Coastal Church Podcast

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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. </p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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).</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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?’</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p><p><br></p><p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p><p><br></p>

<p>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.</p><p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p><p>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.</p>