Oceanside Sanctuary

What does it really mean to be “after God’s own heart”? In the final teaching of After God’s Own Heart, Jason Coker returns to the complicated story of King David, Bathsheba, Solomon, and the struggle for power in 1 Kings 1–2. Rather than treating these biblical stories as simple examples of how we should live, Jason invites us to read them with discernment—to ask what is good, what is harmful, where power is being abused, and where the heart of God might actually be found. Through the stories of David and Bathsheba, Jason explores the corrupting nature of power, the ways people who are oppressed may have to navigate systems of power to survive, and the responsibility of those with privilege to stand alongside people who are suffering. The episode ultimately returns to the question that has shaped this entire series: What does it mean to be a person after God’s own heart? Jason argues that we see God's heart when people resist the temptations of power, use their privilege to advocate for others, and pursue liberation from oppressive systems—even when those choices are complicated and uncomfortable. As After God’s Own Heart comes to a close, this teaching offers an invitation to take responsibility for our own moral judgment, read Scripture with courage and discernment, and recognize what is good, right, and true for ourselves. Chapters (00:00:00) - Introduction and Series Recap(00:03:33) - Reading 1 Kings 2: Bathsheba's New Power(00:07:20) - The Story of David and Abishag(00:11:15) - David's Genealogy: Power Through Women and Children(00:15:29) - Adonijah's Bid for the Throne(00:17:34) - Nathan and Bathsheba's Plot to Secure Solomon's Throne(00:20:45) - Solomon Crowned King(00:21:42) - Reading Scripture Critically: Game of Thrones Comparison(00:25:28) - Wil Gafney's Interpretation of Bathsheba(00:27:05) - Adonijah's Fatal Request for Abishag(00:32:51) - Did Bathsheba Know? Power and Intrigue(00:35:04) - David's Fall: A Man After God's Heart Corrupted(00:37:26) - Finding God's Heart: Power, Allyship, and Liberation(00:41:02) - Closing Prayer(00:43:05) - Outro

In this powerful continuation of our series on David, Pastor Jenell Coker examines 2 Samuel 11–12 and the story of David and Bathsheba with honesty and care. She challenges the familiar interpretations that have too often softened David’s abuse of power, portrayed Bathsheba as responsible, or called violence an “affair.” Through the text, church history, and our present moment, this teaching asks what it means to tell the truth about our heroes, our institutions, and ourselves. How do we protect the vulnerable rather than reputations? How do we stop blaming survivors? And what does it look like to reclaim Christianity as a movement of love and liberation, grounded in the belief that every person bears the image of God? Content note: This sermon includes discussion of sexual assault, abuse, murder, victim-blaming, and church harm. Learn more about us and the work we do at oceansidesanctuary.org Chapters (00:00:00) - Introduction and Series Recap(00:01:37) - Content Warning(00:02:57) - Retelling the David and Bathsheba Story(00:08:11) - Nathan's Confrontation and Psalm 51(00:08:42) - Opening Prayer(00:10:05) - Jenny's Story: A Modern Parallel(00:12:27) - Examining the Painting and Popular Depictions(00:13:58) - How Theology Blamed Bathsheba(00:16:09) - Study Bible Commentary Through the Decades(00:22:56) - Personal Reflection and Anger at the Text(00:24:28) - The Bible's Honesty vs. Our Softening of It(00:25:50) - Church Power, Abuse, and Protecting Reputations(00:27:54) - Reclaiming Christianity's Purpose Statement(00:30:00) - Bathsheba as the Lamb(00:30:39) - Closing Reflection and Prayer(00:32:31) - Closing Remarks

What does it mean to be “after God’s own heart” when faith, life, and even our understanding of God can feel complicated? In this sermon, C-lead Pastor Jason Coker explores the story of David dancing before God in 2 Samuel 6 alongside Psalm 63. Through David’s radical, undignified worship, we’re invited to consider what might happen when we let go of self-consciousness, judgment, and the need to appear dignified or in control. Jason reflects on the connection between embodied worship, spiritual practice, and a deeper sense of peace and well-being. From music and meditation to prayer, movement, and moments of “flow,” this teaching asks what it means to get out of our heads and become more fully present to God. What if worship isn’t about having all the answers? What if we could set aside our fear and self-judgment long enough to imagine that God is good—and then simply respond with our whole selves? This episode is an invitation to loosen our grip on dignity, embrace embodied faith, and discover the possibility of experiencing God’s presence with greater freedom, joy, and peace. Learn more about us and the work we do at oceansidesanctuary.org Chapters (00:00:00) - Welcome to Oceanside Sanctuary Church Podcast(00:00:41) - The Story of David(00:02:44) - The Ark of the Covenant Story in 2nd Samuel(00:10:46) - Psalm 63(00:14:04) - Psalm 63: Rest and Well Being(00:20:25) - Psalm 63: The Social Science technique of bracketing(00:32:30) - How Do We Immerse ourselves in God's World(00:37:07) - Letting Go of Your Self(00:40:12) - Prayer at Sanctuary

In this episode of the sermon podcast from Oceanside Sanctuary, Pastor Jason Coker continues the series “After God’s Own Heart,” exploring the life of David and asking what it really means for someone to be called a person “after God’s own heart.” The sermon centers on Psalm 131 and the story of David sparing King Saul when he had the opportunity to kill him. Rather than taking Saul's life and claiming the throne he had been promised, David chooses mercy. The question is: How did David learn to resist his immediate desires and choose a different path? Psalm 131 offers a glimpse into David's inner life. David describes learning to calm and quiet his soul “like a weaned child with its mother.” Pastor Jason explores this powerful image as a picture of learning that we don't have to receive everything we want immediately in order to be okay. The sermon explores the relationship between desire, ambition, self-awareness, emotional maturity, and spiritual formation. Through the imagery of the child, the mother, and the poet, David is able to observe his own desires from a distance. That distance gives him the ability to recognize, understand, and manage those desires rather than being controlled by them. Jason then considers the role of contemplative practices—poetry, music, storytelling, gardening, building, painting, and other creative practices—as ways of creating space to better understand ourselves and our relationship with God. These practices, he suggests, can all become forms of prayer. Ultimately, this sermon challenges us to consider that prayer isn't simply asking God for what we want. Prayer can also be the practice of creating space to understand who we are, who God is, and how we can become people who exercise power and influence responsibly. Scripture: Psalm 131; 1 Samuel 24Series: After God's Own HeartSpeaker: Jason CokerChurch: Oceanside Sanctuary Reflection Questions: What desires tend to control you? How can you create enough distance from your desires to observe them rather than immediately act on them? What contemplative or creative practices help you understand yourself and God? Where might God be teaching you that you can experience discomfort and still be okay? Chapters (00:00:00) - Collective Table(00:01:09) - David Was a Man After God's Own Heart(00:02:44) - Psalm 131(00:04:39) - Grandkids and the TV(00:12:47) - David's Desires in Psalm 131(00:22:04) - Grandchildren and the Weaning Baby(00:25:55) - How God Works: The Trinity(00:27:29) - Creative Practices to Create Imaginal Distance

In this episode of The Collective Table, Jenell Coker continues Oceanside Sanctuary Church’s series on David with the familiar story of David and Goliath—but invites us to look beyond the simple “little guy defeats the giant” version of the story. Jenell begins by reflecting on the way stories change depending on who tells them. Drawing from the story of her own family and Jason’s retelling of one of her childbirth experiences, she explores how stories aren't simply collections of historical facts. We emphasize different details, exaggerate to communicate how something felt, and tell stories in ways that help others experience what we experienced. That leads into the story of David and Goliath and some of the inconsistencies found across the biblical texts. Rather than allowing those differences to undermine the story, Jenell invites us to consider why this story was told and retold so many times—and what truth it continues to offer us. She recounts David’s encounter with Goliath: a young shepherd facing a powerful warrior, refusing Saul’s armor because it doesn't fit him, and instead relying on the skills and tools he already possesses. David faces Goliath as himself—a slinger, a shepherd, and someone who trusts that God is with him. Jenell then places the David and Goliath story alongside Psalm 23, inviting us to see David not only as a warrior but also as an artist and psalmist. Together, these texts point toward a deeper truth: we need imagination to face the Goliaths in our lives. Those Goliaths aren't only personal. Jenell challenges the church to imagine a world where food insecurity can be confronted, where people aren't harmed because of their gender, sex, or skin color, and where seemingly immovable injustices can actually be challenged. The teaching closes with several questions for personal reflection: What are the Goliaths in your life? Is there armor you're trying to wear that isn't yours? What skills and gifts do you already possess that can help you face the challenge? What does it look like to experience God walking with you through the valley of the shadow of death? Jenell is careful not to promise that every Goliath will be overcome in the way we expect. Instead, she emphasizes the importance of hope, imagination, endurance, and trusting that God is beside us—even when the outcome isn't what we hoped for. Scripture 1 Samuel 17 — David and GoliathPsalm 23 — “The Lord is my shepherd” Questions to Consider What are the Goliaths you're facing right now? Are you trying to put on someone else's armor instead of trusting the gifts and strengths already within you? What might become possible if you allowed yourself to imagine that change is possible? And where do you experience—or hope to experience—God's presence as you walk through difficult valleys? Key Takeaway You don't have to become someone else to face your Goliath. The gifts, skills, courage, and imagination you already carry may be exactly what you need—and God is beside you in the valley. Learn more about us and the work we do at oceansidesanctuary.org Chapters (00:00:00) - Sunday Teaching Podcast(00:01:44) - Storytime(00:07:04) - David and Goliath: The Story(00:11:37) - The Story of David vs Goliath(00:19:04) - Psalm 23(00:22:15) - God's Help for Goliath