Thrive Harbor

1. An Unreached People Group Meets Jesus

There are over 800 people groups in Papua New Guinea. One of them is the Kaje people, which until recently was an unreached people group with no known believers. But roughly a decade ago, Thrive alums Jon & Jen Myers sold their earthly possessions and moved to the jungles of Papua New Guinea to live among the Kaje people. By the grace of God they had the privilege of sharing the gospel with the Kaje, who have now come to faith in Christ. To kick off Thrive’s January series on missions, Jon Myers shares the Kaje story.

Because of who Jesus is, we don't need to get anxious about the future. Instead, God invites us to trust Him with the uncertain things in our lives.

This message was given by Jake Chambers, pastor of Wilderness Church.

God loves to work through weakness, and that means no one is too far from His grace.

This message was given by Dustin Polley, director of Thrive Kitsap.

The world, the flesh, and the devil seek to derail the Christian life. Jesus can overcome all three.

This message was given by Tim Cedarland, Thrive's director emeritus.

Christian worship is rich tapestry of musical styles and traditions. But are there certain styles we should and shouldn't use? How do I worship if I don't like the music? And what should I do with my hands? These and other questions form the focus of this final talk on worship.

Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include Job 38:7; Genesis 4:21; Revelation 5:9; 21:26; Exodus 15:1-21; 25:1-7; Numbers 10:1-10; 1 Chronicles 16:37-42; 2 Chronicles 29:27-28; Matthew 26:30; Acts 16:25; Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; 1 Corinthians 3:21; 8-10; 15:52; Psalm 63:4; 67:4; 134:2; 1 Timothy 4:4; Titus 1:15; Romans 14:17, 22-23; Mark 12:30; and Hebrews 8:1-2.

If worship is delighting in God for who He is and what He's done for us, then who is God? What we believe about God makes or breaks how we worship. If God is fundamentally power, then worship will be doctrinaire and distant. If God is fundamentally mystery, worship will be ecstatic and emotion-driven. But according to the New Testament, the God of the Bible is love. Worship, therefore, is relational and responsive, and it engages both head and heart.

Scripture passages cited in this message include John 1:1, 18; 13:31; 17:1-26; Jeremiah 2:13; and Matthew 22:37.

We apologize that due to a technical issue, the audio is somewhat distorted.

Christian statesman John Stott once said that he felt most alive "in public worship." What is worship, why do Christians do it, and how could it possibly make someone feel powerfully alive? According to Scripture, worship is the overflow of delight, and specifically delight in God. In worship, we tap into a fundamental tendency of the human heart to praise what we find beautiful, and since nothing can be more beautiful than God, worship is an experience of wonder and joy.

Scripture passages cited in this message include Psalm 18:1; 66:1-20; 95:1; 98:1; and 150:6.

Every Christian is living in a love story, of God pursuing us through our sin and rebellion to woo our hearts to Himself. But there’s one such love story that’s been canonized, and it’s the story of Israel. The story of the Jewish people is Scripture’s preeminent way to illustrate what God’s heart is really like. This message examines what Scripture says about the past, present, and future of the Jewish people, and what we learn about God from His dealings with them.

Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include Ezekiel 16:1-19, 59-63; 36:22-23; Genesis 3:15; 5:1-29; 12:3, 7; 26:3-4; 28:13-14; 35:11-12; 45:1; Matthew 1:1; 21:43; Romans 9:6, 17; 11:1-32; Isaiah 2:2-4; 11:11-12; and Zechariah 12-14.

If you knew that you’d win a billion dollars tomorrow, it would change the way you live today. So how can Christians—who have the greatest hope for the future that there is—live lives shaped by the hope of Heaven? This final message offers seven truths that can anchor us daily as we pursue a heavenly perspective.

This message was given by Peter Churness, pastor of One Hope Church in Gig Harbor, WA. Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include Ephesians 6:12; 2 Timothy 2:3-4; 2 Corinthians 1:8-9; 4:18; 5:7; 10:4-5; Hebrews 4:15; Romans 6:11; 8:1; 1 John 1:9; 3:1; Galatians 5:1; John 15:5; 17:3; Hosea 6:6; and Colossians 1:16.

Jesus promised His followers a home, rewards, and a wedding in Heaven. This message looks at these three promises and unpacks how we ought to live if they’re really true.

This message was given by Peter Churness, pastor of One Hope Church in Gig Harbor, WA. Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include John 14:1-3; Matthew 5:11-12; 6:1-4; 10:42; 19:21, 27-29; 24:42; 25:5; Luke 10:20; 17:21; 19:11-19; Revelation 21:2, 9; Philippians 3:20; 1 Corinthians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:13; Romans 8:19-21; Ephesians 1:3, 18-21; 2:6; and 2 Peter 3:11-14.