It’s been another exciting week at Coastal! First of all, our new semester of LIFE Groups started this week! I’ve heard nothing but GREAT things! Personally, I lead a Wednesday morning Men’s Group, and it was so great to see everyone and get started again! We have awesome LIFE Group Leaders, and I can’t wait to hear all the stories of community, connection, and life 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! We’ve now had close to 1000 signups for LIFE Groups!
And then, of course, we jumped back into our sermon series, “Blessed,” on the Sermon on the Mount. As a part of this series, we’re emailing out a Daily Devotional (Monday-Friday) written by our Pastors/Staff. I hope you’ll include it as a part of your daily devotional life. If you’d like to get the devotionals, but you’re not currently receiving them, make sure you sign up for them on your Connect Card on Sunday (or reply to this email).
This Sunday, in the Sermon on the Mount, I’ll be in Matthew 5:17-20. We’re going to be talking about the place and purpose of Scripture in our lives. You’ll also see the high value Jesus placed on Scripture. In verse 18 of that passage Jesus said, “For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.” Question – what value do YOU place on Scripture?
I recently heard a shocking statistic that really bothered me. It comes from the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University from a survey of 2000 adults. Now, as surveys go, I realize that’s not a large number, and I understand that statistics can be tricky, and you can get numbers to say pretty much anything you want. But still, their findings were disturbing. Here’s what they found: only 6% of American Christians (not unbelievers, but CHRISTIANS) have a Biblical worldview. Now, that might automatically raise a couple of questions in your mind. First of all, what do we mean by a “Biblical worldview”? Well, a worldview is simply a way of seeing the world. It shapes how we think and behave. In computer language, it’s our operating system. My worldview is the beliefs that I build my life on. It’s how I view everything in life. It’s how I view God. It’s how I view myself. It’s how I view other people. Your worldview is the basis on which you make your decisions. It’s how you decide what you decide. Your worldview determines all of your choices.
A Biblical worldview then is a way of experiencing, interpreting, and responding to all of life in light of Biblical perspectives. It’s thinking and behaving like Jesus. Well, if so few Christians claim to have a Biblical worldview, what IS the prevalent worldview. It’s something called syncretism. What’s syncretism you ask? Simply put, it’s a little bit of this and a little bit of that. It’s piecing together different worldviews, different philosophies, different belief systems that fit the individual’s emotions and thoughts in the moment.
Coastal, that is not what Jesus taught or lived at all. The truth of God’s Word should shape every area of our life, every decision that we make. It should shape our thoughts and beliefs about life, about death, about relationships, about time, about money, about sexuality, about marriage and parenting, about everything! As followers of Jesus we don’t get to pick and choose what we believe and think about any given subject based on our needs and feelings at any given moment. Remember, the Sermon on the Mount is all about what a follower of Jesus looks like – the life that God blesses. Over and over again Jesus said, “You have heard it said (about various topics and subjects), but I say to you.” Come this Sunday and discover what Jesus had to say about the Word of God and its purpose in the life of a believer! I love you Coastal! I love being your Pastor! And I love following Jesus with you!
LIFE & LOVE
Pastor Chris
- UPCOMING OUTREACH PROJECTS:
VA Stand Down for Homeless: Feeding approximately 400 local Veterans and their Service Providers. TODAY, Friday, September 20th, 9:30am-2pm. Meet at Coastal.
Ronald McDonald House Meals That Heal: On Saturday, September 21st, 8-10am, we will be providing breakfast for the resident of the Ronald McDonald House. Meet at Coastal.
Brighton Place Tailgate: We will be putting on a Tailgate for the Brighton Place community (here in West Ashley – near Citadel Mall) on Wednesday, September 25th, 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, September 26th; Thursday, October 3rd, 11:30am-1pm.
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, September 27th, 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! Friday, September 27th, 4-6:30pm. Meet at Coastal.
Coffee & Doughnuts with the Vets at Patriot Villas: Friday, October 4th, 8:30am-11:30am. Meet at Coastal.
Clothing Team: Our Coastal Clothing Team will be organizing and sorting clothes, Friday, October 4th, 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, October 5th. 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. - Interested in officially making the Coastal church family, your church family? Our next Membership Class is Saturday, October 26th, 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) on Sunday. Breakfast & childcare provided!
- We could use help setting up chairs in the Auditorium TOMORROW, Saturday, September 21st at 8am. If you are able to help or would like to join the Chair Team, email Pastor Scott Huff.
- If you’re fairly new to Coastal, a great next step is our Newcomers Reception. Our next Newcomers Reception is Sunday, October 6th, 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.
- Attention Coastal Student Ministry Parents and families! Sign your student up for CSM Serve Weekend! It’s September 27-29, and it’s a weekend where students will learn why we serve and that God has gifted each of us uniquely to serve others. Plus we’re going to go and actually serve together! Amidst all of this, we’re going to worship, dig into God’s Word, and have a ton of fun in between! All you do is drop your student off on Friday, and we’ll see you on Sunday where you will pick up your student at the third service! It’s just $75! Click the link to sign up and encourage your student to invite a friend! I pray God uses this weekend to transform your student’s perspective on God’s call to serve and His amazing gifting to do so!
P.S. For almost 15 years now, Bryan Miller has faithfully served as the Leader of Coastal’s Safety & Security Team. When Bryan first started he was a SC State Trooper and our church was MUCH smaller and our campus had a MUCH smaller footprint. Bryan’s experience, level headed leadership, and love for our church have all been instrumental in the growth of our Safety & Security Team. After all these years, Bryan has decided to pass the baton of leadership to Jason Huggins. But don’t worry, Bryan isn’t going anywhere. He just won’t carry the responsibility of leading the Team. You’ll still see him serving, keeping an ever watchful eye over our services, alongside our Team. Jason is married to Aly, our Children’s Director, and together they have 5 children. And like Bryan, Jason has a lifetime of experience in Law Enforcement. Before coming to Coastal he also led a Safety Team at their previous church. So, make sure you thank Bryan for his faithful service and welcome Jason to the Team! There will be an important Safety & Security Team Meeting for all current members and those interested in joining the Team on Saturday, October 19th, 9am, in the auditorium.
