Coastal Church Podcast

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>If you understand what Jesus finished at the cross, you can understand Christianity and why we call today “Good Friday”.</p>

<p>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!”</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>Just as God saw David’s potential to be a king, God sees your potential and significance.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>God does not spare us from ongoing battles in our lives, but He promises victory when we fight according to His strategy.</p>

<p>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!</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>The Bible is the story of God’s great love for us, and the extent He goes to have us draw near to Him.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>“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.</p>

<p>Pastor Dave Koop shares a special Christmas Eve message on the Light of the world.</p>

<p>Pastor Dave Koop shares a message on having Hope.</p>

<p>God wrapped the greatest present in such a way that all could receive it.<br><br>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”.<br><br>So what do we get wrapped up in?</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>1 John 4:4 NKJV<br>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>