WE WANT OUR LOCAL CHURCH TO REFLECT THE TIMELESS TRAITS OF THE CHURCH

As we introduced the book of Acts Sunday, we were advised that over this next year, we may feel uncomfortable at times - uncomfortable at seeing differences between what God intended for the local church and what we see in our local church. In Acts, we may see a people fervently praying in response to even the most minor crisis and see, in contrast, something different in our life together.

YOU’RE A PART OF IT - WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

Our encouragement to you is to lean into that discomfort. Where that discomfort exists are the places where we have room to grow. And we want to hear about ways that you think our local church can better reflect the timeless traits of the church. Here are some questions to ask to guide you toward playing your part in the process as we embark on our journey through the book of Acts:

1. In what ways can our gathered worship, leadership, outreach and discipleship better reflect the timeless traits of the church?

2. What fruit do you see the message of the Gospel producing in Acts that you don’t see in and through our local church?

3. Does our church in any way place the Gospel less at the center of our message and ministry than the early Apostles and disciples did in the book of Acts?

4. Are there ways that the early Church depended on the power of the Holy Spirit that are not necessarily reflected in our life together?

When you have some feedback or when you’d like to talk about how we, as a church, can get closer to what God has called us to be together, email kyle@sovgracesantaana.org.

CHURCH AND STATE: DECIDING WHEN TO SUBMIT OR REBEL

Our first Summer Sunday School class is tonight at 7:30pm. You should have received an email with the Zoom Link and call details. If you did not receive it, you can send us an email now to get the info in time for the call tonight!

ACTS GIVES US THE TIMELESS TRAITS OF THE CHURCH

“If Jesus were here today, He would _________”. How many times have you heard someone say something like this? When we say things like this, it reflects that in order to know how Christians should live, what the Church should be or what the Church should do, the only option we have is to speculate at what Jesus would say or do if He were with us today.

But the point of the book of Acts is that Jesus was on earth, He gave His Church a specific mission, built His Church through His Spirit in a specific way and, as an eternally living Savior, has never told us to do Church differently. We don’t have to guess at what the Church is or should be doing. We have the book of Acts. Listen to last Sunday’s introduction to Acts to learn more.

Listen to this week’s sermon here.

CLASS IS IN SESSION

We’ve planned a series of online classes to answer pressing questions:

When should we engage in civil disobedience?
What does the bible say about racial reconciliation and gender identity?
What should I do when I disagree with other Christians about important political issues?

It’s time for Summer School. Come hear the pastors engage with the bible on these topics. Bring your questions.

The titles for each class are below.

JULY 28
CHURCH AND STATE: DECIDING WHEN TO SUBMIT OR REBEL.

AUGUST 11
POLITICS: MATTERS OF WISDOM, CONSCIENCE, AND LOVE.

AUGUST 25
CRITICAL THEORY: RECOGNIZING AN UNFAMILIAR WORLD VIEW.

We’re teaming up with Sovereign Grace Church of Orange. All church members and regular attenders from both churches are welcome. There’s no registration or homework. We’ll send the Zoom link out to our church directories beforehand.

Contact the church office with your questions or if you aren’t sure you’re in our directory.

LET’S CONTINUE TO BE A CHURCH THAT PRAYS

Keep sending us your prayer requests. We’ll keep sharing them (annomously) and share other guidelines for how you can be praying during the week. It’s important to know how to pray for one another and to ask the Lord to guide us, sustain us and encourage us each individually in this season.

1. Pray for the effectiveness of the preached Word as we begin a new series in Acts this week

2. Pray for those teaching Summer School classes - that men and women from Sovereign Grace Churches of Orange and Santa Ana would be served by the subject matter

3. Pray for parents of young children who are preparing for another semester of home schooling

4. Pray for families who continue to experience financial challenges

5. Pray for those who have been exposed to the virus in any capacity

6. Pray for Seth’s move on Saturday

7. Pray for Omar and Sandi as they prepare to be married on August 2

8. Pray for the requests of individuals who have shared them on our church Slack prayer channel. If you have questions about how to be added to this, email office@sovgracesantaana.org

   KEEP SENDING PRAYER REQUESTS TO PRAYERS@SOVGRACESANTAANA.ORG.

STARTING POINT - DATE TBD

A TWO-HOUR CLASS DESIGNED TO HELP YOU LEARN ABOUT THE LIFE AND BELIEFS OF THIS CHURCH

REGISTER HERE

If you’ve been visiting Sovereign Grace Church of Santa Ana for any length of time, we’d like to invite you to our upcoming “Starting Point” class. It’s a class that takes place immediately after church where you can learn about what we believe, what those beliefs look like in the life of the church and how you can become a part of the community of Sovereign Grace Santa Ana. Once registration fills up, we’ll coordinate a date for the class.

Lunch will be served. If you’d like to attend, please register here or at the link above.

IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE SERVICE AT THE HOULTON HOUSE

LUNCH PROVIDED

JULY 20TH-26TH

Every Tuesday we will be publishing a blog to share what is going in the life of the church for that week! We hope that this serves you and helps to keep you updated.

THURSDAY, JULY 23RD: WOMEN’S MEETING

• 7:00pm, Location TBD. If you have questions, please send an email to office@sovgracesantaana.org.

SUNDAY JULY 26TH: SERVICE AT 10:00AM AT THE EBELL CLUB

• Meeting Room - Outdoor Courtyard

OUR MONTHLY WOMEN’S GROUP IS THIS THURSDAY

7PM | LOCATION TBD

If you have any questions about this meeting, please email office@sovgracesantaana.org

Our Meeting Space Within The Ebell Has Gone Outdoors (For Now)

Last week Governor Newsom updated the CA guidelines for places of worship, which you can read here. In order to be in compliance, the Ebell Club graciously let us host our service in the courtyard this past Sunday and will continue to do so until the guidelines change. In light of this, we have created a new list of Ebell Outside Rules, to help us continue to be good stewards of our meeting venue.

Ebell Outside Rules

1. Please stick to the turf or sidewalk and avoid walking in the planters. Parents, please keep an eye on your kids and ensure they are following this rule too.

2. Please bring your own shade whenever possible. It’s summer. It’s hot outside. We want to try and make the service as comfortable as possible for you. If you have beach umbrellas or an EZ Up that you can bring on Sundays, please do.

3. Moms with strollers- We will be creating a designated stroller parking zone at the Ebell to ensure the walkways are not too crowded. Please look out for signs on Sunday and ask the Ushers if you need any help!

We thank God for the provision of not only an outdoor meeting space but a beautiful one.

On Saturday, Fifteen Members Of Sovereign Grace Santa Ana Spent The Morning Meeting Our New French Park Neighbors

We’re in the same city, but our Sunday meeting location has shifted a mile to the east. New immediate neighbors surround us. In a time when we’ve been relegated to our homes and our natural rhythms of hospitality and outreach have been disrupted, it’s good for our souls to make some conscious effort to get outside of our comfort zones and get to know, be mindful of and enter into the lives of the people God has called us to spread the joy of Jesus to.

Consider how you and your family might be able to spread the joy of Jesus in the French Park neighborhood or Downtown Santa Ana or even the neighbors in your own neighborhood in the coming weeks and months. Jesus has given us a mission. Let’s continue to embrace it as ambassadors of the hope He’s placed within our hearts through the work of His cross.