We had a great kick-off to our “Financial Freedom” series this past Sunday with over 1100 people in attendance (another 927 online)! We’re calling this Sunday, “D-Day” as I’ll be talking about the steps to getting out of debt. To “put our money where our mouth is,” we’ll be drawing a Connect Card at the end of each service to give away $1000 to help someone pay down their debt. To receive the debt pay down, the winner will simply contact our Office Manager and provide the details of the debt they would like to pay down. We’ll take care of the rest! If the winner is already debt free, they can designate someone else from Coastal to pass along the benefit, and we will contact them. It’s going to be a powerful, exciting Sunday – don’t miss it! Invite and bring your friends and FILL OUT YOUR CONNECT CARD!
Our Spring semester of LIFE Groups started this week! I’ve heard nothing but GREAT things! Personally, I lead a Wednesday morning LIFE Group, and it was so great to see everyone and get started! We have awesome leaders, and I can’t wait to hear the stories of community, connection, and change! Many of our Groups are full, but for those that aren’t, it’s still not too late to join. Go to our website and sign up today! If you have any questions about Groups, please reach out to Pastor Scott Huff.
It looks like it’s shaping up to be a large group of people that we’ll be taking to Peru this Summer – July 20-27! Don’t forget, if you are interested in going, your $1000 deposit is due this Sunday. If you have any questions about the trip or the deposit, please reach out to Pastor Scott Huff.
There’s one more debt I want to remind you about. And it’s got nothing to do with finances. It’s the debt that each person owes God because of our sin. The Bible says that “all have sinned and fallen short of God’s standard.” You and I have all gone our own way and lived apart from God’s principles. And so that’s a debt you owe. Here’s the bad news, the Bible says, “The wages of sin is death.” In other words, you can never repay this debt, in and of yourself. You can’t be good enough and try to make up for all the bad things you’ve done. You can’t work your way into heaven. You can’t earn God’s favor. There is nothing you can do to overcome that debt.
You are hopeless and helpless, EXCEPT for what Jesus has already done for you. “For the wages of sin is death, BUT the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” You see, that’s what the cross is all about. God loved you so much that even though you chose to violate His law and go your own way, He wants you to come home. And He knew that there was nothing you could do to make up for that. But there was one who could pay the price for all of our sin, because He was perfect. And that was His one and only Son Jesus. And so He sent Him to this earth as the payment for our sin. So when we ask Jesus to come into our life and forgive us of our sin, He does that. And then God cancels the debt. He wipes it clean. It is forgiven for all of eternity. That’s why Jesus said, “It is finished!” on the cross. In other words, it’s paid for. So when you ask Christ to come into your life, He cancels the debt. Colossians 2:14, “He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.”
I sincerely hope a lot of people at our church decide to become financially debt free. That’s a process, and it might take several years to accomplish that. But here’s the good news, listen to this. Are you ready? In an instant, you can become spiritually debt free, forgiven, and brand new! Isn’t that awesome? I love you Coastal! I love being your Pastor and leading alongside such an awesome team! And I love what we get to do together!
See you Sunday!
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, today, Friday, February 23rd & Friday, March 8th, 9:30am-11:30am. Meet at 1850 Truxton Ave in North Charleston.
Downtown Charleston “Hotdog Ministry”: We will be grilling and serving hotdogs to the homeless and hungry downtown! Today, Friday, February 23rd, 4-6:30pm. Meet at Coastal.
Coffee & Doughnuts with the Vets at Patriot Villas – Friday, March 1st, 8:30am-11:30am. Meet at Coastal.
Clothing Team: Our Coastal Clothing Team will be organizing and sorting clothes, Friday, March 1st; Monday, March 4th; Friday, March 8th, 9:30am-11:30am. Meet at 2952 Old Pond Road on Johns Island.
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, March 2nd. We meet in the Welcome Center/Cafe at 8:30am, project leaders make a “pitch” for their serving opportunity, and then we serve!
Double Tailgate Day: Meeting Street & Joseph Floyd Manor: Saturday, March 9th, 10:30am-1:30pm. Meet at the church and then pick which Tailgate you’d like to 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. - At Coastal, we believe in making an impact one life at a time. We’re hosting an Impact Evangelism Seminar on Sunday, March 10th, at 5pm in the Coastal Chapel. Come learn practical tools to help build your confidence to share your faith without fear. RSVP on your Connect Card, and let us know if you’ll need childcare!
- As a part of our Financial Freedom series, we are offering a FREE Will & Legacy Planning Seminar! The Seminar will be in our Chapel on Sunday, March 3rd, at 4pm. Childcare provided. RSVP on your Connect Card or go online and sign up today! During the seminar we will be drawing names and giving away a Will Package with an Attorney.
- If you’re fairly new to Coastal, a great next step is our Newcomers Reception. Our next Newcomers Reception is THIS Sunday, February 25th, in our Chapel immediately following the 11:30am service (at approximately 12:45pm). This is a great way to learn more about Coastal, meet staff and key volunteers, as well as meet some other new people. Pizza and childcare provided. You can sign up on our website or on your Connect Card and indicate if you need childcare!
- Easter comes early this year – Sunday, March 31st! Coastal will be having 6 Easter Services over 3 days: Friday, March 29th, 7pm; Saturday, March 30th, 4:30pm, 6pm; Sunday, March 31st, 8:30am, 10am, 11:30am. Remember it’s all hands on deck! Sign up now to serve in multiple services! Our goal is to have over 2500 people in person over Easter Weekend! Start praying now for the people you will be inviting and for the people the church will be reaching out to through all of our advertising.
P.S. Coastal’s Young Adults (College-30ish) are invited to join us at the SC Stingrays hockey game at the North Charleston Coliseum on Saturday, March 16th, at 6pm. Tickets are $10 per person. Email Pastor Scott at scotth@coastalcommunitychurch.org to reserve your spot by Sunday, March 10th.
