Is hell real—and if so, what does that say about a loving God?

In this message from our Gospel of Matthew series, we walk through Matthew 3:1–12 and the bold, unsettling ministry of John the Baptist. Set in the wilderness, John calls people to repentance, confronts spiritual complacency, and prepares the way for the coming Messiah. His message forces us to wrestle with eternal realities that many would rather avoid.

From there, we address one of the most challenging and emotionally charged topics in Christianity: hell. Rather than relying on caricatures or fear-based rhetoric, this teaching asks honest questions and offers thoughtful, biblically grounded answers:

• Why should we trust what Jesus says about life after death?
• What did Jesus actually teach about hell?
• Is eternal punishment unjust or overkill?
• Why doesn’t God simply forgive everyone and take us all to heaven?

Ultimately, this message reframes hell not as a contradiction of God’s love, but as a sobering consequence of human freedom—and the cross as God’s definitive act to rescue us from it.

If you have ever struggled with the idea of hell, questioned God’s justice, or wondered how love and judgment can coexist, this message is for you.

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Next Steps 💪

• Are you NEW to Thrive? We've prepared a gift for you to thank you for spending your Sunday with us. Text “New” to (604) 285-5770 or visit https://MyThrive.info/new

• Did you just pray the prayer to receive Jesus? Let us know! We have prepared a Thrive mug that we want to mail you; we'll also send you a series of videos that might answer your questions about Christianity. Visit MyThrive.info/receive-jesus

• All your next steps: https://MyThrive.info/
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"Heaven, Hell, and the Proof of God's Love (Matthew 3:1-12)"
Speaker: Pastor J.B. Lim
Streamed on January 11, 2026 at THRIVE Church Vancouver, Canada
www.thrivechurch.ca

Thrive Church is a community based in Greater Vancouver Area with the goal of reaching the world 🌏with the love of Christ. We worship, share a weekly message from our pastor, pray together, and most importantly, share in the great love God has for all of us.

Ever notice how some people can take what’s old, broken, or discarded and turn it into something beautiful?

It’s remarkable, and what's more remarkable is how God does the same with our lives. He repurposes pain, mistakes, and setbacks into purpose.

This week, preaching student Raúl Mazariego draws powerful lessons from the book of Matthew, showing how God is writing a greater story through your life.

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Next Steps 💪

• Are you NEW to Thrive? We've prepared a gift for you to thank you for spending your Sunday with us. Text “New” to (604) 285-5770 or visit https://MyThrive.info/new

• Did you just pray the prayer to receive Jesus? Let us know! We have prepared a Thrive mug that we want to mail you; we'll also send you a series of videos that might answer your questions about Christianity. Visit MyThrive.info/receive-jesus

• All your next steps: https://MyThrive.info/
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"Positioned on Purpose (Matthew 2:13-23)"
Speaker: Raúl Mazariego (Thrive Preaching School Student)
Streamed on January 4, 2026 at THRIVE Church Vancouver, Canada
www.thrivechurch.ca

Thrive Church is a community based in Greater Vancouver Area with the goal of reaching the world 🌏with the love of Christ. We worship, share a weekly message from our pastor, pray together, and most importantly, share in the great love God has for all of us.

Good posture matters; it keeps your body healthy. But the posture of your heart matters even more.

This week, Pastor J.B. Lim unpacks the three postures toward Jesus found in Matthew 2 and reveals how your response to Him can shape everything about your relationship with Him. Don’t miss it.

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Next Steps 💪

• Are you NEW to Thrive? We've prepared a gift for you to thank you for spending your Sunday with us. Text “New” to (604) 285-5770 or visit https://MyThrive.info/new

• Did you just pray the prayer to receive Jesus? Let us know! We have prepared a Thrive mug that we want to mail you; we'll also send you a series of videos that might answer your questions about Christianity. Visit MyThrive.info/receive-jesus

• All your next steps: https://MyThrive.info/
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"Three Seats and A Posture of Worship (Matthew 2:1-12)"
Speaker: Pastor J.B. Lim
Streamed on December 28, 2025 at THRIVE Church Vancouver, Canada
www.thrivechurch.ca

Thrive Church is a community based in Greater Vancouver Area with the goal of reaching the world 🌏with the love of Christ. We worship, share a weekly message from our pastor, pray together, and most importantly, share in the great love God has for all of us.