Thrive Harbor

Scarcely after promising to keep God's law, Israel breaks it, creating a relational chasm between the sinful nation and her holy God. How can the chasm be breached? According to the book of Leviticus, only through a sacrifice can God and humanity be reconciled. This message was given by Dustin Polley, director of Thrive Kitsap , our sister ministry. Note: Due to a technical issue, the recording st...

God saved Israel from Egypt—but what did He save them for ? According to Exodus 19, the answer is: relationship with Him. At Mount Sinai, God gave Israel the Law to reveal His character, and also the character of the human heart: our bent toward sin, our inability to obey, and our deep, deep need of a Savior. Scripture passages cited in this message include excerpts from Exodus 19-20; Matthew 6:21...

After Abraham passed off the scene, his descendants, by this time a nation called Israel, fell into the clutches of slavery. But through a man named Moses, God delivers the Israelites from their Egyptian captors, guiding them on a miraculous escape route through the Red Sea. This message was given by Kurt Mach, pastor of Peninsula Christian Fellowship . Scripture passages cited in this message inc...

Some 2,000 years after Eden, God begins a new chapter in His rescue plan to save the world through calling a man named Abram. His call marks the beginning of one specially chosen ethnic family, in whom all the nations of the earth will be blessed.  Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include Genesis 3:15; 4:25; 5:29; 6:9; 7:1; 9:21-22; 11:4; 11:27-12:9; and 1 Timothy 1:4.

Why is the world broken? The Bible's account of the fall of humanity shows that the reason is far more complex than just simple rule-breaking. At the root of all our broken relationships—with others, the world, and ourselves—is the collapse of right relationship with God. Scripture passages cited in this message include Genesis 2:16-17.

Most stories begin by introducing the plot and chief characters—and the Bible is no exception! Scripture begins by revealing God as the main character, who creates a world of goodness, beauty, and relationship. In giving us a glimpse of life before the Fall, the opening act of the Bible offers a tantalizing picture of God’s original design for humanity and for the world, untouched by the ravages o...

The last chapter of Jonah is the heart of the book. Using contrasts, irony, and even humor, this final act of the drama reveals that even after all Jonah has been through, he still hasn't come to grips with the grace of God—a God who continues to woo and pursue him despite his hardness of heart. Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include Jonah 1:3; 3:4, 10; Matthew 23:37; Luk...

When Jonah obeys God, revival breaks out in Nineveh, offering an ironic case study of the ingredients in spiritual renewal. Scripture passages cited in this message include Matthew 10:19-20; Acts 26:20; 2 Corinthians 7:10; and 1 Thessalonians 1:9.

What does it take to get unstuck? Swallowed by a fish and surrounded by his failure, Jonah cries out to the Lord in a stirring prayer, shedding light on how God can lift us from the pit of our sin and suffering. Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include Psalms 3:8; 18:6; 31:22; and 42:7.

When Jonah tried to abandon God, God refused to abandon Him. In the mystery of His mercy, the Lord rescued Jonah and used him despite his disobedience, proving that you can never outrun the grace of God. Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include 2 Kings 14:25; Jonah 1:1-3, 8; and Matthew 12:39-41.

Trusting God is the bread and butter of following Jesus. One person who understood trust well was Abraham, who once was asked by God to do something that seemed absolutely crazy—and he obeyed! How? According to Genesis 22, it all had to do with the faithfulness of God.  Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include 1 Timothy 1:4; 2 Corinthians 5:7; Psalm 66:10-12; John 15:2...

How do you really follow Jesus? Answer: Not alone. God's design is for the whole body of Christ to work together, so that it can grow and become more like Jesus. Ephesians 4 shows us three ingredients of what that process involves: unity, diversity, and maturity.

The gospel is woven into the Bible from beginning to end. Drawing on key stories from Scripture, Tim Cedarland, Thrive's director emeritus, shows how God's "big picture" is all about the gospel.

How would you break down the gospel for a friend who'd never heard it? Jake Chambers, pastor of Local Church , offers one way to do just that, using nothing more than pen and paper.

The gospel is a reflection of God's character—including His great faithfulness. In this message, Dustin Polley, director of Thrive Kitsap , reflects on what God's faithfulness can look like in our lives.

On the night the Israelites fled from Egypt, God saved anyone whose doorposts were marked with the blood of the lamb. Nearly 2,000 years later, Jesus was called the Lamb of God. His sacrifice rescues us from death, just like at Passover thousands of years ago. Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include Exodus 12:1-7, 12-13; 1 Corinthians 5:7; John 1:29; 8:33-34; Ecclesiastes...

What is the Bible all about? One answer is: marriage. The Bible begins and ends with a wedding, and in between you find a tempestuous love story between God, the lover, and his people, the beloved. So to wrap up a series that’s looked at human marriage, we’re taking a look at what you might call “God’s marriage”—the greatest love story ever told. Scripture passages cited in this message include Re...

Seasons of waiting are hard. You want to be married and aren't. You feel behind on life and are stuck. You need direction and are confused. But Psalm 37 points us to the good news that waiting is always an invitation to go deeper with God. Scripture passages cited in this talk include Psalm 37:3-7; Deuteronomy 33:27; and Proverbs 16:3.

Dating can be great... and really confusing. So what does it look like to date well? This second talk on dating looks at the Bible's wisdom on how to do that. Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include Song of Solomon 1:4-6, 8-10; 2:3-4, 7-16; 3:5, 10-11; 5:9; 1 Corinthians 7:2; Proverbs 5:18-19; Romans 8:1; and Proverbs 30:18-19.

Candace and Michael take questions about dating.

Dating isn't in the Bible, nor is there a "biblical model of dating." But the Bible does offer wisdom about how to date well. This first talk on dating looks at the Bible's wisdom on whom to date: is the guy or girl who's caught your eye someone you should be in a relationship with—or not? Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include Song of Solomon 1:1-10; 2:16; Galatians 5:22...

When God made man, He declared that everything was "good"—except the man's loneliness. One of the purposes of marriage is companionship, and a healthy marriage is one in which your spouse isn't just a business partner but a dear, deep, lasting friend. Drawing on Scripture and his own experience of sixteen years of marriage, Jake Chambers, pastor of Local Church , explains what it looks like to hav...

Kurt Mach, pastor of Peninsula Christian Fellowship , has been married to his wife, Revell, for over 40 years. Listen in as Kurt shares his marriage story, chocked full with biblical wisdom about how to get married, be married, and stay married.

Today far fewer people are getting married in Western countries than just fifty years ago. Some want to be married and aren't, but others have dismissed marriage as an outdated tradition we no longer need. In the face of so much skepticism about marriage, why does the Bible see marriage as such a good thing? This talk seeks to answer that question by going back to the very first marriage in human...

Our culture has a conflicted attitude toward singleness. Traditionally-minded people tend to see being unmarried as bad and even shameful. Progressive-leaning people tend to see it as a badge of freedom and liberation. So which is it? The Bible cuts through both stereotypes. It exalts singleness as a glorious gift that can be even better than marriage. But it also warns against choosing to stay si...