Core Church LA Services

Pastor Steve Wilburn

Pastor Steve Wilburn of Core Church Los Angeles preaches from God's Word with passion and relevance to our daily lives. Subscribe to this podcast to stay up-to-date with the latest sermons from Sunday mornings and our mid-week Bible study. You can also watch LIVE online or visit us at: http://corechurchla.org

  1. Jul 26

    Seeking Happiness

    1. Knowing Where to Walk 2. Knowing Where to Plant 3. Knowing What’s Ahead Today's sermon explored the universal human pursuit of happiness and what God's Word reveals about where true happiness is actually found. Drawing from Psalm 1, we examined how the world searches for happiness in relationships, wealth, status, and circumstances, only to come up empty. God's Word makes clear that lasting happiness, described in the original language as a deep and multiplied blessing, is not found in our surroundings but in our relationship with God and our daily walk with His Word. The sermon challenged us to examine where we are walking, where we are planted, and what lies ahead for those who follow God's path versus those who reject it. Takeaways: - Knowing where to Walk: The happy, blessed life begins with avoiding the influence of the wicked, the path of sinners, and the company of those who mock God. As believers, we are called to be transformed rather than conformed, pursuing integrity and Christlikeness in a world that often pulls us in the opposite direction. - Knowing where to Plant: Like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, the believer who meditates on God's Word day and night and puts it into practice will bear fruit, find strength in seasons of hardship, and experience a joy that is not dependent on circumstances. Our contentment is rooted not in what we have or do not have, but in our high calling as children of God. - Knowing what is Ahead: Psalm 1 ends with a sobering contrast. The righteous are known by God and sustained by Him, while those who reject His plan face judgment. This reminder calls us to share the hope we have with others and to live with eternity in view, grateful that God has made a way for every one of us to be the happy, happy man or woman He describes. Be encouraged to open Psalm 1 again this week and read it slowly. Let it serve as a personal checklist for your walk with the Lord. Ask yourself where you are walking, who you are spending your time with, and how consistently you are feeding on God's Word. The road map to happiness is right there on the page, and it has been there for thousands of years.

  2. Jul 5

    One Nation Under God

    1. A Blessed Nation 2. He Sees Us All 3. Fearing the Lord Today's sermon explored Psalm 33 in light of America's founding and our current cultural moment. While America has never been a "Christian nation" in the strictest sense, our country was undeniably founded on Biblical principles by leaders who acknowledged God's providence and authority. From "In God We Trust" on our currency to the Declaration of Independence's recognition that we are "endowed by our Creator," God's influence on our foundation is undeniable. However, as we've drifted from these moorings—embracing moral relativism, political corruption, and rejecting God's standards—we face the same fate as empires before us. The sermon challenged us to remember that "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord" (Psalm 33:12) and that our only hope, both individually and collectively, is found in fearing the Lord and trusting in Jesus Christ. Takeaways: - God sees everything and knows our hearts completely. We cannot hide our thoughts, motives, or actions from Him. He has given us both a conscience and His Word to guide us toward righteousness, and we will all stand before Him to give account. - Fearing the Lord is the foundation of blessing. True fear of God means both reverence and a healthy dread of standing before Him in our sin. When we genuinely fear God, we don't need to fear anything else because we are secure in His love and forgiveness through Christ. America's hope—and ours—rests solely in Jesus Christ. No nation can survive when it rejects God's truth and embraces sin. Our only path forward, individually and as a country, is repentance and returning to the Lord who offers forgiveness as a free gift through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. As we reflect on our nation's history and future, let us commit to being people who honor God in every area of our lives, who fear Him appropriately, and who share the hope of the Gospel with those around us.

  3. May 10

    Willing to Serve - Mother's Day 2026

    1. A Listening Ear 2. A Broken Heart 3. A Giving Spirit Today's sermon explored the life of Mary, sister of Martha and Lazarus, through three encounters with Jesus found in Luke 10 and John 11-12. Her story reveals what it means to truly serve God—not through frantic activity, but through worship, surrender, and costly devotion. Mary teaches us that the best place to be is always at Jesus' feet, whether we're learning from Him, grieving with Him, or offering Him our most precious gifts. Her example challenges us to examine where we're placing our priorities and what we're willing to sacrifice for the One who gave everything for us. Takeaways: - A Listening Ear: Like Mary, we need to choose the "good part" by sitting at Jesus' feet and listening to His Word, even when life's demands pull us in every direction. Martha was distracted and overwhelmed, but Mary chose presence over productivity. God promises us peace when we remain steadfast in Him (Isaiah 26:3). - A Broken Heart: Jesus doesn't delay because He doesn't care—He delays because He has a greater plan. When Lazarus died, Mary fell at Jesus' feet in her grief, and Jesus wept with her. God's love for us is "Agape"—unconditional and unwavering, even when we don't understand His timing or His ways. - A Giving Spirit: Mary's costly gift of perfume worth a year's wages demonstrated true worship. She gave what was most precious to her because she understood who Jesus was and what He came to do. That which truly counts is always that which costs us something. As we move forward this week, let's ask ourselves: Are we sitting at Jesus' feet regularly? Are we trusting His plan even in our pain? And what are we willing to give Him that actually costs us something? To all the mothers reading this—thank you for your unwavering service, your sacrificial love, and your willingness to never give up. You reflect the heart of Christ in powerful ways.

  4. Apr 12

    A Planned Meeting

    1. Sitting and Waiting 2. Asking for a Drink 3. Seeing a Change Today's sermon explored how Jesus intentionally planned a meeting with a broken, rejected woman whom society had cast aside. Despite being weary from His journey, Jesus waited at Jacob's well at noon to meet someone who desperately needed His love and grace. This passage reminds us that no one is beyond God's reach, no heart is too broken for Him to mend, and no past is too damaged for Him to redeem. Jesus offers us "living water"—eternal satisfaction that the world cannot provide—and He seeks us out even when we feel unworthy of His attention. Takeaways: - God orchestrates divine appointments in our lives. Just as Jesus "had to pass through Samaria," He intentionally pursues each of us, regardless of our past failures or current circumstances. Your brokenness doesn't disqualify you from His love. - Only Jesus can satisfy the deepest thirst of our souls. We often look for fulfillment in relationships, possessions, success, or popularity, but these leave us empty. Jesus is the fountain of living water who offers lasting satisfaction when we surrender to Him in spirit and truth. - Genuine transformation leads to testimony. The Samaritan woman immediately left her water pot and shared her encounter with Jesus. When we truly meet Christ, we can't help but tell others: "Come and see!" Our changed lives become powerful witnesses to His grace. As you go through this week, let us be encouraged to reflect on our own "divine appointments." Where is Jesus meeting you? What areas of thirst in your life need His living water? And who in your circle needs to hear about the hope you've found in Christ? May you experience afresh the joy of knowing that the God of the universe knows everything about you and loves you completely.

  5. Apr 5

    The Gift - Easter Sunday 2026

    1. Shaken With Fear 2. Nothing to Fear 3. Go With Purpose Today's sermon explored the resurrection of Jesus Christ as the greatest gift of all time, examining Matthew 28 and the events surrounding that first Easter morning. We discovered how God's plan of redemption, spoken from Genesis through the prophets, culminated in Jesus conquering sin and death. The empty tomb stands as the defining moment that separates Christianity from every other religion and fills our lives with purpose, hope, and freedom from fear. This gift has profound implications for our spiritual life—transforming us from fearful, purposeless people into forgiven disciples with a mission to share the Good News with a broken world. Takeaways: - The resurrection is historically verified and undeniable. Jesus was publicly executed, buried in a guarded tomb with a Roman seal, yet His body vanished and He appeared to over 500 witnesses. His disciples, who initially fled in fear, were so transformed by seeing Him alive that they died for their faith in Him. - We no longer need to fear death or hide from our past. Because Jesus rose from the dead, He crushed the power of sin and death. The empty tomb proves that forgiveness is available to all who repent and believe, filling the void in our souls that only our Creator can satisfy. - Every believer is called to "Go with Purpose." Jesus gave us the Great Commission to make disciples of all nations. Our purpose is not just to pray, but to know God personally, worship Him, and serve as vessels of honor—sharing His truth with every person whose soul is empty. As we move forward from this Easter celebration, let us remember that we serve a living Savior. The tomb is empty. Death has lost its sting. And we have been given the incredible privilege of sharing this life-changing message with a world desperate for hope. May the reality of the resurrection fill your heart with great joy this week.

  6. Mar 29

    A Memorable Event - Palm Sunday 2026

    1. He Wept 2. He Was Passionate 3. He Gave a Warning Today's sermon explored the events of Palm Sunday through Luke 19, examining how Jesus fulfilled ancient prophecy by riding into Jerusalem on a donkey. We witnessed three powerful aspects of Christ's character that day: His compassion as He wept over Jerusalem, His passion as He cleansed the temple, and His warning about the cost of rejecting Him. This memorable event calls us to examine our own response to Jesus—are we truly following Him wholeheartedly, or are we among those who praise Him one moment but turn away the next? The implications for our spiritual life are clear: Jesus went all in for us through His sacrifice, and He calls us to go all in for Him. Takeaways: - Jesus offers love, hope, and liberty in a broken world. Even when circumstances around us are unstable and discouraging, Christ remains our source of peace and restoration, inviting all who feel lost to come to Him for forgiveness and renewal. - We must recognize the time of our visitation. Jerusalem missed their moment when the Messiah came. Today, we must not be blind to God's work in our lives or reject His truth because it conflicts with cultural preferences or personal comfort. - Halfhearted commitment is not an option. Jesus said, "He who is not with Me is against Me." We cannot remain neutral or uncommitted—either we are gathering with Christ and following His Word fully, or we are working against His purpose. As we move toward Good Friday and Easter, let us not be fickle like the crowds who shouted "Hosanna" on Sunday and "Crucify Him" by Friday. Instead, may we respond to Christ's total commitment to us with our own wholehearted devotion to Him. Let's join together this Friday from 12:00-1:00 PM for our Good Friday service, where we will take an in-depth look at Jesus' death on the cross and share communion together.

Ratings & Reviews

4.9
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About

Pastor Steve Wilburn of Core Church Los Angeles preaches from God's Word with passion and relevance to our daily lives. Subscribe to this podcast to stay up-to-date with the latest sermons from Sunday mornings and our mid-week Bible study. You can also watch LIVE online or visit us at: http://corechurchla.org

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