Monday, December 27, 2021

5 Lessons from Christmas Eve at Home




The week leading up to Christmas was a little different for me this year. Christmas fell on a Saturday. That meant that we would be at church on Friday night for our Christmas Eve gathering. The previous year we had to  move our Christmas Eve service outdoors at the last minute. Without being dramatic, it was one of the worst Christmas Eve services I’ve been too. It was cold, windy, and tough. But God showed up. 

So as we planned for this one I was thrilled to be inside. I was looking forward to candle lighting. I was excited about some special elements our team had been working on. 

As we neared Christmas Eve something blindsided me… something I hadn’t planned for. Someone in our family tested positive for COVID the day before Christmas Eve. I went through a variety of emotions. See for the last twenty years I’ve celebrated Christmas Eve at a church. I’ve sung with hundreds of people. I’ve been in awe at the miraculous birth of Jesus. Then I would go home and be with my family. 

This year was different. I preached on Thursday and watched Christmas Eve at home, with my family. But I did learn five lessons I want to share with you. 

1. It’s all about Jesus.
When I first saw the positive test I was so bummed. I started to think about all that I would miss on Christmas Eve. It didn’t hit me until I was worshipping at my home. Christmas Eve is all about Jesus. I know we say that all the time, but do we really believe it? I mean really? 

We focus on the presets. 
We focus on Santa.
We focus on the parties. 

Christmas Eve is a time to sing to Jesus. it’s a time to reflect on the miracle of God coming to earth. It’s a time to sit in wonder with the Scriptures. 

2. Make sure to develop leaders 
One of my life verses has been Ephesians 4:11-12. Let me sum it up for you. Paul tells the church that the role of the leaders is to develop others. We are called, in Scripture, to build up other leaders. Sitting on my couch was a reminder that I’m not always going to be leading a church. It’s a reminder that I need to follow the command of Scripture and invest my life into others. 

The fun part, that is what I want to do. Watching from my house gave me the reminder to double down on that passion of mine. I loved seeing our team leading on Christmas Eve. They did a fantastic job!

3. God is working online 
When I connected with our staff team it was obvious that I was bummed. Our Director of Operations could tell I was sad. She offered that I could host online. I jumped at the invitation. As I was chatting with people, posting moments, and reading comments it hit me again: God is working online. 

One comment I hear almost every Sunday at Coastline, from new guests, is: “We’ve been watching online for X number of weeks.” Not only that, on Christmas Eve we had two people online indicate a decision to follow Jesus. That makes me so excited! 

4. I work with an amazing team of people 
This might be repetitive but I really do work with some amazing people. It’s fun to have a staff that we love working with. In fact that has been most of my time in ministry. When I shared with our staff and elders the news of our home, everyone stepped up. People jumped in and took on extra duties. Our team really stepped up to help.

In addition to that, and probably more important, people prayed for us. It’s comforting knowing that other people are praying for the health of my family. 

5. Feed people on Christmas Eve 
This might seem random, but you have to feed your volunteers! You did something new at Coastline and fed our people. We took a room that was unused and are transforming it into a green room. Not so leaders or the band don’t have to talk to people but so we can have a place to bless those who show up three hours earlier than anyone else. 

Now this was super cool. We had a young lady prepare a couple charcuterie boards for our people. I wasn’t sure how it would all work out but it was a hit. I got a few texts about how great it was for people. Never underestimate the power of food and blessing people! 

Was Christmas Eve how I planned? Nope
Was it a win for the Kingdom? Yep!

This year was one I will never forget. And I might not have another one like this for another twenty years so I’m going to make sure to cherish the time God is giving me with my family right now. And I’m going to write a little about it so I don’t forget this. 

Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Family Portraits | Small Group Questions | Matthew 1:18-25





Coastline Bible Church just started a brand new sermon series called: "Family Portraits." For the month of December we're studying the people who would have been closest to Jesus at the time of His birth. The thought is that we will see what the Bible teaches us about those who might have been in the birth, or early years, pictures of Jesus. We want to learn from these individuals on how they lived their lives, handled the news of Jesus, and their response.  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 | Joseph-Obedience | Matthew 1:18-25

As we get days away from Christmas we continue studying the people who would have been most closely associated with Jesus as His birth. The next person we will study is Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus. When we talk about Joseph as the father of Jesus it’s an interesting subject. We know that God is Jesus’ Father but God trusted Joseph to care for His son while on earth. God could have chosen any couple; any mother and father to rear Jesus but He choose Jospeh. The news that Mary was pregnant must have been devastating to Joseph but he handles it extraordinarily well. As we study Matthew 1 keep an eye out for Jospeh’s example of obedience to God. 

1) Neal shared about Captain Baker flew strategic air command in the Vietnam war. During Captain Baker’s training he learned obedience to his role. Who or What has taught you the most about obedience in your life? What did you learn? 

2) Read Matthew 1:18-19. In these verses we learn about the character of Jospeh. The law permitted him to stone her to death (Deuteronomy 22:22) but he choose a different route. Share about a time when God developed your character. 

3) Joseph offered grace to Mary when he found out she was pregnant. Let’s study Grace more. Read: John 8:1-11, Romans 3:24, Ephesians 2:8, and 2 Timothy 1:9. How is God working in your life to make you a more grace giving person? 

4) God shows up in a powerful way (read Matthew 1:20-23). Can you think about a time when God changed your plans? It might not have happened because of an angelic visit in the night, but it is just as memorable for you. 

5) It seems that in every angelic visit the first message is: Don’t be afraid. We are told to not be afraid when we are clearly afraid. Read Psalm 27:1, 34:4–5, Isaiah 41:13, and Luke 14:27. What fear do yo need to surrender to God today? 

6) The angel tells Joseph to name the baby Jesus. In Hebrew culture, it was the father’s duty to name the child. This was a way of the father showing dominance or mastery over the child. How does this change how Jospeh and Jesus interact?

7) Joseph had a secret plan to leave Mary and now God has intervened (read Matthew 1:24-25). In keeping with his righteous character, Joseph is obedient. In what way(s) is God prompting you to increase your obedience to Him? 

Close your time in prayer. Pray for strength to invite a friend to meet Jesus. 



Wednesday, December 15, 2021

A four-part angelic message


This year I started looking at the Christmas story differently. I've taken an interest in what message the angels gave to Mary and Joseph. For this post, I want to look at what the angel said to Mary. 

When we know about Mary’s backstory we can look ahead to the news she is about to receive (read Luke 1:28-33). The greeting from the angel is something special but Mary is greatly troubled. 

I want to encourage you to read the Bible more often on your own and when you do look at people respond when angel’s talk with them. Their response is typically one of fear. They know they are in the presence of a heavenly being. That is what is happening with Mary here. 

The angel has a four-fold message for her. 

The first thing the angel tells Mary is that she will become pregnant and give birth to a son. 
Do you remember that Luke already told us that Mary is a virgin? For this to happen will be a miracle from the Lord. Not only will she become pregnant but she will have a son and she is to name Him Jesus. All of our names have a meaning. Your name has a meaning to it and it can impact our life. My name means: Champion. 

Jesus’ name means: YHWH saves, God saves. Write down Matthew 1:21 because Joseph gets the same message about Jesus. 

The second part of the message is that her Son will be the Son of the Most High God. 
People are going to call Jesus the Son of God! Think of that. We all know how pregnancy happens, it’s been happening in the same ways for thousands of years. But not in this case, this is a different kind of pregnancy. 

If you look at Luke 3:23, most people thought that Jesus was the son of Joseph, but here we read that Jesus will be the Son of God. Take this in with me. That also means that this will not be Joseph’s son. Mary is engaged to a man she loves and is finding out that she will be pregnant but not with her fiancĂ©’s son.

The third part of this message is that her Son will sit on the throne of David. 
Israel was longing for this. When we read Scripture we read that David was the ideal king, except for that part of Bathsheba. David had a heart for the Lord. David was loving and caring. He wasn’t prideful or overbearing. David sought the Lord and led Israel well. 

Listen to this: 
“Jesus Messiah is truly in the kingly line of David, heir to the messianic promises, the one who brings divine blessings to all nations.” -D.A. Carson
At this point in history, Israel was looking for a king to save them from the Roman oppression. Israel was under the governance of Rome and they wanted their freedom back.

If we can pause the story here, isn’t that what we’re all looking for? 
We’re all looking for freedom. 
We want a magic pill that cure our problems. 
We want a book to fix our marriage in six weeks when it’s taken us fifteen years to create all the problems. 
We want a pill to fix our weight but refuse to stop driving through Taco Bell at 9pm. 
We want a lottery ticket to fix our financial situation that we’ve dug ourselves into. 
We want a teacher to fix our kids because by the time we get home from work we don’t have the mental energy to engage them in the way that they really need. 
Life is hard, but Jesus came to give us freedom. 

The fourth part of this angelic message is that Jesus’ Kingdom will be eternal.
It’s a kingdom that never ends. In the last six years I have heard some of the most difficult political conversations. I’ve sat with people who were crushed when their candidate lost. 

I’ve heard Christians say horrible things about people they have never met. 

I need you to know that Christians voted for Biden. 
Christians voted for Trump. Christians voted for Kanye.

We all cast our vote in hopes of something better. The gospel reminds us that Jesus is our leader. If you are fed up with politics, if you are sick of the leadership around you, pray for them. But make certain that you don’t place your full trust in an elected politician. Make sure that this Christmas you place your trust in the eternal King. 

Think about how this message of the coming of Jesus applies to your life. 

Wednesday, December 08, 2021

Family Portraits | Small Group Questions | Luke 1:26-38





Coastline Bible Church just started a brand new sermon series called: "Family Portraits." For the month of December we're studying the people who would have been closest to Jesus at the time of His birth. The thought is that we will see what the Bible teaches us about those who might have been in the birth, or early years, pictures of Jesus. We want to learn from these individuals on how they lived their lives, handled the news of Jesus, and their response.  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 | Mary-Surrender | Luke 1:26-38

As we move into the Christmas season we begin a brand new sermon series for the month of December. During this month we will look at different people who would have been present in the early days of Jesus’ life on earth. We begin this series by looking at Mary, the mother of Jesus. Mary was a teenager when the angel Gabriel visited her. He gave her a four-fold angelic message that would serve a prophetic word about Jesus and His time on earth. At the conclusion of this meeting Mary offers a great line that she is surrendered to the plans of God. Oh that we would follow in her example and surrender our life to God this Christmas. 

1) As we move into this Christmas season we can look around and see the clash of the sacred and secular. Christmas is the only Christian holiday that is also a major secular holiday. How can we hep redeem Christmas for Christ? 

2) Read Luke 1:26-27. Luke introduces us Mary the mother of Jesus. He makes is clear that she is a virgin and a descendant of David. Read Isaiah 7:14, 2 Samuel 7:12-16 and Jeremiah 23:5-6. Talk about the prophecies about Jesus. 

3) Each of our lives have a backstory and a lineage of people in our family line. Read Matthew 1:1-17. When you read the backstory of Jesus share about some of these people. Who sticks out as faith, broken, committed, or scandalous? 

4) Read Luke 1:28-30. Immediately the angel Gabriel tells Mary not to be afraid. Read Joshua 1:9, Isaiah 41:10, Psalm 56:3, and Philippians 4:6-7. What are you afraid of right now and where do you need help overcoming that fear? 

5) Read Luke 1:21-33. The angel gives a four-fold prophetic message about Jesus. When you read these verses what part about the prophecy are you most looking for in Jesus? Share why you focusing on that this Christmas season. 

6) After Mary hears this message she responds with a question and statement (read Luke 1:34-38). Mary chose to live a life surrender to God’s greater plan. What cost would it be to Mary for such surrender? 

7) For Mary to have such a great surrender meant to trust God with her entire life. Thinking about surrender: where, how, or what do you want to surrender to God this Christmas season? What is holding you back from such surrender? 

Close your time in prayer. Pray for strength to invite a friend to meet Jesus. 



Wednesday, December 01, 2021

Hebrews 9:11-28 | Small Group Questions
















Coastline Bible Church just started a brand new sermon series called: "Greater." For the next several months we are going to look through the book of Hebrews together. The book of Hebrews was written to a Jewish audience living in the first century. They are likely experiencing persecution and thinking about abandoning their faith. The author teaches us how Jesus is greater than: the prophets, angels, Moses, Abraham, the Law, the old covenant, and the high priest. We learn that Jesus is greater than anything that has preceded 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 | Our Mediator | Hebrews 9:11-28

In Hebrews 9 the author continues to use the example of the original tabernacle to teach us about the ministry of Jesus. Immediately we learn that the ministry of Jesus is heavenly. The author takes careful detail to teach us that Jesus is ministering in a heavenly temple. As he continues we learn that the ministry of Jesus is effective against sin. The old sacrifices could only cover sin, not cleanse our sin. Jesus blood had to be shed for the new covenant to be put in place which means it was a costly sacrifice. Because Jesus died we can be assured of that His ministry is final and complete. There is forgiveness of sin and an eternal hope to look forward to. Study these questions and look for these different themes in the text. 

1) In the intro to the sermon we learned about George Muller who was known as a man of faith. He ministered to orphans in England and served as a mediator for them. Share about a time when you helped someone out. How did that person respond? 

2) Read Hebrews 9:11-13. The author teaches us how the blood in the Old Testament was only able to cover sin (Leviticus 17:11) and not cleanse sin (John 1:29). Share how you have confidence that your sins are cleansed in Jesus name. 

3) We learned that Jesus lived an unblemished, sinless, life (Hebrews 9:14). Read Isaiah 53:9, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Hebrews 4:15, and 1 John 3:5. What do these verses teach us about the Holiness of Jesus? 

4) One role that Jesus fulfilled was as the mediator of the new covenant (Hebrews 9:15). The role of a mediator is to help two people in conflict find agreement. Who acted as a mediator between you and God when you trusted Jesus? 

5) Read Hebrews 9:16-22. God requires the shedding of blood for the forgiveness of sins. Neal taught us about accepting forgiveness from God. Do you have a hard time feeling like you’re forgiven? How can you live like a forgiven person? 

6) Read Hebrews 9:23-28. Jesus came to do away with sin. The Bible teaches us that God forgives our sins (read Isaiah Isaiah 43:25, Jeremiah 31:34, and Colossians 2:13-14). How do these verses encourage you to boldly live for God? 

7) Jesus’ final appearance will be His return to earth to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him. Read  Luke 24:50-52, Acts 1:1-10, and Revelation 19:11-21. What do these passages teach us about the return of Jesus? 

Close your time in prayer. Pray for strength to invite a friend to meet Jesus. 



Hebrews 9:1-10 | Small Group Questions
















Coastline Bible Church just started a brand new sermon series called: "Greater." For the next several months we are going to look through the book of Hebrews together. The book of Hebrews was written to a Jewish audience living in the first century. They are likely experiencing persecution and thinking about abandoning their faith. The author teaches us how Jesus is greater than: the prophets, angels, Moses, Abraham, the Law, the old covenant, and the high priest. We learn that Jesus is greater than anything that has preceded 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 | Worthy of Worship | Hebrews 9:1-10

In Hebrews 7-10 we’re introduced to the second section of the book of Hebrews. In this section we are primarily studying how Jesus is greater than any priest who has come before Him. In Hebrews 9 the author begins by addressing the Tabernacle that was constructed by Moses and the Israelites in the wilderness. When the construction of the Tabernacle was complete, God’s glory dwelt there (Exodus 40:34). Even though God moved in the Tabernacle, it was still an earthly building constructed of earthly materials. The author used the Tabernacle as a way to point our attention to our need for Jesus and his greater ministry as our High Priest. 

1) Neal shared a story about how his dad’s room was “off-limits” to him during his childhood. Think about a place in your life that seems to be off-limits. A place that you could enter but feel like you aren’t allowed there. 

2) Read Hebrews 9:1-5. The first tabernacle had a lamp for light, a table for bread, and an altar for incense. Read John 6:35, 8:12, and Romans 8:34. How do we see Jesus in the items that were placed in the original Tabernacle? 

3) Thinking about Jesus as the Bread of Life, Light of the World, and interceding on our behalf to the Father. Where do you need to lean into the power of Jesus most this week? Are you hungry for truth, in need of light, or need help in prayer? 

4) Read Hebrews 9:6-10. The High Priest was only able to enter the Most Place once a year to atone for the sins of the people. When Jesus died the curtain was torn in two (Matthew 27:50-51). How do you feel about entering the presence of God? 

5) The High Priest offered blood for those who committed sin in ignorance. Paul teaches us that everyone has sinned (read Romans 3:23). Share about a time when you committed a sin without knowing it was a sin. 

6) The Israelites worshipped the Lord at the Tabernacle. When we understand what Jesus has done for us, it inspires us to worship Him. Read Psalm 100 and talk about the different ways we can worship the Lord. 

7) Neal shared four ways that we can worship the Lord: through music, through creation (Romans 1:20), through giving (Malachi 3:6-10), and through silence (Psalm 46:10). What one way did you choose to worship the Lord through this week? 

Close your time in prayer. Pray for strength to invite a friend to meet Jesus.