Coastal Church Podcast: Recent Episodes
Pastor Dave Koop
Pastors Dave and Cheryl Koop are the senior and founding pastors of Coastal, a non-denominational church that meets in the heart of downtown Vancouver. We believe that anointed teaching is the catalyst for transformation in individual lives and in the church.
The revelation of God in the Bible is progressive, from Elohim the Creator to Yahweh the Covenant God, and ultimately as Abba, our Father, through Jesus Christ. Through faith in Christ, we are not merely God's creation but His children, adopted into His family by grace. The Christian life is learning to live in awe of Elohim while resting in the loving embrace of Abba.
In a world that constantly tells you to try harder, do better, and fix yourself, Galatians 3 reminds us of a radically different truth. From Adam and Eve to Abraham, Moses, and Paul, the Bible tells one unchanging story: humanity cannot save itself; God has always pursued His people by grace, and His answer to every generation is the same: we need Jesus!
This message invites us to step away from the exhausting cycle of trying to earn God’s approval and instead rest in the finished work of Jesus Christ. Rooted in Galatians 3:1–14, Paul’s passionate message confronts the tendency to rely on self-effort and redirects us to a life shaped by faith and grace. The call is clear: stop striving, start trusting, and live each day in the peace and power of the Spirit.
The gospel changes everything, from our identity to our right standing with God, to our behaviour. In Galatians 2:11–21, Paul addresses a moment of inconsistency in Peter’s life and reminds us that living “in step with the truth of the gospel” means letting it transform every area of life.
Faith isn’t something we can inherit from our family, church, or background; it has to become personal. God invites us as his children into a personal relationship with Him through Jesus Christ. Paul’s testimony shows that the gospel he preached came straight from Christ Himself, not secondhand from people, and that same personal encounter is what transforms our lives.
Many people think following Jesus means trying harder, doing more, or proving they're good enough for God. That was exactly the struggle in the churches of Galatia. Paul writes with urgency because the gospel was being distorted, reminding them, and us, that grace is enough. Jesus has already done everything necessary for our salvation.
Join us as we worship Jesus and hear a powerful message from special guest speaker Karl Martin, visionary leader and founder/CEO of Arable, who brings wisdom on healthy culture and leadership that impacts lives. Whether you’re exploring faith, seeking God, or growing spiritually, we’re praying this message encourages and strengthens you today.
What if real strength isn’t about how much you carry, but what you refuse to let go of? This Sunday, we’ll discover how holding fast to the right anchors can steady every area of our lives. Join us as we learn why a father’s strength is revealed by what—and who—he stays connected to.
In a world of shifting loyalties and temporary kingdoms, we are constantly pulled to give our hearts and allegiance to things that will not last. From nations to teams to personal ambitions, everyone is building or following a kingdom. Yet Jesus calls us to something higher, His Kingdom, one that cannot be shaken or replaced.
Everyone leaves a legacy. The question is not if you will leave one, but what kind of legacy you will leave. The measure of your life is not what you accomplish while you're here, but what continues because you were here.
The Church has stood strong for over 2,000 years through persecution, cultural shifts, and every storm because it was built by Jesus Himself. In a world searching for truth, hope, and belonging, the Church remains God’s answer to reveal Christ and bring people together. The Church is unshakeable because Christ is its foundation, its power, and its future.
There are moments in life when the things we depend on, like our future or identity, suddenly feel uncertain. In those moments, we start asking deeper questions: Why am I here? What was I made for? The good news is that you are not here by accident. God knew you and called you before you were born. This weekend, we’ll discover how to live with an unshakable calling.
Joshua was called into a season that required deep courage, stepping out of Moses’ shadow, leading God’s people into uncertainty, and carrying the weight of spiritual responsibility. In the same way, many of us face moments where fear, transition, and challenges test our faith. Yet through every battle and unknown season, God’s command remains the same: be strong and courageous, because His presence goes with us wherever we go.
In a world that sees honour and respect eroding away, the greatest gift we can give our mothers is honor. When we choose to honor them, we not only strengthen our relationships but we also please God and reflect His heart.
This weekend, we’ll look at how we can live in unshakable peace by anchoring our lives in what never changes, staying close to our Shepherd, and trusting His presence with us even in life’s valleys.
We live in a world where truth is constantly questioned, yet Pilate's question in the Gospel of John remains relevant: “What is truth?”
Jesus didn't just speak about truth; He came to reveal it and bring freedom to those who know it.
This message calls us to know it, value it, and live it every day.
In the Book of Daniel, we meet a young man whose identity was under assault at a time when the world was shaking after the rise of Nebuchadnezzar. Carried into the powerful culture of Babylon, everything around him was designed to redefine who he was. Yet he went on to serve in high political positions under four kings.
Those listed in the “hall of faith” show us that living by faith is not passive but an active, enduring, race. While some may settle into coasting after professing faith, God intended for us to live by faith and leave a legacy.
This special family-friendly Easter Sunday service will focus on the resurrection of Jesus Christ, embracing the promise of new beginnings and everlasting life. We’d love to celebrate Jesus together!
Rahab’s story is a powerful reminder that our past does not define our future in God. Once known for her brokenness, she stepped out in bold faith, trusting in who God is rather than who she had been. Through courage, obedience, and belief, Rahab became part of God’s greater story, showing us that no past is too messy and no life is beyond redemption when we choose to walk by faith.
Faith is not just belief, it’s what shapes how we live and lead. In Hebrews 11, we see that a life of faith is what pleases God and leaves a lasting legacy. Through the life of Moses, we discover what it means to lead by faith.
God blesses us not just for our own good, but so we can bless others. Joseph’s story shows that faithfulness, service, and forgiveness turn God’s favor into life-changing impact. By faith, we receive God’s blessing and pass it on.
Even before Jesus was born, God was already dropping clues in the Bible about the future, the cross and the empty tomb, so when Jesus came, we’d recognize what God was doing: God Himself would provide the sacrifice to rescue us.
Faith isn’t always perfect, so whether you’re single or married, whether you’re thriving or barely holding it together, whether you feel like you’re full of faith or full of questions, this message is for you.
We all have been called to walk by faith. This walk will lead you to your destiny. It will be a walk of obedience even when it doesn’t make sense. Like Paul, we want to finish the race and complete our destiny.
Every Olympic ceremony begins with an inspiring procession of athletes from all the participating countries marching into the stadium under their country’s banner or flag. The flag identifies them with their nation and becomes a rallying point for athletes and fans. The Bible talks in a number of places of His banner that flies over us, a banner of love and truth.
Real faith doesn’t just agree with God, there is a corresponding action that goes with it. Can a faith that never moves save you? It is more than believing God exists, even the demons believe He exists, it is acting on what He says because you know He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
Scripture defines faith as substance and evidence, a present guarantee and a satisfying conviction, formed by hearing God’s Word. As we consider what it means to live in faith and live out faith, we are reminded that faith is a reasoned trust that seeks God, knows Him, and responds in obedience.
Faith is not just what we believe, it’s how we live. In Scripture, to walk with God speaks of our daily choices, direction, and way of life. Enoch’s story shows us that true faith is lived out through a faithful walk that pleases God.
Walking by faith means trusting God beyond what we see, obeying even when we don’t fully understand, and choosing God over circumstances each day.
Faith is revealed in what we bring to God, not just what we believe. In the story of Cain and Abel, two offerings look similar, but only one is accepted because it is given by faith and obedience. Today we face the same choice: the way of Cain, or the way of Abel.
Hebrews 11:3 shows that we understand creation by faith, a faith God has given to every believer, not a special kind reserved for a few. Everyone places faith in something, and Christian faith trusts a personal God who spoke the universe into existence, giving life meaning and hope. We exercise faith by believing God’s Word and speaking it, just as God created by speaking. The greatest act of faith is trusting God’s plan of redemption through Jesus.
The Bible tells us the "just shall live by faith," and Hebrews 11 shows us ordinary people who trusted God when it would have been easier not to, choosing His voice over fear, comfort, or crowd opinion. Over the next few months, we will study these “hall of faith” characters and discover that no matter what situation we face, with God on our side, faith always has another move.
As we come to the close of 2025, we don’t just want to finish the year; we want to finish strong, moving from glory to glory.
This year, God invited us into a simpler but deeper way of living with one word: Abide, not striving harder, but staying closer to Jesus.
As we look back, we see how abiding has shaped us, prepared us, and is still leading us forward into transformation.
We live in a world full of noise, distractions, and things that promise meaning but leave us empty. Beneath it all is a simple question: Are we chasing what’s trivial, or are we carrying what truly matters?
When Scripture speaks of the glory of God, it describes something weighty, real, and transformative. An encounter with God’s glory exposes what is empty and draws us into a life of substance, purpose, and eternal significance.
In a world where peace often feels tied to circumstances, God offers something far deeper and unshakable. This weekend, we will learn how true peace isn’t found in life getting easier, but in living within the presence of God. When His glory is near, peace follows, guarding our hearts and minds, restoring what’s been broken, and steadying us no matter what we face.
Before God brought the Children of Israel into the Promised Land, he first took them through the desert, in the liminal space, in order to shape them and equip them for the Promised Land. Likewise, God will often take us through our desert to prepare us for what is to come, and that is often where we experience His glory.
Join us this weekend as we welcome special guest speaker Karl Martin — visionary leader and founder/CEO of Arable, a leadership house dedicated to cultivating healthy culture and shaping leaders who impact the world.
You won’t want to miss the wisdom and encouragement he’ll bring!
Praising and worshipping God brings His glory and His presence into our lives. He inhabits, enthrones, or sits among our praises. When we praise and worship, we invite His manifest presence or His glory to dwell with us.
God’s glory, His manifested presence, shows up in our lives as interruptions. They rarely come when it’s convenient. But those interruptions are actually invitations, moments when God steps into your story to do something greater. “Interruption is God’s invitation to do something greater with your life.”
In keeping with the Abide theme for the year, our Christmas message will focus on the glory of God. It is His presence that draws us and keeps us. We will focus on how the glory of God is His presence made visible among us. The transcendent God making His presence felt. It is the wind of His Spirit blowing in our midst. The incarnation means His glory is not distant, it is here. Our response to His glory is holiness, worship, and the mission of bringing others out of the darkness into His presence of light.
This week’s message focuses on Rebekah, a woman who gave beyond what was expected. Her story, along with others in Scripture, shows that when we give freely and with faith, God not only meets our needs but also shapes our future in powerful ways.
The health of any church community depends on how we handle relationships, especially when conflict, disappointment, or differences arise. Scripture gives us clear warnings about certain attitudes and actions that can quietly erode unity and love within the body of Christ.
Being thankful has a dramatic effect on your whole being and changes the way you treat others and the atmosphere around you. The story of the ten lepers in Luke 17 reminds us that while all were healed, only one returned to thank Jesus, and in doing so, he found true wholeness.
The parable of the Good Samaritan is one of Jesus’ most well-known teachings. But we often focus only on the act of compassion, not what it took for the Samaritan to respond the way he did. He was healthy in five areas of life, which enabled him to love his neighbor and bear another’s burden.
Peace often feels fragile, easily broken by conflict or pride. Yet Scripture reminds us it’s not accidental, it’s something we pursue. In Romans 12, Paul shows us how to walk in peace that begins with God and flows into our relationships. True peace is more than the absence of conflict; it is the presence of Christ shaping how we think, speak, and treat others.
Join us this weekend as we learn from the story of Barnabas. He’s not the main character, yet time and again he lifted others into their calling. His real name was Joseph, but the apostles nicknamed him Barnabas—“son of encouragement.” Why? Because he led with generosity and reflected the heart of our Father, the God of all encouragement (2 Corinthians 1:3).
We live in a world where everyone wants to matter and be noticed. But Jesus redefines greatness, not by popularity, position, possessions or power, but by serving. We all have been given various gifts to serve. It must remembered that gifts are just that, gifts. We are not the authors of them, they have been designed by God for each of us as He sees fit for the purpose of serving others.
In Exodus 18, Moses learned, through Jethro’s counsel, that shared leadership strengthens both leaders and communities. By listening to advice, praying, teaching, sharing responsibility, and empowering others, we see a model where no one is overloaded and no one is overlooked.
The world feels shaky today, because it is. Trends shift overnight, conflicting headlines broadcast the chaos our world is in, and uncertainty seems to surround us on every side. But here’s the good news, God is certain, unchanging and He will empower us to stand strong. God tell us not to fear, not be dismayed, that He will give us strength and uphold us with His right hand.
Everyone talks about love, but Scripture tells us something deeper: God is love (1 John 4:8). Real love begins with Him, flows into our hearts, and shows up in the way we treat others. The question Jesus still asks each of us is, ‘Do you love Me?’
The enemy attacks us primarily through deception and condemnation, but abiding in Christ gives us victory over both. Even when lies, shame, or fear try to pull us away, we can walk in victory knowing that “greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world.
From the start, God’s message has been clear: love one another. Not with words alone, but with a love that acts—selfless, sacrificial, and steadfast. This agape love is the very nature of God, shown perfectly in Jesus giving His life for us. To abide in love is to abide in God, and for His love to abide in us, it must overflow to others.
As we abide with God, we recognize who we are; His chosen children. When that sinks in, it changes everything. 1 John 3 reminds us to slow down and remember: you’re not just liked by God, you’re loved and officially adopted into His family. That’s our real identity, so John challenges us to live like it.
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
As we navigate the last hour and the pressures of a culture filled with counterfeit truth, our hope remains secure: Christ is coming again. Until then, we abide—anchored in Scripture, led by the Spirit, and walking in confident faith. May we continue in Him daily, unshaken by deception, and ready to stand before Him with boldness, knowing we have remained faithful to the truth.
Authentic Christianity is more than just agreeing with doctrine or avoiding sin; it is a transformed life marked by obedience, radical love, and abiding in Christ. Only through His power in us, can we overcome the pull of the world and live with our eyes fixed on eternity.
In this message from 1 John 1:5–2:2, we explore what it means to walk in the light and live in true fellowship—with God and with one another. John reminds us that fellowship is not automatic; it's built on transparency, truth, and trust in Christ. While the world offers many false solutions for dealing with sin—through education, psychology, or self-improvement—only Jesus can remove guilt and restore joy.
Many of us carry a deep, often hidden sense that we’re not enough, rooted in shame, comparison, and striving for approval. This message explores how shame distorts our identity, leading us to live from a “false self” built on image, achievement, or performance. Drawing from Scripture, especially Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3, we’re reminded that true freedom and identity come not from trying harder or doing more, but from deeply experiencing the unconditional love of Christ.
As we’ve discussed managing various aspects of managing our lives—our hearts, priorities, thoughts, choices, mouths, and relationships—there’s a crucial footnote: putting these into action will present challenges. To overcome, we must actively manage our faith.
When we hear God’s word and our faith begins to build, and our adversary emerges. Satan seeks to steal this precious gift from us. That’s because faith is the most precious thing we have. Don’t sell it. Protect it.
There is no perfect father except God the Father. Whatever we may have lacked in our earthly father, God will restore. God not only sees the pain of the fatherless—He personally takes it in hand.
Healthy relationships are foundational to a flourishing life, and managing them well begins with understanding their divine design, prioritizing their different types, making wise choices, and actively investing in others with grace.
In this message, Pastor Dave Koop explores four keys to managing your relationships so you can experience the fullness of life God designed for you.
Your words reveal the true condition of your heart and cannot be separated from your inner character. They carry immense power to either build or destroy, guiding the direction of your life and reflecting your level of faith. When aligned with God’s Word, your mouth becomes a tool to activate His nature in you and live out your new identity in Christ.
One of the greatest gifts a mother can give her children is train them to anchor to the Rock and dare to trust that it will hold them through all the storms in life.
In 2 Kings 18 we are introduced to Hezekiah. He began to reign as king at the age of 25, and followed God’s ways despite his dad’s life of deception and bad decisions. Not only is his father’ name recorded in the genealogy, but also his mother’s.
What you prioritize reveals the condition of your heart—and ultimately shapes the course of your life. Drawing from the Parable of the Sower and the words of Jesus, this message outlines four key relationships that must be kept in proper order to produce lasting fruit. When Jesus is first, and your foundation is strong, everything else finds its rightful place.
Your heart determines the direction and quality of your life. If you guard what comes in, what comes out, and what surrounds it, your path will be secure and become brighter and brighter.
Across Canada (and the USA), Easter for many is just another long weekend—a time for chocolate eggs, bunnies, and family dinners. But Easter is far more than a just a few days off or a cultural tradition. This weekend is a time to rethink what Easter truly means. It’s not just about what happened—it’s about what is happening and what is yet to come.
We prepare extensively for Christmas—decorations, gifts, music, and gatherings—but what about Easter, the most important day on the Christian calendar? Palm Sunday reminds us of Jesus’ triumphal entry and the week leading up to Jesus’ death and resurrection. As we prepare for this important day our focus needs to be on Jesus and what He expects from us.
John 17 is Jesus’ longest recorded prayer, often called the ‘High Priestly Prayer.’ It reveals His deepest desires for Himself, His disciples, and all believers. Jesus prays with His eyes lifted toward heaven, calling God ‘Father’ six times, and displays complete unity and obedience.
This message reflects on the sorrow the disciples felt as Jesus prepared to leave them, revealing how their confusion, fear, and grief would soon be transformed into lasting joy through His resurrection. Just as their pain gave way to joy, we too can abide in hope by anchoring our joy in Jesus, who offers direct access to God, the power of prayer in His name, and the assurance of the Father's love. Despite trials in this world, Christ’s victory gives us peace and an unshakable joy that no one can take away.
In this message, we explore Jesus’ promise of the Holy Spirit—our Advocate and guide into all truth. As Jesus prepares to return to the Father, He assures us that the Spirit will convict, teach, and remind us of His words, helping us stay connected to Him. We’ll also look at what it means to truly abide in Christ through Scripture, spiritual practices, and resisting the lies of the enemy
In a world that often seems to be growing increasingly hostile to faith, how can believers stand firm in their convictions? This question is not just relevant for our times, but has been a challenge for followers of Christ since the very beginning of the church. The words of Jesus in John 15:18-16:4 offer both a sobering warning and a source of hope for Christians facing opposition.
Staying connected to Jesus isn’t just a suggestion—it’s the key to real love, true joy, and a life that makes a lasting impact.
Jesus' words in John 15:1-8 provide a powerful metaphor for the believer's relationship with Him. He calls Himself the True Vine, His Father the Vinedresser, and His followers the branches.
The heart, as described in Scripture, represents our innermost being and must be guarded diligently, as it influences every aspect of life. Just as physical stress can harm the body, spiritual stress—caused by worry, striving, and fear—can lead to exhaustion, but Jesus offers a better way through abiding in Him. By remaining connected to Christ, like branches to a vine, we naturally bear fruit, live in His love, experience true joy, and find communion with God.
True peace comes from obeying God's Word, fixing our thoughts on Him, and trusting that He will keep us in perfect peace. Ultimately, we can find comfort in Christ's assurance that He is with us always, even in the most turbulent times.
Jesus promises the Holy Spirit as our Helper and the ultimate source of peace. Abiding in Christ is sustained through the Spirit’s presence.
Abiding in Christ includes trusting Him when the future is unclear.
Life is full of uncertainty, and sometimes our hearts are troubled. We face challenges, losses, and doubts that make us question the path ahead.
God wants to lead us to trust Him, even if we don’t understand
His thoughts are higher than ours. And His thoughts are always good!
Jesus commands His disciples to love one another as He has loved them. Abiding in Christ involves sacrificial, selfless love.
Judas’ betrayal and Jesus’ response demonstrate that abiding in Christ involves navigating betrayal with grace and forgiveness.
How should we handle betrayal?
Forgive: Forgiveness doesn’t mean excusing the betrayal but releasing the hurt to God. (Matthew 6:14-15)
Set healthy boundaries: While Jesus extended love to Judas, He didn’t try to change him or keep him in His inner circle. (Proverbs 4:23, Galatians 6:5)
Connect to a small group: Jesus surrounded Himself with His other disciples, a reminder to seek support from trusted friends and spiritual family. We too need a personal support network. (Hebrews 10:24-25)
Trust God with justice: Vengeance belongs to God, not us. (Romans 12:19)
Jesus’ act of washing His disciples’ feet reveals that abiding in Him begins with a posture of humility. When we walk in humility, we create space for His life to flow through us, just as the vine nourishes its branches.
While abiding keeps us connected to Christ, His command to “go” ensures that we do not stagnate in our faith. When we are deeply rooted in Him, the natural result is the desire to share the gospel and bear the fruit of the Spirit that Paul talks about in Galatians 5:22,23. Abiding is not passive; it produces action.
Home has a powerful influence on all of us. At Christmas we are reminded that God came to dwell among us and make a way for us to spend eternity in His home.
A strong foundation in our earthly homes and being secure in our eternal home enables us to step into 2025 with confidence.
Love in Advent is more than feeling this is the most wonderful time of the year, it is about recognizing that God loves us and then going and sharing that love with others. If we look closely Christmas teaches us what it means to love.
The joy of Christmas is not found in fleeting emotions or worldly pleasures but in the profound truth that “the Lord has come.” As we journey through this Advent season, we are reminded that true joy is supernatural—a gift of the Spirit, anchored in God’s eternal love and presence.
December is a month to reflect on the birth of Jesus. Why did He come? Ultimately Jesus has come to bring us peace within, because he makes peace between.
Experience Jesus’ birth through their eyes as Christmas with The Chosen: Holy Night blends The Messengers and The Shepherd into one special remastered and re-scored story: https://watch.thechosen.tv/video/184683594479
Oh Holy Night is a Christmas production put on entirely by the Coastal Church family. Full of special music, moments of laughter, and a Christmas message from Pastor Dave. Streaming live from the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver!
In this message, we'll explore the certainty of Jesus' second coming, just as His first coming fulfilled God's promises and proved that nothing is impossible for Him. Just as the miraculous events of His birth seemed impossible, we can trust in His promises for His return.
The Chosen Christmas Special Clip: https://watch.thechosen.tv/video/184683594479
Roar teaches at the Word of Life Bible Institute and other Bible schools worldwide. He’s also an author, podcaster on Israel-related topics, and part of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem.
Christmas is a time to pause and reflect on the magnificence of Jesus. The incarnation—the miracle of God becoming man—is only truly understood if we first believe in the deity and pre-existence of Jesus as part of the Godhead. Without this foundation, the significance of His coming to earth as a baby in Bethlehem cannot be grasped and we cannot fully appreciate the majesty and sacrifice of His incarnation.
Just as Nehemiah depended on God’s guidance and strength, we are encouraged to lean on God’s promises, grounding ourselves in Scripture to reinforce our "spiritual walls." This renewal protects us against spiritual decay, builds resilience against worldly pressures, and strengthens our identity and purpose in Christ.
God’s word is the blueprint to build a healthy mind. Although we live in a physical world many or our problems are not physical. The battle must be won in the spiritual realm with spiritual weapons.
We are excited to have Pastor Carl-Gustaf Severin with us this weekend continuing with our series on Under Construction. We live in a time when so many negative thoughts come to us, especially with what's happening in the world around us. Pastor Carl will be sharing how to wash negative thoughts with the Word of God and with the help of the Holy Spirit.
As we continue to remodel our thought life, we cannot be unaware of the enemy’s strategies in using negative thoughts to attack our minds. Through Nehemiah’s journey, we uncover the methods Satan uses to discourage us from rebuilding.
In the story of Nehemiah we see him make plans for the reconstruction of the walls of Jerusalem. Likewise, we too must be intentional in fortifying our thoughts by recognizing the need to renew our minds. This begins by acknowledging the civil war happening in our minds—the conflict between our old nature and the desire to live a godly life.
Somewhere in our lives, we all suffered some damage, some wear and tear, and breakdown in our thought life. We all have been exposed to hurts, temptations and attacks against our mind. In the Under Construction series, we are going to be talking about renewing our thought life. Let's get to work!
Jesus understands that to be transformed into His image is a process. In Luke 5:1-11 we see how Jesus gently leads Peter to make a commitment to follow Him. From this point onwards we see Peter's life is under construction.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus introduced a radical principle that transforms the way we approach life, relationships, and even our struggles: the principle of the “second mile.” Walking that second mile, though often uncomfortable and sacrificial, is not about what we must do, but about who we are becoming—a people marked by the love and the generosity of Jesus, who went the “second mile” for us.
As the church, God’s spiritual family, we have the responsibility to reach out and rescue those who are spiritually perishing. The Bible reminds us that we can’t carry out this mission in our own strength but must rely on God’s mighty weapons and His Holy Spirit. Like any rescue effort, we must be prepared, equipped, and anchored in prayer.
Connecting to a local church is more than just attending a weekly service—it’s about joining a community where you can grow spiritually, support others, and find purpose. God designed us to be in relationships, and the church is His plan for helping us thrive together.
It is with great joy that we invite you to celebrate 30 years of God’s faithfulness to Coastal Church! We're streaming LIVE from the Vancouver Convention Centre.
The book of Acts ends by highlighting Paul’s final days in Rome. While Paul remains a key figure, the book of Acts ends on a cliffhanger, emphasizing that the work of spreading the gospel is far from complete. This unfinished story signals that the mission of the church—to GO into all the world—continues. Acts chapter 29, though unwritten in the Bible, continues to be written through the lives of believers to this day, empowered by the Holy Spirit to carry on the mission that began in Jerusalem.
Life’s storms are inevitable. Whether they come as personal trials, challenges in our families, or difficulties in our communities, storms test our faith. However, it is in these very storms that our faith can shine the brightest, serving as a powerful witness to those around us.
Acts 24-26 depict Paul’s trials and defenses before various Roman authorities. Despite facing false accusations and prolonged imprisonment, Paul steadfastly testifies to his faith in Christ, leveraging every opportunity to proclaim the gospel. His appeal to Caesar ultimately sets the stage for his journey to Rome, in fulfillment of God’s plan for him to witness there as well.
In Acts chapter 24 we see how Paul’s Roman citizenship had kept him from being killed. Now he stood before Felix, governor of Judea. As usual, Paul was sharing the faith, even with a very hardened ruler despite the risks involved.
In the book of Acts we see on several occasions that Paul gave his testimony in defense of his faith and each time it had a powerful impact. Your testimony will also have a powerful impact on those you share it with.
Telling your testimony may seem intimidating but if you remember a few simple principles, you’ll discover the “joy of your salvation” as you share.
In Acts chapter 20 Paul continues his journey and when he arrives in Miletus, he calls for the elders of the church from Ephesus and reminds them of the choices he modelled for them. He then exhorts them to take heed and care for the flock as he had.
A life of faith in Christ will at times upset others. In Acts 19 we see the following attributes of faith upset the people of Ephesus:
• Faith rooted in the power of the Holy Spirit.
• Faith rooted in the word of God.
• Faith rooted in the name of Jesus.
• Faith that produces miracles and renounces demonic powers.
This Sunday we’re excited to have guest speaker, Pastor John Oh, speak a message titled “Rejoice in the Gospel”.
John Oh has been serving as the senior pastor of SaRang Church in Seoul for 21 years, overseeing a membership growth of over 100,000. He places a strong emphasis on intentional discipleship in the workplace, global networking, and the unification of the two Koreas. He received a Ph.D. from Potchefstroom University and was a Harvard University Fellow. He also currently serves as the president of SaRang Global Academy (SaGA) and as the chairman of the board at Soongsil University. John is married to Nan-young Oh and has two sons, Joseph and Timothy, and two granddaughters, Eden and Ayla.
Psalms 111 and 112 are both acrostics of the Hebrew alphabet, which helps pair these psalms together in a way that they complement each other. In Psalm 111 you have the qualities of God. In Psalm 112 the qualities of a person sees their identity in God.
The book of The Acts of the Apostles is the blueprint of how Jesus established His church. In chapter 18 we see how God used ordinary people, regardless of their background, race, gender, or profession to accomplish His plan of making disciples.
As we look at the characters, we see that they experienced the same challenges you and I do yet they all invested into the work of the kingdom.
Acts chapter 17 features three cities that Paul shared the Gospel. Each of the encounter was somewhat different and teaches a valuable lesson on how to share our faith.
In Acts 16 we find the apostle Paul on his second missionary journey with Silas. Along the way, they have several gospel encounters that result in the transformation of lives. The diversity of backgrounds among those they meet illustrates that no one is beyond God's reach. This chapter encourages us to trust in the power of the Gospel and the importance of prayer to see people have a God encounter.
This weekend we honour the dads and father figures in our lives, and take a moment to reflect on our Heavenly Father. God's love for us is so real and personal; He’s not some distant deity, but a loving Father who’s deeply invested in every aspect of our lives. Whether we’ve felt His presence in our best moments or leaned on Him during our toughest times, God’s been there, loving us with a perfect, unwavering love.
In Acts 15:2 we read of “no small dissension and dispute” arising in the church. However, by verse 31 we read there was great joy throughout the church. This chapter in Acts is a blueprint for the church showing us how to go from conflict to connection.
In Acts 14, Paul and Barnabas are blazing a trail in missionary work. Despite facing severe opposition and physical harm, they continue their mission to spread the gospel. Their perseverance, even in the face of danger, is a powerful example of dedication to God's calling.
In Acts chapter 13, The Holy Spirit directed the church to separate Barnabas and Saul to embark on what is known as Paul’s first missionary trip. The Biblical pattern seen here is for the church leaders to pray and fast and then follow the leading of the Holy Spirit to lay hands on those who are called and send them on their assignment.
The Book of Acts is a book of miracles - God’s power in action. To act means to do something, to carry out, to move, behave, or exert power, and that is exactly what we see in today’s message in Acts chapter 12.
In the Bible, one Mother stands out for leaving a legacy of extraordinary courage and unwavering faith. Her name is Jochebed, the mother of Moses, who had just a few short years with her son, yet the impact she left is still felt today. In the face of Pharaoh’s ruthless decree condemning Hebrew male infants to death, Jochebed defied the tyrannical order and entrusted her son’s fate to the hands of God. Her life still speaks today as a testament to the power of a mother’s love and faith that can shape a nation.
In Acts Chapter 11, the early church begins to see a clearer picture of God’s purpose for salvation. Not only was the gospel of Christ for every nation, whether Jew or Gentile, but God’s plan included bringing every nation, tongue and tribe together in Christ.
Cornelius was a Roman Centurion who got God’s attention. 2 Chronicles 16:9 says “the eyes of the LORD search to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.” This week we explore the qualities of Cornelius from Acts Chapter 10.
The conversion process of the apostle Paul is one of the most significant events in the book of Acts. The chief persecutor of the church is converted to be a zealous follower of Jesus Christ.
Paul’s conversion follows the same basic process for everyone.
After the stoning of Stephen, great persecution arises in Jerusalem as believers are imprisoned and forced to flee the city. As a result, the good news of Jesus begins to spread everywhere they are scattered. In Samaria, Philip preaches with healings and miracles following and leads many to Christ while Peter and John pray for these new Christians to receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 8 shows us how the Holy Spirit helps the Church and what it takes for the Holy Spirit to move among us.
Acts chapter seven serves as a pivotal point for the spread of Christianity globally. Stephen, a member of the serve team in the early church is a great example of lay person who faithfully serves.
His influence leads to his defending his action by a powerful sermon, that highlights two crucial points: Israel’s historical resistance to God’s prophets and the inadequacy of the law to save due to its inability to transform hearts.
Every sermon preached by every Christian in the New Testament centers on the resurrection. The Gospel is essentially the good news of Christ’s resurrection. The news that flashed across the ancient world, that set hearts on fire, changed lives, and turned the world upside down was not “love your neighbor”. Everyone knew that was not news. The news was that a Man who claimed to be the Son of God, and the Saviour the world, had risen from the dead. Jesus’s resurrection has since impacted the lives of millions of people.
On Palm Sunday, the vision that Jesus had for the future was not what the people were looking for. We often have our own plan for God in our lives instead of submitting to Him and understanding what He sees for us.
In Acts chapter 6 we discover how the early growing church responded to division and the powerful solution of a serve team. When we all embrace our unique roles in God’s kingdom, whether teaching, giving, encouraging, or serving; this will foster unity and empower the healthy growth of the church.
The Gospel transformed the lives of the early church! This message reveals tragedy and failure in their midst and how this continues to speak to us today. His grace surpasses our shortcomings, and continues to fulfill His plan, sustaining us in the power of the Holy Spirit.
In turbulent times, characterized by uncertainty and upheaval, it’s easy to succumb to fear and anxiety. However, as believers, we’re reminded not to be governed by fear but to trust in God’s sovereignty and providence. Rather than letting fear dictate our actions, we are called to lean on God’s strength, knowing that He is in control and will guide us through all seasons of life.
Acts chapter 5 underscores the importance of integrity, perseverance, and bold proclamation in the growth of the early Christian church. Like the apostles, we can persevere through opposition by relying on the strength of our faith, maintaining our commitment to the Word of God, and trusting in God’s faithfulness through all circumstances! Join us in this message from Pastor Jachin Mullen.
Prayer is an indispensable key to the effectiveness of the Church and vital to the spiritual health of individual believers. We see in Acts 4 how prayer continues to guide and sustain the ministry life of the early church.
In Acts 4, the opposition “… ordered them not to preach or teach at all in the name of Jesus” (Acts 4:18) but they couldn’t “… stop speaking about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20).
Before we GO on God’s mission, we need to PRAY for God’s purpose, presence, and power.
To GO where God is calling us to as a church and individually is going to require faith. God does not call us to GO where we don’t need Him to succeed. As the early church prepares to fulfill the Great Commission given by Jesus, we see the power of faith in the first miracle in the Book of Acts. Through this incredible example of the power of faith, we learn how we too can walk by faith and reach the place God has called us to GO.
The spiritual, the supernatural, the life of faith seems crazy to the world, to the natural. Not all crazy is spiritual, but all spiritual can seem crazy to the unspiritual. This weekend, we look forward to a powerful message from our guest speaker Pastor Christian Akerhielm about The Right Kind of Crazy.
The early church understood in order to stay healthy and continue to reach out to the world around them, it was important to assemble in small groups. These meetings were more than just a gathering, rather it was an intentional assembling sharing spiritually and materially with each other.
The power of the Holy Spirit is not an end in itself but only a means toward the end of making disciples. In this message Pastor Dave Koop shares about the power of the church, its message and SHAPE.
Guest speaker Ake Carlson shares a message unveiling the great significance of The Name of Jesus. Names represent something and represent the person behind it. From the Old Testament to the New Testament, we see the Name of Christ being revealed to us and for us, so we can know Him personally and be full of His power to do His work!
This year as a church we will delve into an exploration of the responsibilities and expectations that Jesus places upon His church as seen in the book of Acts. In the first chapter we will see the proofs, promise, priorities, program, prospect, and prayer that sets up the divine mandate to “GO!”.
God is leading our church into a new chapter marked by a stronger emphasis on missions. As our church enters into its 30th year, we have reached a stage where God is compelling us to plant more churches, and to send more messengers into the mission field. The message of Christmas, God’s gift to us in His Son, must be shared and we can draw inspiration from the shepherds who, upon encountering the Christ-child, went on a mission to spread the Good News. “When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.” - Luke 2:17-18 NIV
Christmas itself has now far outstripped Easter in popular culture as the real celebratory center of the Christian year–a move that completely reverses the New Testament emphasis. We sometimes try, in hymns, prayers, and sermons, to build a whole theology on Christmas, but it can’t in fact sustain such a thing. Easter, however, should be the center. Take that away and there is, almost literally, nothing left.
Christmas is about the light coming to earth. In the Gospel of John, we find the beautiful proclamation that encapsulates the essence of Christmas: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it”. - John 1:5, ESV
For a gift to be complete it must be received. Christmas is all about God extending His gift to us. As Christians, Christmas is more than a nostalgic feeling, it is a time to reflect deeply on what God truly gave us.
Exploring the account of the Wise Men in Matthew chapter two, we discover an enduring lesson that speaks directly to all of us on how we too can respond to the extraordinary gift of God sending His Son.
Christmas is a huge celebration in our homes as we gather with loved ones, especially if it includes the sounds of children! God designed home and although not perfect, they are a gift from God.
We are living in a time where there is a thick darkness on the earth and yet a thick powerful glory of the church. We are moving into biblical times and must be ready for it. Though, we do not know how long this time will take, we understand that the world is changing at a high speed and we see signs of what the Bible describes as the end time and restoration of the Church.
The power of a gift is simple; it is LOVE. We are wired for love.
Because LOVE is the most powerful force in the universe, a gift has the possibility to transport this power into the lives of those around us. God demonstrated the power of a gift when He gave the greatest gift of all times.
This week we were privileged to have Roar Sorenson share at our School of Missions and our weekend services. His rich experience and expertise having studied and lived in Israel and currently teaching Jewish Studies at the Scandinavian School of Theology comes to us at a timely moment.
In a world saturated with the clamor of daily life, we need to pause and remember that true freedom, whether national or spiritual, is not a given; it must be remembered, cherished, and anchored in truth.
The English word ‘worship’ comes from the Anglo-Saxon ‘weorthscipe’ which literally means to ascribe worth to something. If something captivates our heart’s affection, our mind’s attention and our soul’s ambition, it effectively has our worship. Our ultimate purpose is to worship God. Until we discover our purpose in God, we will never be satisfied.
This last great act of faith we see from Abraham is the finding of a wife for his son Isaac. The fulfillment of the promise God gave him, that through his seed he would bless the nations, depended on Isaac finding the right wife.
Likewise, one of the greatest steps of faith we will make in our lives is choosing who we will marry. The courtship of Isaac and Rebekah provides valuable wisdom of how we should go about looking for a spouse.
Abraham’s test of faith is one of the most well-known accounts of his life and one of the most challenging to understand. To learn from Abraham’s example we must understand the following:
Understand the difference between a test and temptation.
Understand there are options in taking the test.
Understand that faith is obedience and unwavering trust in God’s goodness.
Understand the end your heavenly Father has in mind.
Understand that Jesus passed the ultimate test for us.
Throughout the Bible, believers are urged to pray for one another, to lift up the needs and concerns of others in prayer, and to intercede on their behalf. Intercession is a powerful way to express love and care for one another, following the example of Jesus, who interceded on behalf of humanity.
This year our theme has been The Journey. As believers we are called to journey of faith, and a crucial aspect of this journey is our continual thanks to our Heavenly Father, even before our prayers are answered.
Just as the disciples faced a life-threatening storm, people today encounter various storms in their lives, be it personal challenges, global crises, or uncertainties. The story reminds us to have faith even in the midst of adversity, trusting that God is capable of calming the storms we face.
We live in a society where promises are easily broken, so we find it hard to believe God would keep His Word. However, God is a covenant keeping God who never changes and we can fully put our trust in His promises.
God is bigger than your mountain, more powerful than your suppressor, greater than your depression and has given you victory over all things! However, without FAITH we can receive nothing from God! Faith takes courage, for the blind to see, cripple to walk, for your life to be radically changed, to see your breakthrough – it requires you to take a step forward.
We all make mistakes. Just as it takes faith to step out and follow God, it also takes faith to turn back to God after we have made a mistake. Abraham’s journey of faith is not only noted for his incredible obedience, but also for his human frailty. In Genesis 12:10-20, we find a pivotal moment in his life when he ventured to Egypt during a time of famine and there lied about his wife Sarah.
Through Abraham’s experience, we can learn some valuable lessons on how to overcome our shortcomings and embrace God’s grace.
Abraham’s journey teaches us that a life of faith begins with responding to a call from God. This call involves obedience, trusting in God’s promises, navigating challenges, enduring trials, and ultimately surrendering to God’s will. His story resonates throughout the pages of the Bible, echoing the message that faith is the foundation of our relationship with God.
The book of Jeremiah carries a broader message about divine purpose, predestination, and the idea that God has a plan for each of us, even before we were born! We each have unique talents and abilities, and it’s up to us to discover and fulfill the calling God has for our lives!
Saul was a man who was chosen by God to be king over Israel. Saul’s journey is a sobering reminder of how even those who are anointed for a specific calling can veer off course due to disobedience, insecurity, and jealousy. Saul’s actions had a huge impact on Samuel and the nation of Israel but God had not forgotten them. He would raise up King David, they could dream again and certainly the “best was yet to come”.
In a world that often questions the relevance and significance of the church, a world that encourages individualism, we must recognize the goodness of God that is manifested through the vibrant life of the church.
In a world that bombards us with messages that challenge the value and integrity of family relationships, we must not neglect the importance of nurturing healthy family dynamics and remind ourselves that God’s design for family is rooted in His goodness.
As recipients of God’s goodness, we are now sent by Jesus to share with others the Good News (the Gospel) in word and in deed.
God is more interested in your character than your comfort and there are times we will experience suffering as we wait for God’s plan to unfold. In those times of difficulty it's important to remember God’s goodness and faithfulness, which ultimately brings blessings and fulfillment.
In a world plagued by strife, brokenness, and insecurities, it is crucial we understand that God fashioned us in His image of goodness to do good. Despite our fallen world, God has a masterplan to restore all of us to His goodness.
Insecurity is something we all struggle with to some degree. Our feelings of insecurity are related to our sense of identity, how we see ourselves, how we think others see us and most importantly how we see God.
Satan’s goal is to get our focus off the goodness of God. In doing so he can keep us walled in from realizing the goodness of God and the freedom He has for us.
We live in a time when Canada is facing some serious challenges and uncertainties. In order to bring healing to our land it is imperative that we focus on the goodness of God and His light rather than the darkness we see around us. The choice is ours; His goodness is not forced on us but God has promised that IF we turn our hearts to Him, He will heal our land.
The Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, is not just a distant concept or an abstract idea, nor a passive observer in our lives. He is the living and active presence of God within us who is renewing and shaping our view of the world from God’s perspective.
In a world that is redefining the family, fathers need a clear measurement of what a father is and what God expects of them to succeed.
Measurement is like a compass that guides us through the flood of information coming at us today, helping us to navigate our way. For a father to “measure up” he must pattern himself not after what the world is saying but after what God has spoken.
The Greek word for “spiritual gift” is charisma. It means, “something freely given.” The plural Greek word, charismata, is found in 1 Corinthians 12:4, 9, 28, 30-31. The spiritual gifts or charismata are operations of supernatural abilities bestowed on individuals, to flow through them at the will of the Holy Spirit revealing the love and power of God.
The Bible teaches that we as followers of Christ should be known by the fruit of the Spirit. Like natural fruit, it is important to understand the nature of the fruit and what kind of climate brings forth fruit. Nine keys to understand the fruit are:
Astronomer and best-selling author, Dr. Ross travels the globe speaking on the compatibility of scientific discoveries with the timeless truths of Christianity. His organization, Reasons to Believe, is dedicated to demonstrating, via a variety of resources and events, that science and biblical faith are allies, not enemies. His books include Improbable Planet, Navigating Genesis, and Why the Universe Is the Way It Is.
To walk in the Spirit is a walk of faith. It is a journey of recognizing your spiritual identity, that you are not merely an ordinary individual but the temple of the Holy Spirit. You carry within you a divine aroma, an indwelling presence that sets you apart from the world.
To equip the next generation for today’s culture we must leave a legacy of godliness. As we pass on Biblical values to our children and teenagers, we’re preparing a generation of spirit filled believers who are strong in the Lord and power of His might.
God has given us the Holy Spirit who guarantees success when we follow His guidance. “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” - John 14:26
As we embark on our journey of faith, there are many obstacles that will try to hinder us from progressing into what God has for us. At first it can be daunting when we look at the giants and challenges in our way, but God has not left us alone. Just like was saw last week, He has given us the Holy Spirit who guarantees success when we follow His guidance.
But the Holy Spirit does not just guide us on our journey, He also empowers us for our journey. Success comes when we exchange our limited strength for His unlimited power.
At the conclusion of Pilgrim’s Progress, the protagonist, a man named Christian, arrives at the Celestial City. This is a metaphor for heaven, a prepared place for a prepared people. One of the most exciting and sobering events that is being prepared for every believer is the Judgment Seat of Christ. Yet sadly many believers aren’t aware of this event or what will be involved.
Jesus is risen. He is risen indeed!
Across Canada we enjoy the long weekend that Easter brings, yet for many what Easter really means is unclear. It is time to think deeper about Easter.
As we come to the end of the story of Pilgrim’s Progress, we see Christian and Hopeful enter the Celestial City. They have finished strong after facing numerous trials and challenges along the way. As they cross the river and enter into the City, they are greeted by angels who welcome them with songs of celebration.
The example of Christian is an inspiration for us as we run the race of faith.
As Christian and Hopeful draw closer to the end of their pilgrimage, they reach the Enchanted Grounds, a place they had been warned about by the Shepherds at the Delectable Mountains. Bunyan describes the Enchanted Grounds as a place where the air naturally tends to make one drowsy. It is a place that is meant to make one tired and sleepy rather than refreshed. If Satan cannot cause us to succumb to unbelief, he will cause us to slumber.
As Christian and Hopeful leave Doubting Castle and the giant Despair, they reach the Delectable Mountains. These mountains are a picture of the Sabbath, Sunday the day of rest. The shepherds they meet represent the pastors that God has given the church to care and lead them.
In this chapter of Pilgrim’s Progress we learn why Sundays should be set apart.
In the uncertain and changing world we live in we find a desperate search for hope. The key is to have a true hope, a hope anchored to the right source. If you place your hope in the present world, your wealth, or the people in your life, you will be disappointed. But there is a hope that God gives, which like the rising sun brightens your path.
As Christian and Faithful continue their journey, they arrive at a town named Vanity, in which there is an ongoing festival called Vanity Fair. At this fair, all types of lusts, desires, and cravings are on display and the two pilgrims face temptation to stop their journey to the Celestial City and partake in Vanity Fair.
God uses relationships with other believers to strengthen our faith. In this Podcast Pastor James talks about 3 Things to Look for in a Godly Companion:
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A godly companion has a deep love for God.
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A godly companion is a doer of God’s Word.
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A godly companion submits to God’s authority.
When we receive Jesus, we are born again and made new creations in Christ (2 Cor 5:17). However, we still have thinking patterns, mindsets and maybe painful memories that have been with us most of our lives. As we begin the process of renewing our minds in the Bible, we discover that the focus of our enemy shifts to this new battlefield. Here in the battlefield of the mind we can find ourselves in dark valleys that God has empowered us to walk through victoriously on our journey to the Celestial City.
The Christian life is filled with challenges, but Jesus has given us everything we need to overcome the hills of difficulty. Regardless of the challenges we face on the outside, we can be renewed and refreshed on the inside every day.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus speaks about the narrow gate, which is a metaphor for the path to eternal life. The narrow gate represents the path to salvation and leads to the Celestial City or eternal life that is referred to in Pilgrim’s Progress. The function of the narrow gate is to separate those who have chosen to follow Jesus from those who have chosen to follow the ways of the world.
We will be going through the book, Pilgrim’s Progress written by John Bunyan. This book really does cover the journey of a lifetime. In the pages of this allegory you will be introduced to a cast of unique and memorable characters, each with their own role and lessons to impart. You’ll be able to relate to the protagonist and find yourself encountering the same challenges and obstacles as he did. But with determination and perseverance, you’ll too find God’s strength and grace to overcome them.
Whether you’re a seasoned believer or a newcomer to the journey, this series is sure to capture your imagination and inspire you to pursue your own path to true greatness. Are you ready to join us? Let’s go!
2023 is a fresh start. A New Year. An unwritten page in the story of our life’s travels. Our destination is clear. The Holy Spirit is our guide. The map of God’s Word lights our way. This year don’t travel alone. Join us as we journey together! This year we will start off by drawing inspiration from the journey of Christian in the book Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan. Just as the main character in the book named Christian embarked on a journey to the celestial city, we too want to set our sights on the ultimate goal of living in a closer relationship with God.
Every gift reflects the giver. It reflects their personality, resources, commitment, thoughtfulness, sacrifice and ultimately an expression of love. When God gave us the gift of His Son it truly reflected God’s great love for the world. This supreme gift of love compels us to express our deepest appreciation in worship. This is to be our gift back to God.
The only invitation from God to anyone to come and visit Mary and Joseph and the infant Jesus is to a group of shepherds. They were common people on the bottom of the social ladder of the day, perhaps the last people that you’d expect God to send as the first VIP guests to see His Son.
The shepherds represented Jesus’ identity as a descendent of King David, who was also a shepherd. They also remind us that Jesus was the sacrificial lamb. Because of the Messiah’s perfect life and death, we have a restored relationship with God.
The genealogy of Jesus, in the opening verses of the New Testament, is often overlooked. Found in this genealogy are four women, all of them foreigners and each one of them had a season in their life that was R rated. They had to overcome shame, dead babies, dead husbands, lying men, being foreigners, being broke and insecurity. From these grandmothers of Christmas, we can learn some rich lessons in faith and divine grace.
A child was born for us. Perhaps we have heard this so often it no longer strikes us as unusual or perhaps we are hearing it for the first time and it strikes as absurd. The question that begs to be asked is: “Why would an all-powerful God give us His son?”
A special Christmas message from Pastor Dave Koop, spoken at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver.
This is the eighth and last Beatitude in our message series that touches on persecution and opposition to our faith.
Jesus was sitting with his followers and the crowd of people who came to hear from him, teaching them about the Kingdom Realm, what it is to live in the Kingdom Realm, how we activate the Kingdom Realm in our life to live heaven on earth and why we are blessed when we live in His Kingdom Realm.
In the beatitudes Jesus gives the assurance that the pure in heart shall see God. True Christianity lies in the purity of heart.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy” Matt 5:7
To be merciful is revealed in action. It is actively compassionate. Treating people better than they deserve. God showed mercy in sparing us from the judgment we deserve for our sins through the saving work of Jesus Christ. We imitate God when we show mercy.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. – Matthew 5:6 NKJV
In the midst of setbacks in life, we know that God has a plan! Rather than shrink back, we press ahead and sense God has great things in store for those who put their trust in Him.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. – Romans 8:28
Thankfulness is more powerful than we might think. It is the key to wholeness in our relationships and contentment in life. More importantly, it is the key to receiving the wholeness God has promised for every area of our lives.
In our culture today meekness may be perceived as weakness. However, meekness is not weakness, but supreme self-control empowered by the Spirit to live an overcoming life on earth.
God has designed tears and mourning to release that pain we experience and to be part of a healing process. When pain is bottled up and kept inside, it can poison our spirits. For those in the kingdom God has promised that those who mourn will enjoy His comfort.
God has designed tears and mourning to release that pain we experience and to be part of a healing process. When pain is bottled up and kept inside, it can poison our spirits. For those in the kingdom God has promised that those who mourn will enjoy His comfort.
Everyone who puts their faith in Jesus Christ is a citizen of God’s kingdom. And in the Sermon on the Mount Jesus gives us the beatitudes, the characteristics He expects every Christian to manifest. The beatitudes are more than pithy sayings, they are radical truths that are as relevant today as they were two thousand years ago.
Everyone who puts their faith in Jesus Christ is a citizen of God’s kingdom. And in the Sermon on the Mount Jesus gives us the beatitudes, the characteristics He expects every Christian to manifest. The beatitudes are more than pithy sayings, they are radical truths that are as relevant today as they were two thousand years ago.
The end of time is revealed in the book of The Revelation Of Jesus Christ. The whole Bible story leads up to a climax in this book. Here the author, the apostle John, gives us a glimpse into what heaven will be like. What began in the first pages of the Bible is accomplished in the last pages of the Bible.
As we approach the end of the book of Acts, we find Paul on his final missionary journey, spreading the Gospel of Jesus to the known world. He is a prisoner on a boat headed to Rome. He’d been arrested in Jerusalem for causing a disturbance and, while under arrest had shared the Gospel with King Agrippa, almost compelling him to become a Christ follower. Now he was on his way to stand before Caesar and accomplish his mission of bringing the Gospel to gentiles and rulers (Acts 9:15).
As we approach the end of the book of Acts, we find Paul on his final missionary journey, spreading the Gospel of Jesus to the known world. He is a prisoner on a boat headed to Rome. He’d been arrested in Jerusalem for causing a disturbance and, while under arrest had shared the Gospel with King Agrippa, almost compelling him to become a Christ follower. Now he was on his way to stand before Caesar and accomplish his mission of bringing the Gospel to gentiles and rulers (Acts 9:15).
This week we will continue in the book of Acts. As the church begins to reach beyond the Jewish world, the question is, who is going to take the message of Jesus and what He has done to the world? Peter is featured in the first 12 chapters of Acts and then Paul takes the spotlight in his mission to take the message to primarily the people outside the Jewish community. His life is a thrilling adventure of someone fully devoted to preaching the Gospel to a culture much like ours today.
The book The Acts Of The Apostles reveals the new beginnings of the church. The early church believed and preached the resurrection of Jesus and the power of His name. The prophet Isaiah had spoken of a Child to be born whose name would be called “Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” and now the church would live and die for that name.
In the upper story God is watching over the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of mankind. From the book of Genesis onwards the scarlet thread of redemption was woven into the bible. It may be obvious for us to look back and see the plan, but for people living at the time, despair was all they experienced until they saw the resurrected Lord Jesus.
In the upper story we see God’s plan of redemption through the death of Jesus on the cross. As Jesus is about to die, He utters these words, “It is finished.” At that very moment, the temple curtain was torn, an earthquake split rocks and tombs were opened. It was finished. What could compel the Son of God to endure such torture? Finishing. Finishing the work that the Father sent Him to do.
Jesus knew that His trial and death was quickly approaching. He now for the first time introduces the term “church” and purposes to prepare His followers for the next dispensation. This is the first use of the word church in the New Testament (or the Bible for that matter), using the ancient Greek word ekklesia. Significantly, this was well before the beginnings of what we normally think of as the church on the Day of Pentecost in Acts chapter 2.
Kingdom of God appears 70 times in the New Testament
“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” - Romans 14:17
John the Apostle used two characters in this week’s chapter of The Story to “sandwich” the best-known verse in the whole Bible - John 3:16.
Heaven had been very quiet for 400 years. Now, after hundreds of years and many glimpses of the Messiah, we finally arrive at the birth of Jesus. Even as God has existed for eternity past so has Jesus. In fact, Jesus was the Genesis Word. How did God create the universe? With words. “Let there be.” And there was. In John’s account of the Gospel, he tells us that the voice saying “Let there be” was the voice of Jesus speaking.
While many great theological and spiritual lessons can be drawn from the book of Nehemiah, this message focuses on the very practical leadership lessons that can be gleaned from studying the methods and outcomes of Nehemiah. Nehemiah is surely one of the Bible’s greatest leaders.
Proverbs 16:33 tells us that we may throw the dice, but God determines how they fall. God’s name is not mentioned in the Book of Esther, but behind the scenes God guides all that seems to happen by “coincidence.”
The classic parable of the Prodigal Son provides us with a glimpse into what a father’s love for a child should look like.
We too, must put first things first if we expect to see the blessings of God in our lives. Jesus clearly tells us in Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
Andy Hawthorne, OBE is a British evangelist, author and founder of The Message Trust, a Christian mission organization based in Manchester, UK.
It is possible to succeed and be in the world, but not of the world.
It is easy to be overwhelmed today when the world presses in on all sides. Yet we have the words of Jesus in John 17:15, “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.”
God had tried everything to encourage the people to return to Him. After they had repeatedly broken the covenant, God could not continue to bless His people. God had to bring correction, but He would also give them a fresh hope for the future.
Our main character this week is King Hezekiah. He was the 13th of 20 kings of Judah, The Southern Kingdom. Hezekiah was one of few southern kings who attempted to follow God and return the people to loving and obeying Him. The Northern Kingdom fared much worse than Judah. They had no godly kings and, as a result, God allowed Assyria to conquer them and send the people into exile. This occurred in 722 B.C., during the period that Hezekiah reigned in Judah. During this time Isaiah and Micah were assigned by God to be prophets to the people in Judah. Both of these prophets saw beyond the present turmoil to the Messiah who would ultimately redeem mankind.
In the book of Hosea, we read how God is trying to get Israel’s attention. They have wandered away from Him and taken other love interests. He repeatedly reaches out to them, but they are ignoring His calls as they enjoy the provision, He has given them.
Benjamin Franklin once said, “If you would not be forgotten as soon as you are dead, either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.” He chose to leave a healthy legacy by sharing his life through public service and today is remembered for his wit, wisdom, and insightful writings.
The greatest movies are based on a rescue theme. The epic stories in the Bible have a rescue theme. But the greatest rescue story of all is what we’re celebrating today – Easter.
If you understand what Jesus finished at the cross, you can understand Christianity and why we call today “Good Friday”.
As we study the life of Jesus, we discover that those who wrote about the life of Jesus focused on the last week of His life. They were saying that the most important part of who He was and why He came is revealed in the last week of His life. The words that describe the experiences of the week represent the ups and downs of emotion. We know them: hosanna, confrontation, betrayal, denial, trial, scourging, crucifixion, tomb. Then the most electrifying sentence ever uttered—”He is not here! He is risen!”
The divine mission of the nation of Israel is to point people to the upper story of God. Starting with Abraham, God creates the nation of Israel then moves them to the land of Canaan that He promised them, revealing to the watching nations along the way His nature, His love, His grace, and ultimately His plan for everyone to come back to God through the coming of Messiah.
Have you ever wondered why there is so much history in the Bible? One reason is for us to learn how God related with people. Bible personalities sometimes did the right thing and sometimes they messed up. Their history is recorded so that we can learn from their choices. Today we are going to draw wisdom from David’s mistakes.
Just as God saw David’s potential to be a king, God sees your potential and significance.
As we follow God in a broken world, remember He is at work in the upper story of our lives to keep us from falling and standing tall.
Ruth is a love story on several levels, but most of all it is a story that shows we are accepted and loved by God the Father.
In the book of Judges we find a repeating cycle of God rescuing and restoring His people after they rebel and refuse to acknowledge Him. We can only break this cycle of rebellion when we lived surrendered to Him.
God does not spare us from ongoing battles in our lives, but He promises victory when we fight according to His strategy.
In Chapter 6 of the Story, the Israelites finally reached the edge of the promised land at Kadesh-barnea, they sent out 12 spies to scout out the land. 10 of them came back with a negative report of fear because of the giants living in the land, while 2 of them came back with a positive report full of faith in God’s ability to give them the land, just as He had promised!
As the Israelites leave Egypt led by Moses, they are headed towards a new but unknown world, filled with great potential and great obstacles. God tells them that it is an abundant land, a land flowing with milk and honey, but there were giants. Moses is assured that they would be successful in the new land if they have one thing: His Presence.
Exodus gives us an account of how the Israelites as a covenant people were redeemed by God. It shows God’s powerful work in one nation in order that He might bring His blessing to all nations and make His name known.a
The account of Joseph gives us a spiritual lesson of destiny in the lower story and the upper story reveals God’s plan for mankind with the amazing parallels between Joseph and Jesus.
Despite the spiritual virus of sin that entered the world, God didn’t give up on humankind. His attention in the upper story was focused on a plan of restoration. He desired a people, a nation, to reflect His goodness and plan to redeem the world. He chose one man, Abraham, a man of faith, to be the patriarch of that special nation.
The Bible is the story of God’s great love for us, and the extent He goes to have us draw near to Him.
From the beginning of creation the heart of God has been for a people who would desire to know Him in response to His great desire for them. God has reached out in love to us, and He longs for us to put aside the distractions of the world and draw near to Him.
“Fear not.” These were the first words the angels spoke when they announced the birth of Jesus to the shepherds. This message from heaven is as relevant today as it was over 2000 years ago. It is possible to live without fear by putting our faith in Christ the Lord, our Savior.
God wrapped the greatest present in such a way that all could receive it.
In the Christmas story we find some of the main players were wrapped up in certain issues. They totally missed what God was doing. Today, we too can miss what God is doing when we get “wrapped up”.
So what do we get wrapped up in?
John concludes this epistle by reminding the church that as children of God they have victory in the tough time we experience in this world.
1 John 4:4 NKJV You are of God, little children and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
In 1 John chapter 3 John continues his “family talk” with the church and makes the point that children of good parents naturally want to emulate their parents. He makes it clear that our Christian faith should make itself obvious in very practical ways in how we live and treat others.
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life - the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us - that which we have seen and heard we declare to you. – 1 John 1:1-3a
It is imperative as we travel together to understand that there are spiritual dangers that are lurking. The Holy Spirit is our ultimate guide to discern these dangers and provide us with the power and authority needed to resist them.
Paul began his thoughts in Romans Chapter 12 by dealing with the individual, we have an obligation to the Lord to give Him the best of our life in service and sacrifice. This whole chapter then teaches how our mindset determines the way we treat our fellow believer who we travel with.
It’s always more exciting when someone is at home waiting to celebrate your arrival to welcome you back. Today, in our series Travel Together, we are going to look at the importance of welcoming home those who wandered away from God. In Luke chapter 15 Jesus gives us some timeless wisdom on how to reach out and welcome others home.
It is much easier to travel together when everyone has an attitude thankfulness and gratitude.
It is our mission as we travel together, that we serve not only one another, but also those in our community.
In order to travel together through life, we must make constant choices to stay healthy in our relationships. To stay healthy, we must guard our hearts and be ever mindful of the words we speak.
As we travel together we look for ways to help each other grow. The church is a community where we grow in our faith and in our commitment and our love for Jesus and one another. If we’re isolated from the church, we don’t function or grow well.
In order to travel together we will need to reach out to others in need. Real friends love, not “because of” but in “spite of.” They know our weaknesses and flaws. Real friends don’t run from our burdens, rather they help carry them.
We are only better together if we travel together in love, without love we may be worse together!
As a church we want to travel together in the challenging days that may lie ahead. Travelling together is a safer and more enjoyable way to reach our common destination.
Courage is our willingness to face adversity and today we live in a world that is facing great adversity which is testing the courage of many. When we are spiritually healthy, we have the ability to face adversity with confidence, optimism and care for others.
Courageous living could reward you with a view from a mountain top, a hero’s welcome in your city or finding the love of your life. But what is the greatest reward of courage you could ever receive?
This past year, perhaps more than any other in recent history, we have all had feelings of discouragement attack us as we continue to push through the starts and stops of life. From the book of Nehemiah we learn some valuable lessons on how to overcome discouragement.
At the age of 85, Caleb saw his dream come true as he entered the promised land and declared “Give me this mountain”. He is an example of the courage to never give up and fulfill the mission for your life.
It takes great courage to stand for what you believe, for your convictions and for the truth, especially if your convictions are rooted in the Bible.
“We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.” - 2 Corinthians 4:8-10
What is your biggest fear? What is holding you back from courageous living? How are you facing your fears?
Life isn’t all valleys, but it does seem like there has been a lot of them lately. We must remember that even in our darkest valleys, our darkest days, God is there and by His strength we can safely get through to the other side.
“But as for you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you” - Matthew 6:6
As we look at this section of James, we see two groups of people who have different perspectives of eternity: those who ignore the coming of the Lord and those who patiently look forward to eternity and act with urgency knowing this life is but a vapour.
As leader of the church in Jerusalem, James knew how to speak with authority. You don’t have to look for hidden meanings in this book, James tells us clearly how we should act.
Dealing with relational conflicts is a spiritual battle and the trials of life can amplify tensions that exist. However, we can work through conflicts and develop healthy relationships if we put our trust in God’s word, walk in humility and treat each other with respect.
Just as James exhorts believers to demonstrate their faith through works, he also calls for the demonstration of wisdom by godly living. In chapter three, James compares two types of wisdoms. One comes from God and is pure and promotes peace, ending in order. But the other is driven by envy and self-seeking resulting in confusion and chaos.
Genuine faith in God gives us the power to control and tame our tongue. This small, but immensely powerful, part of the body must be held in check—and only grace, working through faith, can manage it.
The greatest gift we can give our mother’s is honor. Honor can be defined as: to recognize a person’s value and esteem them accordingly.
For James, faith and favoritism cannot coexist. God calls us to love one another, just as He loves. Partiality, favoritism and discrimination against others have no place in the kingdom of God.
James gives some key qualities we need to have in our faith as we encounter trials and temptations in our life.
The Book of James was written to a church that was scattered and couldn’t assemble together due to circumstances beyond their control. Today, like the early church, we are experiencing similar challenges. Trials, temptations, conflicts and the pressures of life are inevitable, but God will empower us to persevere as we live by faith waiting for Christ’s return.
Have you ever been so anxious that you stayed up all night? Have you wondered how you could settle your mind and body down? How did you cope?
The Greek word for anxiety literally means to be pulled apart in different directions. In order to deal with anxiety Jesus gave three things to focus on in the Sermon on the Mount.
Truth keeps us from falling into the same patterns over and over again. But separated from grace, truth can be harsh.
In the Bible we find examples of those who battled mental health issues. This includes the great prophet Elijah.
Where we are today directly relates to how we were prepared yesterday. To prepare us for what’s ahead there will be tests we all must pass. David was prepared by a number of tests before he rose to a new level in his battle with Goliath.
You will never discover the purpose and passion for your life until you realize you matter and why you matter.
Isolation was never God’s plan for mankind. The church is place where you can belong and where your belonging counts. God designed us to live in community with Him and with one another.
In order for the church to move from a gathering to an assembly there must be a culture of trust.
Trust begins with an understanding of each other.
In order to discover our purpose and our place we need to focus on how we can grow together.
We all follow someone or something. The Christian focuses on following Christ and continuing to know God more.
Nehemiah is an example of someone who had a bad report and the first thing he does to bring about change is to focus on prayer. The prayer of Nehemiah has four key components which we should copy in our prayer life.
Paul’s Damascus road experience is perhaps the most famous conversion in history. How did God’s love capture Saul and changed the destructive direction of his life and how does that relate to us?
In the parable of the Good Samaritan Jesus teaches us how we should reach out in response to injustice.
The Holy Spirit is here to empower and guide us in the everyday decisions we struggle with.
Inside our spirit, whether we recognize it or not, there is a built-in desire to be filled with the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit is the true source of life and power for us.
Ruth is a love story on a number of levels, but most of all it is a story that shows we are accepted and loved by God the Father. This story teaches us that God provides a way for those who trust Him in hard times, whether it be a famine or a pandemic.
The question is not “how do we get out of this crisis?”, but rather “how do we come out of this crisis?”.
Perhaps, now more than ever, we must know what it means to live by faith, that unwavering trust in God. Along the way we will have to remove some roadblocks to our faith.
We are living in unprecedented times where we have found that our normal routines have been shaken. We are living in a “new normal” and in order to run this race with endurance, we will need to pivot and develop a new rhythm.
Today the whole world is walking through a valley. For those who have Jesus as their shepherd, they will sense His peace guiding them in these dark days.
As the Coronavirus continues to gain momentum in Canada, it is important that we prepare our herts as well as our homes.
In times of uncertainty we need to remember God’s promises for us as we walk in faith rather than in fear.
God made a special covenant with Noah, and Jesus made a special covenant for us.
As Noah and his family were able to rise above the flood waters, you too can rise above the challenges of life by putting your faith in God.
Jesus draws a direct parallel between the depraved time in Noah’s days and what it will be like just before His return, when once again His grace will be extended to all.
One of the many distinctions found in Genesis, is that we are made in the image of God and it is with us He desires to walk.
When others succeed, we can either admire and emulate them, or as Cain did, we can allow envy to grow.
Satan’s attack on our first parents began with an attack on God’s word. To walk in faith trusting God’s word brings the intimacy of God’s presence and the bounty of His provision.
From the beginning God’s design was that mankind would have a relationship with Him and with others.
Genesis teaches us that there is an alternative to a life of chaos, disfunction, isolation, and fear.
As we go into 2020, we can have a strong hope for the future knowing that the presence of the Lord will always be with us. One of the names of God is, “Jehovah Shammah” which means “The Lord Is There.”
Shortly after God had brought His people out from Egypt, He revealed Himself to them as their Healer. He had already proven Himself to them as their Deliverer, now He reveals Himself also as their Healer with the name Jehovah Rapha.
Pastor Dave Koop shares a message on how the Messiah changes our heart at Coastal Church's Christmas Grand Service event.
We all, at some point in our lives, will face a situation where we need God’s provision to have enough to meet our needs; whether it be financial, physical, relational or emotional. God has promised He will provide, and His name Jehovah Jireh reveals that character of His nature.
There are many names that describe the attributes of our Heavenly Father, and one of these attributes is that He is a God of righteousness.
Pastor Ken Shigematsu from Tenth Church in Vancouver shares a special message with Coastal Church.
As we walk out the Christian life, we have this thirst to be pure and more like God. This hope to be pure comes from the Holy Spirit and God has promised He would empower us to live a life of purity in a broken world.
We live in a world today where people are struggling to find their identity. An identity crisis can be described as a period of uncertainty and confusion in which a person’s sense of identity becomes insecure. As a child of God, we have a powerful identity which gives us both security and clarity in our lives and we live under the banner of God’s love.
Names are powerful! When we study the names of God, we begin to understand his nature and character, or how He can help in a time of need. In this message Pastor Fermin talks about Jehovah Raah - which is derived from the Hebrew word meaning "shepherd". This analogy is used many times in the bible, and is an illustration of God's desire to protect us, guide us and meet our needs even when we've gone astray.
The world tells us that freedom is doing whatever we want, but the Bible teaches us that true freedom is found when we submit ourselves to the Lordship of Jesus and the authority in His name.
The Lord’s prayer found in Matthew 6:9-13, is the model or pattern of prayer that Jesus taught us. Jesus didn’t say “pray these words”, but “pray this way”.
Over the next two months we will be focusing on prayer.* During this time we will be focusing on four habits to strengthen us.
- Habit of weekly large group worship.
- Habit of small group fellowship.
- Habit of a daily time alone with God.
- Habit of memorizing God’s Word.
Pastor Carl-Gustaf Severin shares a message at Coastal Church's 25th Anniversary Celebration.
The Bible warns us against the dangers of greed but it also provides us with instruction on how to rewarding generous life.
Contentment is not based on what is happening to you on the outside, but what is happening on the inside.
The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. – Proverbs 4:18
Prayer is the detonator to the dynamite of God’s power, we do the detonating and God does the exploding. The prayer of Jabez is one example of the powerful effective prayers found in the Bible.
In order to develop contentment in our lives we need to learn what to do when we find ourselves alone.
Bill Hogg works as the National Missiologist for the C2C Network, where he shares his passion to help leaders and established churches think and act like missionaries. He is available to inspire, equip and coach leaders and churches following Jesus into the Canadian mission fields.
Insecurity is something we all struggle with to some degree. Our feelings of insecurity are related to our sense of identity, how we see ourselves and how we think others see us. The movie Wonder conveys the truth that we all need love and encouragement from family and sincere friends when we feel insecure.
Achieving peak performance in your life is not enough to make you content. No matter how gifted you might be, contentment is found when you honour the Source of the gift and live in harmony with others.
The Bible tells us to be content with anything, even when there is calamity in our life. The movie "Inside Out" shows us that joy in this life can be real, even when mixed with harder memories and experiences.
This weekend features guest speaker Michael Franzese, former Underboss of New York’s violent and feared Colombo crime family. Michael is determined to use the compelling experiences of his former life for anyone seeking the inspiration to beat the odds and make positive changes in their lives, he has become a highly regarded motivator and a source of invaluable information.
The Spiritual gifts are supernatural abilities bestowed on individuals, to flow through them at the will of the Holy Spirit revealing the love and power of God.
Guest Speakers Kevin & Julia Garratt share with us about their time in prison in China.
The best characteristics of an earthly father are those of our heavenly Father, which is the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
Today is Pentecost Sunday, the day the church was born. On this special day, 50 days after Passover, 120 believers gathered in an upper room and here they were endued with the power of the Holy Spirit as Jesus had promised.
When you intertwine your life with the Holy Spirit, God’s strength becomes your strength.
Pastor Jachin Mullen from Home Church in Red Deer, Alberta, shares how The Holy Spirit heals hearts.
The Strength of the Holy Spirit is available to empower and guide us in the challenges of life.
While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” – Acts 19:1-2 (NIV)
Join us as Dr. Caroline Leaf shares how we can renew our minds and live life the way God intended.
At times our world may feel out of control, but despite what we might see God has a master plan. By understanding the special day that Jesus was resurrected on, we can have faith to trust Him with our future.
In the story of Joseph we see he wore three coats. The first two were taken from him and in both cases, people misjudged his heart. It could have destroyed his life and his dream, but there was one coat he wore which no critic could ever remove.
Guest speaker Pastor John Burns shares one of his timeless messages titled Fear vs Faith.
Chapter 8 is a turning point in Mark’s account of Jesus. The narrative now looks to Jesus making His way to the cross and Jesus preparing His disciples to understand what type of King He is.
Mark covers four different types of storms we will face in our lives. Each of these storms demonstrate a different aspect of faith in God that will lead to victory.
Today we have more voices competing for our attention than ever before. In today’s digital culture the average person hears over 5000 media messages per day compared to 300 forty years ago. More than ever, we must be discerning about what we listen to. It is not just what we listen to, but how we listen and process what we heard that determines our success in life.
The book of Mark is a fast paced, action filled, account of the life of Jesus reaching out to the world to come and follow Him.
Psalm 23 is a classic text and one of the most well-known passages in the Bible. In this Psalm we see how the Lord, our Shepherd, reaches out to us.
Merriam-Webster defines reach as: to move one’s hand in order to get or touch (someone or something), to try hard to achieve or succeed at (something), the action or an act of reaching, an individual part of a progression or journey.
God takes our lives and cleans us for a destiny that is bigger than we can ever imagine. In every stage of our lives, God continues His refining process, so we can be used for greater things.
As we leave the year 2018 and begin the adventure of 2019 it is important to know God’s peace is with us to guide, strengthen and protect.
The only invitation from God to anyone to come and visit Mary and Joseph and the infant Jesus is to a group of shepherds. They were common people on the bottom of the social ladder of that day, perhaps the last people that you'd expect God o send as the first VIP guests to see His son.
We may not be able to choose our family history, but we can choose where we get our identity from.
Christmas is not only a time to look back and celebrate when Jesus came to earth, it is also a time to look ahead. For as sure as His first arrival was clearly prophesied, so too, is His return.
When we are angry because God’s ways don’t make sense, the best thing we can do is listen, for He is about to reveal what is in our heart and what is in His heart.
Jonah, like many of us, wanted to give up on what God had for him, but God intervened and did not let him quit.
There are times God will speak to us and ask us to do things we don’t want to do. We then have a choice: obey or disobey. We can always find a ship sailing in the wrong direction and run; but we won’t run from the Lord, but INTO the Lord.
Simon Peter was an ordinary man that Jesus called to be extraordinary. Simon, literally “a reed” became Peter, literally “a rock,” through the transforming power of God’s love. As we end our series on Good or God, we see in Peter’s story how God calls our potential out of us, so we can become more than what we were before.
Never before in history have we had access to so much information and opportunity. To navigate these times, we will require discernment to choose between right and wrong, truth and error, good and evil.
The Bible calls us to be holy, just as God is holy. (1 Peter 1:15,16 )The question is: where do we get the strength or fuel to live a holy life in a broken world?
Gratitude is more than saying, “thank you” when someone gives you something. What it takes to turn the words, “thank you” into gratitude is the genuine feeling of appreciation from the heart.
Continuing our series on Good or God, Pastor Dave shows us some ways we can start Setting Our Life in Order.
The truth is, we can’t do everything; we can’t go in every direction and expect to end up in the right place. God knew this, so He gave us an internal GPS that we can turn on and allow Him to guide us. Like the GPS in our car, it is important we set our internal GPS to the right destination.
Simply believing that God exists, without recognizing His authority in our lives, is not enough for a disciple of Christ. In the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus challenges us to make a choice to surrender our heart to Him which will produce good fruit and build a foundation for life
Most people feel pretty confident in their understanding of what is good. But who do we want to decide in our lives what is good?
Phil Cooke joins us to talk about his new book titled “The Way Back”. In this interview hosted by Pastor Dave Koop, Phil talks about why Christians aren't as engaging to the culture as they should be and what we can do to fix that.
It takes great courage to walk out the divine dream God puts in your heart. Like Joseph, in this life you will be judged, misunderstood, cheated and betrayed. Your courage will be tested to live a virtuous life that will allow your dream to come to pass.
Nehemiah is a great example of someone who courageously left his comfortable position to help others and face harsh opposition.
Courage is acting on behalf of the needs of others, pride is acting on the need to promote yourself. In The Greatest Showman, the protagonist, P.T.Barnum, almost loses his family by allowing pride to come into his life. We need to be courageous in serving God, but when success comes, we must be careful that pride doesn’t creep in and steal what is most important in life. The Greatest Showman is the incredible story of P.T. Barnum, an American showman, politician and businessman who climbed out of poverty and achieved success. In this journey, he realizes that family and true friends are more important than fortune and fame.
Luke 12:15 (from the Message translation) says, Speaking to the people, he went on, “Take care! Protect yourself against the least bit of greed. Life is not defined by what you have, even when you have a lot.”
The movie Lion presents a strong picture of God’s great love for us and the yearning we have to be “home.”
One of the most courageous things we can do to bring others closer to God is to extend mercy.
When you realize, God loves you more than you can imagine, courage will arise in your heart to forgive others and move on with your life. The story of Bart Millard, the lead singer of Mercy Me, is a true story that testifies to the courage it takes to walk in forgiveness.
Canada's past had been influenced by men and women who served this nation unashamed of the faith in Christ. What will it require for our generation to keep this faith alive in changing times?
17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way, they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. – 1 Timothy 6:17-19 (NIV)
Just as physical DNA is passed on to the next generation, so spiritual DNA can be transferred from one generation to the next.
God is at work in our lives, empowering us by the Holy Spirit to be willing and able to live a life fully surrendered to following Jesus.
Of all the things the disciples saw Jesus do, prayer is what they wanted to be taught on.
Guest speaker Pastor Anthony Greco shares with us the 5 Ingredients of Answered Prayer.
God’s word instructs us to pray for one another. When based on God’s word, our prayers are a powerful medium which bring great results.
Parenting well is one of the greatest challenges in life. Today as we look at Mother’s Day we are reminded that God is there to help us. He has revealed different prayer tools which allow us to pray effectively for the various challenges we face.
Paul asks for prayer that a platform would be given to him to share the gospel. A good reputation is important because it is what gives you the platform in other people’s lives, to be able to share the goodness of Jesus.
Our new identity in Christ, allows us to live a life that transforms our marriages, our children, and our workplaces.
Just as we put on clothes each day to suit our daily activities, the Bible also tells us that we need to dress spiritually for the day ahead.
Legalism was robbing the church in Colosse of its power. Paul said that these self-imposed religious rules lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence (Colossians 2:23). Now in Colossians chapter 3 Paul encourages the people to walk in the riches God has for us, taking off the old carnal way of living and resetting our lives to the kingdom above.
In the book of Colossians Paul stresses the preeminence of Jesus and the completeness of our salvation. He is combating false teachers who were trying to devalue Christ be elevating spiritual regulations and mysticism.
Paul in his deep love for the church in Colosse writes a passionate letter from prison encouraging the believers there to live a God-centred life.
Are we ready? Are we prepared to live out our faith from the classroom to the boardroom?
Join guest speaker Brent Cantelon as he shares on how to turn your worry into worship, and the importance of knowing who your God is.
Worship is your response to what you value most, and as you place your affection and love upon God you will experience His closeness.
Like anything in life, your walk with God becomes boring, monotonous, routine and dull without passion. Passion is what energizes your spiritual life.
Like anything in life, your walk with God becomes boring, monotonous, routine and dull without passion. Passion is what energizes your spiritual life.
In Luke chapter 15, Jesus is criticized for eating with those who had a bad reputation. He answers His critics by giving three parables that demonstrate the Father heart of God.
It is natural to desire the approval of others, but if we choose to live for “likes,” we will not fulfill the purpose God has for us.
Christmas is a time when we focus on the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, His First Advent. The word advent means "coming" or "arrival". We also look forward to the day He will return as King and Judge - His Second Advent.
Jesus has sent the Holy Spirit to be our Helper. As we spend time in God's presence, we can develop our inner ear to hear the Holy Spirits guidance - even in turbulent times.
To hear God's voice we must stop, look and listen.But then like any relationship, we need to act upon what we have heard. To obey and respond to what God has spoken, is honoring and pleasing in His sight.
Our lives are filled with many voices competing for our attention. Yet many of us never hear the one voice we long to hear the most. In the midst of it all, God is still speaking but we need to tune into His frequency.
Our lives are filled with thousands of voices competing for our attention. Yet many people never hear the one voice we long to hear the most. In the the midst of it all, God is still speaking.
A blueprint is more than just lines on paper; it is instruction on how to turn thoughts into reality. The Bible is more than written words on paper; it is life and reveals to us the blueprint for a healthy mind.
The Holy Spirit was sent to help us win the biggest battle we face - the battle in our mind
From the story of Nehemiah and the action he took to rebuild the dilapidated city walls of Jerusalem, we can learn certain steps to remodel our thought life.
In this series, we will be using the story of Nehemiah rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. The stories in the Old Testament are often a spiritual parallel to our battle with the powers of darkness today.
Michael Franzese is a former member of the infamous Colombo crime family. He has grossed over 1 billion dollars for the mob and has lived a life few people live to talk about. Get ready to hear a powerful story of God can changing a life in the darkest of circumstances.
Nehemiah is well known for his incredible leadership in rebuilding the broken-down walls of the city of Jerusalem. Like this wall was under construction after being damaged, so the Holy Spirit comes to help rebuild the broken areas in our minds.
The end of August is a time to refocus after the summer holidays on how to make the most of the rest of the year. The secret to making the most of 2017 - and your life - is to fix your focus on what matters most.
From the beginning of Coastal Church, we have made it a priority to seek God first in prayer. Today, as a church, we join together to enter into a special week of fasting and prayer. From Sunday, August 13 to Saturday, August 19 we will faithfully seek God first, trusting in His power alone to create lasting impact in our lives, our church, and our city.
Guest speaker Pastor Rick Ciaramitaro shares about different Biblical examples of people with honour and courage.
Today we’re going to examine the movie The Guardian – a movie about the brave men and women who serve in the United States Coast Guard – these are the people who respond to emergencies at sea and risk their own lives to rescue other people. The movie demonstrates that in a world of greed and hunger for fame there is a higher purpose.
Saving Mr. Banks is a modern-day parable which has a theme of letting go of the past and walking in forgiveness to realize the future.
One of the key things Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount was to love and respect others, including our enemy.
In our Canadian national anthem we sing: "From far and wide O Canada, we stand on guard for the. God keep our land glorious and free! O Canada, we stand on guard for thee." How can the Canadian Church today stand on guard?
Jesus concludes the Sermon on the Mount with the parable of two builders. Each build a house and outwardly they make it look the same. But when a storm came, it revealed the true nature of the foundation.
And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” – Matthew 3:17
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus instructed His disciples about the importance of bearing good fruit and the need for them to recognize the type of people they were dealing with, by observing the type of fruits they were bearing.
The Sermon on the Mount demands a choice, an absolute choice and a choice that leads to a fixed eternal destination. In this message Pastor Dave Koop teaches on the two paths we can take, the narrow path or the broad path.
The Sermon on the Mount is a roadmap for life that leads us into a richer relationship with God and the people around us. This “map” leads us out of the legalistic life (you have heard it said…) into a life of grace empowered by the Spirit of Christ (but I say to you…).
In this special Mother’s Day message, Pastors Dave and Cheryl take a look at Jochebed, the mother of Moses, who had just a few short years with her son, yet the impact she left is still felt today.
Jesus called His followers to avoid judgement without the right attitude, the right information and the right process.
We examine the Lord's prayer and Pastor Dave teaches on why Jesus gave us the model to pray from.
Because Jesus lives is the theme of the Easter story and our Christian faith. In this message Pastor Dave shares how our response should be like those who first saw Jesus, to bow and worship Him as King of Kings!
Pastor Fermin Garcia brings a powerful word titled "Giving It All Away" this Palm Sunday.
In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus puts our behaviour through the sieve of motivation to remove hypocrisy and greed.
In this Inspiring message Pastor Dave outlines the biblical way to deal with: 1. Being Insulted 2. Being Sued 3. Being taken advantage of 4. Being solicited for funds
A covenant is based on trust; a contract is based on distrust. A covenant is based on unlimited responsibility; a contract is based on limited liability. A covenant cannot be broken if new circumstances occur; a contract can be voided by mutual consent.
Jesus starts the Sermon on the Mount with a description of kingdom people; a people of character who will live differently than the world around them when it comes to dealing with issues like anger and sex.
If we understand our identity as salt and light, we will have a profound effect in a broken world.
In the broken world we live in, we will all have an opportunity to make a choice to stand up for righteousness and be a peacemaker.
The world today is desperately looking for justice. Jesus in the Sermon on the Mountain gave us three beatitudes that give us guidance on how to live justly in a broken world.
Jesus' Sermon On The Mount is a moral code from another kingdom, for His followers to live be in a broken world
In order to move ONWARDS in the things that God has called us to do, we need to choose not just what is good, but what is BEST!
Each one of us has been given a race to run by God. It is discipline that determines how we finish. Discipline is choosing between what we want now and what we want most.
And God blessed them. And God said to them, Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.
It is natural to desire the approval of others, but if we choose to live for "likes", we will not fulfill the purpose God has for us.
God has been good to us in 2016 and as we look forward into 2017 He is calling us to press onwards together in this journey of faith.
A gift reflects personality, resources, commitment, thoughtfulness and sacrifice. Ultimately it is an expression of love. When God gave us Jesus, it truly reflected God's great love for every home in the world.
There is nothing like coming home for Christmas and being welcomed with special preparations made with you in mind. Jesus went to prepare the ultimate home for all of us.
In a broken world, it is possible to lose your way. The wise men gave us a lesson in faith in how to follow God’s light to the ultimate home.
Christmas is about love coming down and touching every home. It is a faith-filled story with love flowing from the characters, which leads to the climax of God’s love in sending His Son.
In chapter four we find the Epitaph that Paul chose; “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
In chapter three Paul speaks of perilous times in the last days that will require the believer to live with courage. Fourteen times in this little letter Paul underlines the need for courage.
In the second chapter, Paul challenges Timothy to be strong and give his life away. God has wired each of us in such a way that we are most fulfilled when we are giving our life away. In this message, you will discover the rewards of this radical lifestyle.
Having women in leadership has always sparked questions. A careful study of the Bible shows they should be treated with dignity and equality
If you step up to lead in any capacity, there will be a day when you will have to face the lions of adversity. In that day, the time you spent in prayer behind the scenes will be revealed.
Join Pastor Dave he teaches about what thankfulness can do for you. In this Thanksgiving Day message we learn three basic ways to respond to God as well as the power thankfulness.
In the Bible, and throughout history, we find many reluctant leaders who have asked the question: "Who am I to lead?"
An orchestra can be used as a metaphor to liken the members of the church working together. To be part of a successful orchestra musicians understand: 1. Their ability is a gift. 2. Their purpose can never be fulfilled without others. 3. They are to serve others and not be not self-serving. 4. It will take hard work and needs to be fueled by passion and joy.
Small groups are God’s idea for us to be connected. It is a place where we find freedom and belonging. Small groups where part of God’s design for the church from the beginning.
We naturally follow things we love. Likewise, we will find that following God is not burdensome when we encounter His extravagant love for us.
We fish for clues, for a particular response, fish for gossip, or go fishing for a sign. We may find ourselves searching or fishing in the wrong place. We’re not the only ones who went fishing and didn’t seem to be at the right place at the right time.
We fish for clues, for a particular response, fish for gossip, or go fishing for a sign. We may find ourselves searching or fishing in the wrong place. We’re not the only ones who went fishing and didn’t seem to be at the right place at the right time.
The disciples approached Jesus and asked him to teach them how to pray. There are different manners of prayer that every believer needs to know in order to be effective in spiritual warfare.
The “armour of God” is a metaphor to help us understand how we are to prepare ourselves for spiritual warfare. The believer’s shield of faith is an unwavering trust that the power of God will stop every attack of the evil one.
Guest speaker Pastor John Burns teaches on how we can battle the enemy and claim our victory with the Word of God.
Our stance of authority comes only when we have an understanding of the identity we have through our relationship with Jesus Christ
There is an invisible spiritual force that is at war with us. In the scriptures, we have a clear insight on who our enemy is, and how to battle him. The Old Testament story of Hezekiah’s victory over Sennacherib provides a parallel truth between a natural battle and our spiritual battles.
Generosity is about stewardship. It is about stewarding everything God had given, which includes our treasure, our talents and our time. But it also includes something else God entrusted us with - His Earth.
In order to build a spiritually healthy home we need to be: 1 Generous in Pro-vision 2 Generous in protection 3 Generous in prophecy
Today we will look at two rich people who teach us about the enemy of generosity and the key to defeating this enemy.
Jesus’ words shocked His audience because they were offensive to the culture of His day. Jesus’ words still challenge culture and call us to a radical life of generosity.
While invited to the home of an influential ruler Jesus gave key insight on how to live a generous life. 1. Jesus first addresses the guests on their pride and arrogance. Luke 14:7-11 2. Jesus secondly addresses the host on his selfishness. Luke 14:12-14 3. Grace empowers us to be generous to more than just our friends and family, it will extend to our enemies. 4. To experience God’s grace we must first come to Jesus’ table.
The Bible tells us to honour God with the first fruits of what comes into our store house. Join Pastor Dave as he teaches on the importance of honouring God with our finances, and the blessing that follows.
Guest speaker Pastor Casey Treat from Christian Faith Centre shares thoughts from his book.
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23 Four Characteristics of a generous heart: 1. Content 2. Joyful 3. Humble 4. Gracious
Paul writes through out the Bible about about the Power of Generosity, join Pastor Dave and discover what the Bible says about finding joy in Generosity
In chapter three Paul uses his personal testimony to teach us how to find the joy only God can give.
God designed His “house” to be full of joy - finding this joy means getting the focus off ourselves and helping others.
The Night before Jesus Christ was crucified He made a very strange statement that nobody who heard it understood. He said, "In a little while the world will no longer see Me. But you're going to see Me because I am alive and you're about to come alive."- John 14:19 Join us as we discover what Jesus meant when he said we would come alive.
In Following Jesus, we discover the pathway to joy is through humility and the journey is very countercultural.
Finding true joy can be elusive, but the apostle Paul gives us great insight in his letter from prison to the church in Philippi.
In this message Pastor Dave Koop begins a new series on joy, based on the book of Philippians written by the Apostle Paul. In this letter Paul wrote to the Philippian church we see the word joy used 16 times, today we unpack how we can find joy in building strong friendships.
We were blessed to have Dr. Ray Bakke join us this weekend and share hope and encouragement from Gods Word.
Guest Speaker Dr. Caroline Leaf Relating with members of the opposite sex can be frustrating and difficult, but it doesn’t have to be. Successful relationships begin in the mind (which seeks understanding) and, through the choices we make, will end in the spirit (which knows truth). Men and women have been created to complement one another through their own unique strengths; we are exponentially better together.
We live better when we understand we must think about what we think about and choose our thoughts wisely.
We live better when we can care for the burdens of others and allow others to care for us. Share each other's burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2
God has designed us to live in a spiritual community, and in this setting we can cultivate lasting relationships with others.
Family Life Pastor Chris Karuhije shares with us the importance of getting connected. We live better when we have strong connections in our lives
Join Pastor Dave Koop at our Grand Service as he shares thoughts on the carol Silent Night.
Join Pastor Dave Koop as he goes through the Christmas Carol, Joy To The World. He explains What true joy is and where it comes from.
Join Pastor Dave as He delves into to this popular Christmas Carol, and explains why it is still relevant for us today.
Faith is based on a trust relationship with God, and like any relationship, it will grow as we invest our life into it.
The eye of faith is not blind, but rather it sees the reality of God's promises and this results in the exciting walk of faith.
Fasting doesn't move God; it moves you from a place of unbelief to belief. It places you in a position to receive what God has already done for you.
Chris Karuhije, pastor of family life at Coastal Church kicks off our new series Walk of Faith. Famous Faith - God and the world's recognition and status are completely different. While the world celebrates fame, God celebrates faith.
Priorities have our daily choices, which results in the strength we need to live our purpose in life.
God's desire is that we would grow in strength, and it is the human spirit that is the receptacle of His amazing love that makes us stronger.
Panel Discussion with Kathleen Cooke, Jenny Konkin and Laura Lynn Tyler In this session we will be interviewing 3 women who are each helping others tell their story in 3 very different ways. You can learn more about each speaker by visiting their websites: Kathleen Cooke: kathleencooke.com Jenny Konkin: wholewayhouse.ca Laura Lynn Tyler: lauralynn.tv
Your story is important and needs to be told. This story writing lab that focuses on how to bravely tell your story. Whether pitching to executives on the studio lot, or sharing your business story, or your faith journey with someone you are just getting to know, the ability to verbalize and connect with others is vital to all aspects of life. This special session focuses on the key elements to make your story compelling and give you confidence to share it with your audience.
There is no great story without first understanding what you were put on the earth to accomplish. Author, speaker and filmmaker Phil Cooke calls that purpose your “One Big Thing.” For everyone who’s been pulled in different directions, distracted by today’s digital culture, or just wondered what to do with their lives, this session will offer real answers. You’ll discover how to focus on the one thing in your life that drives you, inspires your passion, separates you from the pack, and can launch the story of your life. Phil Cooke will help you not only discover that one thing, but will also teach you the secrets of making an unforgettable impact with your life.
Drawing from his past experience in culture and media, Gordon will share more on story form. Branding is all about story, and Gordon Pennington is an international consultant to corporations, governments and institutions on this topic. Gordon is also a Trustee of The Universal Literacy Project. As a lecturer on cultural communications, Pennington has spoken at the annual International Arts Movement conference in New York, and has addressed screenwriters on the theme of “Culture and Media Influence”. He has lectured at Cambridge, Oxford, Columbia, Princeton, Yale, McGill and other universities around the world. His expertise in providing insight on story is exceptional.
Founding and lead pastor of Church on the Move in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The same communicative skills that marked Willie George as a children’s minister have positioned him as the Senior Pastor of one of America’s most innovative churches.
In this session Jim will take a few brave souls and coach them to present their story to the conference attendees. This practical workshop will sharpen everyone’s skills on presenting stories.
Panel Discussion with Gordon, Phil and Jim Krueger This session will feature three leaders in story telling giving their insight on how to use the craft of story and the best tools to reach the next generation is a media saturated world.
As a creative artist, pastor, business leader, entrepreneur, or student in today’s media-driven culture, your greatest challenge is getting your voice heard. No matter how great your talent, skill, or message, if no one’s listening, then you’ve failed. But what makes you stand out? How can you connect with the people who can make a difference? In today’s cluttered, disrupted, digital world, it’s more difficult than ever to break through and get your story noticed. In this session, based on Phil’s highly acclaimed book, “Unique: Telling Your Story in the Age of Brands and Social Media,” you’ll discover the critical keys for cutting through and making an impact.
Jesus was the ultimate story teller. It was His stories that made the truth He taught memorable. From the Good Samaritan to the parable of the sower, Jesus understood the craft of telling story. In this session we’ll explore further how Jesus used stories to communicate timeless truth.
Drawing from his past experience in culture and media, Gordon will share more on story form. Branding is all about story, and Gordon Pennington is an international consultant to corporations, governments and institutions on this topic. Gordon is also a Trustee of The Universal Literacy Project. As a lecturer on cultural communications, Pennington has spoken at the annual International Arts Movement conference in New York, and has addressed screenwriters on the theme of “Culture and Media Influence”. He has lectured at Cambridge, Oxford, Columbia, Princeton, Yale, McGill and other universities around the world. His expertise in providing insight on story is exceptional.
Guest Speaker Pastor Willie George Founding and lead pastor of Church on the Move in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The same communicative skills that marked Willie George as a children’s minister have positioned him as the Senior Pastor of one of America’s most innovative churches.
God has designed us to live in a spiritual community, which gives us the strength we need to live in a broken world.
All of us want to become stronger, but how do we build our beliefs so we can help others?
The end of time is revealed in the book of The Revelation Of Jesus Christ. The whole Bible story leads up to a climax in this book. Here the author, the apostle John, gives us a glimpse into what heaven will be like. What began in the first pages of the Bible is accomplished in the last pages of the Bible.
In the lower story, there is chaos, storms, struggles, sickness, and even imprisonments. The Christian realizes, that above all this there is an upper story. God has a plan before time that will continue after this version of earth, and He uses the upper story to administrate the lower story; everything in the lower story is fitting into a perfect plan. We may not understand it, but like Paul, we can say this is for God's glory, and it's ultimately going to work out for good. While we're challenged and occasionally discouraged, we do not despair. We don't give up. We hang in there and in the process, God fashions us for His glory.
The Bible is divided into the Old Testament and the New Testament, and in the Old Testament, God's plan to get us back begins with a group of people called Israel. Starting in the book of Acts and continuing to the end of the Bible in Revelation, God establishes the church through the leadership of the disciples Jesus trained and the next generation of leaders. The first 12 chapters of Acts and then Paul takes the spotlight in his mission to take the message to primarily the people outside the Jewish community, the gentiles.
The book The Acts Of The Apostles reveals the new beginnings of the church. The early church believed and preached the resurrection of Jesus and the power of His name. The prophet Isaiah had spoken of a Child to be born whose name would be called “Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” and now the church would live and die for that name.
In the upper story God is watching over the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of mankind. From the book of Genesis onwards the scarlet thread of redemption was woven into The Story. It is obvious for us to look back on it from our vantage point and see the plan, but for the people at the time, it was as if their world stood still until they saw the resurrected Lord Jesus.
When we come to the understanding that Jesus took the penalty for our sins, we are set free from the sin and shame that goes with it. Since Jesus paid your sin debt, you are positioned "in Christ" and set free from the power of sin. You are called holy, forgiven, and free from condemnation!
Throughout The Story we have seen that everything points to the rescue of mankind through the Christ (Greek) or the Messiah (Hebrew). When Jesus arrives to fulfill this role, people wondered about His true identity. Who is Jesus? This is a question people have always wrestled with. but one which we all must answer.
The Old Testament gave us many Kingdom images. God created the world with just a word. He commanded the flood to come, commanded the Israelites to leave, commanded the sea to open, sent His children into exile, and pulled them out of exile, and pulled them out of exile. King Nebuchadnezzar encountered God and honoured Him who lives forever, for His dominion is an everlasting dominion and His kingdom endures from Generation
John the Apostle used two characters in this week’s chapter of The Story to “sandwich” the best-known verse in the whole Bible - John 3:16.
After hundreds of years and many glimpses of the Messiah, we finally arrive at the birth of Jesus. John in his gospel doesn’t give an account of the birth of the King, but rather states several key facts to introduce his readers to Christ.
Nehemiah served as the cupbearer for King Artaxerxes of Persia. Esther is Artaxerxes’ stepmother, and it is possible that she was instrumental in his appointment to this position. Nehemiah was granted permission by the king to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the walls. Once the rebuilding begins, so does the opposition. At stake was the promise made to King David that his royal descendants and nation would never end. To put it another way, God’s promise-keeping ability was at stake. In spite of opposition the task is completed in fifty-two days, a feat even the enemies of Israel attribute to God. With both the temple and the wall restored, the messianic line is once again protected.
Fifty years after the first group of exiles returned to Jerusalem from Babylon, the rest of the Jewish people are scattered throughout the Persian Empire. The book of Esther reveals a threat to destroy all the Jewish people, and ultimately God's divine plan to save them.
The time of the 70-year exile of the Israelites in Babylon had come to an end. God would use Cyrus, king of the Persian Empire, to send His people back home to rebuild the temple. This was prophesied over 150 years earlier by Isaiah, even mentioning Cyrus by name!
Exiled as a young man, Daniel’s wisdom and character would earn him a significant advisory role with the kings of Babylon. Daniel was committed to serving the kings without compromising his values and allegiance to the God of Israel.
In this message we look at the story of Jeremiah. God had tried everything to encourage the people to return to Him. After they had repeatedly broken the covenant, God could not continue to bless His people. God had to bring correction but He would also give them a fresh hope for the future.
In about 700 B.C. King Hezekiah of Judah found himself under siege by Sennacherib, King of Assyria. Hezekiah's strategy against the ploys of his enemy is an example of how we can walk in victory today.
Jochebed, the mother of Moses, had just a few short years with her son, yet the impact she left is still felt today.
Despite the fact that Israel was in desperate need of repentance because of corruption and social injustice, God loves them too much to let them continue down a path of destruction. During the time of the kings God sends His messengers, the prophets, to point them back to Him and to the coming Messiah. Elijah was one of the prophets who spoke to the nation of Israel during the reign of King Ahab. He had to put his complete trust in God to provide him with strength, protection and guidance. Even Though Elijah went through a faith rollercoaster, He still finished strong and accomplished God’s call on his life.
During the divided kingdom there were 38 kings, and only five of them chose to leave a legacy of following God. We can be like one of those five and choose to leave a legacy of faith.
King Solomon had a lot of stuff, but it didn't make him any happier. He had an abundance of wisdom from God, and through his experience, we can learn that we need to not only start strong, but also finish strong.
God reaches down to us, even in our messes. The life of David began humbly as a shepherd boy, but he rose to a position of power, prosperity and popularity. Then came a pivotal moment in his life that caused all this to be threatened. That moment was the affair with Bathsheba, which became a royal scandal. This event would shape David's life and history.
Easter is about the death, the burial, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is the story of the greatest rescue mission ever, where God comes to earth in the form of Jesus Christ to resolve all of humanity.
As we follow God in a broken world, He is at work in the upper story of our lives to keep us from falling.
Ruth is a love story on a number of levels, but most of all it is a story that shows we are accepted and loved by God the Father.
In the book of Judges we find a repeating cycle of God rescuing and restoring His people after they refuse to acknowledge Him. This cycle is broken when we live surrendered to Him.
After 600 years from God’s promise to Abraham to make him a great nation, the children of Israel are ready to advance into the Promised Land. In order to overcome the huge obstacles ahead of them, they will need to courageously trust and obey God.
Following God requires us to place our absolute trust in Him. If we rebel we will find ourselves in the desert, but even here God continues to mercifully watch over us.
The big idea of the whole Story is God's declaration, "I want to come down and dwell with you." We see this in the story of Moses and the Israelites when God draws near to them so they could experience His presence.
In the lower story Exodus gives us a spiritual lesson of trusting the one true God and not compromising with the world. In the upper story, we see God's plan of deliverance from the power of darkness through Jesus Christ.
The account of Joseph gives us a spiritual lesson of destiny in the lower story and the upper story reveals God's plan for mankind with the amazing parallels between Joseph and Jesus.
Despite the spiritual virus of sin that entered into the world, God didn’t give up on humankind. His attention on the upper story was focused on a plan of restoration. He desired a people to reflect His goodness, and plan to redeem the world. He chose one man, Abraham, a man of faith, to be the patriarch of that special nation.
The beginning of our journey through The Story of the Bible is like the beginning of an action-packed movie. If you miss the opening minutes of a movie with its fast-paced scenes, you will not understand the rest of the story.
There is a day coming when there will be no more war, death, disease and trouble. It is a day of ultimate peace that the believer can look forward to. The Apostle Paul encourages us "there's far more to life for us. We're citizens of high heaven! We're waiting the arrival of the Savior, the Master, Jesus Christ."
When the angels announced "peace on earth" it did not mean that there would be no more conflict or war on earth; that certainly has not been the case. They declared a peace in the heart that was to be enjoyed by all those who choose to live in harmony with God.
Peace can be described as a state of harmony, serenity, tranquility and order. This is possible when we have peace with God and the peace of God.
There is a healthy fear (reverence, respect or awe) of the Lord that leads to blessings, which leads to generosity, which leads to no fear.
Andy Hawthorne, guest speaker from Manchester, UK, shares about the authority we have in Christ to preach, heal, confront powers of darkness and to forgive sins in Jesus name.
In the classic story of Peter walking on water, we find insight on how to overcome the grip of fear.
When trouble comes and we are afraid, God provides a place of refuge where we can find safety.
Today we live in a changing world marked by terrorism, the threat of disease, and a host of other fears. Experiencing the fear factor is normal; however, God shows us we do not need to be paralyzed by fear.
God shows kindness to us because of the covenant Christ made for us. Because of this, God extends to us an invitation to enjoy all the benefits of the covenant.
Your faith is very powerful and can change your family scenario. Pastor Dave and Cheryl Koop look at different scenarios and unpack how as family members, it impacts others when we've made a decision to follow Christ.
Jesus made it clear that to follow Him would mean trusting Him to be Lord over every aspect of our lives. Surrendering our finances can be the most challenging and controversial.
Certain characteristics are common in all dedicated followers, including followers of Jesus.
Over 2000 years ago, Jesus made this bold statement to 12 disciples and it changed the world. What does it mean to truly follow Him?
Generosity is based on contentment and strength in God. It is also an encouragement to others and an investment in the future; generosity is connected to the promise of God's supply.
The Lord has provided us with spiritual resources that we can draw on to stand firm in this life. Like any asset, it is important we keep an eye on these valuables.
Ultimately there are two controlling ambitions: one is for our own glory; the other is for God's glory.
Self-confidence is limited by your strength. God-confidence is limited by God's strength.
If we follow Paul’s example, we too can have great friends that will journey through life with us.
Paul urges the church in Philippi to work hard and be responsible. He points out three areas:
- Our responsibility for our own lives.
- Our responsibility to society.
- Our responsibility to the church.
Pastor Dave Koop shows us how Paul's letter to the Philippians demonstrates the importance of a good attitude shaping your Christian life.
Pastor Brent Cantelon, shares a message that focuses on our mission to reach our city for Jesus. Our feet are beautiful when they prepare the way for someone to come to salvation and acknowledge Jesus as their Lord.
Paul's letter to the church in Philippi provides us with insight into how a great church started and grew.
Pentecost is about the power to proclaim the good news of Jesus with all people in a way they can understand.
Since relationships are more than just physical or emotional, God gave us certain spiritual keys to build lasting relationships.
What you pack will determine the success of your relationship journey! In this message Pastors Dave and Cheryl Koop talk about key things each relationship needs, along with what we need to remove from our life in order to be in a good relationship.
Guest speaker Carl-Gustav Severin speaks a message that focuses on raising a Godly family. The church is not perfect, and there are no perfect families, but God can use those who are willing and maintain an attitude of satisfaction and thankfulness.
This message deals with four keys in answering the call to generosity (based out of Deuteronomy 15:7- 15). First, deal with a selfish heart. Second, Deal with a grieving heart. Third, Develop a generous heart, and finally, develop a grateful heart.
In this lesson, we learn how the love of a mother is a powerful influence in the world today.
In this message, Pastor Dave speaks of how the cross plus the empty grave has the power to change your life forever.
The road to the cross was Jesus' destiny and the last week of this journey was rich in meaning.
This week, Pastor Dave teaches on Noah’s Ark, and the parallels it holds to Jesus Christ and the Cross.
In this broken world that we live in, it is important to know how to respond when we are faced with sickness.
When you see yourself in a mess, God sees you in a miracle zone and will come to your rescue!
Miracles are not just for a few lucky people; you too can experience miraculous power when you study how miracles happened in the scriptures.
10th Avenue Alliance Pastor Ken Shigematsu shares on keeping a rhythm of a life that is fully immersed in a wonderful relationship with God.
Miracles have always been an integral part of the church as they demonstrate that the Kingdom of God is greater than the rule of Satan and they point us to faith in Christ.
In order to win the spiritual battles we will encounter in life it is important to know what our God given weapons are and how to use them.
Jesus is the champion who rescued us from being under the authority of Satan. And since our enemy still lurks about, we must understand his strategy against us.
The enemy would like us to believe one of two extremes, one that he doesn't exist, or two; he is more powerful than he is. We do have a real enemy, but we have been given dynamite power from God to be able to win the battle.
Even though we have victory in Christ, we are still opposed by a very real spiritual enemy whom we must resist.
It was in both Joseph's foresight and tremendous ability to forgive that led to the restoration of his broken family.
The story of Joseph teaches us how to keep our eyes on God in order to overcome temptation and learn valuable lessons that prepare us for our destiny.
God has positioned us in 2014 for such as time as this, an opportune time to prepare for the future.
Giving the right kind of gifts is especially important in the Christmas season. This week Pastor Dave shares biblical wisdom on steering clear of the bad attitudes of gift giving, and helps direct us to the right ones.
Christmas is all about God's sovereign timing in a gift for all of us. By looking at the story of Mary, we see how God's timing helps to build the bigger picture.
Pastor Dave helps us to see why red is universally recognized as a symbol of life, and of Christ's sacrifice for us in the Christmas season.
Pastor Dave explores the need to invite others to church as he takes us through the Parable of the Great Supper (Luke 14:15-24).
Peter Pretorius is the founder of JAM. The Joint Aid Management (JAM) is a South African non-profit organization that has been working in Africa since 1984. They now feed over 1 million people daily. Peter brings a powerful message of Christ centred generosity.
There is a deep peace to be had in trusting God with control over even the most difficult storms and circumstances of our life.
Gideon is a man who struggled with his identity and a sense of inadequacy. His life was stuck in a rut, but by God’s leading he was able to overcome and make a “lane change” in life. Pastor Dave gives us 5 practical ways to apply God's overcoming principles into our own life in order to conquer our fears of inadequacy.
Pastor Dave & Cheryl use an informal interview style to talk about the power of life groups, and the value of growing your faith in a group setting.
Do you ever wonder if you should be praying to Jesus, the Holy Spirit or God the Father? Ultimately all our prayers, even the conversations we have with Jesus and the Holy Spirit, are directed to the Father, who is the Head of the Trinity.
Being thankful is a powerful choice we can make that brings hope and healing in our negative world.
Guest speaker Pastor Willie George talks about the importance of investing in the next generation, and not neglecting children or the role they play in the church. With a wealth of experience to draw from, Pastor George uses examples from his ministry to show how we can apply this message in our church, and in our lives.
By putting your trust in God, the difficult process of healing broken relationships is made possible.
Building an assured reliance on the character, ability, and strength of God even through difficult circumstances.
Your purpose provides the vision for your life and will motivate your daily activities. The story of Joseph is a great example of someone who fulfilled his vision by understanding his purpose and sticking to his core values.
Why do people have trouble finding their purpose? God designed you with a unique purpose and you are equipped with everything you need to fulfill it. By conforming to Godʼs word we can prove (demonstrate the truth or existence of) His perfect will for our life.
Before you can find your purpose in life and live it out, you must first understand the principles of purpose.
Everyday work can be a tremendous catalyst for spiritual growth rather than a diversion from our spiritual life.
Work is defined as the purposeful activity, whether manual or mental or both, whether remunerated or not. Work is part of God's plan for our lives, and it becomes the crucible where our character is deeply formed.
The definition of a holiday is a day of festivity or recreation when no work is done. God designed us to enjoy holidays and rest. They are a gift from God to us, and it takes faith to step away from the demands of work to be refreshed.
Since 1981, Dr. Caroline Leaf has researched the human brain with particular emphasis on unlocking its vast, untapped potential. She as specifically focused on the cognitive neuroscientific aspects of TBI/CHI (Traumatic brain injury/Closed head Injury) and the science of thought as it relates to thinking, learning and renewing the mind, gifting and potential. She has been received all over the world by a variety of audiences, due to her unique ability to link the scientific principles of the brain to intellectual and emotional issues in simple and practical ways. Through years of research, she developed the Geodesic Learning™ theory (brain-compatible learning), which is a scientifically and statistically proven approach to thinking, teaching, and learning.
The role of fathers is under attack today and like an endangered species, it needs to be preserved. To preserve fatherhood we first must understand how important it is, and then we need to make a decision to honor it.
Have you ever wished you could call on someone who would not only fight your battles, but also calm your fearful heart? There are many names that describe the attributes of God and one of these attributes is the protection He gives His children.
Gregg Johnson is the founder of a tween movement that is gaining momentum on all over the world called J12. He is the former National Youth Director of the Foursquare Church and is a much sought after speaker at conferences and churches because of his unique ability to capture the attention of all ages and communicate truth.
Pastor Dave Koop uses the Apostle Paul as an example of someone who made disciples. He also confronts 2 common misconceptions about discipleship.We all have someone we can disciple, and we also need someone to disciple us!
Pentecost is a calling to serve the Lord in the power of the Holy Spirit. Serve means to perform duties or services for another person or an organization. The duty which Jesus needs us to do, is to be a witness.
To follow Jesus means to follow His example of caring for others. Galatians 6:9,10 says, "And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have an opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith."
The Apostle Paul writes in Philippians 3, "I run to win that which Jesus Christ has already won for me…I don’t look back, I lengthen my stride, and I run straight toward the goal to win the prize that God’s heavenly call offers in Christ Jesus. In order to finish strong you must: Maintain your direction, your discipline, your faith, and Anticipate your reward.
We all have limitations in life. A sign of maturity is to recognize our limitations and rise above them by making a choice to change. It starts with trusting God, seeking His wisdom, and committing ourselves to the dreams he's put in our heart.
To lift people to another level, a leader must be secure in who they are, and live generously with what they have been given. It starts with a desire to keep climbing and growing…and then caring enough to take others up! This week's message focuses on 7 points on how we as leaders, can lift people to a higher level.
God uses the challenges of life to test our character and spiritual commitment. These are opportunities to prove our potential to lead. None of us want to be tested, but every leader will be tested. The Bible is full of examples and makes it clear that we will be tested.
In this message we will reflect on Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross and celebrate His resurrection as Lord of Lords. A Ransom had to be paid for our great debt of sin and Jesus paid the highest price so that we could intimately know God the Father.
As we watch the evening news and read the paper we may feel that the world is out of control. Perhaps even our lives feel out of control. But despite what we might see God has a master plan. By understanding the special day that Jesus was resurrected on, we can have faith to trust Him with our future.
Today we hear more voices than ever, and they are all competing for us to listen to them. It is not just what we listen to, but how we listen and process what we heard that determines our success in life.
This week we're excited to have Leon Fontaine, Pastor of Springs Church & CEO of the Miracle Channel share with us a message that's focused on challenging our belief systems. When we have a belief system of the heart that has been influenced by the Word of God and developed by the Holy Spirit, it enables us to live an overcoming life, free from the fears and insecurities we may face.
This week we are excited to have pastor Carl-Gustav Severin from Uppsala, Sweden share a message of God's Hope for our future. Sometimes we're in situation that seems hopeless, but in those moments God steps up and promises to prosper us, and to give us a hope and a future.
Because God is devoted to us, we can be confident that we have a great future. Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV) says, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." Godʼs challenge is not the storm but our faith.
The more we appreciate the magnitude of God’s forgiveness, the more devoted we are to Him. Text Luke 15:11-24
Using the key scripture Ephesians 3:14-21, Pastor Dave Koop shares about the revelation of God's love. This revelation gives us strength on the inside and enables our faith to grow!
Because of Godʼs great devotion to us, we can know we will never be forgotten. His unfailing love for us inspires our devotion to Him.
In this message Pastor Dave Koop looks at why the early church was so devoted in prayer. Key Verse: Acts 2:42 (NLT) - "They joined with the other believers and devoted themselves to the apostlesʼ teaching and fellowship, sharing in the Lordʼs Supper and in prayer."
Pastor Dave Koop talks about how being devoted to God's word will help us live a healthy Christian life.
As devoted followers, Coastal Church will purpose to reflect Christ’s image to the world around us.
The very definition of devotion is "love, loyalty, or enthusiasm for a person, activity or cause". This week we will introduce what it means to be completely devoted to Christ and to the Word.
Pastor Dave Koop shares a final message for the year 2012 on the power of having peace in our lives through the story of Gideon in the Bible.
Christmas is a busy season with celebrations. In all our activities there is an underlying craving to experience a pure joy, perhaps like we did as a child.
Our real Christmas wish is that during this time we feel we are worthy of attention, and that we are important to someone else. Satan’s primary strategy is for us to value the opinion of others more than the truth of what God says about us. True significance can only come from living for Christ and not the approval of others.
Christmas is rooted in family, and within each one of us there is a yearning for meaningful family relationships at this time of year.
Andrew is a great example of someone who boldly introduced others to Jesus. In this message Pastor Dave Koop examines who Andrew introduced to Jesus, and how it still applies today.
Jesus gave us the order to “GO”. In Matthew 28:18-19 it says, "And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
The Holy Spirit is here to empower and guide us in the everyday decisions we struggle with. In this message Pastor Dave Koop goes through how can we tap into this power.
God has given us the Holy Spirit to live within us, and this source of power will bring change to the world around us. In a culture that has a negative view of Christianity, Jesus wants us to bring change. Jesus demonstrated that compassion for a hurting world releases His power.
The key to building great relationships can be summed up in the great commandment to love our neighbor as we love ourselves.
Small groups help us grow together because they are a place where we can affirm each otherʼs worth, be honest and open, and pray for each other.
A healthy life group has what we call fellowship. This word is translated from the Greek word koinonia. Koinonia is translated into four essential elements for fellowship: 1. Community 2. Participation 3. Contribution and 4. Generosity. To do life together requires the element of generosity.
We have this idea that if we are financially or relationally independent, we will be happy. But God had a better way when He designed our lives to be rich with community living interdependent with each other.
God’s design of community is reflected in the early church, which had key components that made it healthy and very attractive.
In the upside-down kingdom we believe, despite what we see, that God’s word is true. Jesus told Thomas (John 20:29) that those who believe without seeing are blessed. In the kingdom we can be confident because God has approved us through what Jesus has done.
In the upside-down kingdom we believe, despite what we see, that God’s word is true. Jesus told Thomas (John 20:29) that those who believe without seeing are blessed. In the kingdom we can be confident because God has approved us through what Jesus has done.
God’s way will ensure a brighter future for you and your family! In this message Pastor Dave Koop uses the story of Jacob and Esau as an illustration of how to rule over your appetites, and not to allow them to rule over you. You have no idea what hangs in the balance of your decision to trade your future for a “bowl of stew”.
It seems upside down, but Jesus taught us that in His kingdom we are to bless rather than curse others, and this includes our enemies.
Joseph is a great character in the Bible that demonstrates the principle of forgiveness versus taking revenge.
Our destiny is directly related to the understanding of our spiritual identity and the choices we make because of it.
Jesus taught us in Matthew 6:10 to pray “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven.” In praying this we are asking for two things: 1. A radical change in society. 2. A radical change within ourselves.
Believe it or not - you were created for and with rhythm! True rest can be found when we understand the rhythm of life.
Faith is the key to the ultimate rest. In Hebrews 4:3 (NLT) it says, "for only we who believe can enter his place of rest."
God established this special day at creation and wants us to take time to rest. This time off from our busy lives allows us to grow closer to Him and get refreshed.
In this message Pastor Cheryl Koop talks about learning to rest in the promises of God. In Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus says, "Come to Me, all you who labor and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
God has put into our DNA the potential for growth and success, which is unlocked as we delight in His word. If the blessed and successful person is like a tree, then we can likely learn from the largest tree in the world. The largest and strongest living thing on the earth is the Giant Sequoia tree. They do not just survive but thrive.
Before you graduate to the next level, there will be tests you have to pass that are designed to prepare you for what’s ahead. David was prepared by a number of tests before he went to a new level in his battle with Goliath.
The life of Hezekiah is a rich example in the scripture of a man that had a mother train him to trust in God. In this message Pastor Cheryl Koop goes through six key strategies in trusting God that will impact our children.
In order to go to the next level, we first must hold the gains we have made in our lives and not relapse. To take ground is costly and requires a great output of energy. What we want to avoid is falling back or a relapse.
Wherever Jesus went He brought life. We have the same nature as Jesus, so we too can bring life to others.
In order to give life to others we first must be connected to the true source of life. It is the nature of God to give life. Wherever Jesus went he brought life.
The way we listen has a great impact on how to deal with disasters in life. In Mark chapter four Jesus tells a parable about a farmer who planted seed that landed on different types of soils. The parable has a lot to do with the way we hear.
The cross and the empty grace are powerful symbols of the absolute victory that Jesus won over death and sin. His obedience made a way for us to come home to the Father.
As the crowds gathered on Palm Sunday they were looking for a king to free them from Roman oppression. They did not realize God had a "better way" in mind as Jesus entered Jerusalem!
God is calling Coastal Church into a corporate fast. Pastor Dave Koop shares what a fast is, why fast, and what to do to participate this week.
This message is from the series: "Better Way to Get Along" by Pastor Dave Koop. The Apostle Paul in Romans 14 is addressing the "grey areas". These are the issues that the Bible does not declare an unequivocal right or wrong. In this message, Pastor Dave Koop goes through 8 points (based off of Romans 14) that help us respond to those who hold different values than our own.
Learn how to detox your thoughts from Dr. Caroline Leaf's scientific research over the past 20 years. This is Sunday's recording.
Learn how to detox your thoughts from Dr. Caroline Leaf's scientific research over the past 20 years. This is Saturday's recording.
The Holy Spirit has been sent to help us repair the damage that has occurred in the soulish realm in our lives.
The greatest battle we fight is in our mind, (whether it be fears, addictions, negativism, or past memories), and God has sent the Holy Spirit to help us.
When things don't turn out as planned, and we are ready to quit, God has a way to restore us.
God’s way can be found by following the example left by the heroes of faith. This is what the Lord says: stand at the crossroads and look. Ask which paths are the old, reliable paths. Ask which way leads to blessings. Live that way, and find a resting place for yourselves. But you said that you wouldn’t live that way. - Jer. 6:16
In choosing your way, lean on what God is speaking to your heart, not your understanding. We can feel confident in asking God for His way in matters big or small.
In this message Pastor Dave Koop talks about the 5 languages of love and how to apply them to your life.
Paul ends the first chapter of Ephesians with a prayer for the believers, that they would see with their spiritual eyes what was already theirs.
Understanding that we are adopted into God's family has an incredible affect on our identity and how we live our lives.
God has chosen YOU! His love for you is unfailing. This week we're going to be unpacking Ephesians 1:1-4. The first chapter of Ephesians is packed with great nuggets of truth that reveal our identity as believers.
Social media reflects our need to have community. Gordon Pennington speaks about the influence of social media.
Jesus is the ultimate leader and his influence is life-changing. Learn how to lead like Jesus.
Thanksgiving is an attitude that is reflected in how we worship God and share our belongings. Discover how we can influence others with what we have.
Everyone has influence in some way or another. Learn how to be a good influence and lead others well.
A legacy by definition is something transmitted by or received from an ancestor or predecessor or from the past. Our greatest legacy will be those who live eternally because of our efforts.
Courage is a powerful force that causes an individual to push beyond the norm. True courage does something about the situation at hand. God told Joshua to be strong and courageous and DO IT!
Courage can be found, it can be built, and it is a characteristic of every champion. In this message, Pastor Dave Koop talks about how we can build courage in our lives.
Jesus is in eternity's past! He has always existed and created all things. In this message Pastor Dave Koop talks about how Jesus is also in eternity's future - and that He will come again and forever reign as king. John 1:1,2 says - "In the beginning the Word already existed. He was with God, and he was God. He was in the beginning with God."
Knowing that heaven is our eternal home, how does that help us to live our life on earth today? Colossians 3:1-2 says, "If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth."
We all have a sense of eternity in our heart, and we should think about what we have to look forward to. Col. 3:1-2 says, "Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits at Godʼs right hand in the place of honor and power. Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth."
Eccl. 3:11 says that, "God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end." We were made for more than just life on this planet, and God wants us to be thinking and acting in a way that sets us apart for all eternity.
The key to being freed from the bondage of lies is the truth that is found in Jesus Christ and His word.
Anger is a powerful emotion that if left unmastered leads us into danger. In this message Pastor Dave Koop looks at: when is anger a sin? What effect does it have on our lives? What is righteous or sanctified anger?
What is addiction? According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the definition is “To devote or surrender (oneself) to something habitually or obsessively”. What are we addicted to, and what effect does it have on our lives? Jesus came to set us free from the bondage and pain of addictions. John 10:10.