This Fourth of July holiday, make plans to spend the day with your church family.
The Houlton family will be hosting a 4th of July barbecue and fireworks spectacular. No agenda. Just food, fun, fellowship and fireworks. Please RSVP or send address requests to kelseyraeann@gmail.com.
Also, be on the lookout for a food signup coming soon …
This summer, we’ll spend six weeks exploring the contours of the message of “Good News” under six sequential headings which will help us to both understand, explain and believe God’s message of salvation. This past Sunday was the first message in the series, which explored the reality of a God who has always been there, who has always been good and yet, has always been King. Stay tuned for the next five messages in our series.
God
Man
Sin
Christ
Response
Return
Through the collaborative efforts of In House Strategy and Israel Carbajal, we’ve put together short 1.5 minute video that explains who we are as a church and why we’re here in Santa Ana. Take a moment to watch it and be reminded of what God has done and is doing through this small church. Be inspired to continue on in faith for what God might do through you personally.
You can also share this video on Facebook and Instagram. Our hope is that more Santa Ana neighbors become aware that we’re here, providing opportunities to share with them the joy of Jesus. Please pray toward that very end.
Can you answer that question? Can your friends, neighbors and family members? In order to believe the Gospel, a person must first rightly understand the Gospel. This summer, we’ll spend six weeks exploring the contours of the message of “Good News” under six sequential headings which will help us to both understand, explain and believe God’s message of salvation.
God
Man
Sin
Christ
Response
Return
This Sunday is the first “facet” of the Gospel: God.
Jeff Schlieder, whom we have had the privilege of watching grow as a preacher of God’s Word in Santa Ana, spent this past Sunday in Orange. He sent greetings from Santa Ana and proclaimed the Gospel to the city just north of us. In one sense, this was simply another guest preaching appearance. In another, this was an expression of gratitude from a small church plant to the church who sacrificed people like Jeff to see the Gospel proclaimed in another city. We praise God for our sister church and for the opportunity to continue in partnership with them.
After nearly a year in the Gospel of John, we’ve finally, and somewhat sadly, concluded all 21 chapters. Though the journey through the life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus has completed, our walk with Him as Christians will continue until the day He returns. Listen to last week’s message to discover what the resurrected Jesus’ priorities are for those who seek to continue to follow Him.
This year, we'll be spending the first Friday of every month fasting together and praying for a particular topic. 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’re praying for the Gospel to remain central in our church. Here are a few ideas to guide your prayer:
Pray that God would guide the hearts and minds of leaders in the church to be wholly dependent on Christ in their leadership, knowing that “Gospel-centrality” does not simply happen by accident
Pray that the message of the Gospel would continue to infuse the songs we sing and the sermons we hear
Pray that, by the power of the Spirit, God would help us each to be able to more readily and more fully apply the Gospel to our real-life situations and those of others around us
Pray that new members and guests would come to understand the fullness and the beauty of the Gospel and so be equipped to tell it to others
Pray for the Gospel to bear fruit in our neighborhood - through the making and maturing of new disciples of Jesus Christ
Let’s be honest. Small groups are not always convenient in our schedules. They come at the end of a busy week. You’re tired. You have 100 other things on your mind. A night in would be so welcomed …
If that’s you, you’re not alone. BUT in moments of distraction and fatigue, what we discover on almost every occasion is that nothing refreshes and rejuvenates like God’s Word and rich fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ.
Our small groups are context in which the Gospel is applied to real life - to the very real life situations that press so hard on your heart. We need friends to help us make that application. We need friends to help us redirect our attention away from ourselves and our circumstances and toward the one whose grace is sufficient for you in every circumstance.
This week, go about your busy and oftentimes stressful week with Friday in mind. Whose needs can you be praying for? What can you be praying for God to do at your small group meeting? What that the Lord has been teaching you can you come prepared to share with someone else?
See you at small group. Prepare to be surprised and refreshed by God’s grace.
This all-important question has implications for everyone. Every single one of our neighbors. All of your friends and family.
This series will be one spoken in the language of the common person. It will address doubts and suspicions with honesty and respect. It won’t be a series filled with “Christianese”. Invite your friends and neighbors to this discussion concerning the message of the Gospel and what it has to do with any one of us.
