Your Language Is Directly Related To Your Name

In the first message of 2020, Kyle preached from Genesis 11:1-9 and addressed a subject that has tremendous relevance to our church today: the subject of language. In the past year, we’ve made many changes related to the accommodation of our Spanish-speaking members and neighbors. A very worthwhile question is, “why do this when we can simply relate to others with whom there are no language barriers?”. Genesis 11 helps us toward the answer by reminding us that the reason for such a proliferation of languages in the world is not a good one. But the work of Christ on the cross reversed Genesis 11 and informs how we ultimately answer the question. Whether you speak English, Spanish or any other language, take a listen to Sunday’s message.

Listen to this week’s sermon here.

If You’ve Been Visiting Sovereign Grace Santa Ana And Haven’t Attended Starting Point, Register Now

REGISTER HERE

We’d like to invite you to our upcoming “Starting Point” class. It’s a class that takes place immediately after church this Sunday. Lunch will be served. It’s an opportunity to learn about the particular beliefs of our church and what those beliefs look like in practice in the life of our church together and with our community. If you’d like to attend, please register here or at the link above.

IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE SERVICE AT THE HOULTON HOUSE

LUNCH PROVIDED

The Gospel Coalition Has Designed An Initiative To Help You

The Gospel Coalition is launching an initiative for 2020 called “Read the Bible”. The goal is to help individual Christians and churches feast on God’s Word in the coming year. Here’s what it’ll involve:

1. Bible Reading Plan. Reading the Bible following Robert Murray M’Cheyne’s plan, which will take us through the entire Bible in a year (including the New Testament and Psalms twice). This is the main course. The rest are side dishes. Download the PDF reading plan, print out, and place it in your Bible. Consider printing out copies to give away and invite others to join you as you commit to the reading plan.

2. Daily Newsletter. A daily newsletter with Don Carson’s devotional reflection along with weekly discussion questions for small groups, Sunday school classes, and church reading groups. Subscribe to the newsletter.

3. Podcast. An audio-podcast reading of Don Carson’s For the Love of God (vol. 1), a daily devotional commentary that follows the M’Cheyne reading plan.

4. Online Articles. Bible and theology articles on TGC’s website that track with the weekly Bible readings and help us answer tough questions that arise from what we’re reading in God’s Word.

Subscribe To The Newsletter And Podcast

2020 HOSPITALITY CHALLENGE

For the last two years, every first Friday, we’ve encouraged you to join with your church family in a “First Friday Fast”. These were opportunities for us to practice the disciplines of praying and fasting, while bearing the needs and burdens of one another and our neighbors together in a unique way.

As we enter this new year, we have a new Second Friday opportunity for you - and it relates to how you use both your home and your time for the glory of God and the good of our Santa Ana neighbors. The challenge is simple - every second Friday, share a meal with a person or a family outside of our church. This can be in your home, their home or at another location.

EVERY SECOND FRIDAY, SHARE A MEAL WITH A PERSON OR A FAMILY OUTSIDE OF OUR CHURCH

Why hospitality? Because it’s one of the best ways to get to know and love new neighbors. Author Tim Chester says,

“Few acts are more expressive of companionship than the shared meal… . Someone with whom we share food is likely to be our friend, or well on the way to becoming one.”

In this, we’re simply following the model of Jesus, who used food as a means for effective Gospel ministry:

“Jesus spent his time eating and drinking—a lot of his time … His mission strategy was a long meal, stretching into the evening. He did evangelism and discipleship round a table with some grilled fish, a loaf of bread, and a pitcher of wine.”

More details to come. For questions, email office@sovgracesantaana.org.

The Lord is Doing Great Things in Latin America Through Our Sister Churches

In October, Sovereign Grace Churches held the Latin American Pastor’s Conference and we are excited to share their report. Head to this link to learn more about this conference and see how God is moving in Latin America. Take time as well to pray for our brothers & sisters who are laboring to spread the joy of Jesus in that region.

A Benchmark Of Renewal and New Beginnings

The New Year is often a time to reflect upon the year-gone-by; a time to look forward to the possibilities and opportunities of a year whose pages are yet to be written; an opportunity to resolve to start afresh in an area that has grown slack, unproductive or simply absent. However you prepare to enter this New Year, go into it reminded of the ultimate “new beginning” and the greatest “renewal” this world has ever seen - and it didn’t come merely with the arrival of a new year. It came through the salvation of Jesus Christ. His perfect life credited to us gives us a more perfect victory, a more satisfying success than any resolution could ever give us. His sacrificial death wiped the slate of our past sins and failures more completely than the ending of an old year could. May this New Year remind you of the new life, new identity, new hope and new community that the work of our Savior, Jesus Christ has offered you by grace through faith in Him.

Happy New Year indeed.

We’ve Missed Gathering Together

In December, we took a month off of our regularly-scheduled midweek small groups. While we sincerely hope that the time to allow your schedules to lie fallow was fruitful, we can’t wait to resume sharing our lives together in fellowship with one another around God’s Word.

DISCUSSION BEGINS at 7PM

• ENGLISH SANTA ANA SMALL GROUP: HOULTON HOME

• SPANISH SANTA ANA SMALL GROUP: HOULTON HOME

• “EAST SANTA ANA” SMALL GROUP: ERKELENS HOME

If you’d like to join a small group, visit a small groups or have questions at all, please contact office@sovgracesantaana.org

Ladies, Save the Date for our Winter Event

About once a quarter, the ladies of SGSA gather together on a Saturday to fellowship and learn together. The past few months our ladies have been discussing serving in their monthly meetings and have planned a service project for this quarter’s event!

We will be partnering for the morning of Saturday, January 18 with Reunion Family Center, to help with their weekly resource distribution. This is a wonderful opportunity to serve with our ladies and meet other families in our city.

Please RSVP to Krista Alvarez at krista@sovgracesantaana.org. Childcare will not available at the event, however, if you are unable to find childcare, let Krista know and we can find a solution for you.

Enjoy pictures from our First Christmas Eve In Our City

Last week on Christmas Eve, we gathered as a church to celebrate the advent of Christ at our first annual Christmas Eve service in Downtown Santa Ana. This service was a remarkable and sweet moment in the life of our church. We had delicious tamales made by one of our very own members, held a bilingual service, and finished by singing with candles in front of the school.

Heaven Will Satisfy Our Desire For The Satisfaction of All Other Desires

Christ has come and he has ushered in the new era. However, the fullness of all that this means for the church and for this world has not yet dawned. There is a final chapter to our history and to the history of the world that has been written and remains to be realized. The message of the Gospel tells us this world is headed somewhere. It will not carry on this way forever, and that speaks to something embedded deep within us. This past Sunday we looked to the future and encountered the hope that is held out for us in heaven. For all those longing and waiting for all things to be made new we have hope that in the new creation with Christ all our desires will be completely satisfied.

Listen to this week’s sermon here.