This Sunday, in our “Revolution of Faith” series, I’ll be in Romans chapter 4. I hope you’re enjoying this series as we make our way through the book of Romans. But more than just enjoying it, I hope it’s been challenging, convicting, and life changing! So far, Paul has spent a lot time explaining how we are made right with God by faith alone, in Christ alone – that keeping the law, doing good works, or performing certain religious rituals can’t save you. Question – if good works can’t save you, what place do they have in the Christian life? I mean we talk about and actually DO a lot of good works here at Coastal. Are we wasting our time? No, not at all! The greatest confirmation of all that we have been truly saved, is the confirmation of a changed life that is committed to following Jesus. I don’t want anybody to get the idea that good works have no place in the Christian life. We are not saved BY our works, but we are saved TO DO good works. We don’t serve in order to be saved, but we will serve if we truly have been saved. In fact, the book of James tells us that faith without good works is dead, useless.
Listen to Hebrews 10:23-24, “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” The Greek word for “spur one another on” means “to incite, to provoke, to stir up.” When I think of stirring something up, I think of a gallon of paint that has been sitting for a long time. When you open it, the top it watery and the bottom is thick and gooey. You’ve either got to stick that gallon of paint in a mixer or take a stick and stir it up. Sometimes we’re just like that gallon of paint. We’ve been sitting too long, and as a result we’ve gotten kind of “thick on the bottom” (you get the picture). In other words, we’ve become a spectator in the Christian life. That’s why the Bible says that we need to consider how we can stir one another up, spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
So there is definitely a place for good works in the Christian life. Listen to Titus 3:4-8, “But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.” Now notice what immediately follows that beautiful passage on our salvation. Verse 8, “This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may” (what?) “be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good.”
So where do good works, good deeds fit in? They come in, in the living of the Christian life. Good works are worthless as far as purchasing our salvation, but they are essential in expressing our salvation, living it out. So what about you? Have you gotten a little “thick in the bottom” lately? Consider this your heavenly mixer to stir you up a bit. Ask and answer these two questions. Where am I serving? What is my ministry? I love you Coastal, I love being your Pastor, and I love what we get to do together! And I can’t wait to see you Sunday!
LIFE & LOVE!
Pastor Chris
- UPCOMING OUTREACH PROJECTS:
Lowcountry Orphan Relief : Lowcountry Orphan Relief provides support services and aid to meet the needs of Lowcountry children identified as at-risk or suffering from abandonment, abuse and/or neglect. Coastal will be serving there, Friday (TODAY), October 21st, 9:30am-11:30am. Meet at 1850 Truxton Ave in North Charleston.
Chair Set-Up: Come help set up all the chairs in the auditorium this Saturday (tomorrow), October 22nd, at 8am.
Patriot Villas Veterans Tailgate & Game Night – We will be putting on a Tailgate for the Veterans at Patriot Villas on Thursday, October 27th, 6-8pm. Meet at Coastal.
Coffee & Doughnuts with the Vets at Patriot Villas – Friday, October 28th, 8:30am-11:30am. Meet at Coastal.
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 5th. We meet in the Welcome Center/Cafe at 8:30am, project leaders make a “pitch” for their serving opportunity, and then we 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 at 843-870-4613. - Operation Christmas Child (OCC) is all about sharing the love of Jesus and the Good News of the Gospel through gifts & supplies in a simple shoebox with children all around the world! What we are asking our church (YOU) is to simply pray and ask God how many shoeboxes He wants you to fill, take home the shoeboxes we provide (until they’re gone), pack them as a family, and then bring back your completed boxes to the church between now and Sunday, November 13th. Our kiosk in the Welcome Center will be filled with the remaining shoeboxes ready to take home each Sunday. This would be a GREAT opportunity for you to teach your children about generosity, the true meaning of Christmas, and the love of Jesus. Help us reach our goal of packing over 1000 shoeboxes this year and share the love of Jesus with children all around the world!
- If you’re fairly new to Coastal, a great next step is our Newcomers Reception. Our next Newcomers Reception is Sunday, October 30th, in our Chapel immediately following the 11:15am service (at approximately 12:30pm). This is a great way to learn more about Coastal, meet staff and key volunteers, as well as meet some other new people. You can sign up on our website, or sign up on your Connect Card on Sunday.
- Interested in officially making the Coastal church family, your church family? Our next Membership Class is Monday night, November 7th, 6-8:30am. You can respond to this email, sign up on our website, or sign up on your Connect Card on Sunday. You can join us either in-person or online through Zoom.
- ERU MISSIONS TRIP INFORMATION MEETING! Join us in the Chapel immediately after the 11:15am service on Sunday, November 13th for an information meeting about the July 22nd-29th Missions Trip to Peru! RSVP on your Connect Card for lunch and childcare.
P.S. Mark your calendar for our next Coastal Night of Worship – Friday night, November 11th, 7-8:30pm! Invite your friends and family to join us for a night of prayer, worship, and encouragement. RSVP now for childcare (birth-kindergarten) on your Connect Card.
P.S.S. Grief Share will be hosting a free, one night event on Thursday, November 10th, at 6pm, called, “Surviving the Holidays.” This event will help you discover how to deal with the difficult emotions of the holiday season, give helpful tips on how to survive social events, and discover hope for the future. Contact Sue Muoio at s.muoio@outlook.com or register at www.griefshare.org.
