Search and browse every sermon preached at FBC Artesia — by book, speaker, series, or topic.
This sermon outlines the biblical imperative for church discipline, explaining that it serves two primary purposes: to protect Christ's reputation and to facilitate the sinner's restoration. It details the process of church discipline as taught in Matthew 18, emphasizing that it should be carried out with love, humility, and a clear understanding of the gospel's power to transform and forgive repentant sinners.
46 minThis sermon unpacks the dark narrative of Genesis 34, highlighting the pervasive corruption of both love and justice. It examines Shechem's selfish actions and Jacob's passive response, as well as the deceitful and violent vengeance of Simeon and Levi. Ultimately, the sermon points to the perfect justice and redemptive grace found only in Jesus Christ, offering hope and a call to firm conviction in a fallen world.
47 minThis sermon unpacks Jacob's transformation from a scheming, self-reliant individual to 'Israel,' one who struggles with and depends on God. Through his panicked efforts to appease Esau, his wrestling match with God that leaves him with a permanent limp, and an unexpected reconciliation with his brother, Jacob learns that true security and salvation come not from his own efforts but from God's grace. The sermon applies these lessons to the Christian life, emphasizing reliance on God, radical forgiveness, faithful obedience, and a secure identity in Christ.
51 minThis sermon explores Jacob's struggles with self-reliance, superstition, and deception while working for Laban, highlighting how Jacob's attempts to control his own destiny ultimately led to further conflict and revealed his faithlessness. It further examines Rachel's hidden idolatry and Jacob's distorted communication with his wives, illustrating how sin and superstition defile. Ultimately, the sermon points to the need for God's true covenant and the cleansing, redeeming grace found only in Jesus Christ, who perfectly fulfills God's standard of purity and offers forgiveness for our defilement.
51 minThe 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.
35 minThis Easter sermon from Luke 24:1-12 challenges the cyclical and monotonous rhythms of life leading to death, presenting Jesus's resurrection as the definitive break in this pattern. The speaker outlines three actions of the women at the tomb—they see the empty tomb, remember Jesus's predictions of his necessary death and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins, and report this unbelievable but true news. Ultimately, the sermon calls believers to find hope and eternal rest in the resurrected Christ and to share this life-altering truth with others.
48 minThis sermon examines Abraham's repeated sin in Genesis 20, where he again puts Sarah's life at risk by claiming she is his sister. It contrasts Abimelech's innocent ignorance and swift repentance with Abraham's calculated self-preservation, highlighting how our 'not knowing' explains but doesn't excuse sin, and our 'not caring' reveals a lack of trust in God. Ultimately, the sermon points to Jesus as the faithful High Priest who intercedes for sinners, offering forgiveness and grace for our repeated failures, and enabling us to repent and trust God with our whole lives.
45 minThis sermon examines Genesis 4, highlighting how human effort inevitably fails, condemns, and deludes, as seen in the story of Cain and his descendants. It contrasts humanity's futile attempts to earn God's favor with God's provision of a new "seed" through Seth, ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ. The message concludes by emphasizing that salvation and acceptance before God come not from our own works or striving, but from the complete and sufficient grace offered through Christ's sacrifice, which cries out "forgiven" over our sin.
37 minThis sermon on John 21:1-19, "Jesus by the Fire," explores Jesus's post-resurrection appearances to his disciples, emphasizing how he meets their greatest needs. It focuses on Jesus's humble acts of providing for his disciples by the Sea of Tiberias and, crucially, his loving restoration of Peter after his three-fold denial. The message highlights Jesus's unwavering love, forgiveness, and call to follow, reassuring listeners that no one is too far gone from God's grace.
46 minPaul, a former blasphemer and persecutor, highlights the core gospel truth: "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." He uses his own transformation as an example of God's extraordinary grace and patience, proving that no one is beyond God's reach. The sermon calls believers to trust this message fully and respond with eternal praise to the King who orchestrates such a glorious plan of salvation.
44 minThis sermon explores Jesus's seemingly aggressive actions of cursing a fig tree and cleansing the temple in Mark 11:12-25, revealing them as prophetic acts against a fruitless and hypocritical religious system. It highlights Jesus's teaching on faith and forgiveness, emphasizing that true faith involves both trust in God's power and the willingness to extend forgiveness to others. The message calls believers to examine their own lives for genuine fruitfulness and true worship, beyond mere rituals.
33 minPreaching from Mark 2:1-12, Pastor John Liam explores Jesus's healing of the paralytic and His authority to forgive sins. The sermon contrasts the genuine, active faith of the paralytic's friends with the cynical, dismissive questions of the scribes. Ultimately, Jesus demonstrates His divine authority by physically healing the man, prompting a response of worship and showing that He has the power to solve our deepest spiritual need of forgiveness.