WOW! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? WE’RE JUST ONE WEEK AWAY! Next Sunday, November 8th, is THRIVE COMMITMENT SUNDAY! After eight weeks of sermons, LIFE Groups, daily devotions, prayer, fasting, and seeking God’s direction together, we’re approaching one of the most significant Sundays in the 36-year history of Coastal Community Church! And I couldn’t be more excited about what God is doing in and through our church!
But before we get to next Sunday, there’s something I want us to talk about THIS Sunday. GENEROSITY. Now, I know what some of you might be thinking. “Pastor Chris, haven’t we been talking about giving for the last eight weeks?” Haha! Well, yes and no. We’ve been talking about FAITH. About trusting God. About planting seeds. About stepping out of our comfort zones. About living for something bigger than ourselves. And yes, all of those things have something to do with generosity.
But here’s what I’ve discovered after more than 45 years of following Jesus: Generosity isn’t just something God wants us to DO. It’s something God wants us to BECOME. Think about it. Have you ever noticed that some of the happiest, most joyful, most fulfilled people you know are also some of the most generous? And I’m not necessarily talking about wealthy people. I’m talking about people who are generous with their time, their encouragement, their love, their forgiveness, their abilities, and yes, their money. They’re people who live with OPEN HANDS. They understand that life isn’t ultimately about what we accumulate, but about what we give away.
And I believe there’s a reason for that. We were CREATED in the image of a generous God! John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He GAVE…” God didn’t just SAY He loved us. He demonstrated His love through generosity. And the more we become like Jesus, the more generous we become. That’s why I love what Jesus said in Acts 20:35, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
Now, let’s be honest. That’s not exactly what our culture teaches, is it? Our culture says, “Get more! Keep more! Spend more! Upgrade! Accumulate! Protect what’s yours!” But Jesus turns that thinking completely upside down. He says the greatest blessing isn’t found in what we GET. It’s found in what we GIVE.
And here’s what I want you to think about this week: What if generosity isn’t just God’s way of changing the world THROUGH us? What if it’s also one of His greatest ways of changing something INSIDE us? What if every act of generosity is actually an opportunity for God to grow our faith, deepen our trust, and make us more like Jesus? That’s what we’re going to talk about this Sunday as we continue our Thrive series with a message called “What Happens When I Give?” And I believe it’s going to be a powerful Sunday!
ONE WEEK UNTIL COMMITMENT SUNDAY! Coastal, next Sunday, November 8th, we’re going to have an opportunity to put into practice everything we’ve been learning throughout this Thrive journey. And I want to encourage EVERY individual and EVERY family who calls Coastal home to participate!
Remember, we’re asking everyone to bring TWO things: 1. Your First Fruits Sacrificial Offering. This is your initial, above-and-beyond gift toward Thrive. I’ve challenged all of us to prayerfully consider making the largest sacrificial offering we’ve ever given.
2. Your Three-Year Commitment Card. This represents what you believe God is leading you to give toward Thrive over the next three years, above and beyond your regular tithes and offerings.
And let me remind you of something VERY important. We’re not asking for EQUAL GIFTS. We’re asking for EQUAL SACRIFICE. For some, a sacrificial gift might be $100. For others, it might be $1,000, $10,000, or even more. The amount isn’t the point. The heart behind the gift is what matters to God! I don’t want anyone comparing their gift to someone else’s. I don’t want anyone feeling pressured to give an amount they believe God hasn’t called them to give. What I DO want is for every one of us to sincerely pray, “Lord, what do YOU want ME to do?” And then have the faith and courage to obey Him. That’s it.
Because this isn’t ultimately about raising money for a building. It’s about raising up a church full of people who trust God enough to live generously and sacrificially for His Kingdom! And remember, 10% of every dollar given to Thrive will go directly to Missions and Outreach. Even as we’re preparing to expand our campus, we’re going to keep reaching beyond our walls! Also, because of Thrive, we will NOT have a separate Annual Christmas Offering this year.
LET’S FINISH STRONG! As we enter these final days of our 40 Day Fast, I want to encourage you to really seek God. If you’re married, pray together with your spouse. If you have children, involve them in the conversation. What a great opportunity to teach the next generation about faith, generosity, and sacrifice! If you haven’t already, pick up a Thrive Commitment Card this Sunday and spend some time praying over it. And please join us for our 24-Hour Prayer Vigil, November 5th-6th, as we cover this historic moment in prayer.
Coastal, I keep thinking about all the people who sacrificed 36 years ago so that our church could become what it is today. They didn’t know your name. They didn’t know your children or grandchildren. They had no idea how many lives would be changed because of their faithfulness. They simply trusted God and gave. And today, WE are enjoying the harvest of THEIR sacrifice! Now it’s our turn. We’re planting seeds for people we haven’t met yet. For children who haven’t been born yet. For families who haven’t walked through our doors yet. For ONE more person who desperately needs to know Jesus! And THAT is why we’re doing Thrive. Buildings are tools. People are the mission.
I believe with all my heart that our best days as a church are still ahead of us. And I can’t wait to see what God is going to do! So I’ll see you THIS Sunday as we talk about “What Happens When I Give?” And then let’s come back NEXT Sunday, November 8th, ready to take one of the biggest steps of faith in the history of Coastal! Healthy things grow. Healthy things THRIVE! I love you, Coastal. I love being your Pastor. And I love what God has called us to do together.
Thriving Together!
Pastor Chris
- UPCOMING OUTREACH PROJECTS:
Downtown Charleston “Hotdog Ministry”: We will be grilling and serving hotdogs to the homeless and hungry downtown! Friday, October 30th, 3:30pm-6pm. Meet at The Outpost – 1050 St. Andrews Blvd.
Ronald McDonald House Meals that Heal – Breakfast: Ronald McDonald House provides a “Home-away-from-home” where families stay while their children undergo extensive medical treatment. The Meals that Heal program provides a much-needed support service to families taking care of their sick children, who often don’t have the time, funds, or energy to prepare a healthy, home-cooked meal. Ages 16+. Saturday, October 31st, 7:30am-9am. Meet at: 81 Gadsden St, Chas (Downtown Charleston).
The Boutique Sort & Stock: Come help sort & organize all the clothes we distribute! Monday, November 2nd; Friday, November 6th, 10:30am-12:30pm. Meet at The Outpost – 1050 St. Andrews Blvd.
Sweat & Serve: Come help unload the Coastal Box Truck filled with our weekly food pickup! Heavy lifting required (40+lbs). Wednesday, November 4th, 9am-12noon. Meet at The Outpost – 1050 St. Andrews Blvd.
The Market Organize & Prep: Come to The Outpost and help keep the Market stocked and organized (and have a lot of fun while you’re at it)! Wednesday, November 4th, 9:30am-12noon. Meet at The Outpost – 1050 St. Andrews Blvd.
Sewing Project: Sewing experience not required! Come and acquire a new skill while helping others in the community. This team of volunteers will work on zippered pouches, lap quilts, and blankets. Meet at Coastal on Wednesday, November 4th, 5pm-8pm.
Serving in the Market & the Boutique at The Outpost: Coastal feeds and clothes an enormous amount of people. Come to The Outpost and help serve our community (and have a lot of fun while you’re at it)! Thursday, November 5th, 10am-2pm. Meet at The Outpost – 1050 St. Andrews Blvd.
Sleep In Heavenly Peace Bed Delivery: This team from Coastal will help to deliver beds, alongside brand-new linens, to well deserving but underserved children all over Charleston. There will be some light lifting and assembly required but will be heavy on both love and encouragement. We’ll bring comfort, love, and encouragement to the families we serve. Meet at Coastal on Thursday, November 5th, 6pm-8pm.
Saturday Serve: The foundation of all of our serving opportunities at Coastal really starts with Saturday Serve – the first Saturday of every month. The next Saturday Serve is Saturday, November 7th. We meet in the Auditorium at 8:30am, Project Leaders make a “pitch” for their serving opportunity, and then we go out and serve!
As always, if you are interested in serving in any of these projects, you can sign up on your Connect Card this Sunday or sign up now on our website. If you have any questions, please reach out to Pastor Chris Jones. - THRIVE 24-HOUR PRAYER VIGIL – NOVEMBER 5-6! As we prepare for one of the biggest Sundays in the history of Coastal, Commitment Sunday, November 8th, we’re calling our entire church family to come together in PRAYER! Beginning Thursday, November 5th at 7:00 PM, we’ll kick off a 24-Hour Prayer Vigil, setting aside time to seek God’s guidance, provision, and blessing over this next season of ministry.
We believe that great moves of God begin with prayer! So we’re asking you to sign up for a time slot and help us cover these 24 hours in prayer. You can SIGN UP HERE, and then please indicate on your Connect Card this Sunday that you’ll be participating with us. Before we take our next BIG step of faith, let’s get on our knees together! We can’t wait to see what God is going to do! - Spring is a fresh opportunity to build friendships, grow in your faith, and help others find community—and we’d love for YOU to be part of it! Whether you’re considering leading a Life Group for the first time, currently serving as a leader, or ready to lead again, we invite you to volunteer to lead a LIFE Group this Spring. Your willingness to serve can make a meaningful difference in someone’s life and faith journey. Sign up on Sunday on your Connect Card or email Pastor Scott scotth@coastalcommunitychurch.org to let him know you’re interested!
- Interested in going public with your faith through Baptism? Sign up on your Connect Card or on our website to be baptized any Sunday or at our next Beach Baptism (“Polar Plunge”) on Folly Beach on Saturday, November 21st at 10am.
- Meet Our New Coastal Kidz Team Members! We’re excited to welcome Ginny Witte and Karen Burt to our Coastal Kidz staff! Ginny is stepping into a brand-new role as our Special Needs Coordinator!A pediatric speech therapist who has already been serving in Coastal Kidz, Ginny has a heart for helping every child experience the love of Jesus and will be supporting our special needs families and equipping our buddy volunteers.
Karen is our new Preschool Coordinator, stepping into Morgan Wessel’s previous role. Karen and her family have been part of Coastal for four years, and she’s already been serving in our preschool ministry and MomCo. She has a passion for helping children and families grow in their faith! Both ladies already love Coastal and our kids, and we’re thrilled to have them on the team! If you see them in the Coastal Kidz hallways, be sure to say hello!
P.S. Membership Class: Interested in officially making the Coastal church family, your church family? Our next Membership Class is Saturday, November 14th, from 9am-12noon, in the Chapel. You can respond to this email, sign up on our website, or sign up on your Connect Card (let us know if you need childcare). Breakfast & childcare provided!
