HAVE LUNCH WITH OUR FRENCH PARK NEIGHBORS

We like to gather every other month or so for a casual picnic in French Park. We eat lunch together, play games, and enjoy one another’s company. This month we’re making it a priority to invite our French Park Neighbors to join us! Send a text, knock on a door, or reconnect with someone you’ve met through our neighborhood initiatives and extend the invite. Make sure you remind them to bring a lunch as well!

join us after church on 2/26

Let’s take the joy of Jesus to neighbors. After service, head over to French Park to spend time together in the middle of the neighborhood God has placed us in. Here are the details:

• It’s “BYOL” (bring your own lunch). If you forget your lunch or your favorite lunchbox isn’t clean, there are plenty of great restaurants nearby in DTSA.

• Bring some folding chairs - unless you like sitting on the grass, bring something to sit on.

• Expect the Lord to build existing relationships and create new ones with our neighbors.

MARRIAGE TELLS THE STORY OF THE GOSPEL

On the heels of teaching humility, we journey with Jesus into an arena in which humility is much required: marriage. Jesus arrives in Judea and is thrown a controversial question by the Pharisees: "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?" (10:2). Jesus answers the question about whether it is permissible to break a marriage covenant by expanding the conversation to hold out God's good and wise design in the marriage covenant. A design that goes all the way back to the beginning (Gen 1-2). A design that points to the great end for which God created the world: that his Son would have a bride. In the Old Covenant, God made an exception for man’s hardness of heart. Under the New Covenant, God’s highest intention for marriage is fulfilled in Christ’s unbreakable union with the Church (Eph 5:22-32). A union made possible by the cross - so that we could rightly say the true meaning of marriage is shaped by the cross. In the cross-shaped marriage, Jesus' marriage becomes the model and motivation for our own. His sacrificial love softens the hardness of our hearts toward our spouses. His undying faithfulness spurs on those tempted toward unfaithfulness. 

If after listening to last Sunday’s sermon, you’d like to spend more time studying the topic of marriage, divorce and remarriage in the Bible, here are some suggested resources for you:

• Marriage, Divorce and Remarriage by Jay Adams

• Before you Leave Your Wife by Marshal Segal

• Why “Falling Out of Love” Never Justifies Divorce by John Piper

• Child of Divorce, Do Not Fear Marriage by T. Kim

• Love That Lasts by Gary and Betsy Ricucci

• When Sinners Say “I Do”: The Power of the Gospel for Marriage by Dave Harvey

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

THIS SATURDAY IN DOWNTOWN SANTA ANA

This Saturday, Pastor Kyle, Pastor Jeff and our Pastoral Resident, Jason Roenicke, will be spending 10 hours in Downtown Santa Ana to prayerfully plan for the future ministry of Cross of Grace Church of Santa Ana. This is a retreat the pastoral team will begin to conduct once every six months. They need your support and participation, though. How? By praying. Here are a few things you can pray for:

1. Pray that the Lord would keep the team’s eyes firmly fixed on Jesus and that all plans, preparations and discussions would be to the glory of our Savior.

2. Pray that the Lord would keep our Santa Ana neighbors clearly in mind as we plan for future ministry.

3. Pray that what is discussed and decided would result in the fruit of the Spirit among us and the fruit of salvation in our neighbors.

4. Pray for unity and peace in all discussions, whether there’s agreement or disagreement.

ALL GUYS 15 AND OLDER ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND

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.

THINGS TO PRAY FOR IN FEBRUARY

From Sovereign Grace Churches Executive Director, Mark Prater:

Hebrews 12.1-2, ‘Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great cloud a witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.'

We are all in a race, the great race, indeed the greatest race of our lives! And so looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, the One we all need so much, here’s how you can be praying for us in the month ahead…

1. Please pray for the Sovereign Grace Leadership Team as we lead a retreat, February 6-8, 2023, that will include our U.S. Regional Leaders, Global Leaders, and a group of future leaders asking God to envision, strengthen, and equip our leaders to serve our churches throughout the world. It’s the first time we’ve come together in this way and so please pray that it’s a great time!!

2. Please pray for Billy Raies, Erik Schmaltz, Philip Estrada and Allen Dicharry as they head to Nepal, Feb 21 - Mar 1, to serve our dear friend Barnabas, our Key Leader in Nepal. Please pray for a growing partnership of faith as they serve Barnabas and his Pastoral Team, and for much wisdom as we continue to map out the best way of partnership in this dear country.

3. Please pray for the 11 young people who just this month started their Young Leaders Internships in SG Australia... Abella Lick (SG Parramatta), Georgia Lick (SG Parramatta), Luke Counsell (SG Wahroonga), Esther Monck (SG Wahroonga), Hollie Roberts (SG Wahroonga), Froilan Samonte (SG Wahroonga), Josh Taylor (SG Wahroonga), Amy Taylor (SG Wahroonga), Marcos Cabral (SG Wahroonga), Hannah Payne (SG Wahroonga), and Sebastian Fasano (SG Wahroonga). That God would really meet with them and bless them throughout the year ahead.

4. Please pray for Rich Richardson, and the team of 8 SG Pastors, who are coming together in Phoenix, Feb 21-22, to talk about SG Church Development in Latin America (outside of Mexico). Please pray for quick camaraderie in the group, for creative ideas, and one heart.

5. Please also pray for the growing number of Sovereign Grace church members that are seriously considering cross-cultural mission. Please pray for me (Dave Taylor), the Emerging Nations Team, Mark Prater (Executive Director of Sovereign Grace Churches), and those asking the question. May we together discern the will of God in each of these situations and may His guidance be clear, as we seek to reach the ends of the earth for Jesus.

   … Looking then to Him, the founder and perfecter of our faith. May His grace abound to us all!

FEBRUARY 6 - FEBRUARY 12

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, FEBRUARY 9: FRENCH PARK RUN CLUB

• 6:30 am - French Park Grass Area

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9: MEN’S MEETING

• 7:00 Pm - Fourth Street Market Patio

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12: SUNDAY GATHERING AT THE EBELL CLUB

• 10:00 am - Meeting Room: Ballroom

HABITS OF GRACE BY DAVID MATHIS

Hear his voice. Have his ear. Belong to his body.

Three seemingly unremarkable principles shape and strengthen the Christian life: listening to God’s voice, speaking to him in prayer, and joining together with his people as the church. Though often viewed as normal and routine, the everyday “habits of grace” we cultivate give us access to these God-designed channels through which his love and power flow―including the greatest joy of all: knowing and enjoying Jesus.

This month we will be giving out this book for free! If you haven’t done so already, grab a copy this Sunday.

DO YOU WANT TO BE GREAT?

We all want to be great. But all too often, we pursue greatness according to the world’s way. In Mk 9:30-50, Jesus doesn’t call us to quit this pursuit, but challenges our perception of true greatness. It’s a greatness which can’t come apart from humility shaped by the cross. A humility that thinks less of ourselves, more of others, and most of the Christ who became least, lowest, and last of all for us. Listen to the sermon to learn more about the cross-shaped humility that frees us to serve and celebrate those around us.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

SMALL GROUPS ARE AN ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP

Every 1st & 3rd Friday of the month at 7pm, we meet for small group at various house throughout Santa Ana. 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 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

EVERY FIRST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH WITH ROTATING SMALL GROUPS

Prayer is central to our mission. In 2023, on a rotating basis, our small groups will take to the Park on the first Friday of the month to pray for our neighbors. Asking Jesus to save Santa Anans, meet our neighbors according to his grace, and open doors for sharing his gospel and spreading his joy.

The Roenicke small group will be meeting for Prayer in the Park on 2/3/23 at 7pm.