Thriving in Christ: Beyond Survival to Abundant Life

It is a joy and privilege to gather with the daughters of Zion, to remind each other that we are not just called to survive, but to truly thrive—no matter what life throws our way. Life is undeniably hard, filled with trouble, pain, and adversity, as even Jesus Himself promised. Yet, in the midst of these realities, we are given a greater promise: Jesus came that we might have life, and have it more abundantly. The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy, but Christ’s ministry is to override the thief’s work and empower us to flourish.

Being alive in Christ means more than simply existing. It means living with courage, confidence, and an undaunted spirit, even when tribulation and frustration come. Survival mode is a natural response to hardship—just trying to make it through the day, medicating our pain with distractions or unhealthy habits. But God’s will is not for us to remain stuck in survival. He calls us to thrive: to prosper, flourish, and move forward toward our purpose, regardless of our circumstances.

Looking back to the Garden of Eden, we see God’s original intention for humanity: thriving in fellowship with Him and with one another, living with purpose, and bearing fruit. Though sin disrupted that perfection, Jesus came to restore us to a life of thriving. Thriving is not about having a perfect life or being free from trouble. It is about intentional action based on God’s truth, moving forward even when we feel stuck, and excelling in faithfulness wherever we find ourselves—just as Joseph did in slavery and prison.

To thrive is to get up when we fall, to step out in faith despite our fears, failures, or foes, and to refuse to be defined by our circumstances. It is about living a life of impact, influencing others for good, and bearing fruit at every stage of life. No matter your age or what you’ve been through, as long as you are alive, you can thrive. Every dead dream, every forgotten hope, can live again because Christ is our life. Let us rise, give thanks, and move forward, knowing that we are alive to thrive, not just survive.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Thriving is God’s original and ongoing intention for His people, not mere survival. Even though life is full of trouble and adversity, Jesus has overcome the world and deprived it of power to harm us. Our calling is to live with courage and confidence, rooted in the abundant life Christ offers. [09:16]
• 2. Survival mode is a natural, involuntary reaction to hardship, often leading us to medicate our pain with distractions or unhealthy habits. But thriving requires intentional, faith-filled action based on God’s truth, even when circumstances tempt us to retreat or give up. The shift from surviving to thriving is supernatural and requires us to fight against the current, not just float downstream. [30:09]
• 3. True thriving is not measured by outward circumstances but by faithfulness and fruitfulness in whatever season or situation we find ourselves. Like Joseph, we can excel and be fruitful even in places of limitation, pain, or injustice, because God’s presence and purpose remain with us. [35:15]
• 4. Thriving involves living a life of fellowship with God and others, fulfillment from purposeful living, and fruitfulness that impacts those around us. Our influence is powerful, and we are called to use it for good, shaping lives and destinies for God’s glory, regardless of our past mistakes or present challenges. [23:55]
• 5. Moving from survival to thriving is not an exact science or a one-time event; it is a continual process of stepping out in faith, getting up when we fall, and pressing forward despite fears, failures, or foes. As long as we are alive, every dead dream or hope can be revived, because Christ’s life in us empowers us to thrive at every age and stage. [44:28]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:29] - Introduction and Conference Theme
• [01:07] - The KISS Principle and Book Overview
• [02:20] - Preparing Hearts to Thrive
• [03:29] - Alive to Thrive, Not Just Survive
• [04:45] - What It Means to Be Alive
• [06:09] - Life’s Hardships and Biblical Perspective
• [07:22] - The Thief vs. Jesus: Two Ministries
• [08:39] - Jesus’ Promise of Peace Amid Trouble
• [10:33] - Alive in Christ: The Abundant Life
• [11:09] - Defining Survival and Its Pitfalls
• [13:02] - Coping Mechanisms in Survival Mode
• [16:50] - God’s Will: Abundant Life, Not Survival
• [18:06] - What Does It Mean to Thrive?
• [20:37] - Thriving in the Garden: Fellowship, Fulfillment, Fruitfulness
• [23:55] - Living a Life of Impact
• [29:34] - Surviving vs. Thriving: Compare and Contrast
• [32:44] - Excelling Like Joseph in Adversity
• [35:15] - Suffering: Our Own, Others’, and Obedience
• [38:58] - Hiding vs. Standing Up in Faith
• [41:20] - How to Move from Surviving to Thriving
• [44:28] - Thriving: Stepping Out and Getting Up
• [46:29] - Only the Living Can Thrive
• [47:44] - Closing Prayer and Declaration

Bible Reading

John 10:10 (ESV) — > "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."

2. John 16:33 (ESV)
> "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."

3. Psalm 92:12-15 (ESV)
> "The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the Lord is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him."

Observation Questions

1. According to John 10:10, what are the two different purposes or “ministries” described, and how do they contrast with each other?
2. In John 16:33, what does Jesus say we will experience in this world, and what is His promise in response to that reality?
3. In Psalm 92:12-15, what are some of the characteristics of the righteous person, regardless of their age or season of life?
4. The sermon described “survival mode” as a natural response to hardship. What are some examples given of how people cope when they are just surviving? [[13:02]]

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon says that thriving is God’s original and ongoing intention for His people, not just survival. Why do you think God wants us to thrive, even when life is hard? [[19:58]]
2. The speaker compared surviving to “floating downstream” and thriving to “fighting against the current.” What does this metaphor suggest about the effort and intentionality required to thrive? [[31:33]]
3. Joseph was described as “excelling” even in slavery and prison. What does his example teach us about what it means to thrive in difficult or unfair circumstances? [[32:44]]
4. The sermon mentioned that thriving is not about having a perfect life, but about getting up when we fall and stepping out in faith. How does this change the way we might define success or fruitfulness in our own lives? [[44:28]]

Application Questions

1. The sermon talked about “survival mode” and how we sometimes medicate our pain with food, shopping, entertainment, or other distractions. Which of these (or others) do you tend to turn to when life gets hard? What would it look like to choose a different, healthier response this week? [[13:02]]
2. Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it more abundantly.” In what area of your life do you feel you are just surviving instead of thriving? What is one small step you could take to move toward thriving in that area? [[10:33]]
3. The speaker emphasized that thriving is about intentional, faith-filled action, not just reacting to circumstances. Is there a situation right now where you need to take a step of faith, even if you feel afraid or unqualified? What would that step look like? [[44:28]]
4. The sermon described thriving as living a life of impact and fruitfulness, influencing others for good. Who in your life is being impacted by your choices and attitude right now? Is there someone you want to be more intentional about encouraging or influencing this week? [[23:55]]
5. Joseph thrived by being faithful and dependable, even when he was in a place he didn’t want to be. Is there a task, relationship, or responsibility in your life where you need to be more faithful, even if it feels hard or unnoticed? [[32:44]]
6. The speaker said, “As long as we are alive, every dead dream or hope can be revived, because Christ’s life in us empowers us to thrive at every age and stage.” Is there a dream or hope you have given up on that you sense God might want to revive? What would it look like to take a small step toward that dream? [[46:29]]
7. The sermon encouraged us to “get up when we fall” and “step out in faith despite our fears, failures, or foes.” Can you share a time when you had to get up after a setback? What helped you move forward, and how can the group pray for you in your current challenges? [[44:28]]