Thrive Harbor

Fear is like paralysis: it makes us stuck and unable to move forward. In this message, Drew Dawson, a church planter with Resurrection Church, shares on Psalm 27, a reflection on how David’s faith helped him combat his fear.

There are plenty of religious figures out there. What makes Jesus unique? One of the best answers to this question is found in an obscure chapter from the Old Testament. Psalm 110 gives us the "ID card" of the Messiah, predicting Jesus' two natures (fully God and fully man), two comings (to bear judgment and to bring judgment), and two offices (king and priest). Latching on to these truths about Jesus renovates both head and heart, radically altering how we relate to God.

Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include Psalm 22:1; 2:1-12; Matthew 22:41-46; Mark 12:35-37; Luke 20:41-44; 12:20; 22:31-32; Revelation 4:8; and Genesis 14:18-20.

When we try to control everything, we get stressed out. Faith, by contrast, is life without scheming, and the result is rest. In this message on Psalm 131, Jake Chambers, pastor of Local Church, shows that the more control we release, the more peace we receive, as we remember that God is God and we are not.

God pursues us, but he also invites us to pursue him. In this message, Peter Churness, pastor of One Hope Church, unfolds David's prayer in Psalm 63. Just as David thirsted for his first love in the desert, so God invites us to thirst for him when we feel spiritually dry.

Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include Psalm 42; 2 Samuel 15ff.; Matthew 7:7; Luke 11:13; and Ephesians 5:18.

Why do we experience guilt and shame? Why is it so creeping, pervasive, and deep? And where can we find release? In Psalm 32, King David—whose moral failures included murder, adultery, and sabotage—announces his discovery of a way to be rid of guilt and shame, and the joy and peace that he experienced as a result. This message was preached on Thursday, July 16, 2020 by Kurt Mach, pastor of Peninsula Christian Fellowship.

Everybody has experiences in life where things that you looked to for identity and security crumble before your eyes. Yet Psalm 46 makes the radical claim that there is a source of protection and inner strength that will never let you down—even if "the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea."

Scripture passages cited in this message include Romans 8:28.

David's strategy for seeking God's protection is a strange one: he breaks out into a worship session! Psalm 16 is the record of what David spoke to his heart when faced with fear and anxiety. Not only do his words teach us how to find strength in God, but they also provide an incredible glimpse of the gospel, showing us that the true source of strength isn't in the power of our worship but in the person of Jesus Christ.

Scripture passages cited in this message include Acts 2:22-32.

Anxiety and depression are skyrocketing, especially among younger Americans. But through God, depression doesn't have to have the last word. Psalm 42 is a psalm written by a depressed person. But instead of bowing to his depression, the psalmist reminds his soul in the darkness of the truths he learned in the light. Refusing either to ignore his pain or to treat it as ultimate reality, the psalmist instead takes his pain to God, trusting that even in the dark valley of depression God will meet him in grace and love.

Susan Bouterse joins Thrive to share some profound thoughts on prayer, the journey of knowing God, and the way God can use suffering to shape us.

As Thrive journeys through the Psalms, be sure to check out the Thrive "Psalmcast," a special series of regular podcast episodes that help you pray the psalms. Just search for "Thrive Harbor" wherever you get your podcasts!

The God of the Bible is a God who loves justice. How should this shape the way Christians live? In this message, Michael Bouterse, Thrive's local director, offers some thoughts from Scripture on how Christians can listen, lament, and respond to racial injustices in our world.

Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include Galatians 2:11-16; Romans 12:15; Jeremiah 22:3, 15; Nehemiah 5:1-13; Isaiah 5:1-6:5; Proverbs 31:8-9; James 2:15-16; Acts 6:1-7; Micah 6:8; and Ephesians 2:14-16.