Surprised by Suffering by R.C. Sproul

Sorprendido por el Sufrimiento por R.C. Sproul

By recommending a new book every month, we’re recommending resources to you that help you to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Pet. 3:18). It is not required that you purchase or read these books. They’re mere recommendations to assist you in choosing good books that help you to make the best use of the precious time you have.

March’s book of the month is “Surprised by Suffering” by R.C. Sproul. If you haven’t yet experienced deep suffering, all you have to do is live long enough. This is a difficult reality of living in a fallen world, awaiting the return of Christ. Yet, God’s Word promises His good and redemptive work not only through our suffering, but even in the midst of your suffering. If you’re currently experiencing the pain of adversity, pick this up and immerse yourself in the truth of God’s Word. If you’re not currently experiencing suffering, pick this up and ground your hear and mind in the Gospel to prepare for the moment when trials unexpectedly come.

Purchase the book in English here.

Purchase the book in Spanish here.

DTSA Festival of Literary Arts & Culture this Saturday

This Saturday, March 7th is Santa Ana’s fourth annual Boca de Oro (Mouth of Gold) Festival of Literary Arts & Culture. This event has free writing and arts and crafts workshops, panel discussions, author talks and performances on Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. throughout Downtown Santa Ana.

We Love To Take Opportunities To Meet Our Neighbors

For more details, visit the event’s website.

A UNIQUE AND SPECIAL MOMENT IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH

This upcoming Sunday, we’ll be sharing a meal together during our annual communion service. Communion is a sacrament that we share together on a regular basis as a church family. We do it more often than not on Sundays. But this year, on the same day as our clocks spring forward (the dreaded day when we lose an hour of sleep), we’ll have an entire service devoted to sharing in the Lord’s Table together. 

The service is a demonstration of who we are as a church family. It's a visible reminder of why and by whom we exist. 

FAQ'S

WILL THERE BE CHILDCARE?

Not this Sunday. Family-style means everybody will be together the entire time. Kids will get antsy and that's ok. Don't feel bad about getting up and down from your seat with your children.

I AM NOT SURE IF I/MY CHILDREN SHOULD PARTICIPATE IN THE LORD'S SUPPER. WHAT SHOULD I DO? 

Anyone who has placed their trust in Christ is invited to join us. Please read our statement on communion for more information.  We welcome you to contact one of our pastors if you would like to discuss further.

IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO TO HELP?

Sign up to bring a dish/item here.

If you'd like to help with set-up, email Krista Alvarez at krista@sovgracesantaana.org

Holiness - A True Sexual Revolution In A Sexually Permissive World

This past Sunday, Jeff Schlieder preached from 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 - a passage which deals with the temptations to sexual immorality present within the first century church at Thessalonica. While the “sexual revolution” taking place in our modern world might seem at times like a new level of normalization of sinful behavior that the world has never seen the likes of, the reality is that sexual permissiveness has often been the norm in our fallen world throughout history. It certainly was in First-century Greece, even more-so than today.

What is truly revolutionary, though, is the standard of purity, the standard of marital fidelity, the standard of holiness introduced into this fallen world through God’s Word. This standard is no mere written list of rules, but is based ion our very union with Christ and in the Trinity itself. Take an hour out of your day and be reminded of the Gospel reality that the whole you is called to holiness.

Listen to this week’s sermon here.

A DINNER THAT REPRESENTS THE LIFE WE SHARE

Every year on Daylight Saving’s Sunday, we switch gears and hold an evening service. Mark your calendars for March 8th at 5:00pm. Our regular Sunday service will be replaced by an all-church meal centered on the Lord's Supper. We will eat and drink together as we meditate more deeply on our Savior's sacrifice.

WE NEED YOUR HELP TO PREPARE

Not only will we share in the eating of a meal. We’ll share in the preparation of the meal. This is an event that requires all hands on deck. Whether you’re a single or a family, sign up to bring one of the needed dishes or items on March 8th.

SIGN UP FOR A DISH/ITEM HERE.

3 DAYS LEFT TO REGISTER!!!

If you’ve been procrastinating and waiting to sign up until the last minute, we get it. We all do it. But now is the time to do it! Secure one of the last remaining slots to participate in this year’s financial stewardship class. You won’t regret it. See this blog post for more details.

SIGN ME UP.

THURSDAY, 7:00PM @ THE HOULTON HOME

ALL LADIES, HIGH SCHOOL AGE AND OLDER, WELCOME

For more details please contact Krista Alvarez, krista@sovgracesantaana.org

“Then we met you. You welcomed us".

On Sunday, we introduced the newest members of Sovereign Grace Church of Santa Ana. We had the added privilege of hearing from two of them - a couple of seasoned and faithful saints, from whom we all have such to learn. Read their brief testimony to be reminded of how God is building His Church in our city:

Good Morning Brother and Sisters in Christ.

Pastor Kyle asked us to take 3-5 minutes to tell you why we’ve decided to make Sovereign Grace our church home. The easy reply is “Jeff and Taylor Schlieder”. I’ve known Jeff and Taylor since they were youth leaders in Jim Palmer’s home. Later we became colleagues at Orange County Rescue Mission. I knew them as devout believers who lived out their faith. It was easy to come see what they were doing in Santa Ana. Then we met you. You welcomed us and we believe in pioneering work. We like the multi-cultural emphases.

Finally we liked the deliberate “Starting Point” meeting with Pastor Kyle. The open discussion about core beliefs was essential. Laverne and I prayed and reviewed these docments again this past week. We believe we’ve found a place to worship together.

Concerning worship, we love the emphasis on worship here. Some of the songs are new to us which is great. And the songs are filled with theology we embrace. The emphasis on preaching is a big plus.

Our summary is: worship, word, fellowship, and pioneer vision resonate with our spirit. Prayerfully, we can find a way to serve the common goals of Sovereign Grace church.

WHAT IS CHURCH MEMBERSHIP?

Paul says in Ephesians 4:25 that we are one body, yet “members one of another”. So, think of church membership not so much as “membership in a club” and more as an expression of commitment to the people around you. The Bible is full of “one anothers” - commands toward believers to act in godliness toward other people. What Scripture makes clear is that these “others” refer to a specific group of people and not all people generally. These others are the men and women identified in a particular local church. As members of Sovereign Grace Church of Santa Ana, we have the privilege of living out the Christian life with one another. We celebrate and grieve with one another. We build deep relationship with one another. We join arms to advance the joy of Jesus in a particular neighborhood with one another. We help one another pursue holiness. We remind one another of the sweetness of the Gospel.

In light of this, we praise God for our new members, Ray, LaVerne, Brittni and Sandi, whom we had the joy of introducing this last Sunday. We look forward to joining you in the spread of the joy of Jesus in Downtown Santa Ana.

Everyone Will Stand Before God’s Judgment

At the end of 1 Thessalonians 3, Paul summarizes his prayer for the small church in Greece by asking that the Lord would make them “increase and abound in love”. The reason he prays this is “so that [their hearts may be] established blameless in holiness … at the coming of our Lord Jesus”. In other words, Jesus’ future return is a motive for growing in love right now.

An Outward Badge Demonstrating An Inward Reality

While Jesus’ atoning death completely bore God’s wrath for anybody who has believed in Him, genuine love for others demonstrates that one has actually believed. It’s an outward badge confirming an inward reality. Listen to last week’s sermon to learn more about this and to learn what it means to “increase and abound in love”.

Listen to this week’s sermon here.