It's one of the most well-known and widely discussed stories in the New Testament. But, like so many stories in the Bible, we often miss the point. Guest preacher Grant Sigafoos helped us to understand that Jesus invites those who are outside the covenant to community to know God and then invites them into His mission of making God known. '
This year, we'll be spending the first Friday of every month. Church members who fast for all 12 Fridays 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.
This month, we'll be praying together for the women in our city. Here are some suggestions for how to pray:
Every first Saturday in Downtown Santa Ana, the city hosts its famous Art Walk. It's a monthly event in DTSA where all of our neighbors are out and mingling and this coming Saturday is the first Saturday in September. If you want to meet our neighbors, this is where to do it. Clear your schedule this Saturday night, gather a group of friends and head downtown for the artwalk.
If you're buy Saturday, but still looking for something to do downtown this week, the Frida Cinema is showing a free Screening of Avengers: Infinity War on the back patio of the 4th Street Market on Wednesday at 8:00pm.
We want our neighbors to know that we're here, we're here to serve them and we're here to stay. Online presence is one of the best ways to spread that news. Help Sovereign Grace Santa Ana become more visible online by writing a review on Yelp. We want to do everything we can to spread the joy of Jesus to our neighbors.
In the very last encounter with John the Baptist in the Gospel of John (3:22-36), we see his ministry and influence declining, yet he makes the astounding claim that "my joy is now complete". He would be executed a mere matter of months later, but he died a joyful man. The same joy is available to all who've placed their faith in Christ and it comes as a result of an unexpected equation that involves the increase and glory not of self, but of another.
As we continued our series in the book of John, we were reminded that John's purpose for writing is that the reader "believe that Jesus is the Christ" (20:31). However, in 2:12-3:21, we encounter manifestations of unbelief and Jesus explanation that its remedy is far more drastic than even the most religious would have guessed. Listen to last week's message to be reminded of the severity of unbelief, yet the readiness and power of the Savior to cure the condition.
High atop a hill above Trabuco Canyon this past Saturday, the leaders of Sovereign Grace Churches of Orange and Santa Ana looked forward to the coming year and beyond and planned as best we could for what and where we believe God is leading our churches.
It was an ambitious task, but at the end of the day, we know it's not by the strength or wisdom of our leadership that plans will be accomplished. It's by God's grace and His alone. We believe He is and has gone before us. We believe that we are simply carrying out the mission He has sent His Church on.
We also spent some time looking back over the last year and praising God for the grace He's already visibly extended through you. We returned more grateful for our brothers and sisters and cities than when we left.
God has equipped and established leaders in local churches. Leaders lead best when they're actively following the leadership of Christ.
This Saturday, the leaders (pastors, deacons, ministry team leaders) of Sovereign Grace Orange and Sovereign Grace Santa Ana will spend 12 hours planning, preparing and praying for Christ to lead our local churches. There might also be some playing.
Would you pray that these 12 hours would be well-spent? We hope that God works through small moments like these to build His church and save Californians - to spread the joy of Jesus in our cities.
We believe that God has planted Sovereign Grace Santa Ana in the DTSA neighborhood for the good of the neighborhood - to spread the joy of Jesus by proclaiming the Gospel and serving our neighbors.
Sometimes, serving our neighbors comes through big, coordinated and planned events.
Sometimes, and much more often, serving our neighbors comes through meeting the needs of our neighbors one by one. We have the privilege of extending God's mercy in this way.
This past week, a number of members worked together to help a family prepare for school by supplying school supplies, backpacks and uniforms.
We praise God for His mercy extended through you.
Months ago, Sovereign Grace Santa Ana multiplied small groups. Since then, God has built up those multiple small groups and strengthened the relationships between the members of each small group. This Friday, though, we'll all be together for a brief "family reunion". Come to the Houlton home at 7:00pm, bring a friend and enjoy the fellowship we have together in Christ.
