WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO MEDITATE UPON GOD’S WORD?

On Sunday we were joined by guest preacher Greg Dirnberger from our sister church, Emmaus Road in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. We heard from God’s word in Joshua 1:8 and were reminded of the importance and impact of biblical meditation in our lives. What is meditation? “Meditation is a holy exercise of the mind whereby we bring the truths of God to remembrance, and do seriously ponder upon them and apply them to ourselves” (Thomas Watson). This practice grounds us in God’s word, steeps our souls in the riches of God’s truth, and empowers us to persevere in the Christian life.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

SMALL GROUPS ARE AN ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP

Outside of Sunday mornings, small groups are the most important moment in the life of our church. Make it a priority to attend small groups in 2023 in order to encourage one another and be encouraged. To care for others and to be cared for. To point your brothers and sisters to Christ and apply his gospel to their lives, and experience the same.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SMALL GROUPS, CLICK HERE

JANUARY 16 - JANUARY 22

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:

THURSDAY, JANUARY 19: FRENCH PARK RUN CLUB

• 6:30 am - French Park Grass Area

FRIDAY, JANUARY 20: SMALL GROUPS

• 7:00 pm - Houlton, Schlieder and Erkelens Home

SUNDAY, JANUARY 22: SUNDAY GATHERING AT THE EBELL CLUB

• 10:00 am - Meeting Room: Ballroom

STARTING POINT - SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5

The church is like a body with many members (1 Cor. 12:12). Our lives are connected. We need one another. Church membership is our way of ensuring everyone who belongs to our congregation enjoys the benefits and privileges of being a part of Cross of Grace Church.

We want to make it simple for anyone interested in becoming a member of Cross of Grace Church to pursue the process. If you’ve been visiting for any length of time, this class, which we call “Starting Point”, is for you. If you are interested in this class, register here.

BELIEVE IN THE GLORIOUS, CRUCIFIED CHRIST

With the narrative's turn in chapter 8, Mark turned on the lights. In chapter 9, he raises the dimmer switch as far up as it'll go. Who Jesus is literally shines forth to the disciples as Peter, James, and John behold him in radiant glory. Talk about a mountaintop experience! The two scenes in the beginning of the chapter are reminiscent of the events of Exodus 19-34. Through two discipleship failures, Jesus further reveals the contours of the cross He’s now actively moving toward. For us, these scenes help us to better understand precisely what living a cross-shaped - or in other words, a “Gospel-centered” - life really looks like. Listen to last Sunday’s sermon to learn more.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

ALL GUYS 15 AND OLDER ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND

After a month off for our December “Fallow Month,” Men’s Meeting is back! Tonight, the men of our church are gathering together to sit under God’s word and spur on each other’s walk with Christ. All guys, 15 years and older, are invited to participate in a conversation where "men talk like men" about God. The topics are chosen to challenge the group and promote humble theological dialogue. Meets every second Thursday at the 4th Street Market patio at 7:00 pm.

LADIES, join in ON 1/29/23 AT 12:30PM

Join us for an afternoon of lunch, fellowship, and teaching as we hear from guest speaker, Charlotte Richardson from Center Church in Gilbert, AZ. Charlotte will help us make the most of our relationships and enjoy the gift God has given us through our sisters in Christ. We encourage you to prioritize this meeting and come be refreshed by the word of God and Charlotte’s seasoned wisdom. It’s an afternoon you won’t want to miss!

REGISTER FOR THE EVENT HERE

JANUARY 9 - JANUARY 15

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:

THURSDAY, JANUARY 12: FRENCH PARK RUN CLUB

• 6:30 am - French Park Grass Area

THURSDAY, JANUARY 12: MEN’S MEETING

• 7:00 pm - 4th Street Market Patio

SATURDAY, JANUARY 14: Youth “BURNING OF THE CHRISTMAS TREE” BONFIRE

• 3:00 pm - Corona Del Mar State Beach

SUNDAY, JANUARY 15: SUNDAY GATHERING AT THE EBELL CLUB

• 10:00 am - Meeting Room: Ballroom

THE CROSS OF CHRIST BY JOHN STOTT

"I could never myself believe in God, if it were not for the cross. . . . In the real world of pain, how could one worship a God who was immune to it?" With compelling honesty John Stott confronts readers with the centrality of the cross in God's redemption of our pain-filled world. Can we see triumph in tragedy, victory in shame? Why should an object of Roman distaste and Jewish disgust be the emblem of our worship and the axiom of our faith? And what does it mean for us today? From one of the foremost preachers and Christian leaders of his generation, The Cross of Christ is a classic, accessible, and compelling look at the work of Christ. At the cross Stott finds the majesty and love of God disclosed, the sin and bondage of the world exposed. More than a study of the atonement, this book brings Scripture into living dialogue with Christian theology and contemporary issues. What emerges is a pattern for Christian life and worship, hope and mission.

PURCHASE THE BOOK IN ENGLISH HERE OR IN SPANISH HERE

SURROUNDING THE IDENTITY OF JESUS AND THE NATURE OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS THE SHAPE OF THE CROSS

In Mark 8, Jesus directly asks His disciples, “who do you say that I am?”. God opens Peter’s eyes to see, albeit still dimly, that Jesus is the Christ. In response to the first accurate confession of Jesus’ identity by another human being, Jesus makes a prediction about “the Christ” that leaves His followers baffled and dismayed. Further, He explains just what it means to be a follower of the Christ. Everybody is stunned. Why? Because both of Jesus statements - about the identity of the Christ and the nature of discipleship - are characterized by suffering and self-denial. In short, the cross shapes everything. This is as true for Christians today as it was for Peter and his compatriots. Listen to last Sunday’s sermon to learn more from this stunning passage of God’s Word.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE