Come To Jesus For Jesus

This past Sunday, we had the honor of hosting Dylan Sohie, pastoral intern at Sovereign Grace Church of Orange while Kyle was away preaching at that very same church. Dylan is a young man who aspires to giving himself to leadership in the church. One of the ways that we can serve the process of raising up new leaders like Dylan is by giving them opportunities to preach God's Word.

Dylan served us well, continuing our series in the Gospel of John by preaching from John 2:1-11. 

Listen to the Sermon Here

Youth Retreat This Weekend

The younger ones among us are the next generation of ambassadors for Christ to the world. They're worth investing in - as parents and as a church. 

Youth From Santa Ana, Orange and Pasadena

We have the privilege of partnering with our sister churches in Orange and Pasadena to send the youth from Sovereign Grace Santa Ana to a retreat from August 10-12. Pray for the youth and parents in attendance. 

Baptism Throbs With The Movement Of The Gospel

Eli and Miguel confessed their faith in Jesus Christ before a crowd of family, friends and church family. They were then immersed in a pool of water and raised out from the water - a moment full of profound symbolism.

Baptism doesn't save anybody. Baptism, however, demonstrates and symbolizes that a saving work has occurred. It's an outward sign of an inward work.

Baptism Reminds Us That Jesus Is Saving Santa Anans

We could hardly be more grateful for the two young men who were baptized as a matter of obedience. But it also gives us a fervor for more. We exist to spread the joy of Jesus. Baptism is an evidence that His joy is spreading. Pray that we would have the privilege of baptizing more and more men and women in Downtown Santa Ana. 

We're a small church with great partners. While we may not yet have enough middle school and high school-aged youth in our church to have our own full-fledged youth ministry, there's still a place for them to learn and grow alongside their peers. 

A Youth Group We Share With Our Sister Church In Orange

Beginning in September, all middle schoolers and high schoolers at Sovereign Grace Santa Ana are invited to the monthly youth meetings hosted by Sovereign Grace Orange. Look to future blog posts in the next couple weeks or email kyle@sovgraceoc.org for more details. 

The Glory Of Jesus As He Calls Followers To Himself

In the third message in the Gospel of John, we ended chapter 1 this past Sunday. Rather than simply having Jesus described for us by the author, we met Him, as it were, face-to-face through the eyes of His first 5 disciples. What do you encounter when you see Jesus? His glory. Listen to last week's message and come and see Jesus for who He is. 

Listen to the sermon here. 

Friday, August 3

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. 

The focus for August will be "Men":

• Pray that God would save men, young and old, from within Santa Ana
• Pray that husbands would sacrificially and faithfully love their wives
• Pray that fathers would be present and involved in the raising of their children
• Pray that additional men would courageously take up the torch of leadership in the church
• Pray for men who find a sense of family in gangs to find a better family in the church
• Pray that boys would become godly men through the godly example of the men around them
• Pray for single men to be brilliant examples of fidelity to Christ

If you're wondering about visiting church, but concerned about what to do with your kids, we offer childcare for children 5 years old and younger. 

Thank You To All Of Our Childcare Volunteers

Our childcare is safe and secure - all volunteers are screened (including a background check) and cleared to serve. 

Our childcare is sanitary - dietary restrictions are honored and proper cleanliness and hygiene practices are honored and followed.

Finally, our childcare is purposeful - little children love to play, but they also love to learn. Every week, an age-appropriate lesson and craft is prepared to help convey God's Word to them in a way that they can understand. 

If you have questions about our childcare, please email kyle@sovgraceoc.org. 

Rosario Rubi recently completed an abuse counseling course. She received her certification last week. 

A Picture of God Equipping His Church

We celebrate moments like these because they're windows into God's equipping activity of His church. He gives gifts, talents, abilities and skills in order that each member might be able to better care for their fellow brothers and sisters and extend compassion toward our neighbors. We're grateful for Rosario and what her labor represents. We look forward to celebrating many other moments like this. 

Listen To The Message Here

... And Then To Direct It All To Jesus

John the Baptist was an enigma in his day. He captured the attention of a nation, but then diverted everybody's attention to another, making it clear that he had been sent to prepare the way for the coming King. He attracted attention in the same way that a neon arrow attracts attention. Our lives aren't all that different. What do you do with the attention you receive?

Shakespeare. Downtown Santa Ana. Free Admission. Kid Friendly. This event has it all.

For the past 5 years, Shakespeare by the Sea has put on a Shakespeare Play in Birch park in July. Hundreds of people come out for it and it's an overall great time. Bring out your lawn chairs and picnic dinners and enjoy an evening watching a play with our DTSA neighbors.