FRIDAY, AUGUST 2

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, in light of our small group direction for the rest of this fall, we’re praying for the theme of “holiness”. Here are a few ideas to guide your prayer:

• Pray for a grace-motivated pursuit of holiness among the members of our church

• Pray for a pursuit of holiness that’s not legalistic, but filled with joy

• Pray that our conduct as a church would be the light of the Gospel shining toward our neighbors

• Pray that our growth in holiness would lead us to be even more outward oriented toward our neighbors and not ingrown

• Pray that holiness would not be seen as a limitation to our freedom in Christ, but seen as an expression of our freedom in Christ

• Pray that the Holy Spirit would be present and active in the process of sanctifying us

The Forecast Is A Scorcher - Picnic Moved To 4th Street Market

This Sunday is forecast to be 90 degrees. While we love our regular picnic location in the 2nd Street Market, we’re moving for just this one Sunday to an inside location. You can still bring a brown bag lunch and prepare to enjoy a meal in the midst of our Downtown Santa Ana neighbors!

You Need The Prophets … Really!

The 17 books at the end of the Old Testament are probably the 17 books you’re least familiar with in the Bible. They’re the books you’re least prone to read during your devotions. Rarely is a sermon series preached on them. They seem difficult to understand and impractical.

However, if you’re someone who’s fed up - with the world around you, with the vicious cycle of your circumstances or with your own inconsistency and hypocrisy, then there’s no better place to turn in the Bible than the prophets. These books help us to see our deep need for something other than ourselves and the solutions of the world. They bring us to our knees and make us cry out, “God, we need you to break this cycle!”.

For the next four months, we’ll be in the prophets Joel, Micah and Jonah.

This week, we unfortunately don’t have a sermon to listen to. Our church computer was stolen shortly after last Sunday’s service (pray that whoever stole it listens to the sermon!). However, we’ve uploaded the transcript so that you can READ last Sunday’s sermon. Read this introduction to the prophets to prepare for and get excited for what God might do over these next few months.

Read the message here.

Jeff’s Internship Begins August 1

Jeff Schlieder is Sovereign Grace Church of Santa Ana’s first intern. The purpose of his internship will be twofold - to give him an opportunity to test out his gifting in a variety of teaching, leadership and administrative contexts. The other purpose is for the sake of evaluation. When members of the church aspire to pastoral ministry or some other leadership context or position, yet have little knowledge of whether or not gifting exists, whether or not they would really enjoy it or have a calling from God to it, positions like internships are helpful both for the individual and the church.

You play a large part in Jeff’s internship. Near the end of his internship, we’ll ask for your observations and perspectives. Beyond evaluation, though, please encourage Jeff. More importantly, be praying for Jeff and God’s leadership in his life and Taylor’s life as they embark together in this new season.

We celebrate God’s grace through Jeff and Taylor!

Pick It Up On Amazon For Under $15

The Bible is inspired by God - literally written by God and conveying to us us the very mind of God. It’s a well of riches and truth with no end. On the other hand, the Bible is intended to be read and understood. By everybody. If you’re unsure how to start reading the Bible, if you’ve ever struggled to understand the Bible or if you simply need a refresher on the wonder of the Bible, this book is for you. It’s available in both English and Spanish.

Get the English version here.

Get the Spanish version here.

We Want To Bless The School That’s Been A Blessing To Us

As the summer progresses towards its inevitable end and toward the start of a new school year, teachers, students and families are beginning to open their minds - and their wallets - toward the expenses of the next two semesters of school. Acknowledging that Back to School can be a financially difficult time for both families and educators, we are hosting a small school supply drive for Heninger Elementary School.

Drop Off Supplies on Sunday, July 28 or on the Deadline of August 4

We’re hoping that everybody participates in at least some way. If you’re unsure about what you can buy, here’s a list below:

For Students:

Backpacks

School supply gift cards

For Teachers:

Lysol/Clorox wipes

Hand sanitizer

Whiteboard markers

Whiteboard erasers

Whiteboard cleaner

School supply gift cards

Teacher appreciation gifts

Kleenex

Staplers and Staples

Tape dispensers and tape

Quality black, blue and red pens

Large Scissors

Copy Paper

Paper Towels

Our Fall In The Prophets Begins This Sunday

This Sunday, July 28, begins a sermon series on a section of Scripture that is most unfamiliar to the majority of Christians - the prophets. Over the next four months, we’ll preach through the books of Joel, Micah and Jonah, learning along the way how relevant these books are for our contemporary lives, how infused with Gospel truth they are, how to read all of prophetic literature and finally, to learn to love reading the prophets. We’re looking forward to an exciting fall.

Prepare for this sermon series by spending a few days reading through the first book in the sermon series - Joel. It’s a short book consisting of only 3 chapters, so consider maybe even reading through it a few times.

We’ve made a version without chapters, verses or headings for you to read though.

Learning About Using Our Homes To Spread The Joy of Jesus

Our monthly women’s group is switching to Wednesday and taking a field trip this month! Rosario Butterfield, author of the book about hospitality, The Gospel Comes with a Housekey, will be speaking on Wednesday night, July 24, in Irvine. For those who can get there early, there will be food trucks starting at 5:30pm, and the session begins at 7pm. Read about the event here and email Rebecca Erkelens (bequita_17@yahoo.com) with any questions.

Live Like Jesus Is Actually Coming Back

Prophets, for hundreds of years before Christ, had predicted that God would one day come to judge the living and the dead and finally make all things new. Jesus Himself had identified Himself as that very judge. He told His followers that after He died and was raised, that He would come back - to judge, but also to bring all who belong to Him to Himself. This is the final chapter to the Good News of Jesus Christ.

However, Peter writes in 2 Peter 3 to the Church in Rome … and to us … to remind us that we shouldn’t only be mentally convinced that Jesus is coming back. His future return should utterly change the way we live.

Listen to Sunday’s Message To Hear More

Supporting Heninger Elementary School

We will be having a Back to School drive for Heninger Elementary’s classrooms - to supply teachers and students with what they need for a successful school year. The donation deadline will be Sunday, August 4. More details to come this Sunday and in next week’s newsletter, so stay tuned!