508 YEARS LATER

On October 31, 1517, a German Monk named Martin Luther nailed a document calling for reform in the Catholic Church to the door of the local church in Wittenburg. What followed was a movement that has changed both the Church and the world to this day!

SOMETHING TRUE, NOT SOMETHING NEW

The triumph of the Reformation wasn’t the development of new doctrine that took the world by storm, but the rediscovery of the biblical gospel. It was the recovery of “the church’s true treasure,” as Luther said time and time again.

At Cross of Grace, we gladly locate ourselves downstream of the heritage and theology that flowed out of the Protestant Reformation. “Reformed Theology” is one of the 7 Shared Values that mark our family of churches. The story of the Reformation is important to us because it’s a story that helps us better understand ourselves. It points to the shoulders of the gospel-centered saints of old that we still stand upon today.

RESOURCES TO KEEP US REFORMING

You can find an excellent summary of what the Protestant Reformation was all about and why it remains relevant today in the article Does the Reformation Still Matter? by Stephen Nichols. In addition to this, below you will find a selection of resources that will immerse you in the story of the Reformation as you sing, watch, and listen to the events which have shaped our church and the world around us.

• Sing

  • The Five Solas by Psallos puts the 5 summary slogans of the Reformation (Scripture Alone, Faith Alone, Grace Alone, Christ Alone, & God’s Glory Alone) to music and drives the truth of the gospel down into our hearts.

• Watch

  • Luther: The Life and Legacy of the German Reformer - Available to stream for FREE. “Watch this documentary to discover the events God used in Martin Luther’s life that led him to rediscover the gospel of justification by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.“ You can also download Ligonier’s free accompanying study guide.

  • The Story of Martin Luther - a short, kid-friendly animated film surveying the life of Martin Luther.

• Listen

  • Luther: In Real Time - There are 2 seasons to the podcast. It was first released 500 years after the events described, this podcast allows you to walk in Martin Luther’s footsteps from his heresy charges to his famous stand for the authority of God’s Word at the Diet of Worms.

We hope this list makes you grateful to God for his work in the past and also encourages you to keep the spirit of the Reformation alive as we seek to always be reforming our church and our lives according to God’s Word. Semper Reformanda!

EVERY 2ND THURSDAY OF THE MONTH

This gathering is all about men in Christ growing as men in Christ. Every month, guys, 15 years and older, sit under the word, engage in robust discussion, and bear their brother’s burdens. Join in at the Robles home in SA at 7:00 pm.

REACH OUT HERE FOR THE ADDRESS

WE ARE YOURS FOREVER BY SOVEREIGN GRACE MUSIC

This Sunday, we’re excited to introduce a new song that celebrates our adoption into God’s family through the work of Christ the Son. As our friends at Sovereign Grace Music put it:

“It's a source of inexpressible amazement, joy, and awe that God provided a way for us to be forgiven by offering his Son as a sacrifice to pay for our sins. But the story doesn't end there. We've not only been forgiven - we've been adopted. We've are no longer enemies of God, under his wrath. He has made us his dearly loved children. That's why J.I. Packer has written, "To be right with God the Judge is a great thing, but to be loved and cared for by God the Father is a greater.” This song helps us celebrate that reality with unbridled joy.”

Listen to the song, read the lyrics, and come ready to sing and hear the gospel this Sunday.

VERSE 1

O God, when You spoke into darkness
And said, "Let there be, " and it was
You made us the crown of creation
To share in Your love
And when we rejected Your goodness
To follow our foolish desires
You knew that one day You'd redeem us
Through one sacrifice

CHORUS

Oh, what a love You have lavished on us
To call us Your children, daughters and sons
One with the Savior, bought by His blood
We are Yours forever

VERSE 2

By grace You have made us Your family
We're kept in Your kindness and care
With boldness we know we can bring You
Each burden we bear
And though we are longing to see You
Your Spirit within testifies
That we are adopted and treasured
'Til faith becomes sight

BRIDGE

What now can separate us
From the hope You gave us
We will be like Christ our King
We are Yours forever

LISTEN TO THE SONG HERE

PARENTS PLEASE KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR CHILDREN

We’re so grateful to host our Sunday services in the heart of DTSA. As an expression of that gratitude, let’s continue being the best tenants we can be by making it a top priority to keep the Ebell beautiful & remembering a few simple rules:

1. Parents, please keep an eye on your children throughout the entirety of our Sunday morning gathering. Remind them to:

   • Be careful with the glass on the doors, no slamming the door or touching the glass.

   • No running or wrestling (inside or outside) at the Ebell Club.

   • In the Courtyard - please stay on the turf and sidewalk, do not walk in the planters, or climb on the guardrails.

   • Out front - Kids, please stay out of the planters and do not pick the flowers.

2. Please make sure not to roll any equipment down the stairs, or roll any strollers down the steps. Please lift these items up and over the steps as you go to avoid cracking or chipping the tiles.

Thanks for doing your part to love our meeting space and keep the Ebell beautiful!

OCTOBER 7 - OCTOBER 13

Every Tuesday we publish a blog post to lay out in one place what’s going in the life of the church for the upcoming week. Below we’ve got a snapshot of what’s on the calendar this week:

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7

• Basketball in the Park

  • 6:30pm - El Camino Park

    • Reach out to Manny for more info

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9

• French Park Run Club

  • 6:30am - French Park Grass Area

• Men’s Meeting

  • 7:00pm - Robles Home

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12

• Sunday Gathering at Ebell Club

  • 10:00am - Meeting Room: Ballroom

MONDAY, OCTOBER 13

• The Bridge Course

  • 7:00pm - Hopper & Burr in DTSA

    • Invite your friends to join us for Bridge!

COMMISSIONING DEAR FRIENDS - SANTA ANA STYLE

Sunday was a big day. We sent the Houlton family off to Sovereign Grace Church of Orange for the next chapter of life and ministry. We said a heartfelt “goodbye” believing it would lead to many more gospel “hellos.” We honored dear friends. We thanked God for his great grace. We entrusted him with the future of their family and our church.

There were smiles, laughs, sweet memories, and many tears. And in everything that happened, Christ was glorified. Because doing hard things like this demonstrates our Savior is worth the sacrifice. That there’s nothing better than living and giving our lives away for him. Even when it means sending a pastor and his family to enter into a new section of the Lord’s harvest.

Enjoy a few snapshots of this significant moment in the life of our church. Take a moment to thank God for all the grace he’s given us through the Houltons. Then look to the future expectant that he’s got even more grace to give.

THE VINEDRESSER & THE VINE

This Sunday, we had the privilege of hearing Pastor Kyle preach the gospel to us before sending him off to our sister church in Orange. He left us with a word that we need to hear in a time like this - along with any other time. That we must embrace the pruning work of the Father and abide like our lives depend on it in Christ the Son. Believing that as we do hard things - like sending away dear friends - experience suffering, or encounter dark days in the Christian life, God is at work to make us more fruitful. Being freshly convinced that if there’s any fruit on our branches it’s because life is flowing to them through Christ the Vine. What we need most now is what we’ve always needed and will continue to need forever, to keep Christ at the very center of who we are and all we do.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

THURSDAY AND FRIDAY AT 7PM

This week, 4 groups will meet throughout our city to share in the joy of Jesus and apply his gospel to each other’s lives. Outside of Sunday mornings, small groups are the most important moments in the life of our church. Make it a priority to attend one this week as we finish the Proclaim Course: a 4-part series of talks and discussions designed to encourage and equip believers to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SMALL GROUPS, CLICK HERE

AT THE WARM’S HOME AT 9AM

This Saturday, from 9am-12pm, Cordell & Marina Warm are graciously opening their home to host another monthly prayer meeting. All are welcome to join as we pray for the needs of our church, the good of our neighbors, and ask God to bring revival in our city.

• Cafe y pan at 9am

• Prayer from 9:30am - 12pm

• Feel free to leave early if needed

“May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us, that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations. Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!” (Psalm 67:1-3)

CONTACT US HERE FOR LOCATION DETAILS

SUNDAY, 10/5

This Sunday, we’re setting dear friends apart for the next chapter of life and ministry. During our service, we’ll commission the Houlton family to the work that awaits them at Sovereign Grace Church of Orange. We’ll say a heartfelt “goodbye” with the faith it will lead to many more gospel “hellos” as our sister church is strengthened and more and more Californians are saved.

And then, in the afternoon, we’ll send them off Santa Ana style!

We’re throwing it back with a good old-fashioned kickball classic. Complete with tacos, a piñata, and all the cilantro Pastor Kyle can eat!

Here are the details:

• Date: 10/5/25

• Time: 4pm

• Location: Cabrillo Park in Santa Ana

• What to bring: Bring your own lawn chair or picnic blanket, tennis shoes for kickball, along with whatever else you need to be comfortable at the park.

Make it a point to be there as we honor these dear friends and celebrate that God is sending more laborers into the harvest.

Our 1st kickball classic at our 1 year church anniversary!