Our First Ever Bilingual Sermon

As a church, we had the joy and the privilege of hosting Erik Rangel from our sister church in Yuma, Arizona. Eric preached from 1 Corinthians 9 concerning cross-cultural ministry and what it means to “be all things to all people”. More importantly, he explored Paul’s motive and our motive for being “all things to all people”. We have a reason to sacrifice our preferences and our cultural comfortabilities for the sake of one another and our neighbors because we know what it’s like to be served by one greater than ourselves. Whether you speak English or Spanish, give this past week’s sermon a listen for the sake of the effectiveness of your own ministry to those who are culturally different from you.

Listen to the sermon here.

The Most Powerful Tool A Christian Has

Prayer can often seem both mundane and impractical in the midst of the opposition a Christian faces while living a life abiding in Christ. Prayer, however, is more important and powerful, than virtually any other tool or strategy any Christian has at his or her disposal.

So important is it that it stood near the center of Jesus’ final instructions to His disciples. Listen to this last week’s sermon to learn more and grow in the priority of prayer.

Listen to the sermon here.

The Only Real Barrier To Belief? Unbelief

We skipped ahead in our series in John to chapter 20 as we celebrated Resurrection Sunday. Over and over again in this series, attention has been directed back to John 20:31 - John’s purpose statement for the entire book. What’s the purpose? “That you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and that by believing, you may have life in His name”. The chapter leading up to this statement is a story of Jesus’ disciples and friends moving from ignorance of His resurrection, misunderstanding and doubt … to belief. His resurrection brings knowledge to the ignorant, clarity to the confused and assurance to those who doubt. Jesus rose from the dead so that you might believe in Him.

Listen to the sermon here.

The Word of the Cross Is Foolish, Weak and For Those Who Are Nothing Special

This past Sunday, our very own Jeff Schlieder stood behind the pulpit and preached the “Word of the Cross” from 1 Corinthians 1:18-31. He reminded us that the Word of the cross that defines us as Christians is despised by an unbelieving world. And it makes sense why: because it appears foolish, it appears to center on a weak person and is meant for people who are unremarkable in every way.

The Word of the Cross, However, Is God’s Supreme Demonstration of Wisdom and Power

Yet, the Word of the cross is where God’s wisdom is displayed most clearly, His power is shown most poignantly and where insignificant sinners find identity, belonging and worth. If you haven’t yet, sit down with a pen and a journal and listen to the message. it will be worth you time.

Listen to the sermon here.

“Staying” In Jesus Is The Key To The Christian Life

John 15 contains a word that isn’t used very often in today’s English language. Yet Jesus uses this word as a summary instruction for how to live in His absence. The word is abide. To help His disciples understand what it means to abide, He used compelling imagery - imagery of a life-filled vine and branches that are wholly dependent on that vine for anything, especially bearing fruit. At the end of the discussion, while we might be tempted to believe that “abiding” is some special spiritual technique, to abide is to simply “stay”. The simple discipline of staying is the single most important, yet most difficult discipline of the Christian life.

On Sunday, pastor Kyle identified 8 of life’s greatest needs from John 15 for which abiding in Christ is the key. If he was going too fast and you didn’t catch them all, here they are again:

1. The Key To Connection (vv. 3, 4a)

2. The Key To Fruitfulness (vv. 4b-7)

3. The Key To Joy (v. 11)

4. The Key To Love (vv. 9-10; 12-15)

5. The Key To Identity (vv. 8, 16)

6. The Key To Purpose (vv. 16-17)

7. The Key To Security (vv. 18-25)

8. The Key To Witness (vv. 26-27)

Listen to the sermon here.

God’s Word From the Mouth of One of the Wisest and Godly Men We know

This past Sunday, Jim Cunningham stood behind the pulpit and preached God’s Word from Romans 1:1-17. He served us well and reminded us that the Gospel is the saving work of Jesus for everyone, regardless of distinction.

Jim has spent a lifetime loving God’s people and taking the Gospel to his out neighbors and friends, whether in Santa Ana, Orange, Pasadena Thailand or at his workplace in LA. The message we heard from Jim was from God’s Word. The message, however, came from a man whose life is worth imitating. Thus, this past Sunday was a treasured moment for our church. Thank you, Jim (and Angie!) for showing us what it means to faithfully follow and proclaim Christ through many seasons of life.

Listen to the sermon here

If You Love Jesus, You Will Love The Holy Spirit

Hours before Jesus leaves His disciples for the cross, He comforts their troubled hearts with two realities: the reality of His return and the reality of the coming of the Holy Spirit. The presence of the Holy Spirit, for modern Christians like us can easily be assumed and taken for granted. But the picture that Jesus paints is anything but common. He hints that the Holy Spirit will be His very presence. The Holy Spirit will dispense Truth just as Jesus dispensed Truth. The Holy Spirit will help God’s people in even greater ways. In short, the presence of the Holy Spirit dwelling within believers is a glimpse of heaven come down to earth.

Listen to this last Sunday’s sermon from John 14:15-31 to grow in your understanding and experience of the Holy Spirit.

Listen to the sermon here.

Jesus Is Not Leaving Forever

The disciples’ hearts were in turmoil on the night of the Last Supper. They had just learned He would soon be leaving them. But their lives were about to be turned upside down as they watched him within the next 24 hours fall into the hands of His enemies, being crucified and killed. Yet, Jesus looks at His friends and says, “let not your hearts be troubled” and follows this with rock-solid reasons for why the disciples - and any other Christian - can have security of soul even when the rug has been puled out from under your life. Listen to last week’s sermon from John 14:1-14.

Listen to the message here.

Jesus Did Not Come Merely To Be An Example

This past Sunday, Kyle preached from John 13:21-38. In it, we hear Jesus tell Peter that despite his best intentions, he won’t last the night before denying Jesus. This illuminates a significant principle in our followership of Jesus: following Jesus’ example does not equate to being a follower of Jesus. Why? Because there’s nobody who can follow Him on the path to where He’s going without ever falling off the path. Jesus came to be more than an example. Thus, there is something more fundamental to following Him than following His example. Listen to the sermon to find out more.

Listen to the message here

Serving Others Is How We Represent Jesus Best

Nobody has a higher position than Jesus. Yet in John 13:1-20, Jesus literally stoops low to wash the feet of His friends. He follows this action with the words “you also ought to wash one another’s feet”. Jesus instructs His followers - His representatives in this world - to go low. Going low to lift others up should characterize the life of the Christian. By God’s grace, going low characterizes Sovereign Grace Church of Santa Ana. Despite this, there’s room for each one of us to learn from Jesus and one another and excel still more.

Listen to last Sunday’s Sermon Here