FROM DAVE TAYLOR, SOVEREIGN GRACE CHURCHES GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS DIRECTOR

Jesus says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5) 

For our family of churches to bear much gospel fruit, as Mark Prater reminded us in his second quarter prayer requests, we must continue to abide in Christ, because apart from him we can do nothing. Jesus’ words capture our utter dependence upon him. Without him, we’ve got no hope. But with him, great things can happen!!

One of the ways that we abide dependently on Christ is through prayer. For Jesus says a couple of verses later in John 15:7, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” Asking is a practical expression of abiding dependently on Christ, and so here’s how we can be doing that, together as a family of churches, over the next month…

1. Please continue to pray for the Ark Church in Dnipro, Ukraine asking God to protect them, and to use them to meet practical needs, and to offer gospel hope to people impacted by the way.

2. Please pray for Bob Kauflin & David Zimmer (Sovereign Grace Music), as they lead a SG Worship Matters Intensive in Sydney, Australia, with 19 guys, men from Japan, Philippines and all over Australia (May 3rd-6th).

3. Please pray for our two planned Chinese Church Plants for the US (Charleston & Maryland), for grace, provision, and the raising up of two strong church planting teams. If you are Mandarin speaker yourself, maybe the Lord is calling you to be a part of one of these endeavors?

4. Please pray for Jeff Purswell as he heads to Guadalajara (May 9-11th) to serve at the Mexican Pastors Equipping Retreat. 

5. Please pray for Billy Raies, Steven Avampato, Jeffrey Jo & Pastor Ray as they head to Nepal (May 23-27th) to serve at the NIM Network Conference with our dear friend Barnabas (SG Key Leader in Nepal). Over 400 pastors, wives and missionaries will be present, from 163 different churches. Please pray for grace and wisdom as they speak at this conference, as well as grace and wisdom as they get extended time with Barnabas to think through the next five years of SG Nepal, as we plan together for the future. 

6. Please pray for Ed O’Mara and Rocca Dalia as they look to plant a Sovereign Grace Church in Torino, Italy, later this year. Asking God to provide housing, financial resources, and a Sunday meeting place.

7. Please pray for Dave Taylor & Riley Spring (SG Australia) as they head to Liberia to serve at the Gracelife Pastors & Planters Academy (May 16-23rd), teaching on SG Church Planting. Please pray for safe travels, and receptive and faith-filled hearts. That the Lord's will may be done in these West African Nations, all for His glorious Name.  

WHETHER NEAR OR FAR, ONLY FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST GETS YOU IN

Jesus has beaten the Pharisees & Herodians and the Sadducees at their own games, and next comes an encounter with a scribe. Jesus is asked ONE question concerning his interpretation of the Scriptures, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” (12:28). He responds to that ONE question with TWO answers. Surprisingly, the scribe commends and agrees with Jesus’ answer and Jesus replies to him, saying, “you are not far from the kingdom of God”. The scribe had judged Jesus answer, but Jesus, the Lawgiver and the Sovereign Son of God, judged the worthiness of the scribe to enter God’s kingdom. He was near. But … he was not yet in. Why? Listen to Sunday’s sermon to learn more.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

IMMEDIATELY AFTER SERVICE. MEMBERS REQUIRED, GUESTS INVITED

Every six months, we hold a brief members meeting after service which usually lasts about 30 minutes. This meeting is mandatory for all members, but guests are welcome as well. This meeting is a time to communicate what we wouldn’t communicate on a typical Sunday morning. We’ll look back on what God has graciously done in the last 6 months in our church and look forward to where we believe God is taking us as a church. Come on June 11th eager to hear what God is up to in our church.

ALL GUYS 15 AND OLDER ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND

Tonight, the men of our church are gathering together to sit under God’s word and spur on each other’s walk with Christ. All guys, 15 years and older, are invited to participate in a conversation where "men talk like men" about God. The topics are chosen to challenge the group and promote humble theological dialogue. Meets every second Thursday at the 4th Street Market patio at 7:00 pm.

MAY 8 - MAY 14

Every Tuesday we publish a blog post to lay out in one place what’s going in the life of the church for the upcoming week. See below for a snapshot of what’s on the calendar this week:

THURSDAY, MAY 11: FRENCH PARK RUN CLUB

• 6:30 am - French Park Grass Area

THURSDAY, MAY 11: MEN’S MEETING

• 7:00 pm - Fourth Street Market Patio

SUNDAY, MAY 14: SUNDAY GATHERING AT THE EBELL CLUB

• 10:00 am - Meeting Room: Ballroom

POSTPONED TO SPRING 2024

We’ve decided to postpone the trip to Rancho 3M. Thank you to all who have prayerfully expressed interest and desired to use your time and resources to serve our Gospel partners in Guadalupe, Mexico. 

WHILE THIS MAY SOUND LIKE UNFORTUNATE NEWS, IT’S NOT. WHY?

1. Because we’re only postponing a few months. What was supposed to be a fall, 2023 trip will now simply become a spring, 2024 trip. 

2. The main reason we’re postponing is because we have a lot scheduled during the fall - most of it having to do with pressing into our local mission in Santa Ana. We want to be careful not to dilute or take away from what the Lord is doing to bear fruit in our efforts to reach our neighbors with the Gospel. 

3. The date switch actually serves the Rancho 3M staff. Spring 2024 is looking pretty slow right now; not many teams are scheduled and the staff need a lot of help coming out of the difficult winter months. We also had several key Spanish-speaking individuals and leaders from our church who would not have been able to attend. 

So, after prayerful consideration, we’ve decided to postpone. We’ll get the new date out ASAP. Keep praying. Stay excited. 

We have every intention of making this trip happen and being as effective for our Gospel partners as we possibly can be. 

BUT JESUS’ RESCUE PRECEDES OUR RENDERING

This week, we resumed our sermon series in the Gospel of Mark. We're back in the Temple with Jesus during Holy Week & the Sanhedrin have sent a new group of challengers to trap him. The Pharisees and the Herodians come to him with a question about taxes - "Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar?" (12:14). Jesus’ ingenious reply states, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's" (12:17). Caesar minted coins, so give those back to him. But God has made us in his image, so give yourselves wholly to him. But what Jesus knows about every person in His audience, including us, is that nobody has perfectly rendered their lives to God - we’re all in debt. He knows He’ll render His life for us. The cross looms large over this passage and any attempt on our part to render to God what belongs to God.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

CARING FOR ONE ANOTHER BY EDWARD WELCH

Continuing on in the trajectory of our Discipleship Spring Class, May’s Book of the Month will further equip us to help each other follow Christ in every aspect of life. From the back cover:

Imagine . . . an interconnected group of people who entrust themselves to each other. You can speak of your pain, and someone responds with compassion and prayer. You can speak of your joys, and someone rejoices with you. You can ask for help with sinful struggles, and someone prays with you.

The goal of this book is that these meaningful relationships will become a natural part of daily life in your church. With short chapters and discussion questions meant to be read in a group setting, Ed Welch guides small groups through eight lessons that show what it looks like when ordinary, needy people care for other ordinary, needy people in everyday life.

PURCHASE A COPY OF THE BOOK HERE

EVERY FIRST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH WITH ROTATING SMALL GROUPS

This May, Prayer in the Park returns. Prayer is central to our mission and, in 2023, our small groups have been taking to French Park on the the first Friday of the month to pray for the good of our neighborhood. Asking Jesus to save Santa Anans, meet our neighbors according to his grace, and open doors for sharing his gospel and spreading his joy.

THE HOULTON SMALL GROUP WILL BE MEETING AT FRENCH PARK AT 7PM

EVERY 1ST & 3RD FRIDAY OF THE MONTH AT 7PM

Outside of Sunday mornings, small groups are the most important moment in the life of our church. Make it a priority to attend small group this Friday at 7pm in order to encourage one another and be encouraged. To care for others and to be cared for. To point your brothers and sisters to Christ and apply his gospel to their lives, and experience the same.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SMALL GROUPS, CLICK HERE