 32:7-14; Ezekiel 22:30-31; Isaiah 53:12; Hebrews 7; Romans 8:31-33

Are you free from worry? If you didn't have to worry about earthly things, what would you do? Find the command, promise, and purpose that we are given both individually and as part of God's Kingdom! This message was given by Conner Dill. Scriptures cited or alluded to: Matt 6:25-34; Matt 25; Haggai 1:1-9, 2:1-9; Ephesians 4; 1 Cor 12; Psalm 16; Jude; Hebrews 10

"Seek, and you will find." "If you seek me, you will find me." "It is time to seek the Lord." The theme of seeking God is found throughout the Scripture, and with it, a promise: if you seek God, you will find Him. As the church, how do we make good on this promise? How do we take it seriously? And what does it really mean to "find" God if God is everywhere? These questions and more are the subject of Thrive's June series, "Seek First." Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include Matthew 7:7-11; 1 Samuel 10:2; 26:2; 1 Kings 18:10; 22:43; Psalm 22:26; 27:8; 40:16; 63:1; 70:4; 77:2; 105:3-4; 119:58; 139:7-10; Chronicles 14:2; 15; 22:9; 34:3, 33; Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 11:6; John 1:38; 20:15; Jeremiah 23:24; Acts 17:27; Isaiah 6:1-5; Job 42:5-6; and Hosea 10:12.

What's the point of all the signs? How should the end of the world change how we live now? In the second half of Jesus' Olivet Discourse, He calls His followers to live faithfully as they watch for His coming. This message was given by Tim Cedarland, Thrive's director emeritus.

On the Mount of Olives, Jesus gave one of his most famous speeches, the "Olivet Discourse." In it, Jesus explains how his followers can know that the end is near and what steps they should take to respond. This message was given by Tim Cedarland, Thrive's director emeritus.

Spanning two chapters, the final and longest prophecy in Daniel surveys what will happens to the Jewish people under the Persians and the Greeks, before abruptly skipping ahead to the end of the world. Why the jump? Because once again, Daniel is learning that earlier periods of history foreshadow later ones—in this case, the rule of the Antichrist just prior to Christ's return. Scripture passages cited in this message include Daniel 8:19; 9:26; and 11-12.

Dean Kershner, a field director for Gospelink, has served Christ around the globe. He joins Thrive to share a special message about heeding the call of Christ to go into all the world with the good news of the gospel.

The second half of Daniel is filled with vivid predictions of the end times. But it's not just the predictions that are vivid—it's the way they're delivered! Daniel's final prophecy is conveyed to him by an awe-inspiring figure, who reveals to him an invisible world of good and evil spiritual beings. For this reason, Daniel 10 provides one of the clearest glimpses of the unseen realm that lies behind our material world. This message was given by Alan Jones, pastor of Firebrand Church in Port Orchard, WA. Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include Daniel 7:14; 10; 1 Corinthians 15:24; 2 Corinthians 4:3-4; Deuteronomy 32:8; Genesis 3; Job 1; Genesis 6:1-4; Zechariah 3; 2 Peter 2:4; Revelation 12; 20; Isaiah 14; Ezekiel 28; Ephesians 6:12; Ps 82; 1, 6-8; 89:5-7; and 1 Chronicles 12:32.

So far Daniel has learned that before God restores Israel's kingdom, they will be ruled over by a succession of Gentile empires, culminating with a final end-times ruler called the Antichrist. But how long will this period last? In Daniel 9, God reveals to Daniel a 490-year timeline for Israel's restoration. That timeline includes the destruction of the Antichrist—and most importantly, the coming of an “Anointed One” who will die and rise again. Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include Daniel 2:10-11; 7:25; 9; Isaiah 46:10; John 13:19; 2 Peter 1:19; Jeremiah 25:8-9, 11; Leviticus 25:2-5; 26:27-28, 33-35; Deuteronomy 30:1-3; Ezra 1:2-4; 6:6-12; 7:12-26; Nehemiah 2:5-6; Zechariah 9:9; Luke 19:42; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4; Revelation 13:1-15; and Matthew 24:15.

As God reveals to Daniel what will happen to his people in the future, he teaches him the “ABCs” of how to interpret Bible prophecy—especially the role of typology. A type is a historical thing or person that foreshadows a future thing or person. And so, in Daniel 8, we're introduced to a figure known to history as Antiochus Epiphanes. A cruel pagan king who reigned between 175-164 BC and remembered today in connection with the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, Antiochus Epiphanes is a type of the Antichrist. Like the Antichrist, Antiochus was an arrogant blasphemer who desecrated the temple, oppressed the people of God—and eventually was defeated. Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include Matthew 24:21, 29; Daniel 7:25, 28; 8; 12:1; Revelation 7:14; and Jeremiah 30:7.

From the seventh chapter of Daniel onward, we're given a progressively zoomed-in view of the future—and in particular, an end-times ruler the Bible calls “the Antichrist.” Who is this figure, where is he spoken of in Scripture, what will he do, and how will he be defeated? As chapter seven speaks into these questions, it also points us to how the prophecies of Daniel point us to the hope of Jesus. Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include John 10:10; Mark 14:62; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-8; 1 John 2:18; 4:3; Daniel 7; 9; 11; Revelation 13; John 16:21; and Matthew 24:8.

In Daniel 7, Daniel sees a vision of four world empires, represented as terrible beasts. But in Daniel 6, Daniel learns that God can deliver from beasts after spending the night in the lions' den. How did Daniel survive the lions' den, and what does his story have to teach us? This message was given by David Shohradov, a member of Thrive Harbor. Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include 2 Timothy 4:17.

In Daniel's youth, Babylon was the world's greatest empire. Yet by the time he was an old man, the Babylonian empire had fallen. What caused such a mighty kingdom to crumble? One answer according to Daniel 5 is pride. Pride is one of the most insidious and sneakiest forms of sin, whose radical grip can only be cured by an equally radical cure. Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include Daniel 4:17; Jeremiah 27:5-7; 51:36-37, 39; Romans 2:1; and Philippians 2:6-8.