COME FOR THE COMPANY EVEN IF YOU DON'T LIKE FOOTBALL

NBC did a careless thing. They scheduled the Superbowl right during the middle of our service. But we're going to take advantage of it by throwing a party as soon as we finish our corporate gathering. 

Head over to the Houlton apartment after the service at 7:00pm for a DVR'ed showing of the game, some good food and some even better company. Make sure that all of your friends who are watching the game on-time don't spoil the results for you. Better yet, invite your friends to church and to the party afterward. Contact Kyle at kyle@sovgraceoc.org for questions, details and directions. 

YOU DON'T NEED SOMETHING NEW. YOU NEED SOMETHING TRUE.

Listen To The Message Here

This past Sunday, we continued our series in the book of Colossians with Col. 1:15-23 and learned what is the best safeguard against the problems of this life: an intelligent appreciation of the doctrine of Christ. In layman's terms? A deeper understanding of who Jesus is. Jesus is the Creator, Sustainer, Head and Reconciler of all things. The more well-acquainted we are with His reality, the more equipped we are to face the problems we'll encounter in our lives. 

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2nd

This year, we'll be spending the first Friday of every month. Church members who fast for all 12 Fridays (all 11 since we missed January) will be invited to a year-end party to celebrate the answers to our prayers. If fasting is new to you, here are some instructions. 

FEBRUARY'S PRAYER FOCUS

Our focus for February is Orange County and our ambition to see more gospel-proclaiming churches planted. Let's be hungry for God to do what only he can do.

• Pray for God to lead us in finding our next church planting cities/sites.
• Pray for our neighboring cities like Anaheim, Tustin, and Garden Grove, that God would be preparing His harvest.
• Pray for God to raise up church planters and other leaders, both from within our church and from the outside.
• Pray for the churches who are already faithfully making disciples throughout Orange County. Pray for their strength, unity, peace, and faithfulness to the mission.
• Pray for government officials and other civic leaders.

BREAKING THE FAST TOGETHER @6PM

On this month's first Friday, we'll be gathering for small group at the end of the day at Jim and Angie Cunningham's house at 6:00pm to break our fast and yet continue to pray - together. For directions, please contact Angie at angiesc11@gmail.com. 

LADIES ENCOURAGING LADIES TO DRAW NEAR TO GOD

All women age 13 and up are officially invited to our 2018 Women's Retreat. Registration is $20 and includes breakfast and lunch. If finances are a hardship of any kind, please contact kyle@sovgraceoc.org and we'll be happy to accommodate. Take full advantage of this opportunity to spend a day learning, sharing, and encountering the Lord together.

Register Right Now.

God Is Sending Laborers To Santa Ana

Last year, Jennifer, a member of Sovereign Grace Church of Louisville, heard that a Sovereign Grace church was being planted in Santa Ana, California. In that moment, she began to wonder if God was calling her out west to join in the work. Fast forward to last week, when she took a trip out to Orange County to visit the church plant and interview for potential jobs.

A woman known for her joy in Christ, but also for her God-glorifying courage and faith, Jennifer has been an example to those around her for years of doing hard things for the sake of the spread of the joy of Jesus. As God uses her in this next season for just such a thing, she would greatly appreciate your prayers. Please pray that God would help Jennifer to find a suitable job, suitable housing in a neighborhood where she can feel secure and that, most importantly, He would strengthen her and use her for the spread of the joy of Jesus in Southern California. 

Listen To The Message Here

What kind of life do you want to live? What kind of a life should you live? In Colossians 1:9-14, Paul prays that the Colossian church would live a life "worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him". In this last Sunday's message, we learned how we know what pleases the Lord, what kind of life pleases the Lord and ultimately, that through Christ, God already delights in us. Join us next week for the next message in the book of Colossians. 

God Is At Work Through The Gospel In Every Christian You Know

Listen to the Sermon Here

This last Sunday, we opened up a new preaching series in Colossians together and discovered, what, of all things he could say, were the Apostle Paul's first words to the church at Colossae. As was Paul's pattern, we learned that giving thanks to God for the evidence of His grace at work through the Gospel took priority of place. This pattern and priority helps us to know how we ought to address one another. 

We Want To Press Into Appropriate Partnerships Within Our Community

On Monday, January 15, pastors and leaders gathered together for a breakfast to celebrate and remember what God accomplished through Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in his lifetime. In addition to pastors, police officers, senators,city council members, the Mayor Pro Tem, and others came together to not only remember, but to prayerfully ask God to accomplish His reconciling work in our city. Sovereign Grace Santa Ana was represented by Kyle Houlton, Jeff Schleider and Jerry Raquena. 

We believe that God has given us everything we need to accomplish the mission He's called us to. But we also acknowledge that appropriate partnerships in our community will only strengthen us in our mission. We are grateful to God for other churches and organizations who are committed to the proclamation of the true and reconciling Gospel of Jesus Christ and the building of His Church. 

Beginning in February, 2018

Starting next month, Sovereign Grace Santa Ana will be hosting monthly men's meetings and monthly women's meetings. These gatherings are aimed at being a context for men and women to talk to one another about the distinct joys - and challenges - of striving to be godly men and godly women. They'll be an opportunity to care for one another, to encourage one another, to learn from one another. Anybody can attend, Christian or not, member of the church or not. Details of the monthly meetings can be found below:

• Men's - 
  • When - Every 2nd Thursday of every month. 7:00pm
  • Where - 4th Street Market Patio
• Women's - 
  • When - Every 4th Thursday of every month. 7:00pm
  • Where - Houlton apartment DTSA

Contact Kyle Houlton at kyle@sovgraceoc.org with any questions. 

Gaining By Losing

Sovereign Grace Santa Ana is a mission of another church. It has been through the faith and generosity of this church that a new church in Santa Ana is being built. This past Sunday, our dear friends, brothers and sisters from Sovereign Grace Church of Orange made their biggest sacrifice and gave most generously. They gave Santa Ana their people.

While the members of the team in Santa Ana have been conducting services for the past two months in Downtown Santa Ana, they have now been sent to be exclusively committed to the city of Santa Ana. This is admittedly a loss for Sovereign Grace Church of Orange. But in losing their best people, they have gained a new church. And through this new church, God will save Santa Anans. New brothers, sisters and friends will be added. The Gospel will be preached in a new city. Pray for Sovereign Grace Santa Ana as we endeavor to spread the joy of Jesus in this new season.