At Sovereign Grace Church Santa Ana, we believe that God is multiplying and maturing disciples of Christ - who will serve the body in many and multiple ways to His glory. We want to do all that we can to ensure each member is able to use the gifts the the Spirit has given them. In other words, we want to invest in the dear brothers and sisters God has given to us. At times, this investment comes in the form of giving men opportunities to preach and develop a potential gift of teaching. Through this investment, we believe that God will build, and sustain, this local church. The next generation of teachers, preachers and leaders are likely sitting among us. 

This last Sunday, we had the privilege of hearing from Mike Alvarez, a man who usually uses his gifts as a musician to lead us in worship on Sundays. On this occasion, he stood behind the pulpit and boldly preached God's Word from the book of Ruth. 

Listen to The Message Here

Listen To The Message Here

Ruth has been called "the classic love story of the Bible". If you know anything about the book, you know it's a story of love between Ruth and Boaz. But on a much more significant level, it's a story of God's love - for His people. Listen to Sunday's sermon and be reminded that "even in the worst of times, God is often laying foundation stones of greater joy". 

When You Can't See God, Compromise Becomes Appealing

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This Sunday, we opened up a six-sermon series in the book of Ruth. It's a book that starts our on a sour note that just becomes more sour, leaving the characters asking, "where is God?". When compromise becomes the option of preference, Ruth reminds us that it's never all that it's cracked up to be. Yet, even when it appears that God is furthest away, when we feel that we've drifted too far away or that God has become completely inactive, it's often then when we find that He's working His most glorious purposes. 

God has brought us through our first sermon series in a New Testament book. In Colossians, we met a preeminent Christ. We met Paul, who gently warned us of finding our qualifications in Christ and not "being a better person ism". We met the overwhelmingly awesome truth that in Christ, we become dead to sin and alive to Christ. As we finished up the book, however, we met 10 people in whom the rest of the book of Colossians takes on flesh and bones; 10 of Paul's companions, in whom new life is created and being lived out. 10 people whom even the apostle Paul simply couldn't do without. 

Listen To The Final Message Here

The New Man Longs For Renewed Neighbors

In the second-to-last message in the book of Colossians on Sunday, we encountered Paul's instruction regarding conduct and attitudes toward our unbelieving neighbors. Even while in chains in Rome, Paul's priority isn't necessarily that the doors of his prison would be open, but rather that doors to share the Gospel with his captors would be opened. Even in trials, the Apostle Paul was consumed by a desire to see the unbelievers around him saved. And he knew he only had so much time left.

Listen to this past week's sermon and learn how Paul helps his readers to use the precious moments we do have with our friends and neighbors in our city for their eternal good. 

What Does It Mean To Rejoice?

Our small church had the honor of hosting Chris Daukas, pastor of Grace Church in Peoria, Arizona, on Sunday. He preached from Philippians 4:4-7, helping us to understand how we can rejoice in all circumstances - even in the challenges of church planting in the midst of a busy, obstacle-frought life. Speaking from experience, being a recent church planter himself, he reminded us of the basis of the Christian's joy - the nearness of Christ Himself.

Listen to the sermon here. 

It's In Our Closest Relationships Where the Reality of Our Changed Lives Should Be Most Evident

Our homes. It's the context where our most familiar relationships exist; husbands and wives, parents and children. It's in the relationships where the renewing and transforming power of the Gospel should be most evident. There are broken relationships, broken families and hurting people in our neighborhood. Knowing how to help our friends and neighbors will often come first by learning how to apply the Gospel in our own homes. 

Listen to this past Sunday's sermon out of Colossians 3:18-4:1. 

Prayer Is The Cry Of The Weak To The Heart Of The Strong

We had the privilege of hosting Mark Prater, Executive Director of Sovereign Grace Churches at Sovereign Grace Church of Santa Ana this past Sunday. He preached from Ephesians 3:14-21 concerning the priority and gift of prayer. 

Listen To The Sermon Here

The real privilege of having Mark with us wasn't limited to hearing him preach about prayer, but seeing his example of a life dependent on Christ through prayer. We could hardly be more grateful for his leadership and his example to us. 

The Love of Christ, the Peace of Christ and the Word of Christ

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As we near the end of the book of Colossians, this last Sunday we heard from Colossians 3:12-17 what the local church should look like when Christ is all and in all. 

Don't Just Change Your Behavior. Become Who You Are

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The new self has already been put on spiritually by God to those who have been raised with Christ. Living the Christian life, then, is "becoming" or the act of "putting on" who you already are in Christ. This is the theme of Colossians 3:12-17, which is being taught as a two-part message. Listen to part I from last Sunday and join us next Sunday to hear part II and further learn what it looks like to live together as a church when "Christ is all" (Col. 3:11).