JOIN US FOR A FRIENDSGIVING FELLOWSHIP NIGHT ON 11/16

Because of the Thanksgiving holiday, we’re moving our monthly Women’s Meeting up a week. This month, the ladies of CGSA will gather to share in an informal Friendsgiving fellowship night as they share in the grace of friendship. No turkeys, potatoes, or fancy dishes necessary. We’re keeping it simple. If you are able, please bring an appetizer, snack, or dessert to share as we spend the evening celebrating God’s goodness through our relationships and giving thanks to his name.

NEXT THURSDAY AT 7PM AT THE Davis HOME

NOVEMBER 7 - NOVEMBER 12

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, NOVEMBER 9: FRENCH PARK RUN CLUB

• 6:30 am - French Park Grass Area

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9: MEN’S MEETING

• 7:00 pm - Fourth Street Market Patio

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 12: SUNDAY GATHERING AT THE EBELL CLUB

• 10:00 am - Meeting Room: Ballroom

THE DISCIPLINE OF GRACE BY JERRY BRIDGES

The Discipline of Grace offers a clear and thorough explanation of the gospel and what it means to be a believer. Written by Navigator author Jerry Bridges, this book explores how the same grace that brings us to faith in Christ also disciplines us in Christ. In other words, this book helps the Christian understand the Bible’s teaching on how those who are saved by grace can be motivated to live for God’s glory, not by their own will and power, but by grace. In learning more about grace, you also will learn about God’s character, His forgiveness, and the Holy Spirit.

PURCHASE A COPY OF THE BOOK HERE

EXPERIENCE THE PERSONAL PRESENCE OF the SAVIOR

In Paul's first prayer in Eph 1:15-23, we learned that the Spirit was the power of the Church who fills us with the power of the Risen King. Now, we marvel at the wonder that the same Spirit is at work to bring the loving, gracious, and soul-refreshing presence of the Savior at home to our hearts through faith. Taken together, these two prayers reveal that simultaneously: Christ is in heaven, reigning in power & Christ is in our hearts, refreshing us in love. Our King and Savior couldn't be closer, couldn't be nearer, couldn't be more eager to fills us with his life, joy, and peace. The "head" of the Church (1:22) is no mere figurehead, nor is he an inaccessible leader, but instead, he is both powerfully pursuing the advancement of his mission while making himself personally present and available to all those who are his. What other institution on earth has a leader who is so powerfully at work and personally involved in the lives of his people?

LISTEN TO Sunday’s SERMON HERE

COME DISCUSS WITH US AT BRIDGE

Our next Bridge Course session is Monday, November 6th at 7pm. Do all roads lead to heaven? Aren’t all religions basically the same? Who does Jesus say he is and what does that mean for each of us? We’ll explore all this and more over the course of a meal, a talk, and a conversation where every perspective is encouraged. Even if you’ve missed the previous sessions, ALL are welcome to join in as we wrestle through these big questions of life. Sign up below or invite a friend and we’ll see you on 11/6 at Hopper & Burr (202 W 4th St, Santa Ana, CA 92701).

REGISTER FOR THE CLASS HERE

LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER FOR STARTING POINT - A TWO HOUR CLASS FOR GUESTS

The church is like a body with many members (1 Cor. 12:12). Our lives are connected. We need one another. Church membership is our way of ensuring everyone who belongs to our congregation enjoys the benefits and privileges of being a part of Cross of Grace Church.

We want to make it simple for anyone interested in becoming a member of Cross of Grace Church to pursue the process. If you’ve been visiting for any length of time, this class is for you. We invite you to join us for one two-hour class on a Sunday afternoon immediately following our worship service. The aim of the class is to provide an introduction to what we believe and how those beliefs shape our life together as a church. Lunch and childcare are provided.

REGISTER HERE & HEAD TO THE HOULTON HOME RIGHT AFTER CHURCH

A TIME OF EQUIPPING AND REFRESHMENT FOR OUR WORSHIP TEAM

This Saturday our worship team will be meeting with our partner churches for a day of encouragement and equipping for those who serve their congregations by leading them in song. Together with members of Sovereign Grace Church of Orange and Pasadena, we'll spend time singing, praying, learning, enjoying some friendly competition, sharing meals, and sharpening musical skills through some focused and extended rehearsal time. 

Please join us by praying for the following:

• Ask God to confirm and affirm their calling to serve us in singing God’s praises.

• Ask God to deepen their friendships with one another.

• Ask God to bless our worship team members for the sacrifices of time they make this Saturday and each week to serve us.

• Ask God to be gracious to the spouses who are staying home with kids while the musicians are together.

• Ask God to fill their hearts with love for Christ, affection for the church, and ambition to grow.

EVERY 1ST & 3RD FRIDAY OF THE MONTH @ 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

OCTOBER 30 - NOVEMBER 6

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, NOVEMBER 2: FRENCH PARK RUN CLUB

• 6:30 am - French Park Grass Area

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3: SMALL GROUPS

• 7:00 pm - Houlton, Schlieder, and Madrigal Home

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 5: SUNDAY GATHERING AT THE EBELL CLUB

• 10:00 am - Meeting Room: Ballroom

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 5: STARTING POINT

• 12:00 pm - Houlton Home

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 6: THE BRIDGE COURSE

• 7:00 pm - Hopper & Burr

REMEMBERING THE PROTESTANT REFORMATION

Today marks the 506th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. On October 31, 1517, a German Monk named Martin Luther nailed a document calling for reform in the Catholic Church to the door of the local church in Wittenburg. What followed was a movement that has changed both the church and the world to this day!

SOMETHING TRUE, NOT SOMETHING NEW

The triumph of the Reformation wasn’t the development of new doctrine that took the world by storm, but the rediscovery of the biblical gospel. It was the recovery of “the church’s true treasure,” as Luther said time and time again.

As a Sovereign Grace Church, we gladly locate ourselves downstream of the heritage and theology that flowed out of the Reformation. “Reformed Theology” is one of the 7 Shared Values that mark our family of churches. The story of the Reformation is important to us because it’s a story that helps us better understand ourselves as it points us to the shoulders of the gospel-centered saints of old that we still stand upon today.

RESOURCES TO KEEP US REFORMING

You can find an excellent summary of what the Protestant Reformation was all about and why it remains relevant today in the article Does the Reformation Still Matter? by Stephen Nichols. In addition to this, below you will find a selection of resources that will immerse you in the story of the Reformation as you sing, watch, and listen to the events which have shaped our church and the world around us.

• Sing

  • The Five Solas by Psallos puts the 5 summary slogans of the Reformation (Scripture Alone, Faith Alone, Grace Alone, Christ Alone, & God’s Glory Alone) to music and drives the truth of the gospel down into our hearts.

• Watch

  • Luther: The Life and Legacy of the German Reformer - Available to stream for FREE. “Watch this documentary to discover the events God used in Martin Luther’s life that led him to rediscover the gospel of justification by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.“ You can also download Ligonier’s free accompanying study guide.

  • The Story of Martin Luther - a short, kid-friendly animated film surveying the life of Martin Luther.

• Listen

  • Luther: In Real Time - There are 2 seasons to the podcast. It was first released 500 years after the events described, this podcast allows you to walk in Martin Luther’s footsteps from his heresy charges to his famous stand for the authority of God’s Word at the Diet of Worms.

We hope this list makes you grateful to God for his work in the past and also encourages you to keep the spirit of the Reformation alive as we seek to always be reforming our church and our lives according to God’s Word. Semper Reformanda!