Coastal Church Podcast

<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>

<p>Just as Nehemiah depended on God’s guidance and strength, we are encouraged to lean on God’s promises, grounding ourselves in Scripture to reinforce our "spiritual walls." This renewal protects us against spiritual decay, builds resilience against worldly pressures, and strengthens our identity and purpose in Christ.</p>

<p>God’s word is the blueprint to build a healthy mind. Although we live in a physical world many or our problems are not physical. The battle must be won in the spiritual realm with spiritual weapons.</p>

<p>We are excited to have Pastor Carl-Gustaf Severin with us this weekend continuing with our series on Under Construction. We live in a time when so many negative thoughts come to us, especially with what's happening in the world around us. Pastor Carl will be sharing how to wash negative thoughts with the Word of God and with the help of the Holy Spirit. </p>

<p>As we continue to remodel our thought life, we cannot be unaware of the enemy’s strategies in using negative thoughts to attack our minds. Through Nehemiah’s journey, we uncover the methods Satan uses to discourage us from rebuilding.</p>

<p>In the story of Nehemiah we see him make plans for the reconstruction of the walls of Jerusalem. Likewise, we too must be intentional in fortifying our thoughts by recognizing the need to renew our minds. This begins by acknowledging the civil war happening in our minds—the conflict between our old nature and the desire to live a godly life.</p>

<p>Somewhere in our lives, we all suffered some damage, some wear and tear, and breakdown in our thought life. We all have been exposed to hurts, temptations and attacks against our mind. In the Under Construction series, we are going to be talking about renewing our thought life. Let's get to work!</p>

<p>Jesus understands that to be transformed into His image is a process. In Luke 5:1-11 we see how Jesus gently leads Peter to make a commitment to follow Him. From this point onwards we see Peter's life is under construction.</p>

<p>In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus introduced a radical principle that transforms the way we approach life, relationships, and even our struggles: the principle of the “second mile.” Walking that second mile, though often uncomfortable and sacrificial, is not about what we must do, but about who we are becoming—a people marked by the love and the generosity of Jesus, who went the “second mile” for us.</p>

<p>As the church, God’s spiritual family, we have the responsibility to reach out and rescue those who are spiritually perishing. The Bible reminds us that we can’t carry out this mission in our own strength but must rely on God’s mighty weapons and His Holy Spirit. Like any rescue effort, we must be prepared, equipped, and anchored in prayer.</p>

<p>Connecting to a local church is more than just attending a weekly service—it’s about joining a community where you can grow spiritually, support others, and find purpose. God designed us to be in relationships, and the church is His plan for helping us thrive together.</p>

<p>It is with great joy that we invite you to celebrate 30 years of God’s faithfulness to Coastal Church! We're streaming LIVE from the Vancouver Convention Centre.</p>

<p>The book of Acts ends by highlighting Paul’s final days in Rome. While Paul remains a key figure, the book of Acts ends on a cliffhanger, emphasizing that the work of spreading the gospel is far from complete. This unfinished story signals that the mission of the church—to GO into all the world—continues. Acts chapter 29, though unwritten in the Bible, continues to be written through the lives of believers to this day, empowered by the Holy Spirit to carry on the mission that began in Jerusalem.</p>

<p>Life’s storms are inevitable. Whether they come as personal trials, challenges in our families, or difficulties in our communities, storms test our faith. However, it is in these very storms that our faith can shine the brightest, serving as a powerful witness to those around us.</p>

<p>Acts 24-26 depict Paul’s trials and defenses before various Roman authorities. Despite facing false accusations and prolonged imprisonment, Paul steadfastly testifies to his faith in Christ, leveraging every opportunity to proclaim the gospel. His appeal to Caesar ultimately sets the stage for his journey to Rome, in fulfillment of God’s plan for him to witness there as well.</p><p>In Acts chapter 24 we see how Paul’s Roman citizenship had kept him from being killed. Now he stood before Felix, governor of Judea. As usual, Paul was sharing the faith, even with a very hardened ruler despite the risks involved.</p>

<p>In the book of Acts we see on several occasions that Paul gave his testimony in defense of his faith and each time it had a powerful impact. Your testimony will also have a powerful impact on those you share it with.</p><p>Telling your testimony may seem intimidating but if you remember a few simple principles, you’ll discover the “joy of your salvation” as you share.</p>

<p>In <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2020&version=NKJV" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Acts chapter 20</a> Paul continues his journey and when he arrives in Miletus, he calls for the elders of the church from Ephesus and reminds them of the choices he modelled for them. He then exhorts them to take heed and care for the flock as he had.</p>

<p>A life of faith in Christ will at times upset others. In <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2019&version=NKJV" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Acts 19</a> we see the following attributes of faith upset the people of Ephesus:</p><p>• Faith rooted in the power of the Holy Spirit.</p><p>• Faith rooted in the word of God.</p><p>• Faith rooted in the name of Jesus.</p><p>• Faith that produces miracles and renounces demonic powers.</p>

<p>This Sunday we’re excited to have guest speaker, Pastor John Oh, speak a message titled “Rejoice in the Gospel”.</p><p>John Oh has been serving as the senior pastor of SaRang Church in Seoul for 21 years, overseeing a membership growth of over 100,000. He places a strong emphasis on intentional discipleship in the workplace, global networking, and the unification of the two Koreas. He received a Ph.D. from Potchefstroom University and was a Harvard University Fellow. He also currently serves as the president of SaRang Global Academy (SaGA) and as the chairman of the board at Soongsil University. John is married to Nan-young Oh and has two sons, Joseph and Timothy, and two granddaughters, Eden and Ayla.</p>

<p>Psalms 111 and 112 are both acrostics of the Hebrew alphabet, which helps pair these psalms together in a way that they complement each other. In Psalm 111 you have the qualities of God. In Psalm 112 the qualities of a person sees their identity in God.</p>

<p>The book of The Acts of the Apostles is the blueprint of how Jesus established His church. In chapter 18 we see how God used ordinary people, regardless of their background, race, gender, or profession to accomplish His plan of making disciples.</p><p>As we look at the characters, we see that they experienced the same challenges you and I do yet they all invested into the work of the kingdom.</p>

<p>Acts chapter 17 features three cities that Paul shared the Gospel. Each of the encounter was somewhat different and teaches a valuable lesson on how to share our faith.</p>

<p>In Acts 16 we find the apostle Paul on his second missionary journey with Silas. Along the way, they have several gospel encounters that result in the transformation of lives. The diversity of backgrounds among those they meet illustrates that no one is beyond God's reach. This chapter encourages us to trust in the power of the Gospel and the importance of prayer to see people have a God encounter.</p>

<p>In Acts 15:2 we read of “no small dissension and dispute” arising in the church. However, by verse 31 we read there was great joy throughout the church. This chapter in Acts is a blueprint for the church showing us how to go from conflict to connection.</p>

<p>In Acts 14, Paul and Barnabas are blazing a trail in missionary work. Despite facing severe opposition and physical harm, they continue their mission to spread the gospel. Their perseverance, even in the face of danger, is a powerful example of dedication to God's calling.</p>

<p>In Acts chapter 13, The Holy Spirit directed the church to separate Barnabas and Saul to embark on what is known as Paul’s first missionary trip. The Biblical pattern seen here is for the church leaders to pray and fast and then follow the leading of the Holy Spirit to lay hands on those who are called and send them on their assignment.</p>