Galatians 1:6-9
Church MattersThis sermon explains the vital importance of congregationalism, asserting that individual church members hold significant God-given authority and responsibility. The speaker outlines four key areas where the congregation exercises this authority: church membership, leadership (affirming or removing pastors and deacons), governing documents, and the church budget. It emphasizes that while pastors lead, the congregation has the ultimate 'emergency brake' to safeguard the purity of the gospel and the integrity of the church, fostering a robust and trustworthy community.
John Lee · July 19, 2026
Matthew 16:13-20
Church MattersThis sermon explores the biblical basis and practical importance of church membership through the lens of Christ's kingly authority in Matthew 16. It explains that church membership is a formal recognition of Kingdom citizenship and an explicit covenant to take responsibility for one another's discipleship.
John Lee · July 5, 2026
Genesis 26:34-28:9
GenesisThe sermon dissects the dysfunctional family dynamics in Genesis 26-28, highlighting the failures of Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, and Esau, each blinded by their own desires, control, deception, and bitterness. Despite their pervasive sin, the preacher emphasizes God's sovereign hand working providentially to fulfill His purposes through the mess, ultimately pointing to Christ as the only perfect one who offers grace and mercy. The message warns listeners not to emulate the characters' flaws but to seek God's grace.
John Lee · April 12, 2026 · 51 min
Genesis 21:1-34
This sermon on Genesis 21 explores God's absolute faithfulness to His promises, illustrated through Isaac's birth, Hagar and Ishmael's preservation in the wilderness, and Abraham's covenant with Abimelech. It encourages believers to trust in the everlasting God during periods of waiting, transition, and living in the tension of the 'already' and 'not yet'.
John Lee · February 1, 2026 · 47 min
Genesis 18:1-15
GenesisThis sermon explores Genesis 18:1-15, contrasting Abraham's eager hospitality and faith with Sarah's cynical laughter and unbelief regarding God's promise of a son. The preacher uses this narrative to highlight God's omnipotence and his loving confrontation of sin, ultimately inviting listeners to abandon self-preservation and embrace God's grace found in Jesus Christ, fostering a spirit of joyful service.
John Lee · January 11, 2026 · 39 min
2025 LA Preachers' ConferenceThis sermon emphasizes the crucial importance of preaching Christ crucified as the central message of Christianity, warning against deviations like easy believism and legalism. It outlines five reasons why the cross is often neglected and five reasons why it must remain the basis for salvation, justification, and true spiritual formation. Ultimately, the speaker argues that the crucifixion is the climax of the Gospels and the only lasting motivation for Christian living.
John Lee · October 14, 2025 · 29 min
Genesis 2:4-25
GenesisThis sermon explores the meaning of life and humanity's purpose as revealed in Genesis 2, focusing on three aspects of God's interaction with man: creation, command, and compliment. It delves into the intentionality of human design, the necessity of choice for true obedience, and the divine institution of marriage as a complementary union. Ultimately, the sermon explains that earthly marriage is a symbol pointing to the greater spiritual union between Christ and His church, offering hope and purification from sin through Jesus' sacrifice.
John Lee · July 6, 2025 · 41 min
1 Timothy 5:3-16
1 TimothyThis sermon explores Paul's instructions in 1 Timothy 5:3-16 regarding the church's responsibility to care for widows and the needy. It emphasizes that while supporting those in genuine need is a core Christian duty reflecting God's love, it requires careful discernment based on family responsibility, godliness, and real necessity. The sermon outlines principles for effective church benevolence, prioritizing ministry, supporting church members, evaluating legitimate needs, preserving dignity, and facilitating care through deacons.
John Lee · April 7, 2025 · 46 min
1 Timothy 3:1-7
1 TimothyThis sermon unpacks the qualifications for church overseers (pastors/elders) from 1 Timothy 3:1-7, emphasizing godliness over productivity or charisma. It details twelve specific characteristics, from desiring the noble work to having a good reputation among outsiders, highlighting that these standards reflect Christ's character. The message challenges the congregation to expect these qualities in their leaders, encourage those who embody them, address those who do not, embody these qualities themselves, and ultimately exalt Christ as the ultimate Good Shepherd.
John Lee · February 23, 2025 · 45 min
Healthy Church BudgetingJamie Dunlop argues that a church budget is fundamentally a spiritual document reflecting a congregation's values rather than just a set of administrative numbers. Through the lens of the Parable of the Talents, he shows how budgeting should be an act of risk-taking obedience in God's promises rather than a tool for risk mitigation. Dunlop unpacks how this perspective reshapes staff pay, programs, administrative trade-offs, and pastoral leadership over church finances.
Jamie Dunlop · September 25, 2024 · 1h 42m
Healthy Church BudgetingIn this session, Jamie Dunlop walks through seven key biblical passages to establish a healthy framework for church budgeting and stewardship. He contrasts faithful, planned giving motivated by a love for Christ with unbiblical approaches driven by guilt, greed, or fear.
Jamie Dunlop · September 25, 2024 · 59 min
Philippians 4:4-9
In this sermon on Philippians 4:4-9, Pastor Ernie Choi explains the difference between conditional happiness and eternal joy, which is found only by rejoicing in the Lord. He highlights how the fruit of the Spirit, active prayer, and disciplined focus on honorable things allow God’s peace to guard our minds. He also discusses FBC Artesia’s upcoming transition as he prepares to hand over senior leadership to John Lee.
John Lee · May 5, 2024 · 36 min
Mark 8:22-9:3
MarkIn this sermon on Mark 8:22-9:1, Pastor Joshua Lim explores how spiritual sight is both a miraculous gift and a gradual process, as illustrated by the two-stage healing of the blind man at Bethsaida. He connects this physical miracle to the disciples' own blurry understanding of Jesus's messianic identity, explaining that Peter correctly confesses Jesus as the Messiah but fails to grasp His call to suffer and die. Ultimately, the sermon challenges believers to deny themselves, take up their crosses, and follow Jesus, trusting that losing their lives for the gospel is the only way to save them.
John Lee · March 4, 2024 · 44 min
Luke 11:37-44
In this sermon on Luke 11:37-44, Pastor Steve addresses Jesus' confrontation with the Pharisees over ceremonial washing. He explores the danger of having a clean outward appearance while neglecting the inward state of the heart, reminding believers to examine their motivations and seek true spiritual transformation.
Steve De Ruse · August 7, 2023 · 45 min
