Thrive.Church Weekly Message

[Genesis 11:1-9] At one time all the people of the world spoke the same language and used the same words. [2] As the people migrated to the east, they found a plain in the land of Babylonia and settled there. [3] They began saying to each other, "Let's make bricks and harden them with fire." (In this region bricks were used instead of stone, and tar was used for mortar.) [4] Then they said, "Come, let's build a great city for ourselves with a tower that reaches into the sky. This will make us famous and keep us from being scattered all over the world." [5] But the LORD came down to look at the city and the tower the people were building. [6] "Look!" he said. "The people are united, and they all speak the same language. After this, nothing they set out to do will be impossible for them! [7] Come, let's go down and confuse the people with different languages. Then they won't be able to understand each other." [8] In that way, the LORD scattered them all over the world, and they stopped building the city. [9] That is why the city was called Babel, because that is where the LORD confused the people with different languages. In this way he scattered them all over the world.

When our efforts are driven by ________________, they’re doomed to ________________.

[Isaiah 2:11] Human pride will be brought down, and human arrogance will be humbled. Only the LORD will be exalted on that day of judgment.

We can't ________________ God on our own.

[Psalm 33:10-11] The LORD frustrates the plans of the nations and thwarts all their schemes. [11] But the LORD's plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken.

No human plan can ________________ if it goes against God's purposes.

The ________________ way we can have relationship with God is through ________________.

[Philippians 2:6-7] Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. [7] Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form,

We can’t reach God through our own ________________.

The Tower of Babel was man’s ________________ attempt to reach God but the ________________ is God’s mission to reach us.

[Matthew 5:14-16] “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. [15] No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. [16] In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

[Genesis 13:10-13 NIV] Lot looked around and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan toward Zoar was well watered, like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) [11] So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east. The two men parted company: [12] Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom. [13] Now the people of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the LORD.

Lot wanted to see how _______________ he could get to the _______________.

[Genesis 14:11-12] The victorious invaders then plundered Sodom and Gomorrah and headed for home, taking with them all the spoils of war and the food supplies. [12] They also captured Lot--Abram's nephew who lived in Sodom--and carried off everything he owned.

Don't _______________ the wickedness of this world

[2 Peter 2:8] Yes, Lot was a righteous man who was tormented in his soul by the wickedness he saw and heard day after day.

God will _______________ the righteous.

[Genesis 19:1] That evening the two angels came to the entrance of the city of Sodom. Lot was sitting there, and when he saw them, he stood up to meet them. Then he welcomed them and bowed with his face to the ground. 

Don't let the world _______________ your relationship with God.

[Genesis 19:20-22, 24-25] See, there is a small village nearby. Please let me go there instead; don't you see how small it is? Then my life will be saved." [21] "All right," the angel said, "I will grant your request. I will not destroy the little village. [22] But hurry! Escape to it, for I can do nothing until you arrive there." (This explains why that village was known as Zoar, which means "little place.") ... [24] Then the LORD rained down fire and burning sulfur from the sky on Sodom and Gomorrah. [25] He utterly destroyed them, along with the other cities and villages of the plain, wiping out all the people and every bit of vegetation.

God will protect you even when you are ________________.

Belonging comes _______________ believing.

If what we believe is _______________, then we are never afraid of the _______________.

[Ephesians 2:8 NIV] For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--

Our faith is not in an _______________ it is in _______________.

[James 2:19-20] You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. [20] How foolish! Can't you see that faith without good deeds is useless?

The Bible is a record of God’s interaction with real _______________, in real _______________, at real _______________.

[1 Peter 3:15 NIV] But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

Times may _______________ but God's Word remains the _______________.

[Numbers 6:24-26 NIV] "The LORD bless you and keep you; [25] the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; [26] the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace." '

Scripture has remained _______________ throughout the ages.

[Matthew 5:17-18] "Don't misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. [18] I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God's law will disappear until its purpose is achieved.

The Bible is the most _______________ ancient document in existence.

[2 Timothy 3:16-17] All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. [17] God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

[Philippians 3:13b] I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.

[Luke 6:13-16] At daybreak he called together all of his disciples and chose twelve of them to be apostles. Here are their names: [14] Simon (whom he named Peter), Andrew (Peter's brother), James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, [15] Matthew, Thomas, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon (who was called the zealot), [16] Judas (son of James), Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him).

God specializes in using ___________________ people for His ___________________ plan.

Just being around ___________________ doesn’t make you right with ___________________.

[Matthew 26:14-16] Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests [15] and asked, "How much will you pay me to betray Jesus to you?" And they gave him thirty pieces of silver. [16] From that time on, Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus.

How much is ___________________ worth to you?

[John 13:26-27, 30] Jesus responded, "It is the one to whom I give the bread I dip in the bowl." And when he had dipped it, he gave it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot. [27] When Judas had eaten the bread, Satan entered into him. Then Jesus told him, "Hurry and do what you're going to do." ... [30] So Judas left at once, going out into the night.

Jesus __________ that Judas would _______________ him.

[Matthew 26:48-50] The traitor, Judas, had given them a prearranged signal: "You will know which one to arrest when I greet him with a kiss." [49] So Judas came straight to Jesus. "Greetings, Rabbi!" he exclaimed and gave him the kiss. [50] Jesus said, "My friend, go ahead and do what you have come for." Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested him.

Friends are people who help you to fulfill your ___________.

[Matthew 27:3-5] When Judas, who had betrayed him, realized that Jesus had been condemned to die, he was filled with remorse. So he took the thirty pieces of silver back to the leading priests and the elders. [4] "I have sinned," he declared, "for I have betrayed an innocent man." "What do we care?" they retorted. "That's your problem." [5] Then Judas threw the silver coins down in the Temple and went out and hanged himself.

When we fail we can ___________________ to turn to God for ___________________.

[Revelation 3:11] I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown.

God does not ___________________ to have me, I ___________________ to have God.

[Philippians 3:13b] I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.

You don't have to be ________________ to be used for God's purpose.

[Genesis 25:22-26] But the two children struggled with each other in her womb. So she went to ask the LORD about it. "Why is this happening to me?" she asked. [23] And the LORD told her, "The sons in your womb will become two nations. From the very beginning, the two nations will be rivals. One nation will be stronger than the other; and your older son will serve your younger son." [24] And when the time came to give birth, Rebekah discovered that she did indeed have twins! [25] The first one was very red at birth and covered with thick hair like a fur coat. So they named him Esau. [26] Then the other twin was born with his hand grasping Esau's heel. So they named him Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when the twins were born.

Our instincts are ___________-first not ___________-first.

[Matthew 19:30 NIV] But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.

Putting yourself ________________ never brings true ________________.

[Luke 9:25 NIV] What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?

Who you are is more ________________ than what you ________________.

[Genesis 27:19-27] Jacob replied, "It's Esau, your firstborn son. I've done as you told me. Here is the wild game. Now sit up and eat it so you can give me your blessing." [20] Isaac asked, "How did you find it so quickly, my son?" "The LORD your God put it in my path!" Jacob replied.

You may be able to fool ________________ but you can't fool ________________.

[Genesis 32:24-30 NIV] So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. [25] When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. [26] Then the man said, "Let me go, for it is daybreak." But Jacob replied, "I will not let you go unless you bless me." [27] The man asked him, "What is your name?" "Jacob," he answered. [28] Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome." [29] Jacob said, "Please tell me your name." But he replied, "Why do you ask my name?" Then he blessed him there. [30] So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, "It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared."

Hold onto God even when you're ________________.

[Philippians 3:13b] I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.