You Changed My Mind

Scripture: Revelation 1:9–20; Revelation 5:6–10; Revelation 22:7; Daniel 2; 2 Kings 6:15–17. Key themes: Reading Revelation as apocalyptic literature; Original audience first, application second; Symbols as meaning-packed images; Heaven’s perspective on earthly chaos; perseverance, hope, and watchfulness. Description: If Revelation has ever felt like a strange, terrifying book full of beasts and dragons, this message is for you. We begin our Revelation series by asking the most important question: what is this book, and how should we read it? John’s original audience wasn’t trying to decode modern headlines—they were watching Christians suffer under Roman power, and Revelation was written to give them courage. We walk through the basics of apocalyptic literature (unveiling what’s hidden), show how symbolic imagery functions like a “political cartoon,” and highlight places where Revelation clearly interprets its own symbols. We then look at the throne-room scene with the slain Lamb to see what it’s really communicating: Jesus is worthy, God reigns, and the prayers of God’s people are not forgotten. Finally, we connect Revelation to Daniel’s “kingdoms” vision to reinforce the central hope—empires rise and fall, but God’s Kingdom endures. Our closing challenge is simple: Revelation is often simpler than we make it, our hope belongs to eternity, and we should live alert and faithful as if Jesus really is coming soon.

ScriptureRomans 6:1–2; 6:231 Peter 2:16Galatians 5:13Luke 7:36–50John 14:15, 23–24 Key themesThe gospel frees us from sin—so why would we run back to it?Grace vs entitlement: God doesn’t “owe” forgivenessLove as the engine of obedience (“If you love me, keep my commands”)Forgiveness produces devotion: the one forgiven much loves muchMoving from guilt-driven Christianity to love-driven discipleshipDescriptionIn this message from our In No Uncertain Terms series, we address a common distortion of grace: “God loves me no matter what, so obedience doesn’t matter.” Paul answers that directly in Romans 6—if we’ve died to sin, how can we keep living in it? We explore how easy it is to treat grace like “armor” to justify selfish choices, and why that mindset misunderstands both sin (enslaving) and God (holy, not obligated).Then we go to one of the most vivid stories of grace in the Gospels: Luke 7, where a woman with a sinful reputation responds to Jesus with extravagant love. Jesus explains the logic of transformation: whoever has been forgiven much loves much—and love leads to action. Finally, we hear Jesus’ own words in John 14: obedience isn’t the price of God’s love, it’s the fruit of it. The challenge is personal: have you truly encountered the overwhelming love of God—and what are you doing in response?

Scripture:Matthew 18:15–17; 21–22Luke 17:3–41 Corinthians 5:11–13Hebrews 10:24Key themes:Biblical confrontation that aims at reconciliationAvoiding two extremes: silent resentment vs public shamingChurch discipline as love inside a covenant familyForgiveness that’s abundant, but not naïveConfession, grace, and spiritual maturityDescriptionAs we continue in In No Uncertain Terms, we come to one of Jesus’ most direct teachings on relationships: how to confront sin and how to forgive (Matthew 18).Jesus lays out a clear, step-by-step process that most of us instinctively want to bypass: start privately, then bring one or two others, then involve church leadership if needed—and if there’s still hardened refusal, treat the person as outside the covenant community. This isn’t about being harsh; it’s about loving someone enough to pursue restoration and protect the health of the church.Then Peter asks the follow-up question we all feel: “How many times do I have to forgive?” Jesus’ answer blows past the limits: 77 times / 70×7—meaning don’t keep score. We also connect this to Jesus’ teaching in Luke 17: we rebuke, we forgive, and we keep forgiving when repentance is real. Finally, we clarify an important distinction: forgiveness doesn’t mean instant trust (wisdom and boundaries still matter).The takeaway is deeply practical: Who do you need to forgive? What sin do you need to confess? And are you willing to both confront and be confronted for the sake of love and holiness?

ScriptureMatthew 20:20–28 (greatness = servant; Jesus came to serve and ransom)John 14:6 (Jesus is the only way)Matthew 6:2–4 (giving in secret)Matthew 18:1–4 (greatness like a child)Matthew 23:11–12 (the greatest will be your servant)John 1:10–11 (Jesus rejected by the world)Galatians 2:20 (crucified with Christ; self-denial)Luke 17:10 (unworthy servants; we’ve only done our duty)Key themes“In No Uncertain Terms”: obeying what Jesus made unmistakably clearThe world’s lies about greatness: power, popularity, “do whatever you want”Jesus’ upside-down Kingdom: humility, self-denial, serviceGreatness is not position—it's becoming a servant/slave (doulos)Practical discipleship: JOY (Jesus, Others, Yourself) and choosing “last”DescriptionWe’re launching a new series called In No Uncertain Terms—focusing on the teachings of Jesus and the apostles that are crystal clear, yet we often ignore or explain away. In Matthew 20, the disciples chase status, but Jesus flips the script: greatness is service, and the King Himself came “not to be served, but to serve.” We expose the world’s false definitions of greatness (power, popularity, personal sovereignty) and replace them with Jesus’ call to humility and self-denial. Then we get practical: live JOY (Jesus, Others, Yourself), volunteer before you’re asked, give someone else your spot, and gladly do the work nobody wants—because the upside-down Kingdom is real, and obedience changes everything.

Scripture2 Timothy 3:16 (Scripture is sufficient for salvation and godly life)Matthew 24:36 (no one knows the day/hour of Jesus’ return)2 Corinthians 5:6–8 (away from the body = at home with the Lord)Luke 16:22–26 (Lazarus and the rich man; comfort vs torment; chasm)Luke 23:42–43 (today you’ll be with me in paradise)Revelation 20:11–15; 21:1–4 (final judgment; Hades thrown into lake of fire; new heaven/new earth)1 Corinthians 15:35–54 (resurrection body; imperishable)Philippians 3:21 (our bodies made like Jesus’ glorious body)Ephesians 4:7–13; Psalm 68:18 (ascending/“captives” language)1 Peter 3:18–20; 4:6 (proclamation to spirits; gospel proclaimed to the dead)Isaiah 6:6–7 (coal/fire imagery; cleansing)1 Corinthians 3:12–15 (fire tests the quality of our work)Key themesSCAN: the Bible is sufficient but not exhaustiveWhat happens right after death: presence of the Lord vs Hades (temporary)Final judgment: Hades → lake of fire, and believers to new heaven/new earthHeaven isn’t “clouds and harps”—it’s resurrection life in a restored worldJesus’ descent/proclamation to the dead (and early church support)Why hell exists: justice, separation from God, “your will be done”Fire as imagery of God’s holiness and purification; rewards and lossDescriptionIn this bonus FAQ episode we tackle the big afterlife questions: Where do we go when we die? What is heaven like? Why does hell exist? We walk through what Scripture clearly teaches about the intermediate state (paradise vs Hades), the final judgment in Revelation, and the Christian hope of a resurrected body in a new heaven and new earth. We also explore the debated passage about Jesus proclaiming to the dead (1 Peter) and why the early church largely affirmed it. Finally, we talk about hell as real and sobering, and why God’s holiness is often pictured as fire—both as purification for the believer and judgment for those who refuse God. The goal: not speculation, but clarity, humility, and living differently in light of eternity.

ScriptureGenesis 1:1–5 (creation, “evening and morning”)Joshua 10:12–14 (sun “standing still” as phenomenological language)Psalm 90:4 (God and time)Genesis 6:3 (lifespans)Key themesPreparing students for what they’ll hear later (intellectual resilience)Science defined: Not a relgion but a method. hypothesis → testing → measurement → conclusionsThe Bible’s goal: theological truth, not modern scientific technical languageWhy “unscientific” language doesn’t make the Bible untrueComparing creation models: gap theory, day-age/theistic evolution, literal days, mature creationTackling common objections: light-years, dinosaurs, other humans, long agesHolding non-core issues with open hands while clinging to the center (Jesus)DescriptionIn this week’s FAQ episode we take on a question that often becomes a turning point for students: creation and Genesis—how does the Bible relate to science? Before we even get into the details, we talk about why this conversation can feel high-stakes and polarizing—and why it matters to be honest about what we know, what we don’t know, and what faithful Christians have disagreed about for a long time.We begin by clarifying what science is (a method, not a competing religion) and why the “Bible vs science” debate often comes down to interpretation. Church history gives us a warning label here: the Galileo controversy wasn’t simply “science vs God,” but a case where the church confused a particular interpretation with the Bible’s intended meaning. We use examples like Joshua’s “sun stood still” (Joshua 10) and our everyday “sunrise/sunset” language to show how Scripture often speaks from human perspective without trying to give a technical astronomy lesson.Then we turn to Genesis and outline the major approaches Christians take:Gap theory (time between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2)Day-age / non-literal days (including appeals like Psalm 90:4)Literal 24-hour days (noting “evening and morning” language)Mature creation (creation with the appearance of age)Along the way we address the questions students actually ask:How old is the earth? What about light-years? Dinosaurs and fossils? Were Adam and Eve the first humans? Why are Genesis lifespans so long? We discuss how some ancient number systems (like the Sumerian king lists and base-60 patterns) might help frame the conversation, while also admitting we don’t have a perfect “code” to solve every detail.We close with the pastoral point: you don’t need a fragile faith that collapses when you encounter hard questions. You can have rational, resilient confidence in Scripture—even while holding some secondary issues with humility—because the center of Christianity is ultimately anchored in Jesus, who affirmed the Old Testament and whose life, death, and resurrection are historically grounded.

Scripture1 Corinthians 15:14–19Key themesThe resurrection is the load-bearing wall of ChristianityGod as uncaused cause: why the universe exists at allBig Bang, expansion, and the logic of a beginningGod beyond human dimensions (miracles as “programmer-level” interaction)Historical grounding: Jesus’ existence, prophecy, and eyewitness claimsCrucifixion realities: why “Jesus didn’t die” is less plausible than resurrectionAlternative theories and why they don’t explain the dataThe gospel isn’t just information—it demands a responseDescriptionIn this week’s FAQ episode we tackle two foundational questions: Can belief in God be rational? And did Jesus really rise from the dead? We start where Paul starts: if the resurrection didn’t happen, Christianity collapses (1 Corinthians 15). That’s a striking claim—because it means Christianity is putting its weight on something public, historical, and testable, not just private spiritual feelings.From there we explore why it’s reasonable to believe the universe had a beginning and why that raises the question of an uncaused cause—a reality outside space and time that can account for everything else. We also talk about why God isn’t limited to the “rules” we’re stuck inside: using a dimensions illustration (Pac-Man), we show how miracles could be impossible for us but simple for the Creator.Then we turn to the historical question: What happened to Jesus? We consider Jesus’ existence as a real person, the significance of prophecy, and then we walk through common alternate explanations for the resurrection. We take the swoon theory seriously enough to test it—then follow the medical and historical realities of Roman crucifixion, the confirmation of death, the spear wound, the sealed/guarded tomb, and the logical implausibility of a half-dead Jesus convincing anyone He had conquered death. We also examine the stolen-body and hallucination theories, and why they fail to account for the disciples’ transformation, willingness to suffer, and the fact that opponents could have ended the movement by producing Jesus’ body—yet never did.We close with the point of all this: the evidence doesn’t just inform—it confronts. If Jesus rose from the dead, it changes everything. The only question left is: what will you do with it?

ScriptureMark 11; Isaiah/Jeremiah (Jesus quotes OT while cleansing the temple)Acts 5:1–11Psalm 103:8–13Galatians 3:23–25Jeremiah 31:31–34; Luke 22:20Romans 7Ezekiel 36:26–27Mark 7:15(Also referenced: 1 Kings 17; Luke 7; John 6; Exodus/manna)Key themesMisconception: OT wrath vs NT loveSame God, unified story, deep continuity across both TestamentsJesus doesn’t discard the OT—He fulfills itThe law as “guardian” and “road signs” pointing to ChristNew covenant and Spirit-empowered obedienceHow to think about OT laws: ceremonial vs civil vs moralBuilding confidence in God’s unchanging characterDescriptionThis week in our FAQ series we take on a huge question: Why does the Old Testament God seem angry, while the New Testament God seems loving? The short answer: it’s a misconception—because the Bible reveals one God with one character, from Genesis to Revelation.We look at passages that disrupt the stereotype: Jesus doesn’t just “teach love”—He confronts corruption with holy anger when He cleanses the temple (Mark 11), and Acts 5 shows a sobering moment of judgment in the early church. At the same time, the Old Testament is overflowing with God’s compassion and mercy (Psalm 103) and even miracles that echo the ministry of Jesus (1 Kings 17 / Luke 7). The more you read both Testaments together, the more the continuity becomes obvious.Then we address the follow-up question: If it’s the same God, why don’t Christians follow all the Old Testament laws (like pork or Sabbath rules)? We walk through how the New Testament explains it: the law was a guardian pointing us to Christ (Galatians 3). God promised a new covenant (Jeremiah 31), which Jesus inaugurates in His blood (Luke 22), and the Spirit gives us new hearts to love and obey God (Ezekiel 36). Finally, we show a practical way to understand OT commands through categories: ceremonial laws fulfilled in Jesus, civil laws for Israel’s covenant nation, and moral laws that reflect God’s heart and continue to guide our discipleship.While I don't answer every potential question that could come up, this should give you robust confidence in trusting God, because He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Scripture: Job 1–2; Job 38–42; John 9:1–3; 2 Timothy 3:12; 2 Kings 6:15–17; 2 Corinthians 12:7–10; Isaiah 53:4–5 (Key themes: Defining suffering (unfulfilled expectations/desires) and why it's subjective.A better way to frame the problem: suffering exists → is God able to stop it? → is God willing to stop it?Job as the biblical correction to “God punishes all suffering". Reasons God may allow suffering (with humility about what we can’t know). The cross as the clearest proof of God’s loveWe’re launching a new series called Frequently Asked Questions—the questions students ask that deserve more than a quick response. This week’s question is one of the biggest: Why does God allow suffering?Rather than settling for oversimplified answers (free will, punishment, “God is absent,” “blame Satan”), we build a clearer framework: suffering is real, God is able to stop it, so the heart of the issue is whether God is willing—and what we mean by God’s “love.”Then we open the book of Job, where a blameless man suffers deeply, not because of secret sin, but as part of a test that reveals unseen spiritual realities and the limits of Satan’s authority. We also look at Jesus’ words in John 9, the reality of persecution in 2 Timothy, and God’s grace in weakness through Paul’s “thorn” in 2 Corinthians 12.We close with the ultimate perspective: Jesus—the innocent sufferer—who bore our pain and shows us God’s love most clearly at the cross (Isaiah 53).

Scripture: Numbers 13–14; Numbers 9; Exodus 13–14; 2 Chronicles 5–6; Ezekiel 10–11; Ezekiel 43Key themes: fear vs faith • grumbling and distrust • wilderness formation • strong and courageous identity • the cloud/presence of God as a Bible through-line • Spirit-led obedienceFear can make us forget. In Numbers 13–14, Israel is finally at the doorstep of the Promised Land. The spies confirm the land is “flowing with milk and honey,” but most of them fixate on the obstacles—fortified cities, powerful enemies—and spread a bad report. Overnight the community weeps, complains, and even talks about going back to Egypt. At the center is a deeper issue than memory: doubt that God is truly good.Joshua and Caleb respond with a different kind of courage: not self-confidence, but God-confidence—“The Lord is with us. Do not be afraid.” Yet the people reject God’s word, and the result is the 40-year wilderness wandering—a consequence tied directly to the spies’ 40 days, but also a long season of formation. God can rescue us quickly, but shaping us into His people often takes time.From there, we trace the “cloud of glory” across Scripture: the pillar that guided and protected Israel, the cloud that filled the tabernacle and later Solomon’s temple, the heartbreaking moment in Ezekiel when the glory departs because of covenant unfaithfulness, and the promise of its return. Then comes the mind-blowing fulfillment: Jesus enters from the Mount of Olives through the east, God’s presence in the flesh, and after His ascension the Holy Spirit comes at Pentecost—God dwelling not just among His people, but in His people.

Scripture: Exodus 19–20; Mark 12:28–34; Exodus 32; Galatians 3:21–26Key themes: God’s holiness • grace before commands • loving God/loving people • idolatry today • law and gospel • heart transformation in ChristThe Exodus story isn’t just about freedom from Egypt—it’s about meeting the God who rescues. At Mount Sinai, God reveals His holiness with thunder, fire, smoke, and a terrifying trumpet blast (Exodus 19). In a culture that prefers a harmless, undefined spiritual “universe,” this passage confronts us with the truth: God is personal, sovereign, and holy—set apart.From there, we walk through the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20) as a response to grace, not a way to earn it. Jesus shows how the whole law hangs on two commands: love God and love your neighbor (Mark 12). But then Israel breaks the first commandments almost immediately by creating the golden calf (Exodus 32)—revealing how quickly our hearts drift and why fear or rules can only restrain sin for so long.Finally, we turn to Paul’s teaching in Galatians 3: the law can’t give life—it exposes sin and points us to Jesus, the One who perfectly fulfills God’s standards and transforms us from the inside out.

From Exodus 13-15. God parts the Red Sea. We often operate out of fear rather than faith. He will fight for you, you need only be still. We're also forgetful, and forgetfulness leads to complaint. Our application is fight fear and complaint with gratitude.

Jesus is our Passover lamb by whose blood we’re no longer subject to God’s wrath but freed from our slavery to sin.

Exodus 3

Matthew 7

Matthew 7

Matthew 7:1-6

Matthew 6:25-34

Matthew 6:19-24

Matthew 6:1-18

Matthew 5:27-37

Jesus is calling us to be reconciling rather than resentful.

We are called to be inwardly authentic and outwardly illuminating. Your life may be the only Bible someone ever reads.

What makes you happy? Is it the approval of others? Is it the picture of the good life that the world or religious self-righteousness gives to us? Are you ready for Jesus to turn your world upside-down? Are you ready to have people think you’re weird or mock you for radically following Jesus?

Philippians 4:6-9

What are areas of your life where you can release the anxiety of trying to your desires fulfilled, and instead focus on something greater than yourself? Where is there self-hate in your life? Ask God to help you love yourself so you can better love others too. Who’s approval to you need that is causing you anxiety? Ask God to remind you of His deep love and affection for you.

2 Corinthians 4:16-5:1Because I know that I am ok in Jesus, I’m not going to worry about ______, and I’m going to enjoy _______

When we suffer, we can let it make us bitter, or by the power of God he can make us better through it.

Who wronged you and you’re harboring bitterness towards, maybe like Esau did to Jacob at one time? Who have you wronged and need to reconcile with? Are you far away from God because of sin and rebellion in your life? On an even greater scale than Esau, God is eager to be reconciled with you.

In analysis, you work to turn the ghosts that haunt you into ancestors who accompany you. That takes hard work and a lot of love, but it's the way we lessen the burdens our children have to carry. - Bruce Springsteen

Problem: I don’t pray as much or connect to God unless I need something. I’ll pray and cry out to God for something, and then when I get that thing, I move on rather than thank God. I can also begin to idolize the thing that God gave meTruth: Like with Abraham, God will test us to see if our faith genuine and authenticApplication: Because God provided Jesus for us, we are living sacrifices for Him (Romans 12:1)

Genesis 12-15

-Lie #1 People are inherently good inside.-Truth: We are innately sinful-Lie: This story is incompatible with the loving, gracious God of the New Testament-Lie: We deserve God’s love-Truth: When we realize how undeserving we are of God’s love and how just and holy He is, His love becomes amazing to us-Lie: The Bible is full of stories about heroes who we should try to be like-Truth: Noah’s redeeming quality was faith

First in our series on Genesis

Every day: Pray to 2-3 people to come to faith, especially those who you would never expect to become a Christian.Every day: Commit to having at least 1 spiritual conversation with a non-believerEvery week: Invite at least 1 person who does not normally come to any church to our gatherings.

Text: John 4. What is holding you back from fully following Jesus?

God's sovereignty calms all fear and anxiety, and we respond to who He is with joyful obedience.

What might it look like in your personal life to embrace the exclusive claims of Jesus, to commit fully to Him rather than half-heartedly?

Shifting our faith from what we are to who we are.

Lies of the world: We don’t need a shepherdGod is distant or isn’t goodYou need protection and freedom from religionTruth:We are sheepJesus is our good shepherdHe is protecting us from predators and enemies

John 8:12

John 11 - Because Jesus is the resurrection and the life, I am no longer dead in my sins, but being made fully alive in Him each day

Luke 15:11-32 Jesus didn’t come to make bad people good or good people better, He came to bring dead people to life.

Genesis 3:1-7, 21

We now live in a time when consumer Christianity has become the accepted norm, and all out engagement within Jesus’ Kingdom among us is regarded as somewhat overdoing it. -Dallas Willard.I want to overdo it.

Besides Bo Shembeckler, I’m a huge fan of John Wooden. He would begin each season teaching the most basic fundamentals of basketball, down to how to put on socks and tie shoes. The most mature Christians don’t become so advanced that they don’t need to revisit the fundamentals, but grow a deep appreciation for them. This week we’ll be looking at Paul’s teaching in 2 Timothy 3-4 on the dangers of self-deception, and the necessity to marinate in the Word for our renewal. 

This past Sunday we looked at Jesus’ teaching in John 15 to remain in Him and we will bear much fruit. I try to be as straightforward as possible, helping our students see what the Bible reveals as lies we believe from the world, the flesh and the devil. What we saw in John 15 was that our world is trying “liberate” us from God; to be independent from Him. We then struggle because we’ve cut ourselves off from receiving the daily nourishment and love of Jesus. The life-giving truth of Jesus is that those who commit and are faithful to Him will experience the full measure of His joy and goodness. To drive this home, I’ve borrowed the motto of Bo Shembeckler, former head football coach for the University of Michigan. When many of his players grew weary of his intense physical program, he guaranteed them, “Those who stay will be champions.” That’s the guarantee I long for our students to take hold of in Jesus, that those who remain in Him will be champions for Christ. Over the years in student ministry, I’ve tried to identify what it looks like as young people grow into champions for Christ, and distilled it into 10 things I pray over my own kids every day.

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Given at Coast Bible Church April 6th 2025

Given at Coast Bible Church March 30th 2025