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.

-
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/
-
"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.

-
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/
-
"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.

-
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/
-
"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.

Holiday shopping is stressful enough, finding the perfect gift feels impossible. But what if the perfect gift wasn’t something you searched for… what if it found you?

Join us this week as Pastor J.B. Lim kicks off a brand new series, THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, starting with the Christmas story. Joseph’s life was forever changed when he realized the perfect gift wasn’t chosen by him, it was given to him, and to the world.

Come discover how God finds us and how His goodness follows.

-
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/
-
"So Glad I Found You"
Speaker: Pastor J.B. Lim
Streamed on December 21, 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.

Have you ever exchanged gifts and realized you walked away with something far better than what you gave? That’s exactly how it is with Jesus. We bring what we have: our worries, our burdens, our limits, and He gladly receives them, knowing He has something infinitely greater to give in return.

Join us this week as Preaching Student Marci Mazariego shares a powerful message about God’s invitation to exchange our burdens for His joy and glory. In the heart of the Christmas season, this is a message that will stir gratitude and remind us of the generous, grace-filled heart of God.

-

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/
-
"The Gift We Didn’t Expect"
Speaker: Marci Mazariego (Thrive Preaching School Student)
Streamed on December 14, 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.

Ever felt like you might have heard from God… but weren’t sure if it was really Him or just the result of a late-night meal fighting back? Hearing from God is a core part of our relationship with Him, not just talking to God, but listening for His voice. That’s why it’s so important to understand how God speaks and how we can recognize His voice with confidence.

Join us this weekend as Pastor JB Lim brings the finale of our DEUTERONOMY series, unpacking what Scripture says is the best way to learn, hear, and discern God’s voice. You don’t want to miss this message, tune in now!

-

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/
-
"Face to Face: Hearing and Discerning God’s Voice (Deuteronomy 34)"
Speaker: Pastor J.B. Lim
Streamed on December 7, 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.

Have you ever imagined God as either loving or angry—as if His heart only had two sides? Moses shatters that idea with a song that reveals the rich, multi-layered heart of God.

This week, Pastor J.B. Lim walks us through the Song of Moses in Deuteronomy 32 and uncovers the seven-fold heart of our Heavenly Father. Don’t miss this powerful message and a fresh perspective to see your Father more clearly than ever.

-

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/
-
"The 7 Fold Heart of The Father (Deuteronomy 32)"
Speaker: Pastor J.B. Lim
Streamed on November 30, 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.

Sometimes God’s commands can feel inconvenient or demanding. But they’re not meant to restrict you—they’re meant to release a stronger, holier you. Just like an athlete who trains with discipline to reach their full potential, obedience positions your life for spiritual strength and freedom.

Join us this week as Preaching Student Raúl Mazariego unpacks how Moses highlights the power of obedience—and how God’s Spirit gives us the strength to walk it out in our everyday lives.

-

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/
-
"The Crosswalk: Why Obedience Matters (Deuteronomy 29)"
Speaker: Preaching Student Raúl Mazariego
Streamed on November 23, 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.