Core Church LA Services

1. Change My Speech2. Change My Wisdom3. Change My SpiritToday's sermon explored how true change happens not through external makeovers, but through allowing the Holy Spirit to transform our speech, wisdom, and spirit. Using 1 Corinthians 2 as our foundation, we examined the Apostle Paul's radical transformation from a prideful Pharisee named Saul to a humble servant who called himself "the little one." Paul's example shows us that lasting change comes when we surrender our own superiority and embrace God's power working through our weakness. The message called us to examine whether we're willing to let God change us at our core as we move into this new year.Takeaways:- Change My Speech: Paul didn't come with superior words to impress people, but simply preached "Jesus Christ and Him crucified." This year, let's ask God to change how we speak—making our words point to Jesus rather than ourselves, and ensuring our faith rests on God's power, not human wisdom.- Change My Wisdom: The world's wisdom has led us away from God's truth. We must choose to embrace Biblical wisdom over cultural trends, social media influences, or popular opinions. God's Word is our unchanging source of truth in an ever-changing world.- Change My Spirit: As believers, we have received the Spirit of God who reveals spiritual truths we couldn't understand on our own. Let's ask God to awaken our spirits this year so we can truly know Him, hear His voice, and see what He wants us to see.This new year is an invitation to allow God to work deeply in our lives. Whatever happened last year is done—we cannot change it. But we can change what this year looks like by surrendering to the Holy Spirit's transforming work today.

1. The Believer's Delight2. The Believer's Steps3. The Believer's HeartToday's sermon explored the tension we all feel when we see the wicked prosper while we strive to live righteously. Through Psalm 37, written by David in his old age, we discovered that true satisfaction doesn't come from our hobbies, careers, or possessions, but from delighting ourselves in the Lord. When we find our joy in serving Him and put His will above our own desires, God promises to give us the desires of our hearts. This isn't about getting everything we want, but about our hearts becoming aligned with His will. The implications for our spiritual life are profound: as we mature in Christ and serve with pure hearts, our desires transform to match God's desires, and He faithfully provides for and sustains us through every season.Takeaways:- Do not fret over evildoers who seem to prosper. God sees everything, keeps perfect accounts, and will judge righteously in His timing. Our focus should be on trusting Him rather than becoming angry or envious of those who live wickedly.- Delight yourself in the Lord by finding your satisfaction in serving Him and others. When we commit our ways to Him and trust fully in His plans, He establishes our steps and promises to never let go of our hand, even when we stumble.- Better is the little of the righteous than the abundance of the wicked. The Lord sustains, supports, and holds up those who follow Him. His inheritance for us is eternal, and He has never forsaken the righteous or left their children begging for bread.Let us all be encouraged to reflect this week on where we truly find our delight. Are we serving the Lord with joy, or are we consumed by what others have? Remember, God's Word in our hearts keeps our steps from slipping, and His faithfulness endures forever.

1. A Savior Was Born2. A Message of Good News3. A Treasured MomentMay this message finds you blessed and filled with the joy of Christmas. Let us take a moment to reflect on the powerful truths we explored together on Christmas Eve.Today's sermon explored the true meaning of Christmas in a world that Charles Dickens aptly described as "the best of times and the worst of times." While we live in an age of technological advancement and convenience, we also face increasing challenges—crime, fraud, and a culture consumed by busyness. Yet Christmas remains the greatest holiday in human history, not because of lights, decorations, or gifts from stores, but because of one Person: Jesus Christ. We cannot have Christmas without Christ. He is the reason for the season, the source of true peace, hope, and joy. Through examining Luke 2, we discovered that 2,000 years ago, a Savior was born—not just a baby, but Immanuel, God with us—who came to deliver humanity from sin and separation from God.Takeaways:- A Savior Was Born for All People: Jesus wasn't just another baby born in Bethlehem. He was the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy—the Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace wrapped in human flesh. The infinite, eternal God entered our world through natural birth to look at us with human eyes, touch us with human hands, and fully understand our pain.- Good News of Great Joy: The angels proclaimed a message that still echoes today—there is hope for ruined humanity. We cannot save ourselves through good works or personal effort. Jesus came as the only Savior, the Deliverer who is God, offering forgiveness and freedom from everything that weighs us down. True peace comes not from what we buy or achieve, but from glorifying God and receiving His gift.- Treasure This Moment: Like Mary, who pondered and treasured these things in her heart, we must not lose sight of the real Christmas. The manger and the cross are inseparable—Jesus was born to die for us. His birth at Bethlehem points directly to His sacrifice at Golgotha. This Christmas, let us embrace God's greatest gift and make room in our busy lives for Jesus.As we celebrate this season, may we rediscover that Christmas truly means "a little bit more" than what comes from a store. The Creator became a baby in a stable so that thirty years later He could hang on a cross for you and me. That is the greatest gift ever given.Merry Christmas and may God's peace fill your heart!

1. A Promise Fulfilled2. A Promise With No End3. A Promise With PowerToday's sermon explored God's faithfulness through the Christmas story, focusing on the promises surrounding Jesus' birth as recorded in Luke 1. We examined how God fulfilled His ancient promise of a Savior through Mary, a young virgin from Nazareth. The message reminded us that unlike human promises that are easily broken, God's Word is completely trustworthy. When God speaks a promise, it will surely come to pass. The angel Gabriel's announcement to Mary wasn't just about one miraculous birth—it was the fulfillment of a promise dating back to Genesis 3, and it points forward to an eternal kingdom that will never end.Takeaways:- God keeps His promises: From the Garden of Eden to the manger in Bethlehem, God fulfilled His word to send a Savior. We can trust that His promises to us are equally certain.- Nothing is impossible with God: When Mary asked how the virgin birth could happen, the angel declared that nothing is impossible with God. Whatever overwhelming circumstances we face, God's power is sufficient.- Faith moves God's heart: Mary's response—"be it done to me according to Your word"—demonstrated the kind of faith that pleases God. We're called to believe God's promises even when we don't understand how they'll be fulfilled.This Christmas, may we allow God's promises to shine on our problems and remember that Jesus is the ultimate gift—the reason for true peace, hope, and joy.

1. Pointing at Others2. Looking Within3. Looking AheadToday's sermon explored how America has largely become "the Grinch who stole Christmas" by reducing this sacred season to mere "happy holidays" or retail opportunities. While many struggle during this time—due to division, loss, broken relationships, or loneliness—the root cause of their emptiness is often the absence of Christ Himself. Through the prophet Isaiah's journey from pointing fingers at others to falling prostrate before God's holiness, we discovered that true Christmas joy comes only when we humble ourselves and recognize Jesus as the promised Messiah—Immanuel, God with us. Isaiah's prophecies, written 750 years before Christ's birth, remind us that this baby born in obscurity is actually the Mighty God, Wonderful Counselor, and Prince of Peace who came to heal our fractured hearts and give us lasting peace.Takeaways:- Stop pointing, start looking within: Like Isaiah, we may be quick to judge the world's brokenness, but true transformation begins when we say "Woe is me" and acknowledge our own need for God's grace and forgiveness.- Jesus is the reason and the answer: No gift under a tree, no amount of spending, and no political solution can provide the sustained joy, lasting peace, and true meaning that only a relationship with Jesus Christ can offer.- Share the greatest gift: The best present anyone can receive this Christmas is the gift of salvation through Jesus—born in a manger, died on a cross, risen in victory—so that all who believe can have peace with God.As you navigate these final days before Christmas, I encourage you to extend kindness to those you encounter, remember that a little compassion goes a long way, and most importantly, share the hope of Christ with someone who needs to hear that God is with us.May you experience the true peace of Immanuel this season.

1. His Rebellion2. His Affliction3. His MissionToday's sermon explored the life of Jonah and the consequences of running from God's calling. Through Jonah's journey—from his rebellion and flight to Tarshish, through his affliction in the belly of the fish, to his eventual mission in Nineveh—we saw how sin always costs us more than we want to pay and takes us farther than we want to go. Yet we also witnessed God's incredible mercy, not only toward the wicked people of Nineveh, but also toward His rebellious servant. This message challenges us to examine our own lives: Are we sleeping while storms rage around us? Are we running from God's clear calling? And do we care more about our own comfort than the eternal destiny of lost souls?Takeaways:- God's call is clear and direct, but obedience is our choice. Just as God told Jonah to "Arise, go to Nineveh," He has called each of us with a higher purpose. We must ask ourselves: Who has chartered our course? Are we sailing toward God's priorities or our own?- Running from God always leads downward, and sin will cost us. Jonah paid the fare, went down into the ship, and descended into the belly of the fish. When we rebel against God's calling, we always go down—spiritually, emotionally, and relationally. The good news is that God's mercies are new every morning, and He is the God of second chances.- Our concern for souls should outweigh our concern for comfort. Jonah cared more about a plant that gave him shade than 120,000 people who escaped eternal judgment. We must examine our hearts: Do we have urgency to reach the lost and lonely with the message of hope, or are we more focused on our own convenience and comfort?As we move forward this week, let's commit to listening to God's voice, responding to His calling with urgency, and extending His love and mercy to those around us who desperately need to hear the Gospel.

1. Crying for Mercy2. Thanking the Lord3. Jesus WonderedToday's sermon explored the story of the ten lepers in Luke 17:11-19, where Jesus healed all ten men, but only one—a Samaritan—returned to give thanks. This account challenges us to examine our own prayer lives: Do we spend more time asking God for what we don't have, or thanking Him for what we do have? The message traced Thanksgiving's history from the Pilgrims in 1621 through presidential proclamations, reminding us that this holiday was established as a day to acknowledge "with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God." Just as the nine lepers forgot to return with thanksgiving, we too can easily forget to praise God for His daily blessings—our breath, our heartbeat, our food, our forgiveness, and most importantly, our salvation from the disease of sin.Takeaways:- Cry out for mercy with faith: The lepers had to step out in faith before they saw their healing. God often asks us to move in obedience before we see the results. What has God been asking you to do that requires a step of faith?- Return with a thankful heart: Only one out of ten returned to thank Jesus. This Thanksgiving, let's not be among the nine who forgot. Take time to fall on your face before God—not with a laundry list of requests, but with genuine thanksgiving for His countless blessings we take for granted daily.- Remember what the holidays truly mean: Thanksgiving celebrates God's provision; Christmas celebrates the Savior who delivered us from sin. These aren't just days off work—they're reminders of the hope God has given humanity. Share this hope with others and invite them to our Christmas Eve service.This week, I challenge you to spend more time thanking God than asking Him for things. Make a list of blessings you've overlooked. Remember that God can "make up for the years the locusts have eaten" (Joel 2:25)—He specializes in restoration and redemption.Let the redeemed of the Lord say so! Rise up and go, sharing the greatest gift of all time: Hope in Jesus Christ.

1. Searching for Love2. Judging Correctly3. Finding MercyToday's sermon, "Longing for Love," explored Luke 7:36-49, contrasting the attitudes of Simon the Pharisee and the sinful woman who anointed Jesus' feet. This passage reminds us that we all have a God-shaped void in our hearts that only Jesus can fill. The sermon highlighted how true satisfaction comes not from worldly success or religious pride, but from humbly seeking God's forgiveness and love.Takeaways:- God knows everything about us, including our hidden thoughts and past, yet He still offers us forgiveness and love.- We should be careful not to judge others harshly, as we all are in need of God's mercy and grace.- True repentance and humility before God lead to freedom, forgiveness, and a transformed life.As we go through this week, let's remember that no matter our past or current struggles, Jesus invites us to come to Him. He offers forgiveness, love, and a new beginning to all who approach Him with sincere hearts.May we be like the woman in the story - willing to humble ourselves before Jesus and receive His transforming love.

1. Delivered From Fear2. Desiring Long Life3. Redeeming Our SoulsThis week's sermon delved into Psalm 34, exploring the theme of "Being Delivered." Pastor Steve shared personal experiences and biblical insights on how God delivers us from fear, grants us long life, and redeems our souls. The message emphasized the transformative power of seeking God in times of trouble and the importance of living a life that honors Him.Takeaways:- God delivers us from all our fears when we earnestly seek Him. Our only true fear should be a reverent fear of the Lord.- Desiring a long, good life comes from living with integrity, seeking peace, and pursuing righteousness as outlined in God's Word.- The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. He delivers the righteous from all their afflictions.As we go through this week, let's remember that no matter what challenges we face, God is always ready to deliver us when we cry out to Him. Let's strive to live lives that reflect our trust in Him and His goodness.May God's peace be with you all.

1. Those Who Deny God2. Those Who Deny God Sees3. Those Who Deny God's JudgementToday's sermon, "When Times Are Difficult," based on Psalm 10, offered a powerful reminder of God's presence and sovereignty in our challenging world. As we navigate the complexities of modern life, it's crucial to ground ourselves in biblical truth and understanding.Today's sermon explored the reality of evil in our world, the tendency of some to deny God's existence or involvement, and our response as believers. It emphasized that despite the difficulties we face, God is ever-present, all-seeing, and ultimately just. We are encouraged to stand firm in our faith, be voices of reason in a chaotic world, and trust in God's ultimate plan, even when we don't understand it.Takeaways:- We live in a fallen world where evil is prevalent, but as believers, we're called to be light in the darkness, just as exemplified by the life of Charlie Kirk, and more importantly, by Jesus Christ.- Those who deny God's existence, presence, or judgment are described in Scripture as foolish. We must compassionately engage with our culture while standing firm in biblical truth.- God sees everything, even when it seems He's distant. We can trust in His justice and timing, even when we don't understand His ways.As we reflect on this message, let's consider how we can be beacons of hope and truth in our daily lives. How can we engage with those around us, showing God's love while standing firm in His truth? Let's pray for wisdom and courage to be faithful witnesses in these challenging times.May God bless you and keep you strong in faith this week.

1. A Plea for Mercy2. A Flood of Tears3. A Prayer Received

1. A Father Stepped In2. A Father Who Didn't Bow3. A Father’s Words of Wisdom

1. The Call2. The Struggle3. The Provision

1. The Rise2. The Fall3. The Difference

1. Her Plight2. Her Plea3. Her Promise

1. What Happened2. Why It Happened3. How It Happened

1. Arriving Late2. Costly Giving3. Joyful Shouting

1. Not Fearing2. Not Moving3. Not Striving

1. Doing Right2. Doing Wrong3. Being Renewed