Coastal is a church based in Portrush, Northern Ireland, focused on partnering with God in the reconciliation of all things. These teachings are recorded in a particular time and place for a particular community, but listeners are welcome to be encouraged. The podcast encourages finding embodied community, whether with Coastal Church or wherever you call home.
Episodes
Cairn 9 | Practise Hospitality
Jenny helps us unpack how hospitality is at the heart of the gospel and how we might practise it in both giving and receiving.Text: Luke 19:1-7
Cairn 8 | Love One Another
Chris begins a month conversation on being witnesses together in place and time. Text: John 15:1-17
Cairn 7 | Stewarding Generosity
Ricky gives us an expansive view on stewarding what God has given us. Text: Acts 2:42-47
Cairn 6 | Acting Justly, Globally
Hannah and Claire take us on a journey of how we can partner globally in the kingdom of God by giving generously. See more info/videos referenced below.**Apologies on the sound quality, we had mic receiver issues!Bible Project Video: https://bibleproject.com/videos/justice/East Jerusalem YMCA: https://irishmethodist.org/world-development-our-partners/east-jerusalem-ymcaFields of Life: https://fiel
Cairn 5 | The Yoke of Generosity
The invitation to a full and free life, restful and light is found in giving away, in generous following of Jesus.Text: Matthew 11:28-30
Cairn 4 | Being with God
Jenny wraps up our section of Cairn on Prayer, focusing on Being with God. Text: Psalm 131.**Apologies, as a section didn’t record in the middle for a couple of minutes.
Cairn 3 | Listening to God
Prayer is talking, yes, but also listening. Chris takes us on a journey through ways we can hear from God.Text: John 10:2-10, 27.
Cairn 2 | Rhythms of Prayer
Stu Bothwell from 24-7 Prayer shares on the invitation to come afresh to God, to show up with whatever little we have, but show up nonetheless. Text: Mark 1:35-39
Cairn 1 | Teach Us To Pray
We kick off a new series for the autumn called Cairn. This week we consider the invitation to honesty before God.
You Are I Am With You
We continue in our journey through Exodus 3, with an invitation to be defined by the accompanying withness of the presence of God. Text: Exodus 3:1-15
Here We Are
We dive into Exodus 3 as we begin a journey in a new venue as a church community. Jenny explores who God is, and the invitation to draw near. Text: Exodus 3:1-15.*Apologies the sound quality is off—some technical hitches this week!
The Jesus Life 13 | Worship
Jenny wraps up our series in the story of Jesus according to Mark, landing with an extravagant act of worship that should ask us how and if our attention is directed towards Jesus.Text: Mark 14:3-11
The Jesus Life 12 | Expectation
We join Jesus at the walls of Jericho, considering what do we want from Jesus, and what he might want from us in this thing called the Jesus Life?Text: Mark 10:46-52
The Jesus Life 11 | Generosity
We join Jesus in conversation with a man he meets along the way—a conversation that should get under our skin in the most provocative way. Text: Mark 10:17-31
The Jesus Life 10 | Leaven
Wallace takes us on a wonderful journey through three passages all about bread. Be encouraged, be challenged.Text: Mark 6:30-44; 8:1-21.
The Jesus Life 9 | Healing
Talitha Koum. Little girl, I say to you, arise. Chris unpacks this beautiful miracle of life sandwiched with the healing of a woman bleeding.Text: Mark 5:21-42
The Jesus Life 8 | Demons
Chris dives into Jesus liberating and restoring the demon-possessed men in Mark 5. Questions of allegiance and discernment abound, but Jesus is victorious, and in him we hope.
The Jesus Life 7 | Parables
Chris continues our series in the life of Jesus according to Mark, looking at the parables found in Mark 4.
The Jesus Life 6 | Sabbath
We jump back in where we left off in Mark 2, following the Jesus life—this time landing in the invitation to ‘keep’ Sabbath.Text: Mark 2:23-3:6
The Jesus Life 5 | Easter Sunday
Resurrection hope. Text: Mark 16:1-8.
The Jesus Life 4 | Palm Sunday
Frank leads us in meditating on welcoming Jesus on Palm Sunday. Text : Mark 11:1-10Content warning: there is a story involving description of murder by machete from the Hutu/Tutsi genocide in central Africa.
The Jesus Life 3 | Fasting
Jenny considers the invitation to fasting as a spiritual discipline as an expected part of the life of a Jesus-follower.Text: Mark 2:18-22.
The Jesus Life 2 | Prayer & Hospitality
We continue in our journey through Mark, touching down in two instances in Jesus’ life that invite us to consider prayer and hospitality as a flow of life that follows Jesus closely.Text: Mark 1:35-39; 2:15-17.
The Jesus Life 1 | King & Kingdom
Chris kicks off a new journey through the story of Jesus according to Mark, beginning with Jesus’ first sermon—an invitation to consider the kingdom of God and its king, Jesus. Text: Mark 1:14-15; 8:29.
Come Holy Spirit 6 | Love
Jenny lands our series in the invitation to a life of love worked out in community.Text: 1 Cor 13:1-9
Come Holy Spirit 5 | Gifts
Join Chris and a panel of friends as they discuss the gifts of the Spirit, particularly focusing in on hearing from God and leaning into prophecy.Text: 1 Cor 12:1-11; 14:1.
Come Holy Spirit 4 | Worship
We dive into the invitation to be filled with the Spirit, and to sing songs from the Spirit as the first outworking of that filling. We also hear from the wisdom of a few people in our community and their experiences. Text: Ephesians 5:18-20.
Come Holy Spirit 3 | Witness
Jenny leads us to an honest assessment of being witnesses in the power of the Spirit. And the invitation is to be compelled by the person of Jesus so that we share our lived experience.Text: Acts 1:3-8
Come, Holy Spirit 2 | Breath
We continue in our journey looking at the Holy Spirit, reflecting on five metaphors given across the Scriptures: breath, water, dove, oil, and fire.Text: John 20:19-22
Come Holy Spirit 1 | Advocate
We kick off 2026 with a new series, recognising that what we need is not a new life hack or lofty resolution, but the person of the Holy Spirit.Text: John 14:16-18, 26-27.
Advent | Waiting
We take time to explore the theme of advent through the lens of John 1 - who are we waiting for?Text: John 1
Fabric 6 | Healing
Ricky Linton powerfully closes out our series on James, inviting us to see and step into the power of prayer and confession that leads to healing and restoration.Text: James 5:13-20
Fabric 5 | Wisdom & Humility
Frank Hottenbacher continues our series in James with a provocative, imaginative journey into wisdom and humility. Text: James 3:13-4:12.
Fabric 4 | Encouragement
Chris continues our series in James, looking at the power of our words, and the invitation to reframe what we say through abiding in Scripture and practising encouragement.Text: James 3:1-12
Fabric 3 | Obedience
Jenny Bruce from MCF leads us through an invitation to obedience from James 1&2 by gazing on who Jesus is and how he lived. Text: James 1:19-27; 2:14-26
Fabric 2 | Generosity
We continue through James, looking at the wisdom contained around how to approach our wealth and finances. Text: James 1:9-11, 16-18; 4:13-5:6.
Fabric 1 | Endurance
We kick off a new series through the book of James, looking at the invitation to a wise, whole life. Hot off the heels of where we live, this series is designed to furnish our imaginations for how we live faith that is textured, felt, like fabric. Text: James 1:1-8, 12-15; 5:7-11.
Where We Live 4 | Humble Curiosity
We wrap up our series on values, looking at Humble Curiosity as a way for our own hearts to grow, but also as an invitational posture to those asking questions of faith. Text: Acts 2:42-47
Where We Live 3 | Faithful Presence
Ricky Linton creates space for us to consider Faithful Presence, where we show up faithfully in the presence of God, one another, and the community around us. Text: Acts 2:42-47
Where We Live 2 | Generous Hospitality
We continue in our series looking at our values from Acts 2. This week we explore hospitality and how we are hoping to practice this as a community going forward.Text: Acts 2:42-47
Where We Live 1 | Vision
Chris introduces our new series looking at our values as a community. Text: Acts 2:42-47
Dirty Hands, Messy Tables
In a standalone teaching, Chris reflects on Matthew 9:35-10:8. What images come to mind about church? What is the mission we’re invited into? Who are our people? Where is our ‘here’?
The God Story 28 | Revelation 2
Chris wraps up our God Story series reflecting on heaven. We’re also indebted to Stu Bothwell for his thoughts on this beautiful vista of a future hope.
The God Story 27 | Revelation 1
Chris jumps into a two parter on Revelation to finish the God Story. Join us in the throne room of heaven in Revelation 4&5 as we peek behind the veil together!
The God Story 26 | Pentecost
Hannah leads us through Acts 2 and the story of the birth of the church, as the Holy Spirit was poured out in power, bringing unity, fluency, and joining.
The God Story 25 | Letters
We join Paul writing to this diverse, sacrificial, normal community in Rome as we explore what kind of community we’re invited to be as the church, centred on Jesus.
The God Story 24 | Church
Philip Agnew teaches from Acts, joining the story as these bewildered young men and women, living in the crazy days post-resurrection, doubtful and uncertain, were catapulted into the being an empowered, embodied community that changed the world - the church.
The God Story 23 | Doubt
We sit with Thomas and the other disciples in their questions as they sought to make sense of Jesus’ resurrection. Questions and doubt are inevitable in life, but what will we do with them?
The God Story 22 | Commission
Donna Jennings powerfully and provocatively unpacks and invites us into the fullness of the great commission.
The God Story 21 | Resurrection
Enjoy a short Easter reflection fromCastlerock Beach as we celebrated Easter Sunday and baptising the Blair twins together!
The God Story 20 | Kingdom
Chris unpacks our perspectives on the kingdom of God, and invites us to reorient Jesus as king to see the kingdom come.
The God Story 19 | King
We arrive in the New Testament, looking at Jesus’ baptism and temptations. What kind of King is this?
The God Story 18 | Exile
We find ourselves in exile, leaning into and learning from Jeremiah’s letter in chapter 29, recovering postures and practices for life in exile.
The God Story 17 | Prophecy
Wallace Bruce unpacks the prophetic literature through Isaiah 1, offering us a vision of what individuals and societies following Yahweh can look and feel like, ultimately resting in the prophet who makes it all possible.
The God Story 16 | Poetry
Hannah invites us to consider the wonder of the poetic imagination as a doorway into appreciating nearly 1/3 of Scripture!
The God Story 15 | Crowns
How do we conceive of leadership in these days? What might we be invited into in light of the God Story? How can we be people after God’s own heart, in the pattern of David? Join us as we explore this and more, seeking to align our hearts with the king who is truly after God’s heart.
The God Story 14 | Welcome
We find ourselves joining Ruth and Naomi on the road to Bethlehem, confronted with the apparent absence of God alongside a radical triangulation of welcome and hospitality, where perhaps God is actually most vibrantly present.
The God Story 13 | Stones
What do the stones mean? As we consider the question asked of the Israelites on the banks of the Jordan, we’re urged to reflect on the altars of worship and remembrance we build in the rhythms of our own lives.
The God Story 12 | Presence
We join the children of Israel on Mount Sinai, offered the path to life - wisdom to live by and the presence of God to be empowered by. Will we lean in and hunger for the presence of God?
The God Story 11 | Deliverance
Chris takes us on a bird's eye view of the Exodus, inviting us to trust in the saving character of God for the miraculous and the mundane, and ultimately this is an invitation to know him.
The God Story 10 | I AM
Such a joy to have John Alderdice sharing with us as we join the God Story with Moses' encounter with God at the burning bush. What is your name?
The God Story 9 | Extraordinary
Sarah Coghlan reflects on the story of Elizabeth and Zechariah, inviting us to consider if we're ready for the life God has on offer for us.
**There's a bit in the middle where the reading is unclear, but the text is Luke 1:5-25; 57-80.
The God Story 8 | Silence
We jump forward to the silence present before Matthew introduces us to the account of Jesus' origins, in continuity with the story so far. Advent invites us to look at the darkness with honesty, and watch for the coming light with tenacious hope.
The God Story 7 | Test
Chris unpacks Abraham and Isaac from Genesis 22, an invitation to faith, trust, and conviction in the goodness of God.
The God Story 6 | Promise
We sojourn through Abram's story, recognising his humanness, even as he is invited to embody the blessing he is promised to the nations.
The God Story 5 | Flood
Chris leads us through this troubling, bewildering narrative of the Flood, seeing how we can have deep trust in the God who, though grieved at the violence in the world, redeems order from chaos and preserves a little Eden to recreate all things.
The God Story 4 | Fall
Chris reflects on Genesis 4 and the downward spiral of disconnection and relational fracture, inviting us to choose the wisdom of God over the consuming chaos of sin.
The God Story 3 | Fall
Danielle McCullagh from The HUB Chaplaincy at Queen's University leads us unpacking the strange and challenging story in Genesis 3.
**Apologies, we didn't record the start, and turn the volume up**
The God Story 2 | Origins
Chris continues our series on The God Story, looking at the Trinity, being made in the image of God, and the invitation to be in right relationship with one another, with creation, and with God.
The God Story 1 | Origins
Chris kicks off our year-long series on The God Story, beginning with an invitation to be fascinated once more by the story of God, and to have our hearts burning within us once again.
Pilgrim Songs 6 | Psalm 134
Chris closes our Pilgrim Songs series with teaching on praise as a reorienting of our hearts' desires, and a welcome home.
Pilgrim Songs 5 | Psalm 133
Stu Bothwell from Lagan Valley Vineyard reflects on unity and togetherness as a beautiful and rich signpost for life.
Pilgrim Songs 4 | Psalm 131
Chris brings teaching from Psalm 131 on humility and contentment as key to journeying through life.
Pilgrim Songs 3 | Psalm 127
Chris continues our series on the Pilgrim Songs, looking at how we can partner with what God is doing in the world through our Work, and how we're made for work to enable the flourishing of others.
Pilgrim Songs 2 | Psalm 126
Rory Blake-Knox from Moneyreagh Church brings us teaching on joy as a critical accompaniment on the way.
Pilgrim Songs 1 | Psalm 121
We kick off our summer series with a reflection on the Songs of Ascent and Psalm 121 as signposts for our way on the road trip of life.
