Rockharbor Costa Mesa Podcast: Recent Episodes
Rockharbor Church Costa Mesa
We are empowered by the Holy Spirit to extend the love of Jesus as we generously worship, pray, and reach the lost. We are cultivating a community of transformed people who follow the way of Jesus.
In the second message of our Life at the Table series, Glenn reveals how facing our brokenness leads to openness and ultimately opens the door to experiencing God’s grace through Jesus’ sacrifice.
In the first message of our new sermon series, "Life at the Table," Glenn reveals how being blessed by Jesus means being welcomed, healed, and invited into His mission, offering us abundant life at His table.
On Vision Sunday, Glenn shares how our church is entering a new season of growth, drawing lessons from the early church in Acts and reminding us that while growth is God's work, we are invited to participate through prayer, care, and active engagement.
In this episode from our sermon series, “Practical Wisdom: Life Lessons from Proverbs,” Glenn helps illuminate how Proverbs teaches us that a good name is earned through living well and with restraint, but how ultimately, our true security lies in trusting the name of Jesus.
In this installment from our sermon series, “Practical Wisdom: Life Lessons from Proverbs,” Glenn helps us discover how our daily work, when done with diligence, integrity, and wisdom, can become a powerful act of worship and a vital part of God's mission in the world.
Tune in to hear Gavin explore the topic of holiness, explaining that a biblical interpretation isn’t about perfection or comparison but about being set apart by God's grace, urging us to see it as an identity received through Jesus that manifests in love, humility, and usefulness in God's Kingdom.
In last Sunday’s talk from our series "Redefine: Words That Matter," Ben dove into the concept of love. He hit home that we often underestimate what real love is, missing the fact that it's experienced and reflected through a God who IS real love.
Brooke helps us uncover what righteousness means both scripturally and in our own lives as we continue in our “Redefine: Words That Matter” sermon series. Join us as Brooke helps us uncover righteousness as something rooted in our relationship with God, that impacts our personal holiness, justice, and compassion, and fixes Jesus as the ultimate embodiment of itself.
Listen to guest Pastor Ken Shigematsu's message as he delves into the pervasive impact of shame, advocating for healing through vulnerability, genuine connection, and embracing one's true identity in God's unconditional love.
Join us in week two of our series "Redefine" as Glenn delves into the profound concept of salvation, uncovering how God's saving power rescues us from sin and empowers us with purpose through Jesus.
Kick off of our new sermon series Redefine as Glenn unpacks the transformative power of the gospel, exploring Jesus’ saving kingship as central to the good news, and our response in repentance, belief, and rejoicing to it.
Join us this Easter as at Rockharbor as we proclaim the Good News of the Risen Savior – God has made a way for us to Come Home. The empty tomb is the open door!
In the sixth installment of our sermon series, Glimpses of the Kingdom, Gavin Lamming explores the parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector, emphasizing humility over pride and using Jesus as an example to illustrate the transformative power of acknowledging our flaws and seeking God's mercy for genuine spiritual growth.
Join us as Glenn delves into God's role as a gracious host who invites us all to a feast of divine generosity. Discover how recognizing and embracing this invitation can transform our priorities and lead us to share this experience with others.
Ben reminds us that as followers of Jesus, we are called to embody the Kingdom of God by practicing humility, hospitality, and generosity towards others, reflecting Jesus's character and freely sharing the blessings we have received from him.
This week, Glenn explores the idea of God as a patient gardener, emphasizing how our growth and transformation, though not always linear, bring forth fruitful and longstanding outcomes for followers of Jesus who patiently trust in His process.
Join Glenn as he confronts our innate disposition toward a materialistic mindset, asking the question, "What are we gonna do with all this stuff?" In our third installment of Glimpses of the Kingdom, discover the subversive story Jesus tells, offering freedom from the lies of greed and a pathway to true richness before God.
Join us for week two of our Glimpses of The Kingdom sermon series where Ben explores the profound dimensions of prayer through the parable in Luke 11, emphasizing the intimate relationship with God and the communal aspect of prayer and intercession.
Dive into the transformative message of the Good Samaritan in the first week of our New Sermon Series - “Glimpses of the Kingdom: The Stories Jesus Told.” Glenn helps us explore the challenge Jesus presents in the story of the Good Samaritan – to love beyond boundaries and act with compassion to everyone.
Guest Pastor Aaron Stern challenges us to consider how God sees us, asserting that regardless of our rebellion, God views us with the same pride as Jesus in Mark's Gospel. By intentionally embracing God's delight, we empower transformation, diving deeper into a relationship with the Creator who loves His creation.
Everybody is going to worship somebody or something. The question is, to whom will you give your one wild and precious life? In the final installment of our “Being Human” sermon series, Glenn explores the human inclination to worship, reminding us that God created us and redeemed us to worship Him.
Glenn explores questions of human identity and sexuality in the third week of our “Being Human” sermon series. Who gets to define our identity? Who gets to direct our sexuality? We can answer these questions with or without Jesus, but His Way leads to life at its fullest, yet comes at a cost – the cost of our whole selves to follow Him.
Being God’s image isn't just a theological concept; it's a profound answer to the question: “who am I and why am I here?” In the second installment of our “Being Human” series, Glenn helps us explore what being made in God’s image means – having dignity, authority, and purpose.
Glenn explores the significance of "the human body" in our new sermon series, "Being Human: A Series on the Theology of You." He shows us that through Scripture we find 3 main clues - creation, incarnation, and resurrection - that help explain why our bodies matter to God.
Glenn's message emphasizes the crucial distinction between being (fruitfulness) and doing (productivity). As we begin the New Year, Glenn reminds us that intentionally cultivating fruitfulness is our original call as image-bearers, bringing both glory to God and life to a world in need.
Glenn teaches us about The Christmas story revealing God's unwavering pursuit of humanity, culminating in the arrival of Jesus—God with us. It shows us how God’s divine advent offers us renewal, comfort for our fears, courage for the journey of faith, and confidence for a future rooted in the hope of Jesus. In the Christmas story, we’re reminded of our invitation to a profound new beginning with a God who’s never stopped pursuing us.
In the final week of our "Advent" series, Glenn draws inspiration from Anna's story, emphasizing that joy is both a product of patient waiting and a catalyst for exuberant praise. Anna's infectious joy invites us to anticipate the imminent restoration of all things and actively practice worship beyond the church walls, sharing in the abundant love of a God committed to restoring all of His creation.
Glenn teaches on the life of King Herod and his rise to power, contrasting Herod's reign as King of the Jews with Jesus' reign as Messiah and true King. What we find is that Jesus and Herod are opposites. Herod Claws his way to power while Jesus empties Himself of power. Herod kills to protect his power while Jesus dies to save the powerless. Herod's kingship results in weeping and Jesus' reign ends in worship. Glenn reminds us that Herod could have been the fourth King to come and celebrate the birth of the Messiah, but instead he choose to cling to his own power. Herod's story reminds us that we have to choose what King to serve, where Herod leads to weeping and grieving, Jesus leads to life and worship.
On Sunday Night, Ben Simonson helped us zero in on the significance of Mary's song (Luke 1:46-55 - CEB) and from it, highlighted her courage in belief of who God called her to be and her willingness to live in the tension of wrestling with God while remaining obedient to Him. What we're reminded in Mary's song is that as God intervenes in our lives, hope emerges.
Guest teacher, Dr. Amy Orr-Ewing, kicked off our Advent series with a message on Mary's life reminding us that Mary's called blessed and highly favored by God. Amy invites us to remember that Mary's anointing fulfilled prophecy, worked in the midst of reality, empowered her witness, and confronted her oppressors. In the midst of Advent, Amy invites us to examine Mary's response to God and craft our own song of worship as we dwell on the birth of Jesus and await His second coming.
What does it look like when God sets a table before us in the presence of our enemies? Kit teaches us about how to "sit well" at the Tables God sets before us, drawing from the story of King Jehosaphat in 2 Corinthians 20. What we find is that we're meant to be people who watch, wait, and worship the Lord when God sets tables before us.
Brooke Hoehne teaches us about the hope rooted in Jesus' resurrection by pointing us to the stories of a grief-stricken Mary Magdalene, a bitterly-doubtful Thomas, and a shame-filled Peter in the gospel of John. What we find is that Jesus comes to meet us in our feebleness with his unwavering love and plants in us a hope that transcends the depths of our brokenness.
In the final message of our "Encounters" series, Glenn teaches on Mary Magdalene, Peter, and Thomas's encounter with The Resurrected Jesus in the aftermath of His crucifixion. John's gospel recounts Mary, Thomas, and Peter being wrought in deep despair, but also reveals a more powerful message, that Jesus comes to meet us in our depths.
Glenn teaches on John 13 and Jesus' interaction with His disciples at the Last Supper. In the face of His impending crucifiction, we find Jesus taking a radical posture of servitude bending down to wash the feet of His disciples. By this radical act of humility, we see the meaning of the cross: Jesus has come to wash even the worst of us, the places of our deepest shame. What's more, changed by this love, we have been sent into the world to display the love of God in ways that are personal, tangible, and visible.
Glenn Packiam preaches from John 12 paying particular attention to the worshipful interaction between Mary of Bethany and Jesus. We find that Mary's sacrificial offering at Jesus's feet reveal to us three distinct characteristics about worship. It is a grateful response, an extravagant outpouring, and prophetically revelatory.
Gavin teaches from John 11 about Jesus's miraculous encounter with Lazarus, emphasizing that our grief and our waiting are not wasted in Jesus, but are tethered to a resurrection hope in Him.
Glenn Packiam dives into week 6 of our "Encounters" series teaching on John 9 - Jesus' encounter with a man born blind. Through this story of encounter we find that the journey of discipleship begins as an act of faith, matures through testing and opposition, and ultimately culminates in adoration and worship to Jesus.
Ben talks about five shifts Jesus invites us into that we find in John 9 in an interaction between Jesus and a Man Born Blind.
Guest Pastor - Jay Kim - joins us from Westagate Church and continues our "Encounters" series, teaching on Jesus' encounter with an invalid man laying by a pool. John 5 shows us how Jesus transcends human limitations, offering hope and healing when our strength falls short. Jesus' encounter with the healing of the invalid man challenges us to consider partnering with Jesus through faith and obedience, recognizing that He possesses the power to bring about profound transformation beyond our own efforts.
As Gavin invites us to participate in the story of the Woman caught in Adultery from John 8, we learn from her encounter with Jesus that not only does God stoop down to meet us in our sin and forgive us, He’s also welcoming us into a new way of life, departing from the sin He’s forgiven in us.
Glenn talks about why followers of Christ view the human body so highly as it relates to sexual sin and incorporates that into a broader message on how Jesus' encounter with the Woman Caught in Adultery in John's Gospel shows us that He, "forgives the sin and transforms the sinner."
Observing the interaction between the Samaritan Woman and Jesus from John’s gospel, we find that Jesus is a Savior who crosses societal and prejudicial barriers to come find us, He sees us unlike anyone else can - for our truest self, and He offers us our deepest desire - the Living Water of His Holy Spirit. Scripture shows us that not only does Jesus see us truly and offer us to drink of His “Living Water,” he’s simultaneously using our place of pain and shame to be a springboard for our healing.
In this sermon, Glenn Packiam preaches on Jesus encountering a Samaritan woman at the well, breaking down cultural barriers, dignifying the discarded, and ultimately inspiring her to invite others to see Jesus as the one who truly sees you.
Glenn talks about Nicodemus’ encounter with Jesus emphasizing Nico’s caution and curiosity in approaching the supposed, “Messiah.” Jesus cuts right to the chase with Nicodemus, reiterating that through Him we can gain new life, not simply as a do-over on our current situation, but a fresh birth of the Spirit that bears eternal life and comes from a loving God who finds us as Savior first, not judge.
In the opening chapter of John, two central questions emerge that frame both Jesus’ encounter with the first disciples and the book of John as a whole. As we are encountered by Jesus, we are invited to consider: “who is Jesus” and “What are we looking for?” Who we believe Jesus to be shapes what we long for Him to do in our lives. As we begin this series, our hope is that you'd experience a fresh encounter with Jesus, bolstered by Scripture, the presence of the Holy Spirit, and our church community.
As many of you know, we have been searching for a new Lead Pastor since February 2021. Through an extensive search process led by a diverse volunteer team, countless hours of prayer and fasting for wisdom and discernment, the Lord has made clear who the next leader of Rockharbor would be. In early July, the search team alongside the elder board unanimously invited Glenn Packiam to become our Lead Pastor, which he has graciously accepted alongside his wife Holly and their four kids Sophia, Norah, Jonas, and Jane.
For the past 22 years Glenn has served at New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado, first as a worship pastor and, most recently, as Lead Pastor of the Downtown congregation. He has become a respected theologian, receiving his doctorate from Durham University in the UK. As a Senior Fellow at Barna Group, Glenn is a frontrunner on the intersection of research and ministry, guiding pastors to navigate our current cultural moment. He is an accomplished musician and author whose primary aim is building up the Church in following Jesus. He has written several books, the most recent being The Resilient Pastor, aimed to encourage and develop longevity in pastors.
We could not be more excited about what God has done in bringing the Packiam family to Rockharbor and about what God will do under Glenn’s leadership in the future. This has been a long-awaited announcement, and we are grateful for your prayers and patience, the hard work of the search committee, and the faithfulness of God. Please continue to pray for the Packiams as they transition. Pray for Todd, Kit, and the rest of the staff as they continue to lead into the fall. And above all else praise God! He has answered our prayers. He is always faithful.
Galatians 5:13-26 13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. 16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Galatians 5:22-26 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Galatians 5:19-21 19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
ACTS 2:42-47 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common.
45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
ACTS 4:29-31 29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
ACTS 6:1 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.
As we continue to join Jesus at various tables, we quickly discover – they are all His table. And He begins to use them for His purposes – not just invitation, but instruction. And we discover how challenging sitting at table with Jesus might be.
Jesus is anointed by a “sinful” woman. She receives forgiveness at the table; a lavish response to transforming love.
There are few more powerful moments of encounter with Jesus than when a woman, shaped by rejection, keeps a lunch time appointment with Him, far from the madding crowd. There her heart, formed by curiosity about worship, expands beyond her rejection and she gets in on the secret at the center of the Universe! Which she promptly shares with those who had rejected her!! That is what meeting Jesus will do for you!
We announce and bless the release of our Mission Viejo campus to be launched as it's own church community.
Slowly emerging from the redefining reality of pandemic and having begun to step into boundaried identity, the concern for the people of God becomes one of establishing a foundation suitable for the life our identity calls us to. That foundation, we learn from Nehemiah, is the Word of God and the Worship of God – joy pressing towards repentance and obedience.
We are co workers of God. Do all that you can do, so that God can show all that He can do.
The rebuilding of the wall is a massive effort of coordinating large numbers of people, each doing their part with diligence and focus
The rebuilding of the wall is a massive effort of coordinating large numbers of people, each doing their part with diligence and focus.
What is an adequate foundation for the challenging days ahead of us – in light of the challenging days behind us? Nehemiah, faced with similar challenges of a community emerging from confusion and uncertainty, provides help. No surprise – it begins with an understanding of an awesome God – One big enough for the challenges ahead!
In Ezra chapters 1-3 we read about a remnant of Israelites that are allowed to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple.
Earthly treasures don't last. Heavenly treasures last and satisfy. Our treasures determine our heart.
What does every father want for his child? A life that thrives. A son or daughter that isn’t overwhelmed by fear but trusts the Father to help them overcome their fear.
God uses the mondain, every day, ordinary things to prepare us and transform us more into Jesus' likeness.
Kyle tells a story from the book of John, chapter 4, when Jesus ministers to a Samaritan woman.
Faith will give us hope, even in the waiting. Ines tells us the story of Rahab, the prostitute.
We will be disappointed by God because it comes from unmet expectations, and God wants us to know how much bigger He is than our expectations.