A Prayer For Marriages

About two months ago I read an article explaining how marriages are struggling during the pandemic. Having grown up in a divorced home, I was interested and kept reading. The author went on to share that domestic violence is increasing, child abuse is on the rise, and marriages that were struggling are splitting apart at the seams. The article shared that the pandemic would cause an increase in divorce rates around the world. I stopped and thought about how much pain would be felt from this. I hurt for the kids who see their parents fighting. My heart sinks for the spouses who have to move out. I thought about the divide that might happen because of this. Then it hit me; we need Jesus.

I started thinking about what Paul said to the church in Ephesus:
“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” Ephesians 5:21

As I think back on life, no one told me that my marriage would be easy. But people did tell me that marriage would be worth it!

We are living in a time where the word of God is diminished and devalued.

We are living in a stress-filled time.

We are leading in uncharted waters.

We are living in a time where non-believers are looking for believers to lead the way.

Paul goes on in Ephesians 5 to talk about the value and importance of marriage (I encourage you to read it). Marriage doesn’t have to be bad. Marriages can be healed by our Lord. It requires both parties to submit to Jesus and live a selfless, Spirit-filled life.

Prayer Points:
Today, will you join me in praying for marriages in your neighborhood, your family, and across the world? Let’s get on our knees and ask God to heal broken hearts. Let’s ask God to help us to love our spouse in the way He has asked us. Let’s pray for God to heal marriages so that families can serve the Lord together!

Three Father's Days without you

Today is a reminder to me that my dad is dead. I'm not trying to be morbid in that opening line. I'm not trying to skirt around the feelings either. I'm being open and honest in this post and I hope that is ok with you.

Three years ago we moved to Ventura. It was such a joy for our family to be closer to family. Just weeks before our move things went from joyful to painful. My stepdad was diagnosed with stage four esophageal cancer and my dad's health declined. We moved to Ventura and my dad's health went into rapid decline.

My first elders meeting I got a text that my dad had 24-48 hours to live. I immediately drove to the hospital and I knew it was bad. My sister and I cried together. The next day I brought my whole family to say goodbye to gramps. It was a Wednesday and it was the most aware I saw him in his final week of life. It was a true joy. My dad spoke kind words over our family. My dad told me how much he loved me. He expressed his deep love for my wife and her support. He told my kids how much he loved them. It was a real joy. Two days later my dad died.

We took our family to Disneyland on Friday June 23, 2017. It was a great day. We laughed more than we had in weeks. The stress of moving, getting into a new home, starting a new leadership role, and more was tough. We rode rides, ate cotton candy, and just enjoyed the day. We were getting read to leave when my phone rang... it was my sister and I knew what the call was about. I began to cry in the large Disneyland store on the California Adventure side. I tried to hide it from my kids to not ruin the day.

We got in the car and while on the freeway we shared the news with our kids. The whole car erupted in tears. I lost my dad. My kids lost their grandpa. There was a loss in our family. I was able to see my dad more than I would have been if we didn't move. As I look back on our situation, I'm so grateful that we moved and had this time with my dad.

This post is mostly for me to share a remembrance. As I knew this date was approaching I could sense some grief in my life.

I'm reminded that it's good to grieve.
It's ok to miss those who've passed away.
It's good to look at pictures and enjoy the memories.

Miss you dad!

Jonah 4 Small Group Questions

Our church is doing a four-week sermon series through the book of Jonah called: "Running to God." We are studying the life of the prophet Jonah and what it looks like to run to God even when we don't want to. The book of Jonah is small in size but deep in theology. We read about the unending, gracious, merciful love of God. We see that God is unwilling to give up on anyone and longs for all people to know Him. For this series I volunteered to write the small group questions that go along with each sermon. It seemed like a waste to leave them in a file on my computer and not share them with everyone

Small Group Questions ::: A God who cares ::: Jonah 4

The book of Jonah is small in words but deep in theological truth of the love of God. It begins with Jonah fleeing from the Lord and turning to obedience to God. The book concludes with a melancholy prophet seemingly focused on selfish desires. Many times the book of Jonah isn’t read through chapter 4, but we must discuss the emotional state of Jonah as he relates to the great compassion of God. Jonah leaves the city of Nineveh and watches the great city. At this point God asks two questions of Jonah and provides an object lesson to help Jonah see the great love of God. The book ends rather abruptly as Jonah has no response to the great love of God.

1) Neal shared a couple of stories where his kids learned to do the right thing with his guidance and then began to act on their own. How have you learned to do what is right in the eyes of the Lord?

2) Jonah confesses that he knew the character of God (read Jonah 4:1-3). Jonah knew that God was gracious and compassionate (Exodus 34:6, Nehemiah 9:17, & Psalm 145:8). Share about how you’ve seen God’s character in this manner.

3) Some scholars think that Jonah was setting up a location to watch Nineveh burn. Read Genesis 19:1-29 to learn about Sodom and Gomorrah. Discuss how one city was destroyed and one city was spared in different time periods.

4) Read Jonah 4:4-8. Jonah appears to be angry at God for acting in compassion. Compare the state of Jonah here with Peter in John 21. Peter was restored to ministry after denying Jesus. Do you relate more with Jonah or with Peter?

5) The Bible calls believers to invest themselves into growing others believers (read Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 16:1-5, Ephesians 4:2-24, & 1 Thessalonians 1:5). Who are you intentionally investing your life in to help them grow in the Lord?

6) As the book of Jonah nears the end we see God’s great concern for this Nation (read Jonah 4:9-11). What is something in our world that you are concerned for (It might be a people group, an organization, or a personal calling)?

7) It is evident form our text that God has a desire for all people to know Him (read John 3:16, Acts 20:1-6, & 2 Peter 3:9). What role are you currently playing in to help more people know about the great love of God?

Close your time in prayer. Talk about who you will invite to Coastline on Sunday.

Jonah 3 Small Group Questions

Our church is doing a four-week sermon series through the book of Jonah called: "Running to God." We are studying the life of the prophet Jonah and what it looks like to run to God even when we don't want to. The book of Jonah is small in size but deep in theology. We read about the unending, gracious, merciful love of God. We see that God is unwilling to give up on anyone and longs for all people to know Him. For this series I volunteered to write the small group questions that go along with each sermon. It seemed like a waste to leave them in a file on my computer and not share them with everyone.

Small Group Questions ::: A God who speaks ::: Jonah 3

The book of Jonah is small in size but great in impact. Jonah is one of thirteen minor prophets. Jonah received a call from the Lord to speak to the great city of Nineveh but ran the opposite direction. Jonah was thrown overboard and swallowed by a large fish. He spent three days in the belly of the fish before being spit on to dry ground. Jonah then makes the journey to Nineveh and preaches the word of the Lord. The people heard the message and repented of their sin. The message was so urgent that the king ordered everyone to fast and give up their evil ways. A great spiritual awakening took place in the pagan land. Study Jonah 3. 

1) Neal opened the sermon by sharing about a TV show he watched about people who lived alone in the wilderness. What has God taught you in the times you’ve been intentional to spend alone time with him?  

2) Read Jonah 3:1-4. God gives Jonah a second chance to preach the message to the great city of Nineveh. Not everyone gets a second chance (read Numbers 20:1-13). Share about a time when God gave you a second chance. 

3) The man in Jonah 3 is starkly different than the man in Jonah 1 (although Jonah is the same man). In Jonah 3 we see immediate obedience to God. When have you obeyed God and how did it turn out?  (see: 1 Samuel 15:22, Micah 6:8 & John 8:51) 

4) Jonah shared with a group of people who were far from God (read Jonah 3:4-5). Read Acts 13:48-49 and 14:1-7. What do you see about the effort given to spread the Gospel message? Where is God asking you to share the Good News of Jesus? 

5) The King of Nineveh leads the Nation in a time of repentance (read Jonah 3:6-9). Share of a time where you realized the depth of your sin & the action that followed.   

6) The people of Nineveh participated in evil behavior. Another prophet spoke against the evil taking place (Habakkuk 1:12-13). What evil is happening in our world now? Where do you think God is asking you to speak against evil? 

7) A personal commitment to repentance of sin is a regular part of following Jesus. Take the time to read through Psalm 51. Talk about the aspects of repentance and how you can have a clean heart before God. 

Close your time in prayer. Talk about who you will invite to Coastline on Sunday. 

Let's Keep Praying

For the last couple weeks I've been praying more for our world.
The brokenness is bubbling over.
The sin has been exposed.
The time has come for the church to stand for what is right.

Charity and I led a time of prayer for Coastline on Tuesday night. Here are some of the verses we read and prayed through as a church family.

I am so proud of our church engaging Scripture during these uncertain times. I'm so thrilled to see God's people seek God's word to bring hope to a hurting world.

Prayer for our Nation 

How good and pleasant it is
    when God’s people live together in unity! Psalm 133:1

My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Colossians 2:2–3

Prayer for Identity 

So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27

The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15

Prayer of repentance 

Keep your servant also from willful sins;
    may they not rule over me.
Then I will be blameless,
    innocent of great transgression.
May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
    be pleasing in your sight,
    Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:13-14

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 2 Corinthians 7:10

Prayer for wisdom 

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. James 1:5

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
 and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.  Proverbs 9:10

Closing Prayer

Jonah 2 Small Group Questions

Our church is doing a four-week sermon series through the book of Jonah called: "Running to God."

We are studying the life of the prophet Jonah and what it looks like to run to God even when we don't want to. The book of Jonah is small in size but deep in theology. We read about the unending, gracious, merciful love of God. We see that God is unwilling to give up on anyone and longs for all people to know Him. For this series I volunteered to write the small group questions that go along with each sermon. It seemed like a waste to leave them in a file on my computer and not share them with everyone.

Small Group Questions ::: A God who hears ::: Jonah 2

Jonah was a prophet in Israel who God asked to visit the city of Nineveh. Instead of heading North to Nineveh, Jonah boarded a boat and headed in the opposite direction. Jonah caused a great deal of harm to the sailors around him and was eventually thrown into the sea where he was swallowed by a whale. In Jonah 2 we find Jonah in the third location of the story: the belly of a large fish. While inside the fish, Jonah takes the time to call out to God, repent of his sin, and speak of the greatness of God. For three days Jonah is in the belly of the fish. During this time he ponders his situation and his disobedience to the Lord. Finally the fish spits him out on dry land. At this point in our story we see that the fish has been more obedient than Jonah. 

1) Early in the sermon Ryan asked: “How many of us have needed help?” Share about a time in your life that you needed help and how help came. 

2) Read Jonah 2:1-2. In his distress Jonah called to the Lord. Who do you call to in your distress? Read Psalm 4:1, 18:6, 102:2, and 120:1. What does Scripture teach us about reaching out to God in our distress? 

3) While in the belly of the fish Jonah knew he needed to look to the Temple of God (read Jonah 2:3-7). In Jewish culture, the temple was the place to meet with God. What is your favorite place to spend time with God? 

4) Jonah has been willfully disobedient to God. The three days in the belly of the fish transformed Jonah’s hard heart (read Proverbs 4:23, Ezekiel 36:26, 2 Corinthians 4:7-12, and Romans 12:1-2). Where is God working in your heart today? 

5) Jonah repents of the idols that he followed after (Jonah 2:8). We often think of idols as metal or wooden images and they can be, but idols can also be personal comforts, luxuries, material possessions. What idols have you clung to that have hindered your walk with Jesus (Exodus 20:4-6, Micah 5:13, and Acts 17:16)? 

6) Ryan encouraged us to focus more on worshipping God and praying. Share with your group what some of your favorite ways to worship the Lord are. Then share where you’re growing in prayer or where you want to grow in your prayer life. 

7) Must of Jonah’s plight could have been resolved with obedience to the Lord. Read  Psalm 119:34, John 14:23-24 & 1 John 2:5. Talk about obedience to God. 

Close your time in prayer. Talk about who you will invite to Coastline on Sunday.