IF WE NO LONGER HAVE TO FEAR THE SCARIEST THING OF ALL, WHAT ELSE IS THERE TO FEAR?

In Acts 26, Paul has every reason to fear man - to fear those who plot against his life, to fear those making mockery of his faith, to fear the most powerful man in the world, whom he had just appealed to. Yet, Paul proceeds confidently. As Christians, though we don’t often have need to fear attempts against our lives, we easily give into the temptation to fear the judgments and opinions of others. Few temptations are more common or more contrary to the redemptive reality that has taken root in our hearts. Listen to this week’s sermon to learn more about how the truth of Christ makes God big and people small.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

REVIEW THE STATEMENT OF FAITH SECTION FROM SUNDAY’S RESPONSIVE READING

As you’ve noticed, every Sunday that we don’t take communion together, we do a public reading together. While at times, we’ll read passages of Scripture or historic confessions, we’re currently working through the Sovereign Grace Churches Statement of Faith. We’d encourage you to study further, so below are the verse references from the portion of the Statement of Faith that we read on Sunday - “Marriage, Sexuality, and Singleness”. If you would like to access the full Statement of Faith, click HERE.

Gen 2:18-25; Eph 5:31-33; Eph 5:25-30; Col 3:19; 1 Pet 3:7; Gen 2:18; Eph 5:22-24; Col 3:18; 1 Pet 3:1-2; 1 Cor 7:6-8; Luke 2:36-37.

ONLY THE OFFENSE OF THE GOSPEL IS NECESSARY

In Acts 24, Paul stood before the governor of the Roman province of Caesarea, accused of multiple offenses. Though he was innocent of all criminal charges brought against him, he openly confessed that he was guilty of one offense in particular - belief in all God has said, including the message of His Gospel. Though you may try, oftentimes in vain, to live without offending others, the reality is that the Gospel is an offense to those who aren’t saved. It’s an offense that Christians shouldn’t shy away from because if we lose the offense of the Gospel, we lose the hope of the Gospel. However, Paul also demonstrates that Christians don’t have license to add to the offense of the Gospel by being offensive in our conduct. To hear more and to press into what this means for your daily life, listen to last Sunday’s sermon.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

IF GOD HAS SAID IT, HE WILL DO IT

Acts 23:12-35 is a very unique passage in the book of Acts: God’s name isn’t referred to once, nor is there any identifiable commands or teaching of any Christian doctrine. It’s a story of an unlikely rescue of Paul from a murderous plot. What relevance does this passage have for us? Verse 11 gives the answer - God had promised Paul that he would reach Rome and verse 12-35 are evidence of God providentially fulfilling His promise. This is the Christian’s comfort - what God has sovereignly said, He will providentially do. Listen to the sermon HERE to learn more.

REVIEW THE STATEMENT OF FAITH SECTION FROM SUNDAY’S RESPONSIVE READING

As you’ve noticed, every Sunday we don’t take communion together, we do a public reading together. While at times, we’ll read passages of Scripture or historic confessions, we’re currently working through the Sovereign Grace Churches Statement of Faith. We’d encourage you to study further, so below are the verse references from the portion of the Statement of Faith that we read on Sunday - “Man as male and female”. If you would like to access the full Statement of Faith, click HERE.

Gen 1:27; 9:6; Gal 3:28; James 3:9; Gen 3:16-19.

HE’S ALSO COMMITTED TO GIVING US HIS PRESENCE

Jesus has placed us in Santa Ana for a reason - He’s called us to make disciples in this city, baptizing them and teaching them all that Jesus commanded. This isn’t a suggestion Jesus has given us - it’s a command; a commission. He alone has authority to send us. But He alone also provides what we need to go and have the confidence to go and to have any hope of actually accomplishing what He has sent us out to do. He has promised His presence and that changes everything. This last Sunday, we heard God’s Word preached from Matthew 28:18-20. God stirred our hearts by His Spirit to take the Gospel of His grace to our unbelieving friends and neighbors.

For security reasons related to Sunday’s guest preacher, the sermon was not recorded - either via audio or video. However, here are a few resources to continue your learning and progress toward walking in obedience to the Great Commission in all of life:

• Book: Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God by JI Packer

• Book: Evangelism: How the Whole Church Speaks of Jesus by Mack Stiles

• Podcast: Help! I’m Not Ready To Share My Faith

• Article: How Can I Speak More Boldly About Christ? by John Piper

A FAITHFUL COUPLE EMPOWERED BY A FAITHFUL GOD

On Sunday, Lynn Baird visited us from Sovereign Grace Church of Pasadena, a church he’s pastored for over 35 years after pastoring for another 10 years before that. Our own church, Cross of Grace Santa Ana exists in part due to Lynn (we’re sort of his grandkids), but in three short week’s he’ll be retiring from full time ministry. It was our privilege to host him and to hear him proclaim the Gospel to us from Ezekiel 37, through which we were instructed from a lifetime of ministry lessons. Lynn and his wife, Terri will be moving to Gilbert, Arizona next month. We wish them God’s blessings and extend to them the most profound gratitude and respect.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE.

Following the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection the prior Sunday, Pastor Jeff preached from Acts 22:23-23:11 this past Sunday and furthered our understanding of what Jesus’ resurrection means for us. Namely, drawing from Paul’s claim in 23:7, that Jesus’ resurrection gives us confidence that we have not been called to live, suffer and persevere for the sake of a dead Savior. Rather, Jesus stood up from the grave and, like He did with Paul, stands with us as we live for him. To learn more about what it means to stand with a living Jesus who stands with you, listen to Sunday’s sermon.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE.

LISTEN TO THE BILINGUAL EASTER SUNDAY MESSAGE

The resurrection of Jesus is a historical reality that matters to all people. While it can often be seen as something relevant only for Christians, that fact that Jesus rose bodily from the grave proves that He is Lord - of both the living and the dead, without distinction. This means that whoever you are, He is Lord over you life - either to your glory or your condemnation. Listen to the message to hear more about what this means for you and how you should respond.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE.

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