30. New Heavens and New Earth (Revelation 21:1-8) | Bubba Jennings

At last we come to the end of the story, and it's a very good ending indeed. The final chapters of the Bible look forward to the day when God will dwell among us His people forever. Sin and sorrow will be no more. And with ever-increasing awe and wonder, God's people will know infinite joy in the presence of Him who loved them with an everlasting love.

This message was given by Bubba Jennings, lead pastor of Resurrection Church in Tacoma, WA. Scripture passages cited in this message include Revelation 21:1-8.

29. Christ's Return (Revelation 19-20) | Dustin Langley

29. Christ’s Return (Revelation 19-20)

The Bible teaches that Jesus will return again in glory as king of heaven and earth. The question for Christians is: are we living in light of that return—and are we telling others about Christ while there's still opportunity?

This message was given by Dustin Langley, pastor at Peninsula Life Church. Scripture passages cited in this message include Matthew 24:36; Acts 1:7; Revelation 19:11-21; 20:11-15; and 2 Peter 3:9.

28. Tribulation (Matthew 24) | Michael Bouterse

24. Tribulation (Matthew 24)

The golden age is ahead, not behind us: one day Jesus will return and set everything right. But in Matthew 24, Jesus foretells that before His return there will be a period of worldwide distress called "the tribulation." God will use this span of seven years to pave the way for Christ's return and to fulfill His promises to the Jewish people, who the Bible predicts will receive their Messiah at last.

Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include Ezekiel 36:24, 34-35; John 1:11; Romans 11:26, 28; Matthew 23:37-24:35; Daniel 9:24-27; Nehemiah 2:5-6; Luke 19:42; 21:5-36; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8; Revelation 12:14; 13:1-18; and Zechariah 12:10; 13:1-2.

27. With Him in Glory (John 17:20-26) | Michael Bouterse

27. With Him in Glory (John 17:20-26)

Hope comes from what you believe about the future. And what lies ahead for Christians is: glory. God promises that one day His people will enjoy not just a gloriously renewed creation but a gloriously perfected relationship with Him—a relationship that takes us into the very heart of who God is.

Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include Romans 5:9; 8:17-25; John 1:1, 14, 17, 18; 5:19, 20; 7:17; 8:50; 12:27-28; 14:10, 31; 17:10, 20-26; 20:28; Titus 3:4-5; 1 Corinthians 1:18; Genesis 1:1; 3:17; Ephesians 1:3; 2 Peter 1:1; Acts 5:3-4; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Matthew 28:19; Jeremiah 2:13; 1 John 4:7-8; and Exodus 33:18, 22-23.

26. Transformed by the Spirit (Galatians 2:11-3:6) | Michael Bouterse

26. Transformed by the Spirit (Galatians 2:11-3:6)

Christ doesn't just save us from the penalty of our sin. He changes us so that we live transformed lives. That change happens not through behavior modification or naked moral effort. Instead, God's Spirit changes us from the inside-out, giving us a new nature with new desires.

Scripture passages cited in this message include Galatians 2:11-3:6; John 20:17; Romans 6:3-5, 17; 1 John 1:8; 1 Timothy 1:8-9; and Colossians 2:20-23.

25. Adopted by God (Romans 8:12-17) | Michael Bouterse

25. Adopted by God (Romans 8:12-17)

It's amazing enough that God forgives us. But the gospel is even more incredible than that. Through Jesus, God has adopted believers into His family. We can know God as Father, a relationship of utmost intimacy and steadfast security.

Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include Romans 8:12-17; Genesis 5:28-29; 17:5; 35:16-18; Luke 1:59-63; Matthew 3:17; Revelation 2:17; Zephaniah 3:17; and Psalm 143:12.

24. Righteous in Christ (Romans 3:21-26) | Michael Bouterse

24. Righteous in Christ (Romans 3:21-26)

How does the story of the Bible change your life? In the New Testament letters, Paul gives us one answer to that question: God has shared with us His righteousness. Now instead of seeking our status or worth in what we achieve, the gospel frees us to rest in what Jesus achieved—and the result is life and peace.

Scripture passages cited in this message include Romans 1:23; 2:28-29; 3:21-26; and 2 Corinthians 5:21.

23. Paul (Acts 9:1-19) | Dale King

As soon as the first Christian communities formed, they were persecuted. But in one of the Bible’s most stunning surprises, one of the worst persecutors of the early Christians became one! The conversion of Saul, also called Paul, was a pivotal event in biblical history. Changed by an encounter with Jesus, Paul went on to plant churches throughout the Roman empire, write much of the New Testament, and testify in word and deed to God’s amazing grace.

This message was given by Dale King, pastor of Calvary Fellowship Gig Harbor. Scripture passages cited in this message include Acts 8:3; 9:1-19; 26:14; Luke 19:10; 1 Corinthians 15:9; Ephesians 3:8; 1 Timothy 1:15; 2 Corinthians 11:23-28; and Philippians 1:29.

22. Church (Acts 2) | Josh Nuckols

22. Church (Acts 2)

When Jesus ascended into Heaven, he promised that he would send his followers the Holy Spirit so that they could live, speak, and witness for him. In so doing, Jesus launched a movement of people (called the "church") who to this day have not stopped sharing the good news of Jesus around the world.

This message was preached by Josh Nuckols, worship coordinator at our sister ministry, Thrive Kitsap.

21. Resurrection (Luke 24:1-12) | Jake Chambers

21. Resurrection (Luke 24:1-12)

After Jesus' death and burial, it looked as though God's story had come to a screeching halt. But three days later, Jesus rose—and it changed everything. Jesus' resurrection is an announcement that God wins, sin loses, and death doesn't have the last word.

This message was preached by Jake Chambers, pastor of Wilderness Church.

20. Cross (Luke 22-23) | Tim Cedarland

20. Cross (Luke 22-23)

The most shocking moment in Jesus' life was his death. Who would have thought that after thousands of years of anticipation, the long-awaited Messiah would come—only to die? Yet it was through the cross that Jesus fulfilled the Messiah's ultimate mission: to take our sin, die in our place, and reconcile us to God.

This message was preached by Tim Cedarland, Thrive director emeritus.

19. Parables (Matthew 13) | Michael Bouterse

19. Parables (Matthew 13)

As storm clouds of hostility begin to gather around Jesus, Jesus reacts to the rejection of His own people by speaking to them in parables. Through the parables, He discloses hitherto unrevealed truth about what God's Kingdom is like—especially during the age we're living in, while the world rejects God's King.

Scripture passages cited in this message include Matthew 12:24; 13:1-52; Mark 4:11-12; Daniel 2:44; 2 Peter 3:9; and John 3:16.

18. Miracles (Matthew 8-9) | Dustin Polley

18. Miracles (Matthew 8-9)

In the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew reveals Jesus' authority through His teaching. Immediately after, he reveals Jesus' authority through His miracles. A glittering showcase of Jesus' power, mercy, and compassion, the miracles reveal a Messiah who is more than just a man: Jesus is God in the flesh, sovereign over all creation.

This message was given by Dustin Polley, director of Thrive Kitsap, our sister ministry. Scripture passages cited (or alluded to) in this message include Matthew 8:23-27; 9:1-8, 18-26, 35-38; and Psalm 8; 18.

17. Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) | Michael Bouterse

17. Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7)

The Messiah is not just a rescuer but a king, one who claims ultimate authority. After Jesus begins His ministry, He asserts His Messianic authority in the most famous sermon of all time: the Sermon on the Mount. This crucial teaching of Jesus reveals that our need for God is far deeper than we could have imagined. But as we read the rest of the story, we discover in Jesus a savior who delights to meet that need—through laying down His life for us.

Scripture passages cited in this message include Luke 2:52; Matthew 3:2-3; 4:17; 5:3, 20, 21-22, 27-28; 31-32, 33-37, 48; Daniel 2:44; and Deuteronomy 18:18.

16. Birth (Matthew 1) | Michael Bouterse

16. Birth (Matthew 1)

The back side of a Persian rug is a tangled mess of knots and lumps. But flip it over and all the threads come together in a beautiful masterpiece. The Bible is the same way. Like a rug flipped over, the New Testament ties the earlier threads of the story together in and through Jesus. And one of the best examples is the very first page.

Scripture passages cited in this message include Matthew 1:1; Genesis 12:3; Jeremiah 23:5-6; and Isaiah 7:14.