Family First Church

"All you need is love..." It’s a catchy lyric, but is it good theology?In this special Valentine's weekend message, Pastor Coats shifts from the intensity of our "Right in Their Own Eyes" series to a pastoral heart-to-heart about the true nature of love. Starting with the classic Beatles hit, the message challenges the cultural idea that simply "having" love in your heart is enough to solve every problem.Using Colossians 1:19-20 as the foundation, we explore the idea that love is powerless unless it is demonstrated. Just as a husband who "loves" his wife but ignores her on Valentine's Day is failing, a believer who claims to love God without seeking reconciliation is missing the mark.In this service, you will learn:The Beatles Fallacy: Why "All You Need Is Love" is a trap—because you can be filled with love and still fail if that love isn't expressed .The Law of Demonstration: Why love cannot exist in a vacuum; it must be shown, manifest, and proven.The Divine Example: How God didn't just "love" the world from a distance—He reconciled it through the blood of the cross.Love isn't just a feeling you have; it's a work you do.

"People will let you down... but God will never fail." This Wednesday, Pastor Coats walked through Psalms 12, 13, 14, and 15, providing a "refueling" for those struggling with the current state of the world.This message is a sober reminder that while society may seem to be losing its godly foundations, the words of the Lord remain pure—refined like silver seven times over.In this episode, you will learn:The "Slither" of Deception: How to recognize the flattering lips and "double hearts" of those who use smooth speech to manipulate others.The Spiritual Schizophrenic: A breakdown of "double-mindedness" and why instability in our soul leads to a roller-coaster relationship with God.4 Complaints & 1 Solution: Following David’s example in Psalm 13 of being brutally honest with God about feeling forgotten, while still choosing to trust in His steadfast love.The 3 Levels of Faith: The difference between Demonic Faith (believing God exists), Saving Faith (leaning your whole weight on Him), and Miracle-Producing Faith (simply believing what He said).The "Unbaptized Arm": Why we must surrender even our strengths and talents to God, rather than keeping them "out of the water" for our own use.Stop living a "plastic-coated" life. Whether you feel like the "godly are gone" or you’re just in need of a mid-week refreshing, this study will help you fix your eyes back on the only foundation that cannot be moved.

God is not shaking the earth to destroy you. He is shaking it to reveal what cannot be destroyed.In this urgent and prophetic message, Pastor Coats abandons his prepared sermon to deliver a "fresh from the throne" word about the Great Shaking happening right now. Using Hebrews 12 as the anchor, he addresses the turmoil in the world, the exposure of major ministries, and the "divine reset" God is orchestrating in His church.If you have built your life on politics, money, or even the reputation of a famous preacher, you are standing on faulty ground. This message is a wake-up call to move your foundation to the only Kingdom that cannot be moved.In this service, you will learn:The Divine Reset: Why the chaos we see in the world isn't just "crazy times"—it's a deliberate shaking initiated by God Himself .The Exposure of Leaders: A sober look at why so many prominent ministries and leaders are falling right now, and why God refuses to sweep sin under the rug anymore .The Glass House Warning: A critical warning to the "self-appointed inspectors" of the church: if you throw stones at another ministry, make sure your own glass house is perfect .Testing vs. Tempting: The vital difference between Satan testing you (to prove failure) and God testing you (to prove faith) .Glory vs. Noise: How to tell the difference between a church that hosts the presence of God and one that just "maintains the activities of man" .Everything that can be shaken will be shaken. Make sure you are standing on the Rock.

What do you do when the world around you seems to be collapsing and the voices around you are screaming "Run"?In this verse-by-verse study of Psalm 11, we tackle one of the most famous questions in scripture: "If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?". While the natural instinct is to "flee like a bird to the mountain" when society crumbles or enemies attack, David teaches us a different response.This message challenges the advice of the naysayers and reminds us that while the foundations on earth may shake, the throne in heaven has not moved.In this service, you will learn:The "Run Away" Voices: How to handle the critics and fear-mongers who tell you that your situation is hopeless and you should just escape.A New Perspective on "Foundations": A fresh interpretation of verse 3—is David despairing, or is he defiantly saying, "Even if the foundations crack, I’m sticking with God"? .God’s X-Ray Vision: Why God doesn't even need to open His eyes to see through the enemy's plans (His "eyelids" test the sons of men) .Testing vs. Tempting: The critical theological difference between Satan tempting you (looking for failure) and God testing you (looking for faith) .The Law of Exposure: A sobering distinction between your sins being "found out" (exposed to others) and your sins "finding you out" (consequences you can't outrun) .Don't let the fear of the enemy drive you out of the will of God. The Lord is still in His Holy Temple.

We often ask God to baptize our weaknesses, but have you ever asked Him to baptize your strengths?In this closing message on the life of Gideon, Pastor Coats explores the tragic final chapter of one of Israel's greatest judges. We see a man who started in crippling insecurity, rose to mighty victory, but ultimately fell into a trap of his own making.While Gideon rightly refused to be crowned King of Israel , this message reveals how he subtly drifted into idolatry by creating a "Golden Ephod"—a rival altar that ensnared his entire family. It serves as a sober warning that our greatest attributes, if not continually submitted to God, can become our greatest downfall.In this service, you will learn:The Art of Diplomacy: How Gideon used a "soft answer" to defuse a potential civil war with the tribe of Ephraim.The Snare of the Ephod: The story of the 43 pounds of gold ($3 million value) that Gideon turned into an idol, distracting Israel from the true Tabernacle.The Unbaptized Arm: A powerful historical illustration of warriors who were baptized but held their sword arms out of the water so they could continue to sin—and how we do the exact same thing today .Baptizing Your Strengths: Why submitting your talents and victories to God is just as important as submitting your sins and failures.

Have you ever felt like God "ghosted" you in the middle of a crisis?In this Wednesday Night Bible Study, Pastor Coats dives into Psalm 10, a scripture that tackles the raw, human frustration of feeling forsaken. David starts this Psalm asking the question we are often afraid to voice: "Why, O Lord, do you stand far away?".But Psalm 10 doesn't stay in the valley of doubt. It moves from questioning God's silence to declaring His sovereignty. This message also issues a stern, timely warning to the modern church about the dangers of becoming "self-appointed judges."In this service you will learn:The "Practical Atheist": Why many Christians claim to believe in God, but live their daily lives as if He doesn't exist—believing in Him like they believe in "Santa Claus".The "Purity Police": A heavy conviction regarding ministries that expose the failures of others. Pastor Coats warns that if you are going to judge someone else's house, you better make sure your own closet is 1,000% clean.The "Hot Pursuit": The Hebrew meaning behind the wicked "hotly pursuing" the poor, and how it represents a fire of hatred rather than just oppression.The Ultimate Comfort: Why, at the end of the day—whether dealing with suicide, tragedy, or confusion—the only answer that matters is: "God never makes a mistake".God sees what you don't see. He isn't ignoring evil; He is preparing to triumph over it.

Opposition is not evidence that you are doing something wrong. It is often evidence that you are doing something right.In this heavy and convicting message, Pastor Coats tackles the "Way of Cain" found in Jude 11. While we often think of Cain simply as the first murderer, this sermon reveals that the "Way of Cain" is actually a spirit—an influence of rebellion and self-righteousness that seeks to abort God's plans before they can ever be birthed.Highlighting Sanctity of Life Sunday, this message bridges the gap between the ancient spirit that killed Abel and the modern culture that wages war on the unborn.In today's service, you will learn:The "Woe" of Jude: Why God pronounces "Woe" on those who refuse to enter the Kingdom and stop others from entering.The Law of Opposition: Why the devil only attacks what threatens him—and why your struggle is actually proof of your anointing.The 4 Targets of the Cain Spirit: How the enemy specifically targets those walking in obedience, those increasing in influence, and God's appointed deliverers.A Visual Wake-Up Call: A haunting, undeniable demonstration comparing the lives lost in every major American war to the lives lost in the war against the unborn.It is time to decide: Are you serving God His way, or are you insisting on your own "Way of Cain"