Coastal Church Podcast

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

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

<p>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.</p>

<p>Jesus promises the Holy Spirit as our Helper and the ultimate source of peace. Abiding in Christ is sustained through the Spirit’s presence.</p>

<p>Abiding in Christ includes trusting Him when the future is unclear.</p><p>Life is full of uncertainty, and sometimes our hearts are troubled. We face challenges, losses, and doubts that make us question the path ahead.</p><p>God wants to lead us to trust Him, even if we don’t understand</p><p>His thoughts are higher than ours. And His thoughts are always good!</p>

<p>Jesus commands His disciples to love one another as He has loved them. Abiding in Christ involves sacrificial, selfless love.</p>

<p>Judas’ betrayal and Jesus’ response demonstrate that abiding in Christ involves navigating betrayal with grace and forgiveness.</p><p> </p><p>How should we handle betrayal?</p><p>Forgive: Forgiveness doesn’t mean excusing the betrayal but releasing the hurt to God. (Matthew 6:14-15)</p><p>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)</p><p>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)</p><p>Trust God with justice: Vengeance belongs to God, not us. (Romans 12:19)</p><p><br></p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p><p>A strong foundation in our earthly homes and being secure in our eternal home enables us to step into 2025 with confidence.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>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: <a href="https://watch.thechosen.tv/video/184683594479" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://watch.</a><a href="http://thechosen.tv/video/184683594479" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">thechosen.tv/video/184683594479</a></p>

<p>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!</p>

<p>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.</p><p><br></p><p>The Chosen Christmas Special Clip: <a href="https://watch.thechosen.tv/video/184683594479" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://watch.</a><a href="http://thechosen.tv/video/184683594479" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">thechosen.tv/video/184683594479</a></p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>