No Limits with Pastor Delman Coates Podcast
Religion & Spirituality
About
Rev. Delman Coates is a graduate of Morehouse College (B.A. in Religion, 1995), Harvard Divinity School (Master of Divinity, 1998), and Columbia University (Master of Philosophy in Religion, 2002; Ph.D. in New Testament & Early Christianity, 2006). Since February 2004, Dr. Coates has served as the Senior Pastor of Mt. Ennon Baptist Church in Clinton, MD. In 15 years, the congregation has grown to approximately 10,500 members, adding over 9,000 new disciples. Dr. Coates has led the church in initiating and revitalizing ministries, doubling the church's ministry campus and land holdings, incorporating the Mt. Ennon Development Corporation and impacting the community in Prince George's County, Maryland. Under Dr. Coates’ leadership, the church has engaged in media advocacy and healthcare reform advocacy. In October 2009, Outreach Magazine named Mt. Ennon as one of the 100 Fastest Growing Congregations in the U.S.Pastor Coates founded the Our Money Campaign, an economic justice campaig
Episodes
- The Blessing of a Godly Mother
This episode reflects on the significance of mothers, highlighting their profound impact, spiritual resilience, and scriptural basis for honor. It draws a parallel between a mother's care and God's compassion, referencing a story from Exod…
- When Democracy Lets Us Down
This episode discusses the feeling of being stuck in various life circumstances and societal injustices, drawing parallels to biblical stories of individuals overcoming limitations. It highlights Jesus' question, "Do you want to get well?"…
- Take Me Through There
Pastor Delman Coates discusses the phrase 'take me through there' from a viral song, interpreting it as a refusal to be defeated. He draws parallels to Jesus's decision to travel through Samaria, illustrating how facing problems, rather th…
- Don't Step On Your Roots
Pastor Delman Coates uses an experience in Ghana's Kakum National Park to illustrate the importance of not 'stepping on roots,' comparing it to navigating systemic racism and inequality. He relates this to the biblical Israelites' journey…
- When The Math Ain't Mathing
The episode 'When The Math Ain't Mathing' discusses how the phrase 'the math ain't mathing' signifies something is wrong, citing examples in politics and economics. It contrasts this with spiritual life, explaining that God's economy doesn…
- I'm Dying To Live
Many of us ask a common question after experiencing trauma, injury, or loss: “How will I know when I am healed?” We often look for healing in the complete removal of our problems. We think we are healed when the pain stops, the grief fades…
- Jesus Take The Wheel
In 2005, Carrie Underwood’s song “Jesus, Take the Wheel” captured a feeling many of us know well. It tells the story of a young mother who, after losing control of her car on an icy road, throws her hands up and surrenders control to Jesus…
- Who's Driving Your Car
There is a unique fascination with high-speed car chases. When a reckless driver leads police on a dangerous pursuit through busy traffic, we are often glued to the screen, wondering who is behind the wheel. A few years ago, a story about a…
- It Hurt Me But It Helped Me
We have all experienced the sting of being hurt, disappointed, or let down by someone we trusted. To be human is to know pain. Often, the deepest wounds are not the ones people can see. They are the scars left on our souls. Our natural ins…
- I'm Over My Exes
Many of us know the classic song “End of the Road” by Boyz II Men and assume it is a heartbreaking love song. But a closer look at the lyrics reveals a more troubling story: it is about a person who cannot let go of a relationship that was…
- Going Without Knowing
Our brains are hardwired for survival. Behavioral scientists explain that to navigate a precarious ancient world, humans evolved to favor certainty over uncertainty, the known over the unknown. This instinct for predictability, which kept…
- I'm Done Wasting Time
Drawing from Deuteronomy 2:1–7, this message confronts the danger of spiritual stagnation and the cost of staying too long in seasons God has already completed. What once sheltered us can eventually hinder us, and movement without directio…
- Living and Leaving A Legacy of Wealth
Drawing from 2 Kings 4:1–7, this sermon confronts the difference between symbolic success and sustainable wealth. In a culture obsessed with appearance, status, and shortcuts, God calls His people to wisdom, preparation, and faithfulness—e…
- Shine Bright Like A Diamond
In a world marked by uncertainty, injustice, and spiritual darkness, Jesus reminds His followers of their calling: “You are the light of the world.” Drawing from Matthew 5:14-16, this message challenges believers to live boldly, faithfully…
- Don't Worry About A Thing
Across this nation, worry and anxiety are beginning to set in and take root in the hearts and minds of the American people. Anxiety has moved from the margins of our private thoughts to the center of our public life. Americans of all backg…
- When The Cross Gets In The Way
A few weeks ago, I attended the unveiling of portraits honoring nine distinguished alumni at Morehouse College. As the honorees gathered for a group photo in the Martin Luther King Jr. Chapel, a student photographer asked, “Is the cross in…
- HowToSurviveAShutdown
A few years ago, my daughters and I watched the movie Creed, starring Michael B. Jordan. Halfway through the movie, when Adonis Creed was taking hit after hit and getting beat down badly, both of my daughters turned away and said, “Daddy,…
- I Don't Want To Go Through Your Phone
All of us face moments that make us question God, circumstances that leave us wondering whether He’s really there, and seasons that cause us to doubt whether He still cares. And when that happens, spiritually speaking, we want to “go throu…
- In My Bag
There’s a major debate going on right now among fans of the NBA, and the question they are asking is, “Which player has the best bag?” By “bag,” they are not referring to a designer pouch or athletic bag, but a player’s unique combination…
- How To Rebound After A Letdown
As we close one year and prepare to step into another, many people are dealing with a deep sense of letdown…by jobs, by relationships, by diagnoses, by betrayals, and by unmet expectations. Some are tired, overwhelmed, fearful, and ready t…
- You Can Make It With A Messed Up Family
We’ve all heard the popular Christmas song, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” But for many people, Christmas is not the most wonderful time of the year. Those who lost a loved one, are struggling financially, dealing with family…
- No More Fences
I think fences are what caused Paul and Barnabas (two men who had partnered in planting churches across the Roman Empire) to reach a point where they called it quits. They had prayed together, labored together, and witnessed God’s power to…
- Don't Bury It Alive
In today’s key Scripture verses, there are repressed emotions that show up as resentment. Unexpressed feelings are swept under the rug until they come out. Job speaks of hearts soured by resentment; Ephesians and Hebrews warn against bitte…
- Say Your Grace
Many people learned this simple prayer growing up: “God is great, God is good, and we thank Him for our food. By Thy hands, we all are fed; give us Lord, our daily bread. Amen.” Saying your grace acknowledges God as the source, substance,…
- Nine People Who Missed Thanksgiving
One of the oldest Thanksgiving celebrations by Europeans in America wasn’t in Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts, in 1621 as most assume, but in Jamestown, Virginia, in 1610. Out of 409 settlers, only 60 survived harsh weather, food shortages, d…
- Please Don't Kill My Vibe
The goal for us as believers is to reach a point in our walk with God where what happens in the world outside of us doesn’t adversely affect what God is doing within us. We want to have enough spiritual strength, power, authority, wisdom,…
- The Potter Wants To Put You Back Together
As we travel through life, we hit potholes and rough patches that impact what holds us together. Disappointments, betrayals, tragedies, and loss can throw us out of spiritual alignment. We stop trusting, stop believing, stop praying, and d…
- Handle With Care
My daughters just turned 16 and now have their learner’s permits, so they are eager to get behind the wheel. But I had to remind them that driving is a huge responsibility that shouldn’t be taken lightly. The vehicle they drive can take th…
- I Ain’t Never Scared
Over and over again in Scripture, we are told “Do not fear.” I think the Lord knew how often we would need this reminder considering all that we face during our lives on this earth that could cause us to be afraid. However, because we have…
- It Is Well With My Soul
If you listen to many Christian preachers, the impression is given that if you can just come up with the right formula in prayer, God will grant you the blessing you want and the health and healing that you need. And while I certainly beli…
- It's Paid In Full
Every child of God needs to know and needs to hear that they are forgiven, for when you come into fellowship and communion with Jesus, and begin cultivating and nurturing your relationship with Him, the Lord’s forgiveness means that no mat…
- I'm Salty
When Jesus called His followers “salt,” He actually bestowed upon us a badge of honor. He was giving them then and us now a sense of our identity, purpose, and function in the Kingdom. He was saying that when people ask who you are as a be…
- Every Little Step I Take
Growing up as a child, I vividly recall hearing gospel music playing in the house while we were getting ready for church. One song that stands out is Shirley Caesar’s “I Remember Mama.” Caesar tells how she and her siblings used to play ch…
- Let’s Get Back to Worship
Sadly, for many people today, Sundays have lost their sacredness. Worship has become optional, something we pencil in if it doesn’t conflict with brunch, errands, football, or our to-do list. Some confuse church attendance with true worshi…
- Stop Preying In Church
How can the church create spaces of safety and restoration for those who have been wounded by abuse in religious settings? In what ways can the church do a better job of protecting vulnerable people from spiritual and sexual exploitation?…
- I’m Doing This For Me
They call him the world’s most flexible man. Yogi Daniel is a yoga master and black belt artist who has spent his life perfecting the art of contortion. He can bend and twist his body into seemingly impossible positions, even fitting into…
- How To Be A High-Value Man
Five years ago, style and image consultant Kevin Samuels became an internet sensation for his advice on relationships, dating, fashion, and success in life. He was controversial—brash, often chiding people for their looks and what he regar…
- It's All Good
We live in a world that constantly pressures us to pursue more— more success, more money, more validation, more status. The problem with this relentless chase is that it often leaves us feeling empty, unfulfilled, and never truly satisfied…
- Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself
In today’s key passage in Ephesians, Paul is doing some cognitive restructuring. He is trying to reframe anger in our minds. He’s trying to tell people then and us now that anger is a gift that God has given us. It’s the fuel that God puts…
- It's Time To Level Up
It’s time to "level up"—to become better versions of ourselves by not settling for the status quo, but instead, taking intentional steps toward growth and transformation. With this in mind, we are going to explore how we can avoid stagnati…
- When The Church Has More Than Enough
From today’s key passage, we can learn some things about the spirit of contagious generosity in the congregation that made that exact thing possible. By reading about the Israelites, we can glean principles that can help us in our own effo…
- We've Only Just Begun
This message is a celebration of the 21 years that I’ve been the pastor of Mt. Ennon. As we celebrate 21 years of this marriage between pastor and people, I want to borrow from the late ‘80s R&B singer Glenn Jones, who said: “We’ve only ju…
- Don't Die Like Weezy - Let's Talk About Sex
What does it mean to honor God with your body, and how does that influence your decisions around sex and relationships? How can Christians approach sexual desire with both spiritual maturity and personal responsibility, without falling int…
- It's Time For An Upgrade
Just like technology needs upgrades to keep up with the demands of today, so does our faith. Some of us are trying to operate on outdated spiritual bandwidth—there’s more grace, power, and strength God wants to give, but we’re not position…
- Life-Saving Divorce
What does the Bible teach us about God's heart for people who are hurting in marriage? How can the church better support people in abusive or harmful marriages? What lies or misconceptions have you heard about divorce, and how does Scriptu…
- We’re Not Leaving Here Empty Handed
What a difference four years makes—not in terms of presidential politics, but in terms of transformation. The Philadelphia Eagles went from mediocrity to Super Bowl champions by doing one crucial thing: they updated their playbook. They we…
- The Blood Still Works
Many people in church are familiar with God’s call of His servant Moses found in Exodus chapter 3, where He tells Moses to lead the children of Israel up and out of the land of Egypt after 400 years of slavery. At the time of that call, Mo…
- Daddy Duty
From today’s key passage, we learn that Eli was one of those dads who didn’t have a backbone. He saw his sons doing things he knew were wrong, things that were harmful to them and destructive to the nation, but he could not and would not t…
- How To Protect The Church From Biblical Malpractice
Malpractice is the improper treatment of a case, client, or situation by a professional that results in someone’s harm. It occurs when someone in a given profession does something that causes injury, injustice, or damage. And unfortunately…
- Forget What You Heard
During His time on earth, Jesus dealt with the dangerous consequences of relying on hearsay when it comes to our faith, what we believe spiritually, and how we relate to God. In Matthew 5, we hear Jesus say again and again: “You have heard…