Thrive.Church Weekly Message

We can trust God in _______________ circumstance.

[Matthew 1:18-19] This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. [19] Joseph, her fiancé, was a good man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.

God's plan always takes ________________ over our plans.

Faith is trusting God’s plan even when we don’t __________________ it.

[Matthew 1:20-21] As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. "Joseph, son of David," the angel said, "do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. [21] And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."

God’s interruptions are actually His __________________ to something greater.

[Matthew 1:24] When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife.

Courage is _______________ God even when the path is __________________.

[Philippians 2:3-4] Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. [4] Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

God blesses those who walk in _________________.

[Matthew 2:13-15] After the wise men were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up! Flee to Egypt with the child and his mother," the angel said. "Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is going to search for the child to kill him." [14] That night Joseph left for Egypt with the child and Mary, his mother, [15] and they stayed there until Herod's death. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: "I called my Son out of Egypt."

Our _______________ must be demonstrated with our _______________.

[Joshua 2:1] Then Joshua secretly sent out two spies from the Israelite camp at Acacia Grove. He instructed them, “Scout out the land on the other side of the Jordan River, especially around Jericho.” So the two men set out and came to the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there that night.

[Matthew 2:1-2] Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, [2] "Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him." 

God will ______________ us when we ______________ Him.

[Daniel 2:10-11] The astrologers replied to the king, "No one on earth can tell the king his dream! And no king, however great and powerful, has ever asked such a thing of any magician, enchanter, or astrologer! [11] The king's demand is impossible. No one except the gods can tell you your dream, and they do not live here among people."

[Daniel 9:25-26] Now listen and understand! Seven sets of seven plus sixty-two sets of seven will pass from the time the command is given to rebuild Jerusalem until a ruler--the Anointed One--comes. Jerusalem will be rebuilt with streets and strong defenses, despite the perilous times. [26] "After this period of sixty-two sets of seven, the Anointed One will be killed, appearing to have accomplished nothing, and a ruler will arise whose armies will destroy the city and the Temple. The end will come with a flood, and war and its miseries are decreed from that time to the very end.

The stars __________________ to declare the birth of Jesus.

Faith starts with seeking God in every __________________.

[Matthew 2:3; 7-8] King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem. [7] Then Herod called for a private meeting with the wise men, and he learned from them the time when the star first appeared. [8] Then he told them, "Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!"

A new King was born who would reign __________________.

[Matthew 2:9-12] After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. [10] When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! [11] They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. [12] When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.

Worship gives God our ______________.

[2 Kings 4:1] One day the widow of a member of the group of prophets came to Elisha and cried out, “My husband who served you is dead, and you know how he feared the Lord. But now a creditor has come, threatening to take my two sons as slaves.”

[Mark 5:21-24] Jesus got into the boat again and went back to the other side of the lake, where a large crowd gathered around him on the shore. [22] Then a leader of the local synagogue, whose name was Jairus, arrived. When he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet, [23] pleading fervently with him. “My little daughter is dying,” he said. “Please come and lay your hands on her; heal her so she can live.” [24] Jesus went with him, and all the people followed, crowding around him.

[Daniel 6:1-3] Darius the Mede decided to divide the kingdom into 120 provinces, and he appointed a high officer to rule over each province. [2] The king also chose Daniel and two others as administrators to supervise the high officers and protect the king's interests. [3] Daniel soon proved himself more capable than all the other administrators and high officers. Because of Daniel's great ability, the king made plans to place him over the entire empire.

Gratitude is an act of rebellion against ______________.

[Daniel 6:10-12] But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God. [11] Then the officials went together to Daniel's house and found him praying and asking for God's help. 

Faithfulness in ______________ ______________ builds unshakable faith.

[Daniel 2:23a] I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors, for you have given me wisdom and strength.

We need to ______________ and ______________ for the difficult times.

Prayer should be a daily ___________________, not a ______________ reaction.

[Daniel 6:16-22] So at last the king gave orders for Daniel to be arrested and thrown into the den of lions. The king said to him, "May your God, whom you serve so faithfully, rescue you." [17] A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den. The king sealed the stone with his own royal seal and the seals of his nobles, so that no one could rescue Daniel. [18] Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night fasting. He refused his usual entertainment and couldn't sleep at all that night. [19] Very early the next morning, the king got up and hurried out to the lions' den. [20] When he got there, he called out in anguish, "Daniel, servant of the living God! Was your God, whom you serve so faithfully, able to rescue you from the lions?" [21] Daniel answered, "Long live the king! [22] My God sent his angel to shut the lions' mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have not wronged you, Your Majesty."

Gratitude is a form of ___________________, faith.

[1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV] give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Give thanks even when life is ___________________,.

[Hebrews 13:15] Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name.

Defining Moments: A point in life that becomes a _________ and _________.

[Acts 5:29] But Peter and the apostles replied, "We must obey God rather than any human authority.

Our past __________ don’t define our future ___________.

[Acts 5:12-15] The apostles were performing many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers were meeting regularly at the Temple in the area known as Solomon's Colonnade. [13] But no one else dared to join them, even though all the people had high regard for them. [14] Yet more and more people believed and were brought to the Lord--crowds of both men and women. [15] As a result of the apostles' work, sick people were brought out into the streets on beds and mats so that Peter's shadow might fall across some of them as he went by.

Active faith will always catch people’s __________________.

[Acts 5:17-21] The high priest and his officials, who were Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. [18] They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. [19] But an angel of the Lord came at night, opened the gates of the jail, and brought them out. Then he told them, [20] "Go to the Temple and give the people this message of life!" [21] So at daybreak the apostles entered the Temple, as they were told, and immediately began teaching. When the high priest and his officials arrived, they convened the high council--the full assembly of the elders of Israel. Then they sent for the apostles to be brought from the jail for trial.

True faith draws _______________ in but also draws _______________.

Obedience to God means we stand _______________, even when it’s _______________.

[Acts 5:29] But Peter and the apostles replied, "We must obey God rather than any human authority.

Our faith is proven when we obey God, not seek _________.

[Acts 5:40-42] The others accepted his advice. They called in the apostles and had them flogged. Then they ordered them never again to speak in the name of Jesus, and they let them go. [41] The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus. [42] And every day, in the Temple and from house to house, they continued to teach and preach this message: "Jesus is the Messiah."

A bold faith _______________ in _______________ for the sake of Jesus.

[1 Kings 16:30-33] But Ahab son of Omri did what was evil in the LORD's sight, even more than any of the kings before him. [31] And as though it were not enough to follow the example of Jeroboam, he married Jezebel, the daughter of King Ethbaal of the Sidonians, and he began to bow down in worship of Baal. [32] First Ahab built a temple and an altar for Baal in Samaria. [33] Then he set up an Asherah pole. He did more to provoke the anger of the LORD, the God of Israel, than any of the other kings of Israel before him.

Our faith should be _____________________ than our fear.

[1 Kings 18:3-4] So Ahab summoned Obadiah, who was in charge of the palace. (Obadiah was a devoted follower of the LORD. [4] Once when Jezebel had tried to kill all the LORD's prophets, Obadiah had hidden 100 of them in two caves. He put fifty prophets in each cave and supplied them with food and water.)

Sometimes Courage is simply _____________________ _____________________ in the face of compromise.

True faith often requires _____________________.

[1 Kings 18:12-16] But as soon as I leave you, the Spirit of the LORD will carry you away to who knows where. When Ahab comes and cannot find you, he will kill me. Yet I have been a true servant of the LORD all my life. [13] Has no one told you, my lord, about the time when Jezebel was trying to kill the LORD's prophets? I hid 100 of them in two caves and supplied them with food and water. [14] And now you say, 'Go and tell your master, "Elijah is here."' Sir, if I do that, Ahab will certainly kill me." [15] But Elijah said, "I swear by the LORD Almighty, in whose presence I stand, that I will present myself to Ahab this very day." [16] So Obadiah went to tell Ahab that Elijah had come, and Ahab went out to meet Elijah.

Faith doesn’t _____________________ fear; it _____________________ us to rise above it.

Trust God even when the outcome is __________________.

[Ephesians 6:13] Therefore, put on every piece of God's armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.

Faith doesn’t have to be ________________ to be powerful.