Thrive Harbor

38. Jacob Finishes Strong (Genesis 46-48) Jacob's life takes up nearly half of Genesis, and in the final chapters of the Joseph story, we see Jacob finish strong. Despite his life of cunning and scheming, Jacob eventually develops a deep faith in God, leaving a multigenerational legacy. In this message, Michael Bouterse, the director of Thrive Harbor, unfolds what Jacob's story teaches us...

The story of Joseph reaches a climax in Genesis 44-45. Joseph reveals himself to his brothers, and his family is reconciled. But for that reconciliation to happen, Joseph had to be willing to forgive. In this message, Michael Bouterse, the director of Thrive Harbor, looks at what these chapters teach about forgiveness: what is it, how do we do it, and what do we need to do it. Scripture passages c...

Many Christians know Romans 8:28: "God works all things together for good for those who love him." But life is hard, and we doubt that promise. Joseph's brothers faced the same temptation when they experienced his harsh treatment of them. But through their story, we see how God's seeming harshness is actually His mercy; He does not seek to destroy us, but to save us. Scripture pa...

The climax of Joseph's story is his forgiveness of his brothers. Although they had brutally abused and betrayed him, Joseph is willing to reconcile. Why? How did Joseph possess the largeness of soul necessary to forgive and love his family? One answer is that God had to take Joseph on what might be called "the inward journey." He had to form his character through suffering to make hi...

Joseph's character formation was long and intense. Before God used him mightily, he made Joseph pass through trials and temptations—which are as instructive for us in our day as they were for him in his. This message was given by Joe Schneider, pastor emeritus of Peninsula Bible Fellowship and one of Thrive's board members.

Judah will come to play a critical part in the story of Joseph, and later the story of Jesus. But first he must pass through a tough series of circumstances—some of his own making—before God brings redemption to his story. In this message, Tim Stobbe, pastor of Waypoint North , unpacks what Genesis 38 teaches us through Judah's journey.

The story of Joseph is one of the most beautiful and redemptive stories in the Bible. But it begins with a terrible tragedy. In this message, Michael Bouterse, director of Thrive Harbor, looks at what Genesis 37 teaches about God's relationship to tragic events in our lives. Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include Genesis 12:3; 15:13-14; 37; 42:21-22; 2 Kgs 6; Psalm 10...

Jake Chambers, pastor of Local Church , teaches on the challenge of being content in Christ, the sixth of six talks for Thrive's Fall Retreat. Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include 1 Timothy 6:2-21 and Jeremiah 2:12-13.

Jake Chambers, pastor of Local Church , teaches on Christlike character as the goal of the disciple's life as the fifth of six talks for Thrive's Fall Retreat. Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include 1 Timothy 3-4.

Jake Chambers, pastor of Local Church , teaches on having a posture of prayer as the fourth of six talks for Thrive's Fall Retreat. Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include 1 Timothy 1-2; Acts 1:13-14; 2:42; 6:4; 19:13-20; Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 11:1-4; and Philippians 4:4-7.

Jake Chambers, pastor of Local Church , teaches on the difference between living from a foundation of fear versus a foundation of love as the third of six talks for Thrive's Fall Retreat. Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include 1 Timothy 1:5; 2 Corinthians 5:14; John 13:34-35; 14:2; 15:1-13; and 1 John 4:8, 16, 18-19.

Jake Chambers, pastor of Local Church , teaches on the disciple's motto—that Jesus has come into the world to save sinners, "of whom I am the chief"—for the second of six talks for Thrive's Fall Retreat. Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include 1 Timothy 1:1, 15; 1 Corinthians 15:3-6; and Isaiah 6.

Jake Chambers, pastor of Local Church , teaches on the definition of a true disciple for the first of six talks at Thrive's Fall Retreat. Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include Matthew 4:19; 28:18-20.

After a wayward period, Jacob returns to Bethel and renews his commitment to God. The steps he takes to rekindle his faith show how we, too, can get back on track spiritually. Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include Genesis 31:3; 34-36; Colossians 4:17; and Ephesians 4:20-24.

A costly detour results in tragedy befalling Jacob's family. What does that detour show us about the Bible's wisdom in shepherding us through suffering and injustice? In this message, Michael Bouterse, director of Thrive Harbor, looks at the heartwrenching story of Dinah for hidden pointers to God's grace. Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include Genesis 2:24 28...

Jacob has spent a lifetime on the run, from God and from the consequences of his actions. But when God corners him, he has no choice but to confront God—and himself. In this message, Michael Bouterse, director of Thrive Harbor, speaks on the way God brings us to the end of ourselves in order to draw us into deeper relationship with Him. Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message incl...

We can never out-give God. The more of our lives we surrender to him, the greater we come to know his love, joy, peace, and power. In this message, Justin Dill, leader of Transformation Missions , speaks on God’s call to surrender our lives to him.

Jacob came from a dysfunctional family and created a dysfunctional family of his own. How can God's grace redeem broken families and broken stories? In this message, Conner Dill, part of Thrive Harbor, unpacks how God's grace meets Jacob, his wives, and his children.

Jacob, the man who outschemes everyone, finally meets his match in his conniving father-in-law, Laban. Tricked into an unwanted marriage, Jacob learns that even when his plans fall apart, God's plans never fail. This message was given by Ken Templeton, interim pastor at Gig Harbor Foursquare .

Many people think the Bible is filled with stories of religious heroes. But Genesis is filled with villains. The people God uses in the Bible often don't come off as moral exemplars to be emulated but as trophies of his grace and mercy. In this message, Michael Bouterse, director of Thrive Harbor, looks to the story of Jacob and Esau for evidence of God's grace in working through flawed an...

Many people who grew up in Christian homes drift from the faith they were raised in. With Abraham now off the scene, how will God train his son, Isaac, to make his father's faith his own? In this message, Dale King, pastor of Calvary Fellowship , explores the way God forms Isaac's faith in Genesis 26. Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include Genesis 15:6; 21:33; 26;...

Following the death of Abraham, his son Isaac fathers twin boys, Jacob and Esau—whose rivalry nearly tears the family apart. In this message, Dustin Polley, director of Thrive Kitsap , looks at how Genesis 25 points to God's ability to redeem messed up families. Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include Genesis 25; Malachi 1:2-5; Romans 9:1-24; and Micah 6:8.

The Bible is a story that is epic and complex. One key to understanding it is the concept of covenant. The series of covenants God makes with humans gives us the Bible's plot line, revealing how His promises point to a coming kingdom—and a coming king. Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include John 5:39; Matthew 25:34; Genesis 1:26; 6:5; 8:20-9:17; 12:1-3; 13:14-17; Reve...

Isaac and Rebekah had a remarkable, unconventional love story. In this message Tim Cedarland, Thrive's director emeritus, shows how this romantic tale points beyond itself to something greater: a Father seeking a bride for His beloved Son.

When Abraham's wife, Sarah, dies, Abraham does something unusual: he buries her in a foreign land. But Abraham knows that God has promised him that land and that one day Sarah will rise again. In this message, Thrive alumnus David Baumgaertel unfolds the hidden significance of Genesis 23 and the Christian's future hope to which it points. Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this me...