THE GOSPEL OF MARK’S FIRST QUESTION SHOULD BE OUR FIRST QUESTION

This Sunday Pastor Kyle kicked off our new sermon series in the book of Mark. It’s a New Testament book that, unsurprisingly, introduces us to the story of Jesus. But at the outset, nobody except for John the Baptist really knows who Jesus is. Everybody has an assumption. But Jesus’ true identity and the work He came to do is only progressively revealed through the books 16 chapters, until finally, His progress ends at a cross; a cross that, to everyone’s surprise, reveals Jesus’ identity most truly and gloriously.

First and most importantly, Mark asks, “who is Jesus?” His Gospel teaches us that “who is Jesus” should also be our first question in every situation - a lesson we’ll learn well through our many months progressing through this sermon series.

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IS YOUR LOVE FOR CHRIST FADING?

Do you remember what it was like when the Lord first saved you? When you first came to know Jesus and your life was wonderfully turned upside down? When you just couldn’t help but study his word, seek him in prayer, or share his gospel with others? This question is posed to the church in Ephesus in Revelation 2:1-7, and to us as well. On Sunday, Pastoral Intern, Jason Roenicke introduced us to the church in Ephesus that was by all accounts a good and faithful church. Yet something was missing: their passion for Christ was fading. They were steadfastly serving, patiently enduring, and vigorously defending the truth, but they were like a lampstand in danger of running out of fuel. They’d grown complacent in a good church and “abandoned the love [they] had at first” (2:4). How can we return to our “first love” for Christ? By reminding ourselves that he’s never abandoned his “first love” for us. Our love for him is revived when we rest in his unchanging love for us.

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GOD HAS SENT HIS CHURCH TO DECLARE THE BEAUTIFUL WORDS OF HIS SAVING WORK

On Sunday, Pastor Jeff concluded our “Beauty of the Church” sermon series as he preached from John 20:19-23. He helped us behold the beauty of the church as God’s rescue plan for the world. The local church is the center of God’s saving activity in the world. He sent her to welcome the world into the beauty of Christ through the word of the gospel. He’s given her his Spirit to work in and through her gospel witness. And he’s granted her the confidence that those she welcomes through the gospel on earth have truly been welcomed by God in heaven. Listen to this message to be encouraged and equipped in our mission.

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THE TRUTH IS HER REASON FOR EXISTING IN THE WORLD

On Sunday, guest preacher Abelardo Muñoz from, Iglesia Gracia Soberana of Juarez, Mexico preached from 1 Timothy 3:14-16. He helped us to behold the beauty of the church as a pillar and buttress of God’s very truth. As a pillar and buttress, the church upholds and holds firm the truth. What is the truth she’s been called to promote and protect? It’s none other than the gospel - the supremely beautiful truth of the salvation found in Jesus Christ. This great redemption is the grand story of all of Scripture, and it’s the good news that all believers are called to prize, promote, and protect.

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A KINGDOM LIKE NO OTHER

On Sunday, guest preacher Mike Davis from our sending church, Sovereign Grace Church of Orange, preached from Colossians 1:13-14. He helped us to behold the beauty of the church as the kingdom of Christ. What makes this kingdom better and more beautiful than all the other kingdoms of the world? It is ruled by Christ, the amazing King who is supreme in power and abounding in love. It is a place of redemption, hope, and forgiveness freely given while the kingdom of this world is characterized by condemnation, enslavement, and hopelessness. Its citizens are a special people who proclaim the excellencies of the King and live out the beautifully strange culture of his kingdom. When we behold this beauty, there’s nowhere else we’d ever want to be. Listen to this message to learn more about the kingdom without comparison.

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THE BEAUTY OF THE CHURCH IS THE CHURCH LOVING THE CHURCH

On Sunday, guest preacher Tim Lambros from Sovereign Grace Church of Tucson, AZ preached from John 13:31-35. He helped us to behold the beauty of the church as the people of Christ. A people who are beautiful because they are marked by love. Created through the self-sacrificial love of Christ upon the cross. Called to live out this love with one another through service, patience, and perseverance. Known for beautifully shining forth the brilliant light of the love of Christ for all to see. Listen to this message to learn more of what it means for the church to be known by her love for the church.

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THE CHURCH CAN’T BE THE CHURCH WITHOUT ALL HER MEMBERS

On Sunday, guest preacher Trey Richardson from Center Church in Gilbert, AZ preached from 1 Corinthians 12:12-26. He helped us to behold the beautiful picture of the church as the body of Christ. A body that is beautiful because it is the unity of many different members under one Savior & Head, in which every member matters, and all members are serving and being served. If you’ve ever looked at the local church and wondered, “How can I be sure I belong? Where do I fit in? What’s my place here?” listen to this message and learn just how you need the church and the church needs you.

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DO YOU LOVE THE CHURCH?

This past Sunday marked the beginning of our summer sermon series, "The Beauty of the Church.” 6 weeks. 6 pastors. 6 reasons why we love the local church. This is a sermon series for those who: struggle to see the qualities of the church, tirelessly serve within her ministries, are dismayed by her apparent failures, have been “burnt” by the church, who have rare, unsustainable glimpses of her beauty, and at bottom, are most focused upon what the church does for us and not who she is. And when we ask the question, “Who is the church?” the foremost biblical response is, “The beautiful bride of Christ.” Acts 20:28 tells us why she’s beautiful. Because she is the “church of God,” whom God, the most beautiful of all, has chosen to reflect his glory to the world. Because she’s been made beautiful through cross of Christ, ransomed “with his own blood,” to magnify the grace, beauty, and love of her bridegroom. Learn to see the church as Jesus sees her and listen to the sermon here.

HIS JOY BECOMES OUR JOY WHEN WE SHARE HIS JOY

In Luke 15, Jesus shares three parables about things that have been lost: a sheep, a coin, and a son. And his point in all three is to demonstrate God’s love for those whom He’s called, but have become lost. Jesus calls His people to extend His love to those very same lost souls. In order to effectively carry out that mission we must understand three things that the parables in Luke 15 teach us, namely, the danger the lost are in, the value of the lost, and the joy that’s experienced in the salvation of the lost. As a church, we have a mission to spread the joy of Jesus to our Santa Ana neighbors. Listen to this last Sunday’s sermon to ground your own heart in the the teachings of Jesus to spark the evangelistic flame in your life.

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THE KING OF KINGS IS ALL FOR YOU

We spent 9 months walking together through a sermon series in the book of 1 Samuel. It would be a tragedy if after all that time, you left without a big picture lesson to take with you for daily life. So, this last Sunday, Pastor Kyle preached a message from 2 Samuel 1-12 to reinforce a central lesson that’s taught in 1 Samuel and reiterated through 2 Samuel. That lesson? That God’s promised King, who reigns over all other kings and the universe itself, is all for His people. And if you belong to that king - King Jesus - through the obedience of faith, you belong to that people. You can be assured through promises like the one God made to David in 1 Samuel 7 and through the story told in 1 Samuel 11-12 that He has exerted all His power and wisdom over the course of human history to do good to His people. This is a lesson you need to take with you wherever you go. Listen to Sunday’s sermon to learn more.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE