Coastline Covenant Podcast

Hunter takes a breather by talking about the Godfather, David and Saul, enemies and friends, and the power of befriending your feelings.For the next episode, make sure you have read 2 Samuel 5-7; 11-12, and Psalm 145. As always: don't forget to leave a voice memo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right here ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠or email Hunter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Michael returns to the podcast to discuss writing songs for a class, his royal lineage, and and famous kings in pop culture. Speaking of kings, on this week's episode there is a lot of talk about one king in particular: Saul. Hunter and Michael talk about Israel's need for a king, what a king ultimately means, and how sometimes our "desires" are well-meaning but end up causing harm. For the next episode, make sure you have read 1 Samuel 16-20; 23:7-24:22; 26, 31. As always: don't forget to leave a voice memo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right here ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠or email Hunter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Hunter and Nikki play a game about Coachella, talk about judges, and discuss the next movie they are going to discuss on the podcast. They also talk about the depravity in the book of Judges, the pervasive nature of evil, the heroic vulnerability of Ruth, and how even when the world is majorly evil, there is still good.For the next episode, make sure you have read 1 Samuel 1; 3; 8-11; 15.As always: don't forget to leave a voice memo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right here ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠or email Hunter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Hunter is joined by Michelle Stout to talk about JOSHUA! They discuss the etymology of the word "interesting", to-do lists vs. journals, leadership transitions, and whether or not Michelle will nap today. They also talk about Joshua, Rahab, remembering what God has done, and leaning in to the strange things He asks of you.For the next episode, make sure you have read Judges 2-4 and Ruth 1-4.As always: don't forget to leave a voice memo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right here ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠or email Hunter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

We made it past the first quarter! To commemorate, Family Theologian Andrew Faris joins Hunter to check in, answer questions, and talk about a lot of random things. Andrew talks about coaching little league, the framing questions of the Pentateuch, how we see the themes of the Torah in the entire Bible,  the point of the story up until this point, and compound interest. Hunter talks about Nephilim, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, and obscure (but apropos) basketball knowledge. Are you interested in an early morning book club? Let us know! If you haven’t been following along or if you’ve fallen behind or if you just want a fun listen with a lot of depth, we cannot recommend this episode enough. For the next episode, make sure you have read Joshua 1-4 and Joshua 24.As always: don't forget to leave a voice memo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right here ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠or email Hunter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Nikki returns to the podcast to help us wrap up the story of Moses in Numbers and Deuteronomy. She and Hunter talk about their happy places, West Virginia, being wrong, and the perfect imperfections of our stories. But, on a more serious note, they discuss Numbers (not that many numbers, but still a lot of numbers), Deuteronomy (underrated, emotional), and Psalm 90 (sad).However, the main focus of this episode is the idea of the wilderness. It’s figurative, it’s literal, it’s brutal, but it’s beautiful at the same time. The wilderness is a prominent theme in the Bible, and it is also a prominent reality in our lives. Nikki (as always) has great insight and helps this first quarter (!!) of the podcast come to a close.Join us next week for a special week where Andrew joins Hunter for a Pentateuch wrap-up!  

Hunter and Shawn talk about the Ten Commandments, the Law, and holiness. They discuss the idea of a kingdom of priests, the parallels between the fallout at Sinai and Eden, the strange parts of this story, and play a game about crazy laws in America. Shawn also brings some deep theological questions about… underwear? Come for the theology, stay for the donuts!For the next episode, make sure you have read Numbers 13-14; Deuteronomy 8; Psalm 85.As always: don't forget to leave a voice memo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ right here ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠or email Hunter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Richelle joins the podcast to call out Hunter and Michael and to also talk about wedding planning, children’s ministry, and the role of art in faith. She and Hunter also dive into one of the most compelling stories in the Old Testament: the parting of the Red Sea. In between all of the theological questions (who is the Destroyer?) and the spiritual insight, Richelle talks about the story of her mom’s baptism and how it connects with the main points of the Exodus narrative. This is a great moment on the podcast and we really help you listen and enjoy!For the next episode, make sure you have read Exodus 19:1-25, 20:1-24, 32:1-35, 33:1-23.As always: don't forget to leave a voice memo⁠⁠⁠⁠ right here ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠or email Hunter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠.

We're breaking the format a bit this week to give you a breather! These will come up sporadically this year, and they're meant to be weeks for you to listen, reflect, and catch up. Hunter recaps where we've been, talks about the Plagues against Egypt, and gives us challenges to consider this week.For the next episode, make sure you have read Exodus 12:1-40, 13:17-14:29, 15:1-21.As always: don't forget to leave a voice memo⁠⁠⁠ right here ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠or email Hunter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠.

We’ve made it to our second book: Exodus! Hunter and Nikki commemorate this momentous occasion by reading Letterboxd reviews of The Prince of Egypt. But that’s not all! They talk about the revelatory nature of Exodus, the women in the beginning of the story,  the importance of God’s name, and the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart. Some new themes emerge: fear, God’s character, God’s closeness to his people, the search for identity, freedom, and the speed at which the Israelite women give birth. For the next episode, make sure you have read Exodus 7:14-11:9.As always: don't forget to leave a voice memo⁠⁠ right here ⁠⁠⁠⁠or email Hunter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠.

Shawn helps Hunter close out the book of Genesis by focusing on Joseph. They begin the conversation talking about dreams and their role both in the Bible and the church today, God’s consistent faithfulness, how a little bit of bullying would have gone a long way with Joseph, and how the story of Genesis finds its resolution in Joseph’s humanity. Humanity is actually a big theme in this episode, especially in the way that being human means having a choice to either hurt others out of your own hurts or to break cycles of pain by choosing grace. This is a beautiful theme that really comes into play as we end Genesis.But this is Shawn and Hunter on a podcast. Of course they don’t just talk about Jospeh. They talk about Ruben Studdard, Carl Jung, how we’re all like our dads, and rabbinic interpretations of minor Biblical characters. Who do YOU Think should’ve won American Idol in 2003?For the next episode, make sure you have read Exodus 1-5 6:1-12, 6:28-7:7.Remember: if you have any questions about Genesis, don't forget to leave a voice memo⁠ right here ⁠⁠⁠or email Hunter at ⁠⁠⁠[email protected].

Garrick joins “Our Story” to talk about a strange story in the middle of Genesis: Jacob and Esau. Hunter and Garrick reflect on their emotional responses to these two brothers while also discussing the deeper elements that help the point of story still preach, today. There’s also a great conversation about the value of refining the center of your theology while also engaging with differing viewpoints, God’s working in our failure, and how Jacob and Esau are a lot more relatable than we think. Come for the theology, stay for the stories about getting punched in the face, Jesus as a trickster, and Garrick’s wrestling name and his signature move.For the next episode, make sure you have read Genesis 37, 39-45, 50:15-21. If you have any questions about Genesis, don't forget to leave a voice memo right here ⁠⁠or email Hunter at ⁠⁠[email protected]

Happy February! Hunter and Michael continue Our Story by talking about Sodom, Gomorrah, Abraham, and Isaac. These passages are consistently thought of as problematic and controversial, but that does not mean that they’re not worth reading. In fact, Michael and Hunter land on the idea that these passages help us understand faith, hospitality, and God’s character. They also discuss negotiating with God, asking God big questions, and how God is seemingly open to feedback.For the next episode, make sure you have read Genesis 25:19-34, 27, 28:10-22, and 32. And as always, if you want to leave a voice memo with any questions, comments, or reflections, you can do that⁠ right here ⁠or email Hunter at ⁠[email protected]⁠ 

The story of Genesis expands with the introduction of God’s promise to Abram. Shawn and Hunter unpack the themes of that story and where we see them re-emerge throughout the Bible. They talk about Abram’s quick “yes” that leads to God doing “almost everything” on Abram’s behalf, the normalcy of the struggles in the lives of Biblical “heroes”, the definition of the word “covenant”, and the ways in which God shows his faithfulness and commitment no matter what. Shawn also goes really deep about Ugaritic texts, obscure Marvel Characters, and what the fans of this podcast should call themselves. For the next episode, make sure you have read Genesis 12:1-9; 15; 17, and Galatians 3:6-9. And as always, if you want to leave a voice memo with any questions, comments, or reflections, you can do that right here or email Hunter at [email protected]

Nikki joins Our Story to talk about Genesis 3 provides the paradigm of see, desire, take provides an understanding sin throughout the whole Bible. Hunter and Nikki discuss the unexpected ways that they’ve seen this paradigm contribute todamage in their own lives and in the lives of those in our Bible. They talk about how Genesis 3 is darker, trippier, and frankly more devastating than we give it credit for, how nothing in creation is left untouched because of death, how land factors into Cain’s decision to murder his brother, the gift of life thatJesus gives us, and the role that honesty plays in our sin. Hunter and Nikki also discuss optometry, the “Eden” name of the fruit in Genesis 3, and some sad stuff.For the next episode, make sure you have read Genesis12:1-9; 15; 17, and Galatians 3:6-9. And as always, if you want to leave a voice memo with any questions, comments, or reflections, you can do that right here or email Hunter at [email protected]

Hunter sits down with Dr. Jeannine Hanger to talk about our first big theme: creation. To really think of this thematically, they look at some of the way that John “covers” Genesis 1 by using a “cosmological hue” to talk about the upcoming work of Jesus. Dr. Hanger also unpacks the definition of logos to show the religious and empirical truth that both John and the author of Genesis They also talk about Dr. Hanger’s incredibly unique (and creative!) fashion ideas from her youth, the Nicole Kidman AMC Intro video, and running in the rain.Make sure that you read Genesis 3-4; Romans 5:12-21; Psalm 51 for next week!And as always, if you want to leave a voice memo with any questions, comments, or reflections, you can do that ⁠right here⁠ or email Hunter at ⁠[email protected]

On January 11th, Shawn and Garrick provided some exciting news about a potential church building that Coastline can call home. They shared a ton of information at a town hall meeting after church. We know that many weren't able to attend, so they decided to jump on the podcast to share what was shared at the meeting: why this building seems promising, what obstacles are on the horizon, how you can pray with us, and more!This process is long and uncertain, but we want to be transparent, so if you have any questions or thoughts after this episode, please reach out to Shawn or Garrick!

For the first episode in our yearlong series Our Story: The Bible Together, Hunter sits down with Family Theologian Andrew Faris to talk about the story of the Bible by tracing individual themes across Scripture towards the main point of the Bible: Jesus. Andrew also provides some helpful information about what the Bible actually is, how we got the Bible, and why you can trust the Bible. They also discuss their favorite stories, sparkling water, and New Year’s Resolutions. For the next episode, make sure you have read Genesis 1-2,Psalm 8, John 1:1-5, and Colossians 1:15-20! And as always, if you want to leave a voice memo with any questions, comments, or reflections, you can do that right here or email Hunter at [email protected]

Merry Christmas! As a gift to you, Hunter and Nikki sat down to talk about the new Knives Out mystery, Wake Up Dead Man. Beyond just being a fun movie, this film contains some really interesting and beautiful ideas about following Jesus, which is why we thought it'd be fun to talk about it! Warning: we spoil Knives Out, Arrival, and a lot of other stuff :)

We're changing everything! Take a listen to hear why we're shifting gears and how you can be involved! We're SO excited and we hope that you join us in this journey! coastlinecovenant.com/podcast

All 6 of the Coastline Staff Members talk about what they’rethankful for, God’s generosity in their lives, and their favorite parts about Thanksgiving. But don’t worry, they also discuss things like answered prayers, makeup, the Old Testament, Thanksgiving pet peeves, what a Coastline Parade Float would look like, and who could take Luke in a fight (and who Luke thinks he could take in a fight). Thanks for listening!

All 6 of us are hopping on the podcast next week, and we thought it'd be fun to answer some listener questions. Email any and all questions, comments, and/or concerns to [email protected]! Thanks!

Shawn and Hunter talk about Coastline's newest sermon series, Give Thanks. But they also talk about a gazillion other things, as is customary with these two.

Hunter interviews Kevin Weiner, who is the Director of Missions and Mercy at Reality Los Angeles for our final episode in our Imperfect Line series. They discuss pickle ball, collegiate soccer, and the nature of podcasts. However, more importantly, they discuss Kevin's journey from Mira Costa student to UCLA goalie to being on staff at a "cool" church. Then, they talk about the risky nature of mercy, the importance of intimacy before ministry, and how being an effective witness for the kingdom in any circumstance is the nature of missions.Obviously, this conversation was a blast, and we hope you enjoy it!

What do you think about the youth of America? They're on the phones too much? They're annoying? They are isolated? Lonely? Not religious anymore?Hunter set out to ask some students at Coastline Youth that very question: what do you think adults think about you, and where are they right? What followed were several conversations that ended up becoming a really special episode of the Coastline Covenant Podcast.

Hunter chats with Lorrie Tom about how the universality of creativity. They discuss why creativity is important, the false dichotomy between being "creative" or "analytical", artists they respond to, radical authenticity, and Harry Styles!

Sometimes, things don't line up! We'll be back next week with a new episode.

Hunter and Michael talk about the most popular pop culture fathers, where society gets fatherhood right, and some of the neurological changes that happen to dads. Then, they look at what the Bible says about fatherhood, God as Father, and the model that Jesus provides for us dads. Dad or not, this is a great conversation that we hope you enjoy!

Hunter sits down with Britt Faris to talk about how the world views parenting, her role as a mom, and how to prioritize her family values in a busy world. They also talk about Spanish, MLM's, and how Britt literally does not listen to podcasts. This is a GREAT episode and we hope you enjoy!

Our series Imperfect Line continues with a conversation about community. Hunter and Garrick discuss Garrick's sabbatical, some of the cultural messages around community, and what makes Jesus-centered community valuable and worth your time. This is a great episode and we hope you love it!

WE'RE BACK! Hunter and Shawn talk about the book of Daniel, the imperfect lines we have to draw as believers, and how exile will factor in to our new podcast series, Imperfect Line.

Hunter is joined by Jeremy Megginson to talk about the organization Foster the City, which is a group that seeks to equip churches to provide loving homes for foster children. Jeremy talks about the events that led him to get involved with Foster the City, some staggering statistics, and tangible ways that we can help. For more info, you can check out Foster the City right here, or email Jeremy.

In continuing our conversations about the relationship between the physical and the non-physical, Hunter welcomes very special guest Dr. Delanie Brunet, a physical therapist in San Diego, CA. Delanie and Hunter talk about the power of healing, overcoming injury, and practical ways believers can physically enhance their spiritual state. This is a GREAT EPISODE! Big thanks to Delanie for taking time out of wedding planning to talk.

Hunter sits down with resident theo nerd and Coastline's most recent preacher, Andrew Faris. They talk about the vision of gender as put forth by the Bible, good and bad messages about gender that you see in the church, and ninjas.

Hunter talks with nurse extraordinaire, Kelly Donohue! They talk about her path to becoming a nurse, her experience in a hospital setting vs. a school setting, and ways that she experiences the non-physical realm impacting the physical realm during her work day. They also talk about The HBO Max show The Pitt, her gnarliest nursing story, and why sleep is (maybe) overrated. This was a GREAT conversation, and we hope you enjoy!

Hunter and Jeannine Hanger (or Dr. Hanger, or Theo Nerd...) talk about some of the ideas from her sermon in our new series, The Temple.

Shawn re-preaches the first sermon in our new series, The Temple.

Hunter, Nikki, and Shawn talk about Easter fashion, who we have in mind when we plan this service, and what tone we're hoping to strike with Good Friday. We'll see you at the park, THIS SUNDAY!

In the loosest and most tired episode of the Coastline Covenant MMMBopcast, Hunter sits down (in his home!) with Mary Beth to discuss Lent at her home church on Catalina, the worry that accompanies sitting with your presence in the presence of God, and the depth of this season. They end with a game where Hunter asks Mary Beth to guess what certain celebrities gave up for Lent.

Hunter sits down with the "Fasting Queen of Coastline" herself to discuss grace, legalism, how we experience Lent in with our senses, and hanging out with Jesus. Funny enough: they recorded an episode last week and it didn't end up saving, so we hope you enjoy this second try!

Hunter sits down (virtually!) with Lorrie Tom, and they discuss her background in literature and writing, what she's doing this year for Lent, and things they both like (The Smiths) and things they have differing opinions about (The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen). Lorrie's post on her Substack is mentioned frequently, so we recommend reading it before you listen. You can find it here!

During this Lent season, we're trying to simplify things on the podcast. Instead of intricate series and dense topics, we're simply just asking about people's experiences with Lent. What are you giving up? What has Lent meant to you over the years? What do you hope to gain?We're kicking things off with two high school boys: Mason McLennan and Chapman Hurley. They (alongside Hunter) fasted for the first time ever last week, and they discuss the benefits, the difficulties, and how they want to integrate this practice in their lives moving forward.

Lent is upon us! Join Michael, Shawn, and Hunter as they discuss what they're giving up (or adding) for Lent, how this season has become more and more important over the years, and the value of being present. All of this is meant to get you excited about our Ash Wednesday Service on Wednesday, March 5th at 7:00PM!

Hunter sits down with Garrick to talk about Bob Dylan... but most importantly, they discuss and preview our upcoming Coastline Lab: Practicing the Presence of the Holy Spirit. Garrick talks about his journey in the Spirit, his excitement in the format of these upcoming Labs, and his hope for the individual who attends and how their involvement will ultimately bless Coastline. A Year in the Spirit... how does it feel?

Camps are a big part of youth ministry, so we decided to ask some of our students what their favorite part of camp was this year. You'll hear from a bunch of different students who all enjoyed heading up to Hume SoCal this year!

Hunter sits down with his old friend (and new-ish) employee Luke Megginson to talk about his life, his ministry experience, and how his time working at Coastline has been so far. Then, Hunter gives Luke some questions straight from the Proust Questionnaire.

Hunter talks to Nikki about her upcoming sabbatical, her ministry and employment history (shout out TJ Maxx!), and a bit about what she personally is hoping to get out of this time off. They end the episode by reflecting on quotes about rest from some of our most insightful public figures. We'll miss you, Nikki! Hope that you enjoy Lady Gaga, whale sharks, and Traitors!

In a special solo pod, Hunter lists 8 reasons that you should memorize Romans 8.

Saying that this episode is a "deep dive on Romans 8" almost feels like an understatement. Beyond the nitty-gritty of the passage, Shawn and Hunter talk about why this is the right way to start our Year in the Spirit series, the misunderstanding surrounding Romans 8:28, and the beauty of life in the Spirit. They also talk about reality TV and dogs. Typical!

Happy New Year! Hunter, Shawn, and Garrick discuss Coastline's 2025 vision: A Year in the Spirit. Beyond that they discuss "Auld Lang Syne", Coastline's Prayer and Vision night from September, and new catchphrases.