Have you ever played the game, “show me your scars?” You know what I’m talking about, right? You’re out with a bunch of friends and the topic of fighting or surgery or accidents comes up, and then all of a sudden, out of no where, up comes your shirt or up comes your pants leg and you’re showing off some scar you have. Basically you say, “I’ll show you my scars, if you show me yours.” And you try to one up each other with the scars you have. The winner is the one with the most scars or the most bizarre scars or the one that has the strangest story behind it.
Well this Sunday, we’re going to look at some scars that we can all relate too. Not the external ones that everyone can see, where you’ve got the cast or the stitches, because if the truth be known, for the most part, those memories fade pretty quickly, you’re able to talk about them, even joke about them, or brag about them. But on Sunday I want us to look at something even more painful, scars that run much deeper, and are difficult to talk about, the internal hidden scars and wounds that many of us carry around. This Sunday, as we continue our, “What Would Jesus Say?” we’ll talk about, “What would Jesus say to the ashamed?”
If you’ve come to Coastal for any length of time, you’ve heard me quote verses like John 10:10 where Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” Or John 8:32 where Jesus said, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Jesus wants you to experience life in all of its fullness. He wants to set you free! But again, there are many people and maybe some of you who just feel like, “Not for me. That sounds great Pastor Chris, and maybe for someone else it is, but not for me. You don’t know my failures. You don’t know my past, what I’ve done.”
You’re right. I don’t. But God does. And God says that you are worth it. God says that He’s not finished with you yet. You see the Bible, at its core, is a story of redemption. It’s all about Jesus and His sacrifice on your behalf. It’s all about God going to great lengths, doing whatever it takes to get you back, to draw you to Himself. And the Bible is full of example after example of men and women who absolutely blew it, completely messed up. Because of their mistakes, because of their moral failures, they thought that God could never use them again. They were full of guilt and shame and regrets. They thought their time was passed. But over and over again, if they would just simply give their lives over to Him, put their trust in Him – they were forgiven, restored, and did amazing things.
The Bible says in Isaiah 30:18, “So the Lord must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion.” He’s waiting on you to show you His love and compassion. He’s not mad at you. He’s not sitting there ready to scold you. He’s saying, “Come home!” Some of you have held off because you’re afraid of being rejected. But there is one person who will never reject you and His name is Jesus. He’s saying, “Come home.”
If you’ve been secretly overwhelmed by the guilt and shame in your life, please hear this – you can get rid of it today. You can walk out again with a clear conscious. Those wounds, those scars, that you carry around because of your guilt and shame, get this, Jesus took them to the cross and the Bible says that by His wounds, by His scars, you are healed. 1Peter 2:24, “He personally carried away our sins in his own body on the cross so we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. You have been healed by his wounds!” He took a beating so you don’t have to. His scars can heal your scars, if you let Him. Come on Sunday and walk out in FREEDOM! I love you Coastal! I love being your Pastor! And I love sharing and experiencing the LIFE and LOVE of Jesus with you!
With Much Love & Gratitude!
Pastor Chris
- UPCOMING OUTREACH PROJECTS:
Coffee & Doughnuts with the Vets at Patriot Villas: Join the team as we travel over to Patriot Villas, a veterans housing facility in North Charleston, to provide encouragement in the form of a fresh hot cup of Coastal coffee, a Krispy Kreme donut and community. We’ll spend the morning serving the veterans, fellowshipping, building relationships and thanking them for their service! TODAY, Friday, April 17th, 8:30am-11:30am. Meet at Coastal.
Hope Center Tailgate: The Hope Center, managed by the city of Charleston, serves as a one-stop shop in downtown Charleston to assist those who are homeless or who are at-risk of being homeless. We’re sending a Tailgate Team to serve dinner to anyone who is hungry. Meet at Coastal on Tuesday, April 21st, 12pm-3pm.
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, April 22nd; Wednesday, April 29th, 5pm-8pm.
Brighton Place Tailgate: We will be putting on a Tailgate for the Brighton Place community (here in West Ashley – near Citadel Mall) on Wednesday, April 22nd, 6-8:30pm. Meet at Coastal.
Food Pantry Sort & Stock: Coastal feeds an enormous amount of people. Come to the church and help keep our Food Pantry organized (and have a lot of fun while you’re at it)! Thursday, April 23rd; Thursday, April 30th, 11:30am-1pm.
Downtown Charleston “Hotdog Ministry”: We will be grilling and serving hotdogs to the homeless and hungry downtown! Friday, April 24th, 4pm-6pm. Meet at Coastal.
JFM Fellowship Activity & Devotion: A fun project for kids! We’ll serve at Joseph Floyd Manor (JFM), a public housing facility in Downtown Charleston, playing BINGO with the residents. Monday, April 27th, 2pm-3:30pm. Meet at JFM.
Brighton Place Fellowship Activity & Devotion: This project will allow us to spend some time with the residents and get to know them better through a lively game of Chair Volleyball, a meal, and devotion. Kid Friendly! Tuesday, April 28th, 1:30pm-3pm. Meet at: Brighton Place, 1429 Orleans Road.
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. - Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 10th! As always, it’s going to be a great celebration at Coastal with a gift for all the women, fun giveaways at the end of each of our 4 services (8am, 9:30am, 11am, 12:30pm), FREE Kona Ice for everyone, a Family Photo Booth, and YES Baby & Child Dedication during all 4 services! If you would like your family to participate in the Baby & Child Dedication, sign up on your Connect Card this weekend or right now online. Include your child’s full name and the service you will be attending. Baby/Child Dedication is a special time for parents to commit their children to the Lord and to renew their commitment as parents to raise their children in a Christ centered home.
- If you’re fairly new to Coastal, a great next step is our Newcomers Reception. Our next Newcomers Reception is THIS Sunday, April 19th, 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 today!
- One of the ways our church marks the beginning of Summer every year is through something called Summer of IMPACT! If you are fairly new to Coastal, Summer of IMPACT is a month-long effort (the entire month of June) where we as a church saturate our community with the love of Jesus through simple acts of service. It’s basically what we normally do all throughout the year, but MULTIPLIED during the month of June! In fact, there are over 70 projects this year and there is something for everyone. You simply sign-up and then show-up. It’s that easy. Every project has a leader and every project is well-organized. All the projects are loaded on our website and you can start signing up TODAY!
- THIS Saturday (TOMORROW), April 18th, 11:30AM-2-30PM, Coastal Young Adults will be hosting a Kickball Game and Spring Picnic at First Baptist High School on James Island! We invite all men and women in their 20s and 30s to join us as we enjoy the spring weather, a picnic lunch, and friendly competition. If you have any questions or to sign up, email Dane Clark at youngadults@coastalcommunitychurch.org!
P.S. We are planning our Annual BEACH BAPTISM out at Folly Beach County Park on Sunday, June 7th, at 5pm. You can sign up for it on our website. The only requirement for Baptism is that you have personally given your life to Jesus. Baptism is a public profession of your faith, and it’s a great celebration! It beautifully illustrates Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. If you’re unable to participate in our Beach Baptism, remember at Coastal we’re ready for you to get Baptized any service, any Sunday. If you are interested in getting Baptized, simply respond to this email, sign up on your Connect Card, or sign up on our website.
