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David - The Shepherd/Servant King

DAVID GIVES US A TASTE OF THE GOODNESS OF THE KING WE NEED

In 1 Samuel 16, we’re introduced to David. After 16 chapters following the life and ascension of Saul, we discovered that Saul makes us long for a better king by contrast. He’s like a gulp of saltwater to our thirsty souls, heightening our longing for a better king by furthering our dissatisfaction. Now as David arrives, we discover he makes us long for God’s coming king by similarity. Though still a sinner, an imperfect king as we’ll see in the remainder of 1 Samuel, he bears the characteristics of the king we need. David is like a sip of cool, fresh water, heightening our longing for the true king by giving us a taste of the real thing. Listen to last Sunday’s sermon to meet this shepherd/servant king in 1 Samuel 16.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

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Starting Point on January 16 - A Class To Explore Cross of Grace Church

REGISTER FOR STARTING POINT - A TWO HOUR CLASS FOR GUESTS

If you’ve been visiting for any length of time and would like to learn more about what we believe as a church and how those beliefs take shape in the life of the church, this class is for you. The aim is to help you discern whether or not this is the church family the Lord is calling you to. If we discover together that this isn’t the church for you, we want to help you find another church. If by the end of the class you believe this is where the Lord is leading you, then we’d love to take steps toward welcoming you as a member and assisting you to plug into the life of the church.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.

JANUARY 16 IMMEDIATELY AFTER CHURCH AT THE HOULTON HOME

LUNCH WILL BE PROVIDED

Mark Your Calendars for 2022 Spring Class

SPRING CLASS BEGINS FEBRUARY 28

Every spring and fall, we hold a six session class over the course of twelve weeks (every other Monday) on a subject intended to contribute to the growth and sanctification of members of the church. This spring, we’ll be hosting a course on the topic of parenting. When our church was planted, there were 9 young children in the church. Now, there are more than 35. We have new parents, parents entering into new seasons and parents (likely every parent!) who just need some help faithfully raising their children in the counsel of the Lord.

More details will be coming, but if you’re a parent or even if you hope to become a parent in the future, make this class a priority. Each registered household will be required to purchase a copy of Parenting by Paul Tripp. Save the dates in your calendar; every other Monday beginning on February 28 and ending on May 9. Register today through the link below.

Register for the class here.

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January Book of the Month

THE GLORY OF CHRIST BY JOHN OWEN

There are so many good books and so little time. There are also plenty of books not worth reading. The pastoral team aims to provide you with a monthly recommendation of a book worth your time. You don’t have to buy the book or even read it. But we would encourage you to - in order to build a library of truth filled, God-glorifying and soul-enriching books.

This month’s book of the month is one that has stood the test of time - “The Glory of Christ” by John Owen. In line with the January 2 sermon from Colossians 1:15-20 regarding the preeminence of Christ, this book will flood your eyes with a vision of that very Jesus, whose glory can be seen in His preexistence, His humiliation on the cross and His exaltation following His resurrection. Whether you’ve resolved to read more in 2022 or you’re just looking for your next good book to read, pick this one up. It will be worth your time.

"Only a sight of his glory, and nothing else, will truly satisfy God's people” - John Owen

Purchase a copy of the book here.

This Week at Cross of Grace

JANUARY 3 - JANUARY 9

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. See below for a snapshot of what’s on the calendar this week:

FRIDAY, JANUARY 7: SMALL GROUPS

  • 7:00 pm - Houlton Home

SUNDAY, JANUARY 9: SUNDAY GATHERING AT THE EBELL CLUB

  • 10:00 am - Meeting Room: Ballroom

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Health & Safety Update

FROM THE PASTORAL TEAM

As COVID-19 continues to have its effects both within and outside the church, the pastoral team has a few updates to clarify our current response as a church:

  1. We’re asking for your cooperation. Please inform us if you’re sick. If you or someone in your household tests positive with COVID-19 or experiences a significant exposure to someone with the virus (within 6ft of them for 15min or more), please alert the pastoral team. We’ll help you to apply current CDC guidelines and discern next steps regarding your attendance at church gatherings. We’re also here to help meet any practical needs that could result from an experience of sickness or quarantine. With your cooperation, we’ll do our best to care for the church by limiting the spread of the virus in the congregation should any infections or exposures occur.

  2. We’re still meeting indoors. No changes have been made to our Sunday services. We're continuing to gather indoors, inside the Ebell Ballroom. Our small groups, men’s, and women’s meetings will also be carrying on without any changes or alterations at the moment.

  3. We’re praying for our neighbors and members. As COVID-19 cases increase and the pandemic continues to disrupt and affect day-to-day life, the pastoral team is praying for our neighbors and members who are being affected. We’re aware that the virus is continuing to make life difficult for our Santa Ana neighbors. We’re praying God would protect them and sustain their health and their hearts. We’re praying he’d continue to position our church to be a blessing to our neighborhood. We’re also aware that a general trend of increased COVID-19 cases could result in the effects of the pandemic hitting closer to home for our members. In this next season of the pandemic, we’re praying that God would sustain our church, protect our families, and provide the pastoral team with wisdom and discernment to respond to whatever developments occur.

If you have any questions, the pastoral team is available to discuss them with you. You can contact a pastor here.

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We Hope You Were Refreshed In December

SMALL GROUPS, MEN’S/WOMEN’S MEETING ARE STARTING UP AGAIN THIS MONTH

Our annual “fallow month” which occurs every December, during which we cancel everything but our Sunday gathering in order to allow for organic growth of relationships during a typically crazy month … has ended. Now that January is upon us, we will be reverting back to the regular rhythms of church life which include regular small groups, men’s/women’s meeting and other events. Make sure you are subscribed to the blog and have synced the church calendar with yours to receive the most up to date information.

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Our Preeminent Christ - An Excerpt

On Sunday, Pastor Kyle opened his sermon with a quote from an unknown author extolling the qualities of our preeminent Christ. It’s copied here for your benefit:

He came from the bosom of the Father to the bosom of a woman. He put on humanity that we might put on divinity. He became Son of Man that we might become sons of God. He was born contrary to the laws of nature, lived in poverty, was reared in obscurity, and only once crossed the boundary of the land in which He was born, and that in His childhood. He had no wealth or influence, and had neither training nor education in the world schools.

His relatives were inconspicuous and uninfluential. In infancy, He startled a king. In boyhood, He puzzled the learned doctors. In manhood, He ruled the course of nature. He walked upon the billows, and hushed the seas asleep. He healed the multitudes without medicine, and made no charge for His services. He never wrote a book, yet all the libraries of the country could not hold all of the books about Him. He never wrote a song, yet He has furnished the theme for more songs than all songwriters together. He never founded a college, yet all the schools together cannot boast of as many students as He has.

He never practiced medicine, and yet He healed more broken hearts than the doctors have healed broken bodies. This Jesus Christ is the star of astronomy, the rock of geology, the lion and the lamb of zoology, the harmonizer of all discords, and the healer of all diseases. And throughout history great men have come and gone, yet He lives on. Herod could not kill Him. Satan could not seduce Him. Death could not destroy Him, and the grave could not hold Him. This is our Christ, the preeminent one.

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Make Christ Preeminent In Your 2022

HE IS PREEMINENT. MAKE HIM SO IN YOUR LIFE

In Colossians 1:15-20, the Apostle Paul pens a hymn that gives us what some scholars say is “the highest Christology” in the entire Bible. Having seen the whole Christ, the humiliated and exalted Christ, Paul declares that Jesus is preeminent. He is first - in every way that matters.

As we enter into a new year as a church, the pastoral team wants to encourage you to give Jesus first place in your life, but in four areas in particular:

  1. In your affections and desires

  2. In your relationships

  3. In your sexuality

  4. In your parenting

If you haven’t yet listened to this sermon, we’d highly encourage you to. As a church, may Christ be preeminent in our lives!

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

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Happy New Year!

NEW YEAR: SAME JESUS

We look back at 2021 and thank God for his faithfulness. He’s held us fast, he’s cared for us, he’s sustained our church.

We look forward to 2022 because the God of 2021 is the same yesterday, today, and forever. We look forward to a new year, because the same old things are true. It’s a new year, but Jesus is the same. It’s a new year, but his gospel hasn’t changed. It’s a new year, but our mission to spread the joy of Jesus in Downtown Santa Ana remains.

Whatever newness and whatever change the next year may bring, we rejoice in all that remains unchanged! And we pray God would bless our church with fresh fruit as we continue to walk down the same old paths. Proclaiming the same Lord. Preaching the same gospel. Pressing in to love the same city. Would he help us to be faithful for the glory of his name, the joy of our souls, and the good of our city.

Would God bless your 2022 according to all the riches of his grace!

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM CROSS OF GRACE SANTA ANA!

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