Oceanside Sanctuary

In this episode of the Collective Table, co-lead pastor Jason Coker continues the series on "The Spirit of Action" by diving into Acts 16:6-15. Drawing a playful parallel between wild backyard tomatoes and the unpredictable nature of the Holy Spirit, Jason explores how God consistently works "outside the gates" of our personal plans, societal boundaries, and expectations. From Paul being redirecte...

In this episode of the Collective Table, Pastor Jason Coker continues "The Spirit of Action" series with a deep dive into Acts 15:22-29. Looking back at the first Christian council in Jerusalem, Jason explores the messy, beautiful work of navigating cultural differences and radical inclusion within the early church. He challenges us to look beyond rigid, burdensome rules and instead focus on the e...

In this Father's Day episode of The Collective Table, Pastor Jason Coker continues the "Spirit of Action" series with a look at Acts 8:26-40. Through the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch, we explore how the gospel of Jesus constantly subverts our expectations. Drawing powerful parallels to the history of Juneteenth and addressing the modern rise of muscular Christian nationalism, this teac...

In this episode, Co-Lead Pastor Jason Coker delivers a Sunday teaching at Oceanside Sanctuary Church as part of "The Spirit of Action" series. Titled "The Spirit Resists," Jason dives into Acts 4:23-31 and Psalm 2, exploring how the Holy Spirit calls us into active resistance against oppression. Reflecting on Juneteenth, Pride Month, and the ongoing push for diversity, equity, and inclusion, he ch...

Welcome to The Collective Table, where we celebrate the intersections of Jesus, justice, and joy. In this special Pride Sunday teaching, Co-Lead Pastor Jason Coker continues The Spirit of Action series by diving into Acts 10:44-48. Jason challenges listeners to examine how they read Scripture—whether as a "child" demanding strict obedience, a "geek" lost in ancient contexts, or a "prophet" who see...

In this episode, Co-Lead Minister Jason Coker continues "The Spirit of Action" teaching series with a deep dive into Acts 2:42-47. Jason challenges the modern tendency to treat the Holy Spirit like a "genie in a lamp" used to conjure power, wealth, or personal wishes. Instead, he highlights the true miracle of the early church: the Spirit's power to bring people together to form a radically caring...

Welcome to the Oceanside Sanctuary sermon podcast, where we celebrate the intersections of Jesus, justice, and joy. In this week's episode, co-lead minister Jason Coker kicks off a new teaching series: The Spirit of Action . Focusing on Acts chapter 2 and Pentecost Sunday, Jason explores the ancient imagery of God's power represented as wind and fire. He challenges listeners to see the Holy Spirit...

Welcome to The Oceanside Sanctuary! This week, co-lead minister Jason Coker of Oceanside Sanctuary dives into the complex dynamic of power through the lens of Numbers 11. Through the ancient story of Moses, the manna, and the quail, Jason explores how centralized, hoarded power becomes dangerous and why democratizing power is essential to truly care for our communities. He also shares candid refle...

Most Christians focus on heaven and future salvation, but what if the heart of Jesus’ message is actually about love and liberation here and now? In this episode, Jason Coker challenges the typical obsession with the afterlife, revealing how Jesus’ real mission was to birth ongoing acts of compassion, justice, and community transformation. You’ll discover how the disciples’ desire for power mirror...

In this episode of The Collective Table , Pastor Jason Coker dives into Matthew 28:16–20, widely known as the Great Commission. If you grew up in a high-control religious environment, this passage might bring up feelings of resistance—and for good reason. Pastor Jason unpacks the problematic history of Christian missions, exploring how a movement meant to spread peace often became entangled with i...

Welcome to The Collective Table, where we celebrate the intersections of Jesus, justice, and joy. This week, Co-Lead Minister Jenell Coker takes us on a journey through Luke 24:13-35, exploring the famous story of the Road to Emmaus. As we continue our series on Christ's post-resurrection encounters, Jenell challenges us to look beyond our own myopic expectations and the modern evangelical concept...

In this week's Sunday teaching, Co-Lead Minister Jason Coker continues our series on the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus, diving into John 21:1-19. Drawing a beautiful parallel between the vast, rhythmic nature of the ocean and the eternal surprises of God's grace, Jason explores the disciples' return to fishing and their unexpected encounter with Jesus on the shore. Along the way, Jason to...

In this week's Sunday teaching at Oceanside Sanctuary, Jason Coker continues the "Snapshots of Jesus" series by diving into John 20:11-18, where Mary Magdalene encounters the resurrected Jesus but mistakes him for the gardener. Jason shares personal stories of existential crises—from the terrifying realization of becoming a new parent to waking up to the realities of systemic injustice—to illustra...

In this Easter Sunday Sermon, co-lead minister Jason Coker explores the resurrection story from Matthew 28:1-10. Titled "Be Not Afraid," this sermon challenges us to consider what we are truly afraid of when faced with the unknown possibilities of new life. Are we clinging to our "comforting miseries," or are we willing to let old habits die so that true transformation can take root? Join us at Oc...

In this Palm Sunday episode of The Collective Table, Jenell Coker explores the Triumphal Entry of Jesus through a fresh lens. Starting with the fascinating Koffer illusion, Jenell illustrates how our cultural backgrounds shape our perspectives and what we are conditioned to see. She dives into the historical context of Matthew 21, contrasting Jesus's humble, peasant procession on a donkey with Pon...

In this episode, Co-Lead Pastor Jason Coker continues our Lenten series, Snapshots of Jesus , by exploring the familiar yet challenging story of Jesus cleansing the temple in Matthew 21:12-13. Pastor Jason dives into the historical and cultural context of the ancient temple, explaining how a place meant for healing and prayer had been corrupted into a system of profit and exploitation. By weaving...

In this week’s Sunday teaching at Oceanside Sanctuary, Co-Lead Pastor Jason Coker explores the familiar story of Jesus washing his disciples' feet in John 13. Continuing the Lenten series "Spotlights on Jesus," Jason unpacks the biblical "reversal motif"—the radical idea that the last shall be first and the first shall be last. But is "servant leadership" just a clever strategy for getting ahead i...

In this week’s episode, Pastor Jenell Coker of Oceanside Sanctuary explores the story of Jesus's temptation in the wilderness from Matthew 4:1-11. As we journey through the third week of Lent, Pastor Jenell unpacks the significance of the "40 days and 40 nights," moving beyond the idea of Jesus as an untouchable superhero to examine his profound, relatable humanity. Join us as we reflect on what i...

In the first week of our Lenten series, "Snapshots of Jesus," Co-Lead Pastor Jason Coker dives into the story of Jesus' baptism in Matthew 3:13-17. Rather than viewing baptism merely as a strict act of obedience to an institution, Pastor Jason explores its historical roots in the Jewish practice of mikvah and the radical nature of John the Baptist's wilderness ministry. Ultimately, we learn how Je...

In the final week of our core values series, Co-Lead Pastor Jason Coker unpacks what it means to put "Faith in Action." Exploring the familiar parable of the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25, Jason tackles an ancient religious debate: Which is more righteous, spiritual devotion or good deeds? Through a highly relatable (and slightly exhausting) metaphor about the never-ending reality of home repa...

In this Ash Wednesday homily, Co-Lead Pastor Jason Coker invites us into the solemn and reflective 40-day season of Lent. Contrasting the stark reality of Ash Wednesday with the vibrant "super bloom" of Easter, Jason explores a profound truth: you cannot have a super bloom without a desert, and you cannot have resurrection without death. Drawing on Genesis 3:19 ("you are dust, and to dust you shal...

In this episode, Co-Lead Pastor Jason Coker continues our series on The Oceanside Sanctuary’s core values by exploring the fourth value: Liberating Love . Reflecting on the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10, Jason unpacks the tension between the "letter of the law" and the "spirit of love." While religious rules often seek to define who we don't have to help, Jesus teaches that love has no...

In this Sunday teaching, Co-Lead Minister Jenell Coker continues our series on Oceanside Sanctuary's Core Values, focusing this week on "Sacred Stories." Drawing from the Gospel of John (20:24-29), Jenell re-examines the narrative of "Doubting Thomas." Rather than seeing Thomas's hesitation as a failure of faith, she presents it as a vital invitation to investigate the Divine for ourselves. Explor...

In this conversation, Jason Coker discusses the core values of the Oceanside Sanctuary, focusing on the concept of integrated spirituality. He explores the journey of faith, the significance of the Lord's Prayer, and the interplay between personal, social, and political dimensions of spirituality. Coker emphasizes that spirituality should encompass all aspects of life, advocating for a holistic un...

In this improvised yet profound sermon, Mark Weathers steps in for ill colleagues to tackle one of the most pivotal questions in the Gospels: "Who do you say that I am?" (Mark 8:27-30). Mark explores this inquiry not as a test with a single correct answer, but as a "Jesus Koan"—a sacred riddle designed to bypass the intellect and transform the spirit. Drawing parallels between the "Messianic Secre...