Frontier Church

God is Always on Time, Phil Chan

In this message from John 11, Pastor Phil connects our church’s year—fires, wandering, waiting, and unexpected provision—with the story of Lazarus and the God who seems “late” but is always working. He shows how waiting is often God’s classroom: the place where faith matures, community deepens, and unseen formation prepares us for what’s ahead. If you’re reflecting on the past year or navigating your own season of uncertainty, this teaching offers perspective, hope, and a renewed sense of God’s presence in the in-between.Highlights:– How our church’s journey mirrors the emotional tension of John 11– Why Jesus’ “delay” with Lazarus is an act of intentional love– What God forms in us during seasons of wandering and waiting– The power of small, everyday faithfulness in our neighborhoodsPractices for the Week:– Reflect on where you feel God is “late” and invite Him into that place– Re-read John 11 and notice how Jesus meets disappointment and doubt– Share your waiting story with someone in community– Do one intentional act of neighborly kindness as a sign of hopeLet this message help you look back with clarity, live the present with trust, and move into the future with expectant faith.

Sent Again: When Jesus Opens Your Eyes and Reignites Your Mission (Luke 24:13-35)

-When Jesus brings your heart back to life, He brings your purpose back to life.In this Advent message, “Sent Again: When Jesus Opens Your Eyes and Reignites Your Mission,” Pastor Christian walks through Luke 24 (the road to Emmaus) and Genesis 12 to show how Jesus meets us in disappointment, opens the Scriptures, reveals His presence, and then sends us back into the world with renewed courage and mission.We explore:-Why we all want clarity before obedience—and why Abraham, Cleopas, and we don’t get it-How disappointment and unmet expectations (“we had hoped…”) can blind us to Jesus right beside us-Why spiritual blindness is less about information and more about interpretation-How Jesus uses Scripture and the table (hospitality, breaking bread) to reawaken our hearts-Why true encounters with Jesus always lead to turning around and being sent againThis message is part of our fall missional series and the beginning of Advent, inviting us to resist consumerism, hurry, and distraction, and instead slow down to recognize Jesus’ presence and say yes again to His call.Reflection / Practice prompts from the sermon:-Where are you carrying disappointment right now—places you quietly say, “I had hoped…”?-What would it look like this Advent to return to your “Jerusalem”—your place of calling, vocation, or relationships—with fresh intention?-How can you make simple space at the table (meals, coffee, conversation) for Jesus to reveal Himself and for others to encounter Him through you?-What step of obedience or mission have you been avoiding that Jesus is inviting you to step into again?Scripture: Luke 24:13–35; Genesis 12:1–3If this message encouraged you, consider sharing it with a friend, subscribing, or joining us in person at Frontier Church Pasadena as we walk through Advent and learn to live sent again in the way of Jesus.

Work as Mission: The Gospel That Reframes Work // Ephesians 6:5–9

What are you really working for?What if your job, your unpaid labor, your parenting, your studies, and even the parts of your week that feel invisible are actually one of the primary frontiers where Jesus sends you? In this message, Pastor Christian walks through Ephesians 6:5–9 to show how the gospel reframes our everyday work: giving us a new heart for how we work, a new audience we work for, and a new way to use our power and influence.We start by honestly wrestling with the hard word “slaves” in the passage—asking, “Does the Bible condone slavery?”—and then explore how Paul’s words actually undermine slavery from the inside out and plant the seeds for its eventual destruction. From there, we move into the world we live in now: corporate ladders, gig economies, unpaid caregiving, comparison, burnout, and the invisible ladders we climb to prove our worth. Into that world, Paul speaks a better word: you are Christ’s, and your work is seen.This sermon will help you:-See your workplace (and home) as a real mission field-Recognize where success and failure have too much power over your identity-Learn what it means to work for an “Audience of One”-Use your influence to humanize and bless the people above you and below you in any systemWe close with three simple practices for the week:-Pray the “Audience of One” prayer each morning.-Do one hidden act of faithfulness no one will see or praise.-Use your influence to lift up one person in your world.If this message helps you reframe your work and worship, consider sharing it with a friend who feels stuck in the grind.