Thursday, January 28, 2021

What would you change?


I heard a story a couple years ago about an older pastor who was leading a ministry to seniors. They were having a great evening together. They ate a meal and sang some of their favorite songs (hymns). The pastor then asked a couple questions: “How many of you would change your weekend plans to see your grandchildren?” 
Almost everyone raised their hand. 
His next question was: “How many of you would change your Christmas plans if your grandkids would join you?” Once again, almost everyone raised their hand. 
Then he asked: “How many of you would change your vacation plans if your kids would join you?” Nearly everyone. The audience was elated, you could tell they loved their family. 
The final question was: “How many of you would change your worship style so your grandchildren would know the Lord?” Only a few hands were raised; the joy was sucked out of the room. 

This story has always stood with me. How are we willing to change so much to spend time with our families but we are unwilling to sing a new song to the Lord? It doesn’t mean we can’t ever sing an old worship song. I'm grateful for the church I serve at and their willingness to sing a new song. 

So many people can get stuck wanting to hear that same song, that “oldie”, when God wants to do something completely new in our lives. When we sing a new song we can learn about the love of God. 

Singing a new song to the Lord would reflect a new orientation in our lives. 

Psalm 96
1 Sing to the Lord a new song;
    sing to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Sing to the Lord, praise his name;
    proclaim his salvation day after day.
3 Declare his glory among the nations,
    his marvelous deeds among all peoples.

As we lean in to worship, we are going to see that worship is active (read Psalm 96:1-3). 
The Psalm begins by setting up suspense for reader. It prompts our minds to think: “Why do we need to sing a new song?” This isn’t a song reserved for only the Israelites, this is a song for the entire world to sing. One thing we say here a lot is that the gospel is for everyone. Right here we read that other nations are starting to learn about the greatness of God. His renown is expanding so much so that the whole earth is encouraged to sing a new song to God. 

Singing a new song to the Lord reflects that there has been a life change in us. Think about a song that you once sang (tell us in the chat) and now you sing a new song. You might have loved to go to the clubs on Saturday night but since you met the Lord you are singing a new song. You used to listen to Bob Marley and smoke weed all week long but God put a new song in your heart. Now you praise the Lord. Look at what Paul said to the church in Ephesus (read Ephesians 5:8). You were once in darkness. When you lived in darkness you sang that songs that were played in the darkness. When you start to worship the Lord it changes your mind and your focus. You are walking in the light of the Lord. 

Tuesday, January 26, 2021

Lean in to Worship- Small Group Questions


Coastline Bible Church is doing a five-week sermon series called: "Lean In" as we move into the New Year. There are so many parts of our lives that we don’t engage. We lean away from confrontation, difficult subjects, broken relationships, and things that require change. But what would happen if we began to lean in? What would change if we choose to lean in to God this year and see what He has for our lives? For five weeks we are going to lean in to different aspects of the Christian faith. 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 ::: Lean in to Worship ::: Psalm 96

When you talk about worship in a church the first thing that most people think about is worship through music. It’s what we’re accustomed to when we think about worship. When we look at the entirety of Scripture we read that worship is more than singing. In Psalm 96 we are instructed to sing a new song to the Lord. The instruction is because a new song can be from a new thing that God is doing in our lives. But it’s more than singing. We are are taught to proclaim and declare the glory of God. Our speaking the truth of God is a form of worship because it draws the unbeliever closer to Jesus. Worship is singing, sharing the good news of Jesus, and giving. Our giving is an act of worship and an example of trusting the Lord. Work through the following questions. 

1) Neal shared a story about teaching at Mount Hermon and reminding students that God is not a feeling. When you think about worship do you seek out God as a feeling or are you seeking out the God of creation? 

2) Read Psalm 96:1-3. The Psalmist teaches us that worship is active. Read Psalm 95. What are the different ways that these two Psalms teach us to make our worship active? What one do you want to practice in your worship this week? 

3) Psalm 96 teaches us to proclaim the salvation of the Lord day after day. Read Matthew 9:35, Mark 1:14, and Luke 4:43. How do these passages encourage us to share our faith? When was the last time you shared your faith as an act of worship?  

4) Read Psalm 96:4-6. The Psalmist teaches us that the Lord is great and worthy to be praised. Read Psalm 8 and talk about the worthy things that the Lord has done. Share a story of when God was great in your life. 

5) Part of worship is remembering who we are worshipping. We live in a time where idol worship is lifted high. Read Exodus 20:1-6, Acts 14:8-18, 2 Corinthians 6:16, and 1 John 5:21. What is so detrimental about idol worship? 

6) Read Psalm 96:7-10. The Psalm has a repetitive theme to keep us focused on the Lord. Verse 9 tells us to tremble before the Lord. Read Exodus 34:29-35 and 1 Kings 19:12-18. Do you think these men trembled in the presence of the Lord? 

7) Read Psalm 96:11-13 and 150:6. So often we think of worship as only singing songs but what we are really learning is that worship is a lifestyle. How do you want your lifestyle to change to be more worshipful? 

Close your time in prayer. Talk about who you will invite to Coastline Online? 

Thursday, January 21, 2021

There are two seas in Israel


A couple years ago I visited Israel. On that trip we had an opportunity to visit the two different seas in Israel. As we drove south from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea our trip leader told us a story of the two different seas in Israel. It sent something like this: 

In Israel there are two seas. One is the Sea of Galilee and the other is the Dead Sea. The Sea of Galilee is beautiful, the water is blue and life is thriving in there. Trees line the banks. Families travel there in the summer to splash in the water. Fish swim throughout its bounds. 

The Jordan River flows into this Sea from the sunny hills to the north. The snow melt travels down. On the south end the Jordan river continues to flow into another sea. The Jordan is used to irrigate fields and trees. Flocks drink its water and find life. Families are sustained with the life it gives. 

The Jordan flows south into the Dead Sea. Here there are no fish swimming, no birds flying above, no kids playing in the water and no families surrounding the shoreline. No man or animal can drink of this sea. Life does not exist in the Dead Sea. 

One might wonder: What makes this enormous difference between these neighboring bodies of water? Does something happen in the Jordan that turns the water bad? No. 
The water that flows into each body is good water. It’s not the soil, the people, or the geography of the land. The difference is that the Sea of Galilee receives but does not keep the water. For every drop it receives it also gives back. The Sea of Galilee gives equally as it receives. The Sea of Galilee is generous. 

At the other end, the Dead Sea keeps the Jordan. It hordes all the water that is poured into it. Every drop is kept for itself; it never sends water elsewhere. It selfishly keeps all that is given to it with no thought of giving. 

There are two Seas in Israel. The Sea of Galilee is generous and giving while the Dead Sea shares nothing. What sea best represents your life? What sea do you want to be like? I think that God gives us money to steward, not to posses. 

Sunday, January 17, 2021

Lean in to Generosity- Small Group Questions


Coastline Bible Church is doing a five-week sermon series called: "Lean In" as we move into the New Year. There are so many parts of our lives that we don’t engage. We lean away from confrontation, difficult subjects, broken relationships, and things that require change. But what would happen if we began to lean in? What would change if we choose to lean in to God this year and see what He has for our lives? For five weeks we are going to lean in to different aspects of the Christian faith. 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 ::: Lean in to Generosity ::: 2 Corinthians 9

To lean in is the opposite of running away. In this sermon sermon series we are leaning in to how God wants to shape and form our lives. Almost 2000 years ago the Apostle Paul started a church in a city he never visited; he choose to lean in to loving people. After leaving that church he wrote them about living a generous life. Paul instructed them on what do with their financial means. Giving isn’t reserved only for the rich but giving is act of faith. Giving is one way to say: “God I trust you with everything I have.” We want to lean in to all that God has for us. Today we’re going to focus on leaning in to generosity. We want to lean in to what the Bible teaches us about what to do with our financial resources and we want to be obedient to follow God’s word. 

1) Neal opened the sermon by talking about the RAS (reticular activating system) that helps our brain choose what to process. Share about something that your RAS has highlighted at one time or another in your life. 

2)Paul writes to the church in Corinth about being generous with their financial resources (read 2 Corinthians 9:6-7). In general, what are your thoughts about giving to God? How did you originally format this thought process?  

3) Paul instructs the church in Corinth to be cheerful and decisive in their giving. Read Luke 19:1-10. Zacchaeus was decisive in his giving and gave half his possessions to the poor. What does it look like to be deceive and cheerful in your giving?  

4) Read 2 Corinthians 9:8-9. God promises to give us what we need but not what culture says we must have. Share about how you have fallen into thinking that wants are needs and been mislead on financial purchases. 

5) Giving reflects a deep trust in Jesus. Read Luke 21:1-4. This woman was acting in obedience to God and her experience with God (see Malachi 3:10). What sticks out to you most about this woman and her trust in the Lord?

6) In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus spoke these words (Matthew 6:19-24). What makes it easier for a person to store up treasures on earth than in heaven? What do you think about Jesus’ words in verse 24, can a person serve two masters?  

7) When we trust our financial situation to God, He will provide all we need (read 2 Corinthians 9:10-11). Share about how you’ve seen God provide for your needs because you’ve made a commitment to trusting Him with your finances. 

Close your time in prayer. Talk about who you will invite to Coastline Online? 

Wednesday, January 13, 2021

16 thoughts on 16 years of marriage


Last week Charity and I celebrated 16 years of marriage. It was a pretty surreal experience. We were able to get a hotel room in the same place we celebrated our honeymoon in San Diego. We stayed at the Hotel del Coronado. Coronado Island has many great memories for us. It’s the first place we celebrated a Valentine’s Day. We would visit the beach there. We loved to walk downtown there.

On the drive to San Diego we talked about some of the highlights and hard times in our marriage. We talked about supporting each other during school, having kids, vacationing, making marriage a priority, and much more. 

When we returned home it prompted me to write this post. I’m not going to expand on each point but if you’d like to talk about them let me know: 

1. Our marriage is stronger because we’ve chosen to seek God first
2. Listen to your spouse 
3. Over-communicate on anything and everything 
4. Make dating your spouse a priority 
5. We’ve chosen to make vacations/adventures a priority 
6. Lots of couples fight over money and it’s not worth fighting over 
7. Life is well spent eating sushi together 
8. If you’re spouse is interested in it, find a way to be interested 
9. Don’t neglect your sex life, make that a high priority 
10. Look for ways to bless your spouse (don’t be selfish) 
11. Find creative ways to surprise your spouse with things he/she will love
12. Take lots of pictures, you will want to look back on them later 
13. Focus on a healthy marriage, not a perfect marriage
14. There are times to listen and times to offer advice 
15. Pray for each other and together; you can never have enough prayer
16. Make sure to tell your wife that she is beautiful every time you think it; she can’t read your mind 

Tuesday, January 12, 2021

Lean in to Scripture- Small Group Questions

Coastline Bible Church is doing a five-week sermon series called: "Lean In" as we move into the New Year. There are so many parts of our lives that we don’t engage. We lean away from confrontation, difficult subjects, broken relationships, and things that require change. But what would happen if we began to lean in? What would change if we choose to lean in to God this year and see what He has for our lives? For five weeks we are going to lean in to different aspects of the Christian faith. 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 ::: Lean in to Scripture ::: Psalm 19

Today we’re starting a brand new sermon series at Coastline called; Lean In. There are three reasons that people avoid Scripture. First, we're not sure if God's word is trustworthy. In Psalm 19 we read that the Law of the Lord is perfect. We learn that God’s precepts are trustworthy. We learn how to have a reverent fear for the Lord. We are keen at seeing imperfections in others but fail to see the perfect value of the Bible. Second, we're not sure if it's practical. It is easy to think that because the Bible is so old that it's antiquated. We forget that Scripture transcends time and culture. There are practical lessons for us to learn today. Third, we don't know how to apply it to our lives. When we don't read the Bible we fail to learn how to apply it to our lives. We are so inundated with information that we rarely apply life change. We long for the easy life. Work through these questions either alone or with some others and grow in Scripture. 

1) Neal shared a story about a neighbor in college and how their conversation prompted him to read the Bible on a daily basis. What was a catalyst for your reading the Bible on your own? Where are you currently reading in the Bible? 

2) One reason people don’t read the Bible is that they don’t think it’s reliable. Read Psalm 19:7 and talk about how God’s words perfect. Share a story when reading the Bible was the perfect words you needed for that exact time. 

3) Thinking about the Bible being perfect, read Psalm 12:6-7. Share a time time in your life that you considered participating in sinful behavior. How did the word of the Lord protect you from participating in that wicked behavior? 

4) Another reason people don’t read the Bible is because they don’t think it’s practical. Read Psalm 19:8 and talk about God’s word can be our personal conduct. Share about how the Bible has been practical in a life situation you encountered. 

5) Read Hebrews 4:12. The author teaches us that the word of God is alive and active. He goes on to share that it judges our thoughts, attitude, and heart. Can you think of a time that God’s word impacted your thoughts, attitude, or heart? 

6) A final reason people don’t read their Bible is because they don’t know how to apply it to their life. Read Psalm 19:9. So often we think about fear as being scared. What does Psalm 19 and Proverbs 1:7 teach us about fearing the Lord? 

7) Read Psalm 119:11 and 105. the Psalmist teaches us how the word of God is applicable in our life when we apply it. Talk about ways that you have applied God’s word to your life and share what the outcome has been. 

Close your time in prayer. Talk about who you will invite to Coastline Online?