Old Testament

15. Messiah (Isaiah 52:13-53:12) | Michael Bouterse

15. Messiah (Isaiah 52:13-53:12)

The Old Testament anticipates the coming of the Messiah, a rescuer who will set everything right. But it ends on a cliffhanger—the Messiah hasn’t arrived yet! What we're left with instead is a kaleidoscope of clues for recognizing the Messiah when He arrives—when and where He’ll be born, what family He'll come from, the things He'll do and accomplish. But the most shocking clue of all is found in Isaiah 53, predicting a path for the Messiah that no one could have imagined.

Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include Genesis 3:15; 5:1; 12:3; Malachi 4:5-6; Matthew 1:1; Revelation 22:3; Micah 5:2; and Daniel 9:25-26.

14. Revival (Haggai 1; 2:20-23) | Cedric van Duyn

14. Revival (Haggai 1; 2:20-23)

For seventy years Israel lived in exile in Babylon as punishment for their unfaithfulness to God. But after those years were over, God brought the Israelites back to the promised land, where under the leadership of prophets like Haggai and Zechariah, a revival took place.

This message was given by Cedric van Duyn, pastor of Anthem Church.

13. Exile (Jeremiah 25:4-12; 29:4-14) | David Baumgaertel

13. Exile (Jeremiah 25:4-12; 29:4-14)

God led Israel into the Promised Land, gave them a king, and made them prosperous. But Israel responded with sin and disobedience, placing them on a collision course with judgment. That judgment fell when God allowed the Babylonians to carry His people into exile for seventy years.

This message was given by David Baumgaertel, a Thrive alumnus.

12. Prophets | Peter Churness

12. Prophets

When Israel sinned, God sent prophets to call them to return to Him. But in addition to speaking against Israel's waywardness, the prophets were also entrusted with some of the most magnificent predictions of the Messiah, whose coming would deal with the problem of sin once and for all.

This message was given by Peter Churness, pastor of One Hope Church.

11. Temple | Will Weron

11. Temple

After David died, his son Solomon built the temple, the majestic dwelling place of God's manifest presence. But it wouldn't be long before Israel's sin resulted in God's presence departing and the temple being destroyed. Only with the coming of Jesus would God establish a different kind of temple, where God's presence would dwell with His people forever.

This message was given by Will Weron, a member of the Thrive Harbor community.

10. King (2 Samuel 7) | Evan Carter

10. King (2 Samuel 7)

Desiring to be like the other nations, Israel rejected God as their king and asked for a human king instead. Under the Saul, the kingship began as a disaster. But then God raised up David, a king after His own heart and a preview of the far greater King who will one day sit on David's throne. Scripture passages cited in this message include 1 Samuel 8:5-7; 15:10-21; and 2 Samuel 7:8-16.

This message was given by Evan Carter, Next Steps Intern at Chapel Hill Church.

9. Cycles (Judges 2:6-23) | John Lewis

9. Cycles (Judges 2:6-23)

Not long after making it into the promised land, Israel goes astray again... and again… and again. Yet throughout the book of Judges, God responds to Israel’s lapses into idolatry not only with discipline but with astonishingly unmerited grace.

This message was given by John Lewis, founder and president of Kingdom Story.

7. Wilderness (Numbers 13) | Michael Bouterse

7. Wilderness (Numbers 13)

Yet again the Israelites abandon trust in God, stranding them in a desert for the rest of their lives. The exception is two Israelites named Joshua and Caleb, who because of their faith are the only members of their generation to enter the Promised Land.

Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include Exodus 32; 33:1-2; Numbers 13:31-33; 14:1-4, 30; and John 16:33.

6. Atonement (Leviticus 4:27-5:10) | Dustin Polley

6. Atonement (Leviticus 4:27-5:10)

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 starts in the middle of the message.

5. Sinai (Exodus 19-20) | Michael Bouterse

5. Sinai (Exodus 19-20)

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; and Romans 6:1.

4. Exodus (Exodus 12-14) | Kurt Mach

4. Exodus (Exodus 12-14)

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 include excerpts from Exodus 12-14.

3. Call (Genesis 11:27-12:9) | Michael Bouterse

3. Call (Genesis 11:27-12:9)

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.

2. Fall (Genesis 3) | Michael Bouterse

2. Fall (Genesis 3)

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.

1. Creation (Genesis 2:4-25) | Michael Bouterse

1. Creation (Genesis 2:4-25)

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 of sin.