1 Timothy 3:8-13
Church MattersThis sermon explains the vital role of deacons in the church, drawing from 1 Timothy 3 and Acts 6. The speaker outlines the deacon's job to preserve unity and facilitate practical service, freeing pastors for the ministry of the Word and prayer. He details the character qualifications for deacons, including the biblical support for women deacons, and highlights the great reward they receive for their selfless service, ultimately reflecting the sacrificial servant heart of Jesus Christ Himself.
John Lee · August 2, 2026
1 Timothy 3:1-7
Church MattersThis sermon, "Pastors Matter," explores 1 Timothy 3:1-7 to emphasize that a pastor's character and godliness are more crucial than their actions or charisma. It meticulously details twelve qualifications for overseers, from their desire for noble work to their reputation among outsiders, portraying a holistic image of a Christ-like leader. The sermon also outlines the core responsibilities of pastors—modeling godliness, preaching, praying, and discipling—and guides the congregation on their vital role in recognizing, supporting, and holding their leaders accountable, ultimately exalting Christ as the perfect Chief Shepherd.
John Lee · July 26, 2026 · 54 min
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
2025 LA Preachers' ConferenceThis sermon uses the life of the Apostle Peter as a framework for pastoral introspection, divided into 'Rock, Paper, Scissor.' It explores Peter's initial prominence, not due to his own merit but Christ's effectual call, then highlights Peter's spiritual pride that led to his three-fold denial of Jesus. Finally, it emphasizes Peter's painful pruning and subsequent restoration by Jesus, concluding that this 'good hurt' is necessary for pastors to confront their self-love, realign their affections for Christ, and serve humbly.
Thomas Terry · October 14, 2025 · 43 min
2025 LA Preachers' ConferenceThis panel discussion explores the pervasive struggle of pride among pastors and spiritual leaders, emphasizing its elusive nature. Panelists Thomas, Nam, and Robert Scott share practical strategies for cultivating humility, including regular confession to family and accountability partners, radical vulnerability, and strategically declining opportunities that might fuel self-exaltation. They stress the importance of fostering a culture of honest feedback and deep friendships within church leadership to safeguard against pride and promote genuine spiritual growth.
John Lee, Thomas Terry, Bobby Scott, and Nam Park · October 14, 2025 · 23 min
2025 LA Preachers' ConferenceThis sermon challenges preachers to critically examine their motivations and methods, contrasting reliance on human eloquence, wisdom, strength, or persuasive ability with radical dependence on the Holy Spirit and the power of God. Drawing primarily from 1 Corinthians 2, the speaker urges ministers to proclaim Christ crucified, trusting God alone to transform hearts, ensure genuine spiritual growth, and receive all the glory. It encourages humility, courage in fear, and deep personal knowledge of Christ as foundational to effective, Spirit-empowered preaching.
Bobby Scott · October 14, 2025 · 51 min
2025 LA Preachers' ConferenceThis panel discussion explores the vital role of prayer and dependence on the Holy Spirit in preaching, particularly amidst life's busyness and personal suffering, which deepens a pastor's reliance on God. The panelists also address how to balance expository preaching with cultural relevance, emphasizing the importance of discipling congregations to maturity while wisely engaging with contemporary issues impacting the church. Ultimately, the conversation highlights that effective, powerful preaching stems from faithfulness to God's Word and dependence on the Spirit, rather than celebrity status or congregation size.
John Lee, Thomas Terry, Bobby Scott, and Nam Park · October 14, 2025 · 19 min
2025 LA Preachers' ConferenceThis panel discussion from the LA Preachers' Conference explores the crucial role of displaying the beauty of God's word in preaching. Panelists emphasize deep exegetical study, understanding the emotional "ethos" of the text, and cultivating a personal, worshipful relationship with Christ to effectively convey His glory. They offer practical advice on sermon preparation, structuring points, and nurturing spiritual growth for young preachers, stressing authenticity over mere style.
John Lee, Thomas Terry, Bobby Scott, and Nam Park · October 14, 2025 · 29 min
1 Thessalonians 5:12-14
This sermon, based on 1 Thessalonians 5:12-14, calls the church to active mutual care, emphasizing the importance of supporting spiritual leaders and ministering to fellow believers. It encourages recognition, high esteem, and peace towards leaders who labor, lead, and admonish, while exhorting congregants to warn the idle, comfort the discouraged, help the weak, and be patient with everyone. The sermon grounds these challenging commands in the unifying power of Jesus Christ, whose love and sacrifice enable the community to live out these principles.
Bien Cedro · September 21, 2025 · 44 min
This sermon, '1 Timothy in a Nutshell,' summarizes the Apostle Paul's pastoral letter to Timothy, a discouraged pastor facing false teaching and opposition in Ephesus. It exhorts believers to 'fight the good fight of the faith' by embracing four key actions: praying, preaching the Word, practicing personal and corporate godliness, and persevering in their faith until Christ's return, emphasizing that Jesus is always worth the effort and is the foundation for all Christian living.
John Lee · June 1, 2025 · 47 min
1 Timothy 3:8-16
1 TimothyThis sermon explains the role of deacons, drawing from 1 Timothy 3 and Acts 6, highlighting their job to preserve unity and facilitate practical service within the church. It details the qualifications for deacons, including a thorough discussion on women deacons, and concludes with the promised reward of good standing and boldness, emphasizing how their sacrificial service reflects the ultimate servant heart of Jesus Christ.
John Lee · March 2, 2025 · 51 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
John 21
Preaching from 2 Timothy 4:1-8, Nam Park shares his personal journey of facing liver cancer at age forty to highlight the importance of numbering our days and finishing pastoral ministry well. He encourages pastors to view their lives as sacrificial drink offerings poured out in worship, to faithfully complete the specific course God has set before them, and to keep their affections fixed on the promise of final sanctification and Christ's return.
Nam Park · July 15, 2024 · 44 min
Pastor Steve De Ruse addresses a season of transition and leadership change in the church, drawing parallels to Joshua succeeding Moses. He encourages the congregation to remain strong, courageous, and deeply rooted in God's Word as they step into a new chapter of ministry.
Steve De Ruse · June 9, 2024 · 28 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
2024 LA Ministers' ConferenceAt the 2024 LA Ministers' Conference, Mark Dever discusses the value of looking to Puritan sermon models to find faithfulness and clarity in preaching. He examines how Puritans structured their introductions, sermons, and applications to keep the Bible central, and participates in a panel discussion about the practical struggles and joys of weekly sermon preparation.
Mark Dever · January 1, 2024 · 1h 16m
2024 LA Ministers' ConferenceIn this sermon and subsequent panel discussion, Pastor Bobby Scott and fellow ministers examine the vital calling of shepherding one's family. Drawing from Psalm 23, they unpack how a husband and father is called to provide for, lead, protect, and love his household, offering practical wisdom for shepherding children through every developmental stage.
Bobby Scott · January 1, 2024 · 1h 14m
2024 LA Ministers' ConferenceMark Dever discusses the interconnectedness of discipling, evangelism, raising up elders, church planting, and missions. He argues that a healthy church culture must center on expositional preaching, biblical theology, and a clear understanding of conversion and the gospel, rather than relying solely on programmatic solutions.
Mark Dever · January 1, 2024 · 1h 6m
