In Acts 21, when the Apostle Paul arrives in Jerusalem, he arrives in the city populated by “his people” - those he identified with culturally, ethnically and traditionally; those he grew up amongst and knew. Yet, false rumors were spreading about what he was teaching and he quickly found himself subject to violence at their hands and being turned over to the gentiles for judgment. The scene is meant to remind us of another scene - when a certain Savior of the world was rejected by His own (John 1:10), turned over to the gentiles to be judged and was even forsaken by His own Father (Mark 15:34). Today, when facing rejection from “our own people”, we look to Jesus’ example - He identified with us at our worst, suffered rejection for our sake and didn’t respond to rejection with rejection. Listen to last Sunday’s sermon to learn more.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

WHAT INSTRUCTIONS WOULD YOU LEAVE?

In Acts 20, Paul calls the Ephesian elders to meet him at Miletus. After ministering together for three long years and developing a wonderfully close relationship, he knows he’ll never see them again. For all he knows, he may even be nearing the end of his life. When they arrive, Paul addresses them one final time and gives his dear friends and colaborers his final instructions - describing what matters most in life and ministry moving forward. His farewell speech could be summarized as “There is no better life than the one God has called you to”. To learn more and to understand what Paul would tell you “matters most”, listen to last Sunday’s sermon.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

OUR ANNUAL COMMUNION SERVICE

On Sunday, Jeff Schlieder conveyed from Acts a Biblical understanding of the sacraments of the Church - Communion and Baptism. While we can often “go through the motions” with these two sacraments, we were encouraged to value them, see the Gospel made visible and tangible in them and to treat them as expressions of God’s grace to us. The sermon was followed by a special bilingual sharing of the Lord’s Table and an offsite lunch afterward.

Listen to the sermon and check out the additional blog post with suggested resources to deepen your understanding and appreciation of the sacraments Christ gave to us.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

DO YOU EXPECT THE MIRACULOUS WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT?

Theologian Ekhard Schnabel explains that “miracles demonstrate that the resurrected life and work of Jesus continue in the life and work of the church”. This happens through the Holy Spirit, who is constantly at work among us. The questions we’re left with then are, “do you have eyes for the ‘everyday’ miracles of God?'“ and “do you expect and pray for God’s Spirit to perform the miraculous among us?”

To learn more about what the Bible teaches about miracles and what implications that has for your life, listen to last Sunday’s sermon from Acts 19:11-12.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

On Sunday, we had the joy of hearing the preached word from our own Kevin Ing.

Leadership development is a high priority of the pastoral team at Cross of Grace (2 Tim. 2:22). Where God has gifted and called, we aim to give opportunities for the formation of those gifts, whether they be teaching, serving, leading ministries, etc.

Kevin comes with a robust educational background, having earned his Masters of Divinity from Westminster Theological Seminary (CA). But the most important thing the Lord gave us on Sunday was not a sermon from a learned individual, but the preaching of the Gospel from a man who loves what Jesus has created in the local church and wants others to be able to appreciate the reconciling effects of the Gospel in the church as well. Listen to his sermon from Ephesians 2:12-22 to hear more.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE.

Below is a reproduction of the chart used near the end of Sunday’s sermon:

Paul’s third and final missionary journey is one which bears a striking resemblance to Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem in Luke’s Gospel. It’s one that’s characterized overall by self-denial - something that Jesus modeled during His life and ministry and something that He requires of anyone who would follow Him. As Paul follows Jesus in his life, but also this journey, we discover what it looks like to leave ourselves behind and just how much we gain in Christ by losing ourselves.

Listen to the sermon here.

PAUL’S GOD IS GOD ENOUGH TO BE GOD OF ALL

Francis Schaeffer once said, “As Christians, we must understand that there is no word so meaningless as the word god until it is defined”. In Acts 17, before a crowd of some of the greatest thinkers of his age - who defined god in various different way - Paul defined the God of Christianity. What was perhaps most startling to his hearers was his assertion that his God was and is their God, whether they accepted Him or not. He had created them and they would stand before His judgment. And this God proves His claims because this God, the One true God, has backed up His claims by being raised from the dead.

The same God who Paul proclaimed to the Areopagus is the same God who reigns over every one of us today. How would you define God? Is the God of the Bible the God you have believed in? Hear more by listening to last Sunday’s sermon.

Listen to the sermon here.

NOBODY AND NOTHING CAN STEAL YOUR JOY

In Acts 16, Paul and Silas find themselves in prison after enduring a severe beating, an unjust condemnation, harassment from a demon and facing general opposition to their proclamation of the Gospel. Yet what their fellow prisoners and jailer heard resounding from their cell at night was not groaning … but joyful singing. That very night, the same joy they possessed in Jesus was shared with their jailer and his entire household. It’s clear - nothing could steal the joy that Paul and Silas possessed. Do you find yourself struggling for joy? Do you long for the kind of joy that endures even the deepest trials and sorrows? Then listen to last Sunday’s sermon and rediscover the joy of Jesus.

Listen to the sermon here.

SHEPHERDS AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART

On a very special Sunday, pastor Eric Turbedsky, senior pastor of Sovereign Grace Church of Orange and West Regional Leader of Sovereign Grace Churches, was present to preach at and mark the occasion of Jeff Schlieder’s ordination.

However, his sermon wasn’t a mere formality - it was a helpful and sweet reminder of why God gave local churches pastors. Pastors who have been called and appointed by God are reflections of Jesus’ kingly reign, His compassionate care and His saving grace. Listen to the short sermon to hear more.

Listen to the sermon HERE

THEY’RE UNSAFE IF THE TRUTH IS UP FOR GRABS

Most of us, at the very least, tend to shy away from disagreements. Many are tempted to avoid them at all costs. Still others will boldly enter disagreements, but do so standing on their own opinion, perspective or experience. It’s the latter which often makes engaging with those who disagree feel unsafe in the first place! In the church, we know we will inevitably disagree with one another if we’re living in close fellowship together. So how do we deal with disagreements? Listen to last week’s sermon from Acts 15, which tells of two historic disagreements, and learn how a shared commitment to the Gospel turns disagreements from a threatening danger into a redemptive opportunity.

Listen to the sermon HERE.