Imperial Beach Church: Recent Episodes
Imperial Beach Church
Casual Atmosphere – Serious Faith – No Weird Stuff. If your life is as perfect as Ken and Barbie’s, then we’re probably not the church for you. Imperial Beach Church is for normal people and imperfect families with everyday issues. Sorry, no perfect people allowed.
Have you ever felt lonely? Have you ever wanted true connection, authentic community, but didn’t know where to start? Have you ever run from connection because of fear, or because of old wounds? What makes community so hard? For Week 2 of our series, Living Lightly, we are unpacking 4 things that make meaningful connection so difficult:
- We are mobile.
- We are distracted.
- We are afraid.
- We are busy.
In this message, we will discover how the enemy of our souls tries to keep us from the community we’ve been made for, and how we can instead seek out, embrace, and take a step of faith towards the life God calls us to live.
Have you ever felt weighed down, weary or held back? Life can be heavy. No one knew this better than Jesus. How can we draw closer to Him, and learn from Him how to live lightly? How does Jesus help us trade our wounds for healing, our shame for grace, and our overwhelm for peace? In this message, we kick off our brand new series Living Lightly. For Week 1, we are unpacking how we can trade the heaviness of our shame for the lightness of God’s grace. In this message we will discover God’s lens of our shame, and how we are invited to:
- Get real with God.
- Get real with a trusted person.
- Put our faith in Jesus, not in ourselves.
What is our next right step… right now? Pastor Luke Crosby shares an encouraging “Halftime Report” about all the amazing things God is doing in and through EastLake Church and our Community Church Movement! He encourages us in how we can continue to follow God’s lead, live as we’ve been called to live, and be people helping people find and follow Jesus. Our phrase of the year is “Next Right Step,” and at this close-to-halfway time of the year, we want to celebrate what we’ve witnessed God do, and also look towards the future, and what He’s calling us into next. No matter what kind of season you’re in, you are invited to:
-Talk with God about your situation.
-Remember God’s reputation.
-Follow God’s direction.
-Make God’s Glory your motivation.
What is your next right step? Let’s continue to follow God’s lead and finish 2025 strong!
Why do we sometimes long for what we don’t have? What does it reveal about ourselves when we never feel like we have enough, or nothing ever seems good enough? In a culture where it has become easy and “normalized” to covet, what does God say about the bondage that puts us in, and how can we be free from it? In today’s message, we unpack the 10th commandment– Do not covet. It turns out, at the core of this temptation is our seeking to find our identity and value in what we have and what we produce. In today’s message, we unpack God’s Word to discover a better way to live– a free way to live! When we put our faith in Christ and find our identity in Christ, we will discover we are already free.
Why are we sometimes tempted to lie or to steal? What does that show us about ourselves? What might God want to heal within us? In today’s message, we unpack the 8th and 9th commandments– Do not steal, and do not lie. It turns out, at the core of these temptations are questions of security and significance: “Do I have enough? Am I enough?” In today’s message, we unpack God’s Word to discover who we are in Christ and what we have in Christ. When we know who we are, it will empower us to live more generous and truthful lives… the way free people were created to live.
Why does God call us to be faithful in our marriage? Is it because of something he doesn’t want for us? Or is this because of something greater that he does want for us? In today’s message we unpack the 7th commandment– Do not commit adultery. It turns out it’s about so much more than what not to do, and what God doesn’t want for us. Together we will discover that it’s also about God’s best plan for us, and God’s protection for us. This commandment is about God protecting our hearts, homes, and health. He wants to keep marriages and families together and for them to flourish. And even when we fall short of God’s best… forgiveness and restoration is available to all of us through Jesus Christ.
How Free People Live – Week 6 – What value does God place on human life? In today’s message, we unpack the 6th commandment in the 10 Commandments– do not murder. We may ask ourselves, what about war? What about self-defense? Is this about our heart or our hands? Together we will unpack God’s Word to discover what murder is, and what it isn’t, and discover this truth: All people are created in God’s image, and all life is precious to God.
How Free People Live – Week 5 – We’ve all heard the commandment to honor our parents. Did you know that it applies to children of all ages? In today’s message, we unpack the 5th commandment in the 10 Commandments and what it actually means to respect and honor our relationships with our parents. While honoring our parents doesn’t mean unconditional obedience, we will learn what it means to demonstrate genuine respect for them.
How Free People Live – Week 4 – How should Christ-followers live in a fast-paced world? What about when we’re tired, exhausted, fatigued, or weary? In today’s message we ask the question: What is making your load feel heavy right now? And we unpack in God’s Word the 4th Commandment about keeping the Sabbath holy, and how God wants to make our load– lighter. Together we will discover that through Sabbath rest, God invites us to: – Stop – Rest – Delight in good and be mindful of God’s presence. And through this gift from God we can live lighter and freer.
How Free People Live – Week 1 – How can we actually live as the free people God’s called us to be? In today’s message, we kick off a new summer series, “How Free People Live.” Through it, we’ll unpack the 10 Commandments found in the Book of Exodus and how an ancient list of rules actually holds so much wisdom, hope, and direction for our lives today. Each week, we’ll learn more about God’s character, His love and heart for humanity, and the free lives He calls us to live. Today, we will unlock these truths: – Free people embrace their deliverance. – Free people live into their restored identity. – Free people recognize authentic value. – Free people are surrendered.
Follow us as we close the book of Acts in our series, First Church. Pastor Luke Crosby will discuss five simple steps for us, when reaching out to people using the B.L.E.S.S. Method –
- Begin with prayer
- Listen to them
- Eat with them
- Serve them
- Share your story
Let’s practice these five simple steps as a community and see how God works in all our lives.
First Church | Week 5 | Have you ever wondered what God wants your prayer life to look like? The first church wondered the same thing. In today’s message, we unpack the truth about prayer and living a life of faith. Together we will discover: – The power of prayer is based on who we pray to, not how well we pray. – Our job is to ask; God’s job is to do what’s best. – We can believe in God’s goodness, trust in God’s sovereignty, and live our lives dependent on Him.
First Church | Week 4 | Does it ever feel like there’s so many barriers in our world? Jesus agreed. In today’s message, we unpack how the gospel of Jesus is the ultimate barrier breaker. In the book of Acts we will discover how the gospel breaks: ● Race and ethnic barriers. (Acts 15, James 2:8-9, 1 John 4:20) ● Social barriers. (Acts 2:44-45, Acts 4:32-35) ● Gender barriers. (Acts 16:13-15, Acts 18, Acts 21:8-9) ● The sin barrier. (Acts 10:43, Galatians 3:26-28) Because of Jesus, there is a way for each and every one of us to have a real and right relationship with God!
First Church | Week 3 | How should Christ-followers respond when there’s opposition to our faith? Join us as we unpack stories of the early church facing both push-back and persecution, and what that looks like in our world today. Together we will discover: – Your mission doesn’t change with your circumstances. – Your calling doesn’t change when things get difficult. – Your assignment can’t be stopped if it comes from God.
First Church | Week 2 | How can we practically be the church God calls us to be? Join us as we unpack the rhythms of the church, the regular patterns we engage in– things that we do repeatedly that define not just who we are, but what we value. In this important and practical message we will unearth how we gather, grow, group, give, and go (our rhythms of worship, discipleship, fellowship, ministry, and evangelism). We will look at the patterns of the early church and unlock the ways God still calls us to live today!
First Church | Week 1 | What did the first Christians do after the resurrection of Jesus? What should we still be doing as the church today? In our new series, First Church, we are going through the book of Acts and unpacking the kind of church and the kind of people that God calls us to be!
Easter Sunday — Jesus’ Resurrection — Have you ever had a setback? A great comeback is possible for you through Jesus’ death and his resurrection from the grave. No matter your sins, setbacks, or failures, be encouraged by this message of hope: Your failure is not final. Because of the resurrection, there is redemption, there is forgiveness, and there is new life, both now and forever, available for you today!
Week 6 of Everyday Miracles – Join us with the new Associate Pastor Grant Hedges! He talks about what we do when we don’t know what God is doing. Through the story of Jesus healing a blind man, we will learn that a move of God might not be exactly what we expect, but when we release our expectations and obey God, we will see God move in ways we have never imagined.
Week 5 of Everyday Miracles – Have you ever felt like you’re in the middle of a storm? Stuck in a trial? Caught up in chaos? Pastor Luke unpacks a powerful story of Jesus walking on water and calming a storm, and how Jesus can also calm our fears, bring peace to our circumstances, and deliver us to where He’s asked us to go. Will you take a step of faith toward Him today?
Week 4 of Everyday Miracles – Join Luke Crosby on week 4 as he talks about the miracle of Jesus feeding 5,000 people, we will discover:
- Jesus sees beyond our limitations.
- Jesus multiplies what we surrender to Him.
- Jesus involves us in his plans and purpose. When we add Jesus into the equation in our lives, we will discover that Jesus is more than enough! He is the ultimate prize, the ultimate miracle– in Him is everything we truly need.
Week 3 of Everyday Miracles – Is there something you’ve struggled with for a long time? In today’s message, we unpack a story of Jesus healing a man lying down sick for thirty-eight years. Through this story, we will discover how Jesus sees us, knows us, and can restore our lives… even in areas that have felt hopeless.
Week 2 of Everyday Miracles –What happens when you need a miracle, but the thing you’re asking God for… you’ve never seen before? Hosanna Wong unpacks a miracle in John 4 where a father has faith for Jesus to heal his son, even though it was different from the miracles Jesus had done in the past. She encourages us: This might look different. No matter what you are carrying today, know this: God is able to do exceedingly, abundantly more than we ask or imagine. What will you ask Him for today?
Everyday Miracles – Week 1 | Jesus still does miracles today– through ordinary things, in our everyday lives. For this series, we’re unpacking seven miracles of Jesus recorded in the Gospel of John—each one a sign revealing God’s power, purpose, and presence in our lives. In today’s message, we explore Jesus’ first miracle: turning water to wine. This wasn’t just about keeping a party going—it was a powerful sign of who Jesus is and what He came to do. Through this story, we’ll see how we can experience everyday miracles by: Inviting Jesus into our daily lives, Trusting Him as our provider, Believing in His power to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. If this spoke to you, share it with someone who needs encouragement today!
Week 4 of Love Is — Rejoice in Truth & Forever
Pastor Grant Hedges closes out our series Love Is! as he teaches us that God sent his one and only son, Jesus, so that he could love us unconditionally! Also, we should not keep tabs on the wrongs that others do to us but should love them because, through love, we set others for success and should not be slow to recognize when we are wrong. Hopefully, you enjoy this message as we keep learning and growing each and every day through Christ.
In this message from our “Love Is” series, Pastor Luke Crosby, dives into Why love is a choice, not just a feeling (sorry, Hollywood rom-coms). Keeping a “record of wrongs” fuels resentment and hurts relationships practical ways to release anger instead of feeding it. Why forgiveness doesn’t mean forgetting—but it does mean letting go. If you’ve ever found yourself rehashing old arguments, holding grudges, or getting too fired over something small, this message is for you. God’s love frees us from the weight of anger—if we let it.
Join Pastor Luke Crosby and Dr. Amanda Pavich as they unpack what it truly means to love—something we learn through patience and kindness and explain to us that Love Is not Jealous, Proud, or Rude. So, what does real love look like in marriage? If you believe movies, romance novels, reality TV, or online dating is just one big, emotional high where everything magically works out. But let’s be real—love isn’t just about feelings. It’s a choice. According to 1 Corinthians 13, that choice means ditching pride, envy, and boasting in favor of something far more powerful: humility and selflessness.
Love isn’t just warm fuzzies and Hallmark moments; it’s a lifestyle that mirrors God’s character. In this four-week series, we’re digging into 1 Corinthians 13:4–8a to get real about what love looks like in action. From patience that doesn’t snap in traffic to kindness that’s not just for show, we’ll unpack how love isn’t jealous, proud, rude, easily angered, or petty enough to keep score. Instead, it’s about celebrating truth, sticking it out when things get tough, and letting God’s love reshape how we live and love every single day. Because let’s face it—we all need a little help in the love department.
What do we do when we feel like we are “at the end of our rope”? Where do we turn to for help? In the final installment of the NEXT RIGHT STEP series, Pastor Guy Johnson explores Psalm 143, written by King David in a time of great trouble. It illustrates how seeking renewal and direction through a posture of surrender and ultimately asking for God’s help to turn situations around for His glory is an essential step to take in our faith journey.
We are made to be in relationships with God, humanity, and all creation. In Week 4 of the NEXT RIGHT STEP series, Pastor Luke examines what the scriptures tell us about deepening our connections in healthy, life-giving ways.
A beautiful life doesn’t happen by accident. It takes intention. We must develop purposeful rhythms to accomplish this task. In week 3 of NEXT RIGHT STEP, Pastor Kevin McPeak shows how Jesus practiced these rhythms consciously and how we too can develop spiritually and relationally as we build these regular healthy habits into our own lives.
Series Description: Faith isn’t a sprint—it’s more like a slow, uphill hike where you’re not always sure if you packed the right snacks. Whether it’s growing spiritually, finding some emotional sanity, or figuring out what on earth your purpose is, it starts with trusting God and taking one small, bold step. Psalm 143:8 is our reminder to check in with God each morning (before coffee counts) and let Him set the course. In this series, we’ll uncover how letting God lead transforms us, strengthens our relationships, and helps us live with real purpose—without needing a perfect map.
Merry Christmas! May the genuine joy that Jesus brings be with you and your loved ones this season.
What do Christians mean by “Heaven” and is it something we will only see when we die? In week three of our series “THE PROMISE,” Pastor Luke explains and breaks down the Bible’s promise of eternity for those who follow Jesus.
In a season that emphasizes the importance of giving thanks, it’s important for us to remember that gratitude is a response to God’s limitless love and grace. In this encouraging message, we’re reminded to give thanks in all circumstances and trust that God is at work even in challenging times. Join us for a reminder that giving thanks is ultimately all about God’s incomparable goodness.
Sometimes life doesn’t seem fair. We do our best but things still fall apart, go wrong, or otherwise lead to disappointment. In the middle of those difficult times, it’s easy to question or even feel like we’re wrestling with God. But that struggle doesn’t have to lead to even more discouragement. In the final week of HE’S STILL GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HANDS, we can find hope and strength for the steps ahead by leaning into the words of scripture to discover how God is actually working through our hardest seasons.
Have you ever begged God for resolution? Something has gone wrong in your life, and it seems like God is not fixing things as quickly as you would like? In week 2 of our series, Pastor Luke examines the Old Testament prophet Habakkuk, and how God is working in your season of waiting.
SERIES DESCRIPTION: Sometimes life doesn’t seem fair. We do our best but things still fall apart, go wrong, or otherwise lead to disappointment. In the middle of those difficult times, it’s easy to question or even feel like we’re wrestling with God. But that struggle doesn’t have to lead to even more discouragement; instead, we can find hope and strength for the steps ahead by leaning into the words of scripture to discover how God is working through our hardest seasons. Join us for a three-week series that shines some light in the darkest times as we discover how He’s still got the whole world in His hands.
In the final week of HELP IS HERE, Pastor Kevin McPeak focuses on how the Holy Spirit works THROUGH us, specifically through the gifts that it equips us with and how we can use it for the good of others.
In week two of HELP IS HERE, Pastor Matt Henry walks through Galatians 5 and how having the Holy Spirit inside us is better than having Jesus beside us, as well as practical ways we can live by the Spirit.
SERIES DESCRIPTION: Do you need some help? The bad news is that you probably do. But the good news is that help is available to you – right where you are. In “Help Is Here”, we’ll dig into understanding who the Holy Spirit is and how it brings us help. In this three-week series, we’re diving deep into the truth that we are never alone, because the Holy Spirit is always with us. Help is here – and it’s closer than we think!
In our message GIVE GOD YOUR BEST, Pastor Grant Hedges teaches us about what happens when we surrender, give God our best, and let Him use what passions and abilities we have to serve and impact our church, our city, and California and Baja California.
In the final week of PARTY CRASHERS, Pastor Luke dives into scripture found in the book of Romans, chapter 13. Its timeless principles help believers today to answer the question: Regardless of who wins, how are we as Jesus’ people supposed to live and honor Christ?
In week two of PARTY CRASHERS, Pastor Kevin McPeak emphasizes the need to be more like Jesus than ever before, especially in the political climate we currently find ourselves in. We learn that Jesus redeems our political divide by shifting our focus from the what to the how.
SERIES DESCRIPTION: We’re diving into how Jesus helps us navigate the political tension and to make sure we are staying focused on running our own race. We speak about how Jesus followers can think, participate, and respond with grace during these challenging times. Over the next four weeks, we’ll explore big questions about faith and politics and how to stay rooted in what matters most.
In the final week of TRAVEL PLANS, Pastor Luke examines the fifth chapter of 1 Peter, specifically how every believer is called to be a leader. As Christians we influence people around us every day at the places we live, work, and play. Therefore we should care for the flock that God has entrusted to us, and the apostle Peter has wisdom to share on the subject.
In week four of TRAVEL PLANS, we remembered how Christ suffered to pay the price for our sins and how we are able to live in victory in the midst of our own suffering. Pastor Luke teaches us that because Christ’s suffering made a difference for us, our suffering and our stories can make a difference as well.
In week three of TRAVEL PLANS, Pastor Luke walks us through more of 1 Peter, highlighting how the apostle Peter encourages believers, and teaches us practical Jesus ways we can live humbly.
In week two of TRAVEL PLANS, Pastor Kevin McPeak dives into 1 Peter chapter 2, where the author is giving encouragement to new Christ followers to grow and mature in their faith so that they can weather the storms of worldly doubt that arise.
SERIES DESCRIPTION: A life oriented to Jesus is one full of hope, peace, and purpose. It’s also one that can stand at odds with our culture and the ways of the world. And this chasm between His way and the world’s way can result in real frustration, disappointment and disorientation as we try to navigate our life with a new map. Fortunately, the Bible is full of folks in this same spot. Join us for “Travel Plans” as we look at the book of 1 Peter and Peter’s direction and encouragement that we can not only live a Jesus way in a foreign land, but thrive on the journey.
In the eighth and final week of THE TURNAROUND, Pastor Luke examines the hopeful ending of the book of Jeremiah that points forward to the coming of a messiah. A savior that would permanently provide freedom to not just the ancient Hebrews, but all people everywhere. A savior named Jesus.
In the seventh week of THE TURNAROUND, Pastor Luke examines the stories of three characters that showcase what a life of obedience (or disobedience) can look like, and then provides three prayers we can pray today to help us grow closer to God.
In the fifth week of THE TURNAROUND, Pastor Luke examines how the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah gave both hope and hard truths to the Hebrew people living as exiles and slaves in Babylon. Join us as we examine how this ancient story can assist us today when we inevitably find ourselves living in opposition to the worldly cultures we interact with daily.
In the fourth week of THE TURNAROUND, Pastor Luke examines how the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah dealt with dark times and discouragement by doubling down on his devotion to God, and how we can follow his example to assist us when we inevitably go through tough times in our own faith journey.
In the third week of THE TURNAROUND, Pastor Christian explains how God wants to reshape, restore, and renew our lives and that when we place our lives in his hands, he will shape us for his good purpose.
In the second week of THE TURNAROUND, Pastor Kevin explains the connection between the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah and Jesus, as well as how their sensitivity to the brokenness around them lead them to speak difficult truths that we still need to hear today.