Making Change - Week 1 | Coastal Church

Feb 22, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: The Foundation of Our Thanksgiving is Christ's Sacrifice

The act of communion is a profound moment of remembrance and gratitude. It centers on the sacrificial gift of Jesus, whose body was broken and blood was poured out for the forgiveness of sins. This gift is the ultimate demonstration of grace, making us whole and bringing us peace with God. It is a celebration that acknowledges our worthiness comes solely from Christ's righteousness, not our own deeds. We approach this table with thankful hearts for the price that was paid. [28:22]

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”
Matthew 26:26-28 (NLT)

Reflection: As you reflect on the sacrifice of Jesus, what is one specific area of your life where you find it difficult to accept that you are made worthy by His grace alone, rather than by your own performance or behavior?

Day 2: Cultivating a Heart of Cheerful Generosity

Giving is a spiritual act that flows from a heart transformed by gratitude. It is not meant to be done out of reluctance or in response to pressure, but as a joyful response to God's generosity. This kind of giving is good for the giver, producing genuine joy and freedom as we trust God with our resources. The motivation is not obligation but a cheerful heart that finds delight in participating in God's work. [57:07]

You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.
2 Corinthians 9:7-8 (NLT)

Reflection: When you consider your current patterns of giving, what is one practical step you could take this week to move from any sense of obligation toward a posture of cheerful and willing generosity?

Day 3: The Eternal Impact of Our Generous Giving

Our giving has ramifications that extend far beyond the immediate moment. It meets tangible needs in the present, which in turn fuels joyful thanksgiving and worship to God from those who are helped. Furthermore, our generosity sows into God's eternal kingdom, supporting ministries that see lives transformed by the power of Jesus for years to come. A single act of giving can have an impact that lasts for generations. [01:12:56]

This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.
2 Corinthians 9:12-13 (NLT)

Reflection: Can you identify a time when someone's generosity met a need in your life and led you to worship God? How might God be inviting you to provide that same experience for someone else?

Day 4: Trusting God to Build and Stretch Our Faith

Giving is an active exercise in trust, one that builds and often stretches our faith. It requires letting go of what we have been given and believing that God will faithfully provide for all our needs. This process is where our faith grows, as we step out into areas we haven't gone before and witness God's multiplication and provision. It is a journey that leads to a deeper reliance on Him. [01:06:11]

“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.”
Malachi 3:10 (NLT)

Reflection: What is one financial area or concern that you are currently holding onto tightly, and what would it look like to actively trust God with it this week?

Day 5: God's Love Compels Us to Meet Tangible Needs

In a world of profound need, we are called to move beyond well-wishes and into tangible action. Generosity is the practical outworking of our faith, where we become the hands and feet of Jesus to those who are hurting. It is about seeing a need and, as God leads, meeting it with compassion, whether that need is for food, shelter, or hope. This is how we live out the truth that love is our mission. [01:09:31]

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in...’
Matthew 25:34-35 (NLT)

Reflection: Where have you recently become aware of a painful or public need in your community, and what is one specific, tangible way you could help meet that need as an expression of God's love?

Sermon Summary

The service celebrates the Eucharist as a moment of thanksgiving for Christ’s broken body and shed blood, calling the community to remember sacrificial love that brings peace with God. Matthew 26’s account of the Last Supper frames the loaf and cup as tangible reminders of atonement, and the Eucharist functions as grateful participation in what Christ accomplished on the cross. Scripture reading and a brief invitation to personal confession prepare hearts to receive the table not out of worthiness but because Christ is the believer’s righteousness.

A series on money follows, teaching that material order and spiritual ordering must align. Matthew 6:19–21 anchors the teaching: treasure determines the desires of the heart, so storing up eternal wealth rewires daily priorities. Personal stories of sacrificial giving—support for an adoption, a single donor funding a move into a larger space, and community food drives—demonstrate how tangible generosity multiplies ministry capacity and renews communal worship.

Second Corinthians 9 provides the theological mechanism: generous sowing yields a generous harvest. Giving produces joy that precedes the gift, unlocks freedom from material anxieties, and stretches faith through trust and risk. The Greek nuance of cheerful giving implies glad, exuberant trust rather than grudging obligation. Practical stewardship habits, including consistent tithing or thoughtfully decided giving, train hearts to let go and to expect God’s provision for needs and overflow for others.

Generosity serves both immediate and eternal outcomes. Giving meets present needs—groceries, medical care, ministry resources—and prompts thankful worship among beneficiaries. It also plants deeds that scripture promises will be remembered forever, fueling baptisms, jail ministries, recovery programs, and student camps. The congregation receives a clear invitation to test God through giving and to respond to Christ’s lordship; altar call options include prayer for financial pressure, steps toward faith, and connections for spiritual growth. The overall emphasis holds that ordered finances, cheerful generosity, and trust in God produce joy, freedom, expanded ministry, and lasting spiritual fruit.

Key Takeaways

1. Eucharist centers thanksgiving and grace The bread and cup function as sacramental reminders that peace with God comes through Christ’s body and blood, not personal merit. Approaching the table invites honest confession and a reorientation from performance to receipt of God’s righteousness. This thanksgiving grounds stewardship and worship in gratitude rather than duty. [26:24]
2. Treasure reveals a heart’s desire Matthew 6 reframes security: where resources are invested exposes what a life truly pursues. Shifting investment toward eternal priorities reshapes daily choices, loosens grip on consumption, and clarifies discipleship as an economic as well as spiritual practice. Desire follows deposit. [47:29]
3. Generosity reshapes the giver Second Corinthians describes giving as a spiritual technology: generosity produces joy, unlocks freedom from material fear, and stretches faith by requiring trust. Cheerful giving transforms identity—givers practice dependence on God and experience increased capacity to bless others. This growth requires ordered finances and courageous steps beyond comfort. [54:57]
4. Giving ripples into eternity Scripture links charitable deeds with eternal remembrance and ongoing spiritual harvests. Giving meets practical needs, sparks thankful worship, and supports ministries that lead people to faith and baptism. Sacrificial gifts therefore count in both present compassion and future resurrection fruit. [1:11:37]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[25:55] - Eucharistic Prayer of Thanksgiving
[26:24] - What the Eucharist Means
[29:07] - Reading: Matthew 26 (Last Supper)
[36:21] - Church Family Introduction
[43:04] - Series Introduction: Making Change (Money)
[47:29] - Key Verse: Matthew 6:19–21
[48:15] - Story: Uganda Adoption Gift
[54:57] - Teaching: 2 Corinthians 9 on Giving
[56:21] - Giving Produces Joy, Freedom, Faith
[1:11:37] - Giving’s Eternal Impact
[1:16:05] - Invitation to Trust God with Money
[1:23:02] - Decision to Follow Jesus
[1:24:51] - Next Steps, Resources, Baptism Information

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading
2 Corinthians 9:6–8 (NLT)
Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.

Observation questions

According to 2 Corinthians 9:6–8, what are the two contrasting outcomes for the farmer who plants sparingly versus the one who plants generously?
What instruction does Paul give about how a person should decide what to give?
The sermon described a moment when a friend wrote a check to help with an adoption, saying, "When that runs out, if you need more to do what God wants you to do, let me know." [49:07] What was the result of that act of giving?
What are the three specific things the sermon said generosity produces in the life of the giver? [56:21]

Interpretation questions

The Greek word for "cheerful" giving is hilaros, which implies a merry, joyful attitude. [56:40] Why do you think God values the attitude behind the gift so highly, rather than just the amount given?
The passage says that God will provide all you need so you can have "plenty left over to share with others." Does this promise guarantee material wealth for the giver? Why or why not?
The sermon stated that "giving builds your faith because it takes giving to let go of what God's given you." [01:00:59] How does the act of releasing something God has entrusted to you actually strengthen your trust in Him?
How does giving not only meet practical needs but also lead people to "joyfully express their thanks to God," as mentioned in 2 Corinthians 9:12?

Application questions

"Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be." [47:29] Looking at your bank statement from the last month, what does your spending reveal about what your heart truly values?
Generosity is meant to be a source of joy, not obligation. [56:52] Is your current giving something you do with a sense of freedom and happiness, or does it feel more like a duty? What would need to change for it to become more joyful?
The act of giving is described as a way to "test God" and see His provision. [01:16:05] Is there a specific step of faith in giving that you feel prompted to take but have been hesitant to try? What would it look like to trust God in that area this week?
Giving has eternal impact, supporting things like baptisms, recovery ministries, and student camps. [01:13:20] How does understanding that your generosity plants seeds for eternity change your perspective on the money God has entrusted to you?
Some people have experienced hurt from past misuse of money in religious settings. [01:16:23] If that is a barrier for you, what would it look like to start by giving to a need outside the church, just to begin practicing trust and obedience to God?
The sermon mentioned that "if you don't get the order right, you won't ever get to the parts that are good," comparing it to assembling a swing without instructions. [01:00:22] What is one practical step you could take this month to better order your finances according to God's principles?
"Giving produces freedom." [57:29] What is one fear or anxiety you have about money that you could begin to surrender to God through a specific act of generosity?

Sermon Clips

44s

#GenerosityGrows

“That's the pattern of generosity that God calls us to and he even lets us know the end of the story that if you pattern your life after this, God's gonna give you more so that you can get not so you can buy the the Ferrari. Okay. I'm sorry. Wrong channel. He's gonna give you more so that you can give more. Giving is good for the giver. And really giving the joy you get from giving has to be better than the Ferrari. Solomon says all the riches in the world didn't make him happy. But I wonder if a Ferrari would. I just need to know, Lord. No. We already know. We don't have to test things out with the bible already says, hey, Tony, you waste your time.”

45s

#BlessedToGive

“Giving doesn't take something away, it gives something to you. Acts chapter 20 verse 35. And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus. I want you to know that this didn't come from a Christmas movie. It's more blessed to give than to receive. It came from Jesus, not Christmas movies. And it's real. And I I I can't I can't package this and hand it to you and say this is, you know, you feel that? No. All I can do is say, try it out. Giving produces freedom.”

50s

#EternalGenerosity

“that. That that Thanksgiving comes from somebody down the line being generous. And that's where we move to point number three. Giving is good for eternity. This isn't just a consumed gift. This is something that matters for eternity. Second Corinthians chapter nine verse nine says as the scriptures say, they share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever. For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.”

59s

#GenerosityBringsHome

“And he says, is money the only reason you're not gonna do this? That stung. And he proceeded to write a check for $5,000, pass it across the table. And he said, want you to put that in your bank account and keep on praying. And when that runs out, if you need more to do what God wants you to do, let me know. That kind of giving, changes lives. Now you may not have $5,000, but so many people had a part in that. And, about six months later, we brought home my daughter from Uganda, Barbara.”

35s

#ChurchGrowthThroughGiving

“Another time, our church was in a bit of a crisis. We were just we had just started. We moved to the middle school. We're paying $400 a month for it was the band room back there. I think it's a choir. I don't know what room it is. They changed. They moved us around. And there was only room for 60 people in there. And every once in a while, we were kind of running out of chairs and they don't let you put more in there because of fire code. And so we had people standing. And I was telling somebody and and they said, well, I'm gonna give you $9,000. I want you to move into the auditorium.”

54s

#LegacyOfGiving

“We negotiated down from there, but it wasn't much further down. And God began growing us. Giving really can transform lives for generations. I I this is how you know, like, got here because of people sacrificially giving. And even this space we're in here, First Baptist Wabasa was founded on this property in 1952, March 31. I know because I got to spend time with one of the founding members, Imogene Chatham, who passed away at a 100 years old last last year. And we we stand here getting to see people put their faith in Jesus and be baptized because of sacrificial giving seventy plus years ago. It's a big deal.”

39s

#GivingFeedsCommunity

“But, like, they took all this food and loaded it up in two trucks and took it down to the ecumenical food pantry where the where the shelves were a bit bare, and it made a big impact. It's gonna continue making an impact with needy families in this area. Thank you for giving. And last year, we saw we made budget, like, for the twelve months. We made that's the first time in a that I can remember in a long time that we made budget. And so so I know I'm preaching to the choir here, but giving isn't a is the adulting of spiritual maturity.”

20s

#DoBusinessWithGod

“And I I wanna be careful how I say it because I'm not I'm not pulling people in a direction that God wouldn't want you to go. So when we talk about giving, I want you to do business with him and not just do what I say. I'm gonna tell you about giving from my own experience. Giving really is good.”

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