Oceanside Sanctuary

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 mirrors our own tendencies to seek control in the face of oppression—and how Jesus offers a radically different kind of power rooted in the Spirit. Jason breaks down the unexpected message in Acts 1: Jesus doesn’t call us to obsess over heaven; he invites us to be witnesses of love and liberation on earth, embodying the gospel through our actions daily.We explore the deep connection between faith and activism, highlighting historical figures like Jane Addams and movements that transformed society by caring for the marginalized—all born from a gospel of love, not fear. You’ll learn why obsessing over heaven can distract us from our true calling: to bring hope, healing, and justice HERE. Spirituality isn’t just about waiting; it’s about birthing goodness in the world now. Join us to reorient your faith toward active love and liberation—because the strongest witness of Jesus’ gospel is how we serve and stand with others in the present. Your role as a witness begins with the Spirit’s empowerment today, shaping a world rooted in justice and compassion.

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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 imperialism, global capitalism, and religious competition.

Instead of a mandate to conquer the globe or force conversions, what if Jesus was inviting his followers into something radically different? Join us as we explore the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus and reframe the Great Commission. Discover what it truly means to make "disciples" (learners) by immersing ourselves in God's goodness, uplifting the lowly, resisting corrupt power, and loving our enemies.

To learn more about us and the work we do, visit oceansidesanctuary.org.

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 of a "personal Jesus." Instead, she invites us to open our eyes to the vast, expansive love of God for all of humanity.

Through personal storytelling and a deeper look at scripture, we examine how easily we can project our own needs onto God—much like the disciples who failed to recognize the incognito Christ walking right beside them.

In this episode, we discuss:

The disciples' 7-mile journey to Emmaus and their failure to recognize the risen Christ.

Why shrinking Jesus down to a "personal savior in our pocket" misses the bigger picture of the Gospel.

A powerful insight from theologian Marcus Borg on how the cross reveals both the depth of human injustice and the depth of God's love.

How we can actively listen, find redemption, and experience deeper communion collectively.

To learn more about our progressive Christian community in North County San Diego, or to support the work we do, visit us at Oceanside Sanctuary.

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 touches on the journey of spiritual exploration and the process of healing from high-control religion, highlighting this month's book club selection, Holy Hurt by Hilary McBride. Join us as we learn to recognize the everyday miracles, the "surprise of grace," and the abundance that surrounds us when we have the eyes to see it.

To learn more about our community or to support our work, visit us at Oceanside Sanctuary.

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 illustrate how faith isn't simply about having the right facts or historical information. Instead, faith is about being deeply "known" by God. Drawing from theologians like James Cone and Paul Tillich, as well as psychologist Abraham Maslow, this episode explores what happens when ultimate reality breaks into our lives and we hear Christ call our name.

Learn more about us at oceansidesanctuary.org

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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 Oceanside Sanctuary Church as we discuss stepping past fear and finding the joy that leads to resurrection.

Learn more about the work we do at oceansidesanctuary.org

Find us on instagram at @oceansidesanctuary

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 Pontius Pilate's imperial parade of Roman military power happening on the exact same day. Discover why the story of Palm Sunday is more than just a sanitized tale for children—it is a profound act of political theater that challenges our modern obsessions with power, wealth, and privilege. Join Oceanside Sanctuary Church as we are reminded to look past our fickle nature and keep our eyes on Jesus as our "True North."

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 together the prophetic traditions of Isaiah and Jeremiah, Jesus delivers a disruptive message: the Gospel's good news of liberation for the oppressed often arrives as bad news for the oppressors.

Join us as we wrestle with what it means to be followers of Jesus today, discovering that true freedom is found when we realize that all of our liberation is bound up in one another.

Episode Highlights:

The historical context of Passover pilgrims and temple economics.

Why prophets bring "bad news" to those in power.

The profound truth that systems of oppression harm both the oppressed and the oppressor.

Learn more about us at oceansidesanctuary.org

Listen to our Seasonal official podcast "The Collective Table" wherever you get your podcasts

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 in a cutthroat world? Drawing on examples from modern geopolitical power dynamics to the classic 1983 sci-fi movie WarGames, Jason challenges us to see that Jesus wasn't offering a new way to win the world's game of power and competition. Instead, he was inviting us to stop playing the game altogether.

Learn more or support the work we do at oceansidesanctuary.org

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 it means to willingly enter our own wilderness, face internal struggles, and find spiritual renewal in the midst of life's difficult tests.

To learn more about our church and community, visit us at

oceansidesanctuary.org.