Coquina Is A Rock, But Also A Metaphor

Last Sunday, Justin introduced us to the giant of the Philistine army, Goliath. Looking at 1 Samuel 17:1-37, we see Goliath mocking Israel and God every day as he challenges them to send a fighter to face him. We also see David being sent to the Israeli army by his father. He learns of Goliath while there and chooses to face the giant. While speaking on this section of scripture, Justin compares Goliath and David and shares the hard truth we are often like Goliath. Lucky for us, Jesus is like David. 

This past Sunday, Steve spoke to us on 1 Samuel 16:14-23. In this section of scripture, we see that Saul had a very troubled soul. In trying to find comfort the king's physicians prescribe music. David was chosen to play the lyre for the king. Speaking to this, Steve presents us with a few different points in relation to God and how he treats his children, as well as how Jesus is seen in all that transpires.

This past Sunday Joey spoke to us with the backdrop of 1 Samuel 16:1-13 as the scripture reference. In this section of 1 Samuel we see God instruct Samuel to anoint a new king from amongst the sons of Jesse. Samuel is then surprised when God chooses David, for he was the youngest and least formidable or admirable in appearance. Joey then goes on to highlight how God is making it clear that He looks at our hearts. David was chosen based on his heart, which meant a new heart for Israel with him as king. Joey goes on to speak on how we at times let our hearts be led by sin, self want, etc. Ultimately, we are like Israel and in need of new hearts which we can have in Jesus.

This past Sunday, Caleb finished up chapter 15 of 1 Samuel as he spoke on Samuel confronting Saul's disobedience following the capture of Amalekite king Agag. In speaking on this section of scripture, Caleb shares how Saul responds by asking Samuel to join him in sacrifice and ceremony. Knowing that Saul was not repentant, but just wished to go through the motions to save face and move on, Samuel refuses him. Caleb goes on to speak on how Samuel also lets Saul know that Israel will be okay because his kingship is not the glory of the kingdom. In shedding light on all of this, Caleb warns how we can also be like Saul if we start to think of ourselves in the wrong light. We can go through the motions of worship and ceremony without a genuine heart for God. Ultimately, Saul and Samuel never reconcile, but we can always have reconciliation in Jesus.

This past Sunday, Steve gave a message based on 1 Samuel 15:1-16. In this section of scripture, Saul is commanded by God to wipe all of the Amalekites. While he does defeat them, Saul also disobeys God by keeping their king alive. Due to this God shares with Samuel that he regrets making Saul king. In diving into this section of scripture, Steve speaks to the mistakes Saul makes and the consequences for them. He also shares 3 points of how we can respond to God; when He tells us to do something, when He changes His mind, and when we are caught in sin.

This past Sunday, Joey spoke on 1 Samuel 14:47-52. Looking closely at Saul, he spoke to the restless heart of Israel's king born in his lack of faith, and ultimately a lack relationship with God. Despite the fact that Saul was winning in battle, had a strong family, and valiant men around him, he lived with a restless heart. Joey also specifically pointed out that Saul referred to the Lord as Samuel's God and not his own God. From there, Joey goes on to speak to how it is God who can give rest to a restless heart. Where Saul missed the opportunity to turn to God, we can turn to Him for our needs. 

This past Sunday, Joey continues in chapter 14:24-46 of 1 Samuel. When looking at the foolishness in Saul's oath of not eating, Joey unpacks for us how this story is a great example of sin's deceit and the foolish living it creates. Using 3 specific points, Joey explains how we can easily become foolish like Saul by the deceit of sin if we do not stay strong in faith through prayer, community, and the bible.

This past Sunday, Joey spoke on 1 Samuel 14:1-23. In this section of scripture, he spoke to Jonathan's faith in action against the Philistines compared to Saul's religious actions that lacked faith. Expounding upon the story of Jonathan's victory, Joey shined a light on how Saul's behavior was in complete contrast and lacking substance. While Jonathan acted with faith that God would show up, Saul went through religious motions without God's involvement. Speaking to this Joey shared how we, like Jonathan, need to have a faith of substance that is rooted in a faithful, alive, and victorious God.

This past Sunday, we returned to the study of 1 Samuel with a recap over chapters 1-13 from Steve. During the recap, he also spoke to the importance of Hannah in the 1 Samuel, and in our faith overall. In speaking to Hannah's prayer, often referred to as Hannah's Song Steve shared how it can be found in other places in the bible, including Mary having a very similar prayer in the New Testament. 

This past Sunday, Steve finished our series on Core Values with a wrap-up of how we at Coquina Community Church try to live out these values in our community. Speaking on the values themselves he also looked to examples of the church like what is found in Acts 2. He also expounded on how we live these values out in the vision and mission of Coquina. In doing this, we at Coquina strive to live out the gospel of Jesus by loving God and loving people. 

This past Sunday, Justin spoke to us on the Core Value of Everyday Disciple-making. By first acknowledging that the world has its own version of disciple-making in the way role-models are created for people to follow, Justin shed light on how the Christian life has a very different kind of disciple-making, one that mirrors Jesus. While admitting that we are not God, Justin made the point of how we should be disciples and imitators of Christ. By imitating Christ we ultimately are creating disciples that are imitating us imitating God. By presenting an order of operations based on evangelism, movement of the spirit, community, and intentional teaching Justin lays out how to live the Great Commission and make disciples. 

This past Sunday, Joey spoke to us on the Core Value of Sacrificial Service. While looking at the text in Ephesians, he spoke on the difference between what the world looks to as sacrificial service and what it is in the Christian life. Joey also broke down how we as a body can trust in God to be there with us in our sacrifice by highlighting the 3 S's; served, supplied, sent. 

This past Sunday, Joey spoke to us on the Core Value of Authentic Community. Looking at multiple examples in scripture of the body of Christ as the church, Joey spoke to us on what a biblically authentic community should be. Speaking to areas of both strengths and struggles often found in the church community, he shared how Coquina can and does strive to be a holy community.

This past Sunday, Steve spoke on part 2 of our Core Value, Spiritual-Empowered Prayer. Using the example of the Lord's Prayer, Steve encouraged us in how to pray, and why. He also spoke to how prayer is less about asking things of God, and more about becoming of one mind with God. Steve also provided us with practical ideas of ways to create and keep a good personal prayer life. 

This past Sunday, we started looking at the second focus in our series of Core Values, Spirit-Empowered Prayer. With reference to Romans 8:18-27 Justin spoke to us on why Spirit-Empowered Prayer is a main value for our church community, as well as for all Christians. Within this message, Justin makes 3 points for us to hold on to: hope in prayer, God's prayer for us, and being sanctified in prayer. 

This past Sunday, Joey continued speaking on the Core Value of Life-giving Word. Looking at Colossians 3:16, spoke to us on the importance of letting the word of Christ dwell in us richly. He then went on to discuss obstacles in doing this, why it is important to, and how we can let better let the word dwell richly in our lives. 

This past Sunday we began our new series on the core values of Coquina Community Church. After introducing the series, Joey spoke on the value of the Life-Giving Word. Looking at the importance of the word, Joey shared with us how all things have their source in the life-giving word, and ultimately that the word is not only about Jesus, but is Jesus. 

This past Sunday, Joey spoke on 1 Samuel 13:8-25. In finishing up the chapter, Joey shared about how Saul disobeyed God by not waiting for Samuel's arrival to make a sacrifice to the Lord. Looking at why Saul may have disobeyed, Joey showed us how our lives can be similar to what we see in this story of Saul. Like Saul, we sometimes act impulsively and do not endure to the end. On the flip side, we see Jesus as the human example of what it looks like for a man to follow God's heart and not our own. *We apologize for the low quality of this week's recording.

On Sunday, Steve spoke to us on 1 Samuel 13:1-7. In this section of scripture, we see Saul still early in being a king and coming off a victory over the Ammonites. During this time Steve shared how Saul became apathetic in ruling over Israel. This apathy ultimately led Israel to fear of attack by the Philistines and loss of faith in God's promises. Looking at this story Steve reminded us of how we can, and likely have experienced times of apathy in our spiritual lives. He encouraged us to not let apathy sink in, but instead always be willing to live and die for God.

This past Sunday, Caleb talked through the second half of Samuel's Address to Israel, 1 Samuel Ch 12:13-25. While looking at this section of scripture, Caleb also spoke to possible reasons for why Israel wanted a king in the first place found in Judges. Looking at the book of Judges we see that God was often sending Judges to save Israel, but despite His intervening the people still felt a need for safety and security. Referencing this as a possible way of understanding their desire for a King, Caleb spoke to Samuel's message in which he reminded Israel that as of that very day the people and King Saul should start loving and following God with their entire beings. In the same way, we can also turn towards God at any time. Today, we can love Him with our all.