THE CHAPEL at Pasadena Podcast

In this sermon, Pastor Steven explores the pivotal transition from the era of the judges to the rise of Israel’s monarchy. Through Israel’s repentance at Mizpah, Samuel’s victory over the Philistines, and the raising of the Ebenezer stone, we see a God who remains faithful to His people despite their weakness and wandering. Yet as Israel demands a king “like the nations,” this message reveals both the danger of rejecting God’s rule and the hope of a greater King whom God would provide in His mercy. Ultimately, the story points us to Christ, the faithful King who accomplishes God’s good purposes even through human failure. 

In this sermon, Pastor Steven walks through one of the darkest moments in Israel’s history—the defeat by the Philistines, the capture of the ark, and the death of Eli and his sons. As Israel treats the presence of God like a tool to control rather than a holy reality to worship, the story reveals both the depth of the nation’s spiritual decline and the danger of trying to use God for our own purposes.

Yet even in judgment and apparent defeat, God shows His absolute power and sovereignty. From the fall of Dagon before the ark to the return of the ark without Israel lifting a sword, this message reminds us that God cannot be manipulated, defeated, or contained—and that even in the darkest seasons, He remains fully in control of His people’s story.

In this sermon, Pastor Steven contrasts the corruption of Eli’s household with the quiet faithfulness of Samuel to show how God begins His work of renewal in seasons of spiritual decline. As the word of the Lord comes to the young Samuel in the silence of the night, we see that God is never absent from His people—even when His voice seems rare.

Through Samuel’s call, this message explores how God confronts unfaithfulness, raises up new servants, and invites His people to hear and respond to His voice. In every generation, renewal begins when God calls His people to deeper trust, greater faithfulness, and wholehearted service to His kingdom.

In this message from John 11, Pastor Dave explores the story of Jesus raising Lazarus and what it means for the church to be a community that walks by faith together. Through the responses of the disciples, Martha, Mary, and the grieving crowd, this sermon shows how faith often involves following Jesus through uncertainty, bringing Him our grief and questions, and trusting Him even when His purposes are not yet clear.

As Jesus reveals Himself as the resurrection and the life, we are invited to see that true faith is not confidence in outcomes we can control, but trust in the One who holds power over death itself. 

In this sermon, Pastor Steven begins the story of 1 Samuel with Hannah—a woman marked by sorrow, longing, and faithful prayer. Through her anguish and her desperate cry before the Lord, we see the tender heart of a God who hears the pain of His people and works through ordinary lives to accomplish extraordinary purposes.

As the birth of Samuel signals the beginning of a new era for Israel, this message reminds us that God’s faithfulness is often revealed not only in grand movements of history, but in His personal care for every tear, every prayer, and every burden brought before Him. 

Join us as this Sunday, Pastor Mike Dsane, lead pastor at King's Harbor Church in Torrance, CA delivers the word from Matthew 26. Pastor Dsane navigates prayer and how we as Christians ought to confess our dependence on God.

In this opening sermon to 1 Samuel, Pastor Steven introduces the story of Israel’s transition from chaos to kingship through the lens of the “Ebenezer”—a stone that marks God’s faithfulness. Tracing the broader story of Scripture from Judges to the rise of Samuel, Saul, and David, this message shows how God’s people, broken and leaderless, are led toward the need for a true king.

As the story unfolds, 1 Samuel reveals not only how God has been faithful in the past, but how He will continue to be faithful—ultimately pointing beyond David to the greater King who secures lasting salvation for His people. 

Join us for Easter Sunday as Pastor Steven delivers a powerful message on the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

In this Palm Sunday message, Pastor Steven explores Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem as the long-awaited King—and the tension surrounding His arrival. From the donkey to the cries of “Hosanna” to the cleansing of the temple, every detail reveals a bold and deliberate claim: the King has come to take His throne.

Yet this triumph is unlike any other. The same crowds that welcome Him will soon reject Him, and the King who is hailed will be crucified. In this passage, we are invited to see both the hope of salvation we long for and the deeper salvation Jesus actually brings—one that leads not around the cross, but straight through it. 

In this sermon, Pastor Dave explores two familiar miracles in Matthew 14—Jesus feeding the five thousand and walking on water—to reveal His royal authority over both need and chaos. In desolate places where we lack enough, Jesus provides abundantly; in overwhelming storms where we lose control, Jesus reigns with power and presence.

More than displays of power, these moments reveal the heart of the King—one who meets His people in their need, forms their faith through difficulty, and calls them to trust Him even when circumstances feel unmanageable. Ultimately, this message points us to the cross, where Jesus enters the greatest storm for us, proving that the King we trust is both powerful enough to rule and loving enough to save.