Making Change - Week 1 | Coastal Church

Feb 15, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: God’s Power to Bring Order from Chaos

God is the ultimate source of order, and He created humanity in His image to reflect this characteristic. In the midst of life's financial or personal chaos, He empowers us to bring structure and peace. You were not created to live in a state of constant disorder but to manage what He has entrusted to you. Taking the first step towards order begins with acknowledging His design and your role within it. [52:43]

“Then God said, ‘Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.’” (Genesis 1:26 NLT)

Reflection: What is one specific area of your finances that feels the most chaotic or out of control? What would it look like to invite God into that area this week to begin establishing His peace and order?

Day 2: Stewarding the Little Before Receiving More

Faithfulness in small things is the training ground for greater responsibility. God observes how we manage what we currently have, whether it seems like a little or a lot. This principle is not about the amount but about the heart of a trustworthy manager. Cultivating faithfulness today prepares you for the blessings God may have for your tomorrow. [56:30]

“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.” (Luke 16:10 NLT)

Reflection: Looking at the resources currently in your care, what is one “little thing” you can be more intentional and faithful with this week as an act of stewardship?

Day 3: The Peace That Comes from a Plan

A plan is a practical tool God gives us to replace anxiety with peace. Without a plan, we are vulnerable to the stress of the unknown and the pressure of unforeseen circumstances. Creating a budget is not just a financial exercise; it is a spiritual discipline that builds margin and reduces chaos. This proactive step is an act of trust in God’s provision and wisdom. [01:00:38]

“Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.” (Proverbs 21:5 NLT)

Reflection: Where has a lack of planning recently created stress or conflict in your life? What is one step you can take this week to create a simple, practical plan in that area?

Day 4: Self-Control as Your Spiritual Defense

A lack of self-control leaves you spiritually and financially vulnerable, like a city with broken-down walls. It is a discipline that protects you from the enemy’s schemes and your own impulsive desires. Exercising self-control creates the margin needed to live generously and fulfill God’s purposes. It is a fruit of the Spirit that empowers you to live within the boundaries God has set for your good. [01:08:44]

“A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls.” (Proverbs 25:28 NLT)

Reflection: In what area of spending or saving do you find it most difficult to exercise self-control? How might strengthening this area protect you and create more opportunity for generosity?

Day 5: Finding Rest in Christ Amidst the Burden

Ultimately, our rest and peace are found not in a perfect financial plan, but in a person: Jesus Christ. He invites you to bring your weariness and burdens to Him, regardless of your circumstances. Even in the midst of unresolved chaos, you can experience the profound rest that comes from surrendering control to Him. His yoke is easy, and His burden is light. [01:10:45]

“Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.’” (Matthew 11:28 NLT)

Reflection: What burden or worry are you currently trying to carry on your own that Jesus is inviting you to bring to Him today? What would it look like to truly release it to Him and receive His rest?

Sermon Summary

Coastal opens with vibrant praise and a clear sense of identity: imperfect people held by perfect love, living under God’s authority and driven to love the community. Announcements highlight global outreach with Mission Uganda—medical clinics, children’s programs, and an upcoming visit by partner kids—alongside practical notes about seating, service expansion, and volunteer needs for children’s ministry, greeting, parking, and facilities work. A record food drive calls for transport help to deliver donations to a local pantry. The congregation receives an invitation to engage, serve, and prepare for larger gatherings like Easter.

The teaching shifts to money and stress, naming financial pressure as common but manageable. Money rarely produces peace simply by increasing; lack of planning more often creates stress than lack of income. Scripture frames treasure as the true indicator of the heart (Matthew 6:19–21), and everyday stories—like a child trapped in a shirt sleeve—illustrate how ignoring small problems produces crises. The outline offers three practical responses: bring order to the chaos, build a plan that increases peace, and commit to take control by exercising discipline and surrender.

Bringing order begins with financial intelligence: track spending, list debts, and know actual income. Building a plan centers on budgeting, prioritizing an emergency fund, and aligning household finances—especially within marriage—so two people operate as one. Increasing income, cutting expenses, using debt-snowball tactics, and delaying investment until high-interest debt drops provide concrete next steps. Taking control emphasizes self-discipline as a protective wall, creating margin that enables generosity, ministry, and wise choices.

Faith emerges as the underpinning: surrendering control to God does not excuse passivity but invites rest and partnership (Matthew 11:28). Practical steps and trust work together—implementing godly financial practices reduces pressure while prayer and community support offer comfort and direction. The congregation receives an open invitation to pray, to make faith commitments, and to access pastoral and team support for those struggling financially or wanting to follow Jesus more fully.

Key Takeaways

1. Bring order to financial chaos Begin by identifying what money does and where it goes. Listing expenses, debts, and actual income provides clarity that removes the fog of reactive decisions. That clarity creates choices: stop the leak, prioritize what aligns with true treasure, and take small steps that compound into stability. [51:39]
2. Build a plan; budget intentionally A budget functions as a map, not a jail. Prioritizing an emergency fund, aligning shared finances, and adopting consistent saving habits reduce the frequency and impact of crises. Planning exposes trade-offs and frees the will to make deliberate, value-driven financial choices. [1:00:57]
3. Take control through disciplined stewardship Self-control operates like a wall protecting future freedom. Small acts of restraint—cutting needless subscriptions, redirecting payments to the smallest debt, delaying impulse buys—create margin for generosity and kingdom work. Discipline reshapes identity from consumer to manager of God‑entrusted resources. [1:07:50]
4. Faith offers peace amid chaos Practical financial steps matter, but surrender supplies a different kind of rest. Bringing burdens to God and to a community that prays does not erase problems automatically, yet it changes posture: anxiety yields to partnership with a God who guides and provides. That posture enables steady action rather than panic. [1:11:24]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[33:13] - Opening Praise & Gratitude
[34:12] - Church Identity & Mission
[35:37] - Mission Uganda Overview
[36:36] - Upcoming Visit & Worship Plans
[37:04] - Seating, Growth, and Services
[41:12] - Volunteer Needs & Facility Help
[43:55] - Transition to Teaching & Prayer
[51:39] - Bring Order to the Chaos
[1:00:57] - Build a Plan: Budget & Fund
[1:07:50] - Commit: Control and Surrender
[1:11:24] - Invitation, Prayer, and Response

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading
Matthew 6:19–21 (NLT)
“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”

Observation questions

According to Matthew 6:19–21, what are the two different places we can store treasure, and what are the results of each?
What everyday story was used to illustrate how ignoring small financial problems can lead to a crisis? [49:53]
What are the three practical responses given to help manage financial stress? [51:39]
What does Proverbs 25:28 say about a person without self-control?

Interpretation questions

Why does Jesus contrast earthly treasures with heavenly treasures in Matthew 6:19–21? What does this reveal about what truly matters to God?
How does the analogy of a child stuck in a shirt sleeve relate to the way people often handle their finances? [49:53]
In what ways can a budget function as “a map, not a jail,” as mentioned in the teaching? [01:02:01]
What does it mean to “surrender control” of finances to God, and how does that differ from being passive or irresponsible? [01:08:16]

Application questions

Where is your treasure truly stored right now? What practical step can you take this week to invest more in eternal things rather than temporary ones?
What’s one area of financial chaos in your life that you’ve been avoiding? How can you bring order to it by tracking spending, listing debts, or reviewing income? [57:32]
If you are married, how aligned are you and your spouse financially? What would it look like to have a honest budget conversation this week and move toward being “one flesh” in this area? [01:04:19]
What’s one unnecessary expense you can cut this month to create margin for generosity, giving, or future planning? [01:06:35]
How can you practice surrendering financial stress to God daily through prayer instead of carrying the burden alone? [01:11:01]
Who is one person in your life you can be honest with about financial struggles, and ask to pray with or hold you accountable?
What’s one step you can take toward paying down debt or building an emergency fund, even if it feels small right now? [01:02:47]

Sermon Clips

49s

#ComeToJesusRest

“Jesus, he doesn't just say, hey. Figure it out. Here's some principles. Jesus says in Matthew chapter 11 verse 28, he says, come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Now this isn't just talking about financial burdens. We come to Jesus with so many burdens. I just want you to know that even if you don't remove all the chaos from your life, even if you're still struggling financially after implementing godly principles, there is someone who will walk with you carrying those burdens and he will give you rest. You can have peace in the midst of chaos.”

16s

#BeyondSunday

“Because the mission is not to fill the seats. It's to fill heaven. Empty hell. Okay? So I hope people keep taking your seats so they can hear the good news of Jesus. I hope that you leave your seat during the week. You go out and tell people about Jesus because it's not just about Sunday.”

36s

#LovedDespiteImperfection

“We are not perfect. Hopefully, by now you figured that out. If not, give us time. We we are perfectly loved though. In fact, in spite of our imperfection, God sent his only son Jesus to die on the cross to forgive us for all of that imperfection. In fact, it's for that reason that we surrender to Jesus, the way, the truth, and the life. And, we live our lives with God as our boss.”

41s

#PlanForProsperity

“So if chaos is the source of stress, then bringing order to it will begin to reduce it and putting a plan in place. Now you're beginning to get rid of the unknown. This is how we're going to begin pecking away at this stress. Hiding it doesn't reduce stress. We need a plan. Proverbs 21 verse five. It says, good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty. We have to be good planners.”

31s

#FaithfulInLittle

“When we bring order to the chaos, the stress begins to calm down. So how do we do that? Well, first of all, I wanna tell you that you have the power to do that. You are managers over the finances that are bringing you stress. And the bible says it like this in Luke chapter 16 verse 10. Jesus actually says this, if you are faithful in little things, you'll be faithful in large ones. But you are if you're dishonest in little things, you won't be honest with great responsibilities.”

21s

#KnowYourSpending

“First, you need to know what's being spent and for what. I know. I'm not a money person. Like, I hate it. Okay. I really it would just be easier if we didn't have to look at it. Right? Sorry. That's not adulting. We we need to know what is being spent and know what it's for.”

26s

#EmergencyFundFirst

“Your stress will begin to reduce when you live within your means. Prioritize an emergency fund. If you, if you are living and consuming all that you have like we discussed from the scriptures, and then your car breaks or your air conditioner breaks, it's a crisis that that keeps you from moving forward. But if you have an emergency fund, your car breaks, you just go get it fixed.”

49s

#FinancialUnity

“If you're married, you are one flesh financially. I know. God said that Adam and Eve came together, became one flesh. You guys thought that was just in the bedroom. But one flesh means in everything. One flesh spiritually, one flesh, one flesh physically, one flesh emotionally, one flesh financially. I this is not from the gospel. I suggest you have one bank account and not his and hers. This is not from the bible, but I I don't. I've sat with enough people who have money problems in their marriage to know that that seems to be a common thread, his and hers, not ours. You can't be one flesh.”

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