Thrive.Church Weekly Message

We are to _______________ the authorities of the land. [John 19:10-11] “Why don’t you talk to me?” Pilate demanded. “Don’t you realize that I have the power to release you or crucify you?” [11] Then Jesus said, “You would have no power over me at all unless it were given to you from above. So the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin.” [Romans 13:1-2] Everyone must submit to governing...

[Luke 12:13-15] Then someone called from the crowd, "Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father's estate with me." [14] Jesus replied, "Friend, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that?" [15] Then he said, "Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own." Greed isn't about having a ____________;...

Judah's 100th Sermon at Thrive! The people wanted a _____________, but Jesus came as a ___________________. [Mark 10:42-45] So Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. [43] But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, [44...

[Luke 18:1-5] One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. [2] "There was a judge in a certain city," he said, "who neither feared God nor cared about people. [3] A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, 'Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.' [4] The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said t...

[John 17:20-24] “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. [21] I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. [22] “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. [23] I am in them...

[1 John 1:9] If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. [Ephesians 2:8-9] For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. Our works can’t clean us from the _________________ of sin. [Ephesians 2:10] For we are His workmanship, created in...

The people wanted a _____________, but Jesus came as a ___________________. [Mark 10:42-45] So Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. [43] But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, [44] and whoever wants to be first amon...

[Psalm 34:17-19] The LORD hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. [18] The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. [19] The righteous person faces many troubles, but the LORD comes to the rescue each time. God is not _________________. God is more _________________ than the _________________ surrounding you....

We need to move in towards ________________. [Romans 15:5-6] May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. [6] Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. ________________ can only be developed when you're around other...

Only a weak God can't take ___________________. [Mark 9:22-24] The spirit often throws him into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us, if you can." [23] "What do you mean, 'If I can'?" Jesus asked. "Anything is possible if a person believes." [24] The father instantly cried out, "I do believe, but help me overcome my unbe...

Moving “up” is simply ______________ in our relationship with God through worship. [John 4:23-24] But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. [24] For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” Worship is not ______________ it is a _...

Anything that competes with Jesus is a ________________. [Exodus 14:11-12] and they said to Moses, "Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren't there enough graves for us in Egypt? What have you done to us? Why did you make us leave Egypt? [12] Didn't we tell you this would happen while we were still in Egypt? We said, 'Leave us alone! Let us be slaves to the E...

Most people think freedom is the ability to do ____________ you want ____________ you want. [1 Peter 2:16] For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. [Galatians 5:13] For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in lov...

[Philippians 4:6-13] Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. [7] Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. [8] And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorabl...

Jesus came to defeat __________ through the resurrection. [1 John 4:9-10] God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. [10] This is real love--not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. We can't have _____________ until we have been rescued. [Romans 5:6-8] W...

Doing ____________ things brings more satisfaction that doing ____________ things. You were made for more than a life of ____________. [Judges 6:11-12] Then the angel of the Lord came and sat beneath the great tree at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash of the clan of Abiezer. Gideon son of Joash was threshing wheat at the bottom of a winepress to hide the grain from the Midianites. [12] The angel of...

It's easy to forget God in the middle of life's ____________.   [Ecclesiastes 12:1-3, 6] Don't let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and say, "Life is not pleasant anymore." [2] Remember him before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is dim to your old eyes, and rain clouds continually darken your sky. [3]...

Hypocrite (Greek: hypokritēs): an ______________ under an assumed character; stage player. Impersonator. Pretender. We use masks to hide our real ______________. [Galatians 1:10] Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant. We wear masks when we are looking for approval from ______________ rather than _______...

[Ecclesiastes 7:1-3] A good reputation is more valuable than costly perfume. And the day you die is better than the day you are born. [2] Better to spend your time at funerals than at parties. After all, everyone dies--so the living should take this to heart. [3] Sorrow is better than laughter, for sadness has a refining influence on us. ________________ shapes us more than ___________________. [E...

[Matthew 7:1-5] “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. [2] For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged. [3] “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? [4] How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see p...

[Ecclesiastes 2:12-13] So I decided to compare wisdom with foolishness and madness (for who can do this better than I, the king?). [13] I thought, "Wisdom is better than foolishness, just as light is better than darkness.   Human _____________________ has its limits.   [Ecclesiastes 1:16-18] I said to myself, "Look, I am wiser than any of the kings who ruled in Jerusalem before me. I hav...

[Matthew 6:1-4] “Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. [2] When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. [3] But when you giv...

It seems like the more we _________ the less we _______________.   [Ecclesiastes 6:9] Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don't have. Just dreaming about nice things is meaningless--like chasing the wind.   The gift isn't in the ____________; it's in the ___________.   [Ecclesiastes 5:18-20] Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people...

[Luke 5:16] But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer. [Matthew 6:5-8 NIV] “When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. [6] But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Th...