Oceanside Sanctuary

"Love With Us" - Isaiah 7:10-16

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2025 30:24

December 21, 2025 | Speaker: Jason Coker | Scripture: Isaiah 7:10-16 Episode Summary In this final week before Christmas, Jason Coker continues our Advent series by exploring the tension between our desire for control and the "slow work" of God. Drawing from the story of King Ahaz in Isaiah 7, Jason illustrates how we often cloak our lack of faith in religious language when we are afraid. Through a nostalgic story about a hidden BMX bike and the visceral imagery of pregnancy, this message challenges us to trust that God's promises are gestating even when we can't see them. Ultimately, we are reminded that the name Immanuel is a promise that God is with us not just in the destination, but in the long, often painful process of waiting. Key Takeaways The Illusion of Control: Just as we wrap gifts to show the recipient they aren't in control of the grace they receive, God's timing is independent of our efforts to force a "quick fix" salvation. Trusting the "Slow Work": Quoting Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, Jason emphasizes that God's purposes often move at the pace of a pregnancy—slowly, involving both signs of hope and periods of discomfort. The Trap of False Piety: We see in King Ahaz how easy it is to use "spiritual" excuses to avoid truly trusting God, opting instead to rely on our own power and political alliances. Presence Over Rescue: The salvation God offers may not be the immediate rescue we want, but it is the presence we need—the "God with us" who remains through the dark, the waiting, and the fulfillment. Memorable Quotes “Wrapping presents is a kind of symbolic way of demonstrating that you are disconnected from control of the very good things that you receive. That's how grace works.” “Always trust in the slow work of God.” — Pierre Teilhard de Chardin “My imagination when I appeal to God is so impoverished compared to what God actually delivers.” “God is with us in the pregnancy of God's promises, God is with us in the deliverance, and God is with us in the raising up and the maturing of those promises.” Resources This Weekly Sermon Podcast is A Production of The Oceanside Sanctuary Church in Oceanside California. Click here to support our work or Learn more about us. Chapters (00:00:00) - Advent Series(00:01:37) - Isaiah 7: The Birth of Jesus(00:04:40) - Christmas Gifts That You Didn't Get(00:09:31) - Isaiah chapter 7, The Israel story(00:14:55) - Isaiah 7: Ask a Sign of the Return of the Israel(00:25:58) - God's Deliverance

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Advent Week 2: "A Dream for Peace" - OSC Sunday Sermons 12/7/25

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2025 23:55

Date: December 7, 2025 Speaker: Rev. Jenell Coker Scripture: Psalm 72 Welcome to the second week of Advent at The Collective Table. In this episode, Co-Lead Minister Jenell Coker explores the season's second theme: Peace. We often imagine peace arriving through a powerful, top-down ruler—a "King David" figure who will fix everything from a throne. But drawing parallels between Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech and David's prayer in Psalm 72, Jenell reveals a subversive reality: the Kingdom of God often arrives not as a mighty cedar, but as a stubborn, unkillable root system. Using the metaphor of a resilient Brazilian pepper tree in her own backyard, she illustrates how Jesus' ministry was less about seizing political power and more like a mustard seed—grassroots, persistent, and sprouting up in unexpected places. This episode challenges us to stop waiting for the perfect leader to bring peace and instead asks us to consider where peace might be waiting to be born in us. Key Takeaways: The Dream of a Righteous King: Contrasting our human desire for a powerful political savior with the biblical vision of a King who prioritizes the poor, the needy, and the oppressed. The Pepper Tree Metaphor: How a stubborn, "unkillable" stump in Jenell's yard teaches us about the eternal, resilient nature of God's Kingdom. Grassroots Power: Understanding that while leaders like Dr. King give a movement voice, it is ordinary people—the "shoots rising from the ground"—who give it strength. Conceiving Peace: A call to move beyond passive waiting during Advent and instead ask ourselves if we are "pregnant" with peace, ready to birth change in our own communities. Memorable Quotes: "We are not going to find lasting peace through just a couple of decent leaders... We're only going to find peace when that mustard seed grows within our own hearts." "Dr. King gave a movement his voice. But the people gave it strength. They were the shoots rising from the ground everywhere. Like my pepper tree, they refused to die." Resources: This Podcast is a production of The Oceanside Sanctuary Church. Scripture Reference: Psalm 72 (NRSVUE) Chapters (00:00:00) - I Have A Dream(00:01:48) - A message from Psalm 72(00:06:46) - Like a Pepper Tree on a Hill(00:17:19) - As we celebrate Advent,

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Advent Week 1: "The Naiveté of Hope" - OSC Sunday Sermons 11/30/25

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2025 28:54

Date: November 30, 2025 Speaker: Rev. Jason Coker Scripture: Isaiah 2:1–5 Welcome to the first week of Advent at The Collective Table. In this episode, Co-Lead Minister Jason Coker explores the season's first theme: Hope. We often think of hope as a childish wish for magic—like the anticipation of Santa Claus on Christmas morning. But what happens when we grow up and face the inevitable disillusionment of the world? Jason guides us through the journey from "childish naiveté" through adolescent cynicism, and finally into what philosopher Paul Ricoeur calls a "Second Naiveté"—a mature, chosen hope that believes in peace even when the world is at war. Drawing from the prophet Isaiah, we look at the radical vision of a God who teaches wisdom rather than conquest, and an invitation to turn our swords into plowshares right here and now. Key Takeaways: The Evolution of Hope: Moving from the "childish magic" of believing in Santa Claus to the "adult magic" of realizing we are loved by people who truly see us. Tribal Warrior vs. Universal Teacher: How Isaiah 2 shifts the image of God from a tribal chieftain of war to a universal source of wisdom and instruction. The Second Naiveté: Overcoming cynicism not by forcing God's hand, but by choosing to believe in goodness and righteousness despite the evidence around us. Walking the Talk: A celebration of the Oceanside Sanctuary community's 150th Anniversary and a reminder that our actions provide the evidence that this "naive" hope is real. Memorable Quotes: "When you go and try to conquer on that God's behalf, you have fundamentally said you do not believe in a God of goodness and righteousness and peace." "We can be the evidence for the rest of the community... that this naive hope is worth believing." Resources: This Podcast is a production of The Oceanside Sanctuary. Scripture Reference: Isaiah 2:1-5 (NRSV) Chapters (00:00:00) - Advent Podcast(00:01:14) - Advent Message(00:09:16) - Isaiah 2:8-9(00:24:59) - Oceanside Sanctuary 150th Anniversary

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150 Years of Spiritual Audacity: "A Song to Stir the Oceans" (feat. Reverend Yvonne Gilmore)

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2025 18:19

In this special Sunday Sermon, we celebrate a monumental milestone: the 150th anniversary of Oceanside Sanctuary Church. Joining us to mark this occasion is guest speaker Yvonne Gilmore, who brings a powerful message on the legacy of "spiritual audacity" and the enduring power of community. Drawing from Psalm 46, Yvonne explores the concept of God not just as a static refuge, but as an active force that "stirs the oceans" and transforms landscapes. She weaves together the ancient wisdom of the Sons of Korah with the modern resilience found in Louis Armstrong's What a Wonderful World—reminding us that true hope is a practice we perform even in the midst of global turmoil. Listen in as we reflect on what it means to sing songs that hold true on both our best and worst days, and how a community deeply rooted in love can weather any storm to bring about a different manner of weather for the world. Key Themes & Takeaways Celebrating 150 Years: A look back at the "spiritual audacity" that has sustained the community for a century and a half. The Power of Psalm 46: Understanding God as a "very present help" who calls us to be still and know—not to withdraw, but to witness the shifting tides of justice. Songs of Resilience: How Louis Armstrong's masterpiece, recorded during a time of national unrest, mirrors the call to see beauty and grace despite chaos. Community as Refuge: Why our "best songs" are the ones we can sing together through both triumph and tragedy. Poetic Wisdom: Insights from Tracy K. Smith's poem An Old Story on how our collective singing can transform the atmosphere around us. Links Support the Work: oceansidesanctuary.org Chapters (00:00:00) - Welcome to Oceanside Sanctuary Church's Podcast(00:00:44) - Spirit of the Living God(00:03:20) - Psalm 46(00:04:51) - What a Wonderful World(00:13:16) - An Old Story: Songs of Refuge