WHY WE LOVE THE CHURCH BY KEVIN DEYOUNG & TED KLUCK

This book presents the case for loving the local church. It paints a picture of the local church in all its biblical and real life guts, gaffes, and glory in an effort to edify local congregations and entice the disaffected back to the fold. It also provides a solid biblical mandate to love and be part of the body of Christ and counteract the "leave church" books that trumpet rebellion and individual felt needs.

Why We Love the Church is written for four kinds of people—the Committed, the Disgruntled, the Waffling, and the Disconnected. 

PURCHASE A COPY OF THE BOOK HERE

BECAUSE GOD’S SOVEREIGN GRACE IS MARVELOUS

The Church is what God is doing in the world. And as we look at her, what do we see at the center of her life? The glory of God. The most important thing about the Church is not the Church, it's God. In Ephesians, Paul can hardly make it through the letter's opening before he erupts in praise to the God of the Church. He reaches back before the beginning of time (1:4-5), journeys to the climatic moment of salvation history (1:6-7), enters into the present lives of his readers (1:11-13), and then raises their eyes upward to the grand ending God is writing for his chief protagonist (1:14). From start to finish, every movement of God has had one goal in mind: the praise of his glorious grace. The Church exists because God desired to possess a people to enjoy his glory forevermore. The Church is most faithful, joyful, and pure when she is as about God as he is about himself.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

ONE OF THE BEST CONFERENCES OUT THERE

Every year our family of churches enjoys a family reunion. A time when pastors, wives, and members of Sovereign Grace Churches come together for a week of worship, fellowship, and encouragement in our shared mission. It’s called the Sovereign Grace Pastors Conference. This year there will be hundreds of pastors, wives, and church members from many different Sovereign Grace church around the world attending our annual gathering in Orlando. It’s sure to be a fruitful time of being filled with a grand vision for what God is doing through the Gospel in our church and in churches throughout the world.

As a pastoral team we say thank you for sending us! This conference is one of the highlights of our year. It’s a joy to attend. It makes us eager to come back and serve the church and love our neighbors. It restores our perspective on what really matters in our city.

YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE A PASTOR TO ATTEND

In addition to sending us, we ask that you would consider joining us for this year’s conference. We can’t cover all of your costs, but we can help cover some. Talk to Kyle or Jeff if you’re interested in tagging along this year.

The theme this year is The Church of Christ and the Triumph of Truth.

ALL LADIES, HIGH-SCHOOL AGED AND OLDER ARE INVITED

With the summer potlucks behind us, we are transitioning back to a discussion based format. Our Women’s Ministry exists to spur women on in their pursuit of Christ through biblical discussion and building friendships. Each month the ladies of CGSA meet together for a time of discussion and prayer in order to grow in Christ. We hope to see you there!

JOIN IN TONIGHT AT 7PM AT THE HOULTON HOME.

SEPTEMBER 26 - OCTOBER 1

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, SEPTEMBER 28: FRENCH PARK RUN CLUB

• 6:30 am - French Park Grass Area

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28: WOMEN’S MEETING

• 7:00 pm - Houlton Home

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1: SUNDAY GATHERING AT THE EBELL CLUB

• 10:00 am - Meeting Room: Ballroom

THE CHURCH IS WHAT GOD IS DOING IN THE WORLD

Coming out of the series in Habakkuk, we've been meditating upon the truth that God is always up to something even if it’s hard to see. He’s always working good for his people and advancing his purposes for the world. This Sunday we asked the question, “In this grand story that God is writing, who’s the main character through whom he advances the plot?” In our lives today, where should we look to see God at work toward his great aim of uniting all things in Christ? (Eph 1:10) Where is his amazing grace most evidently poured out and through what instrument is he making peace in the world? The Book of Ephesians gives us the answer: The Church.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

COME DISCUSS WITH US

Our next Bridge Course session is Monday at 7pm. We’ll be diving into the “Big Question” deep-end by asking from where does sin and evil come. Most people believe that their choices have consequences and how we live matters. But does it matter to God? Will we be held accountable for how we live? We’ll explore these age-old questions and more over the course of a meal, a talk, and a conversation where every perspective is encouraged. Even if you missed the first session, ALL are welcome to join in as we wrestle through the big questions of life. Sign up below or invite a friend and we’ll see you on 9/25 at Hopper & Burr (202 W 4th St, Santa Ana, CA 92701).

REGISTER FOR THE CLASS HERE

SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER HERE

SEND ALL YOUR PHOTOS TO PHOTOS@CROSSOFGRACESA.ORG

God is spreading the joy of Jesus and we want to document it through pictures, capturing the moments in time when God is actively doing just that. All you need is your phone and you can be an official Cross of Grace Santa Ana freelance photographer. Need some ideas of what to photograph?

• Sunday gatherings

• Small group meetings

• Men's and women's meetings

• Your friends and family members together

• Group photos anytime the church is gathered

• Candid photos and posed photos

INVITE OUR NEIGHBORS TO HAVE LUNCH WITH US

Picnic in the Park returns this Sunday! Get ready to eat together, play games, and enjoy one another’s company in the heart of our neighborhood. Make it your priority to invite our French Park Neighbors to join us. Send a text, knock on a door, or reconnect with someone you met at the Block Party and extend the welcome. Make sure you remind them to bring a lunch as well!

THIS SUNDAY AFTER CHURCH

Let’s take the joy of Jesus to neighbors. After service this Sunday, 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.

SEPTEMBER 18 - SEPTEMBER 25

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, SEPTEMBER 21: FRENCH PARK RUN CLUB

• 6:30 am - French Park Grass Area

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 24: SUNDAY GATHERING AT THE EBELL CLUB

• 10:00 am - Meeting Room: Theater

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 24: PICNIC IN THE PARK

• 12:00 pm - French Park Grass Area

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25: THE BRIDGE COURSE

• 7:00 pm - Hopper & Burr