WHAT DOES THE NEW LIFE LOOK LIKE?

Beginning in Ephesians 4:17, Paul begins laying out what it looks like to live lives worthy of our calling (4:1). He begins by contrasting the believer's way of life apart from Christ (4:17-19) with our new life in Christ (4:20-24). Likening it to a change of clothes: putting off the old-sin stained garments, and putting on our new set of clothes in Christ. Something which happens decisively at our conversion but continues on throughout our entire lives. Continuously tossing the sin-stained rags back into the coffin-hamper, and putting on our new identity in Christ. And everyday, as we exercise our faith in Christ and get freshly dressed in him, the Lord will continue to make us more and more like Christ - renewing our minds, re-orienting our desires, and restoring his image in us. We used to go all out getting dressed up in the old clothes. Should we not work just as hard to put on the new?

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

WEEKLY MEETINGS ARE CANCELLED FOR DECEMBER

In the world of agriculture, soil must remain “fallow” once every few years to maintain its fertility for years to come. To lie fallow is to lie unplowed and unplanted for a time in order for nutrients to be restored. In the month of December, we are letting our church calendar lie fallow. Why? Not so that you can pull away from the life of the church, but instead to press into natural and more intimate opportunities to relate to your church family and neighbors. The holiday season is notoriously one of the busiest times of the year. We want to help you to take advantage of the few free moments you have to spend unhurried, unscheduled time with one another and with family for the grand purpose of allowing your heart to be re-fertilized by the work of Christ, fellowship with the saints, and cultivating friendships with unbelieving neighbors.

WHAT’S NOT CANCELLED?

• REGULAR SUNDAY SERVICES

• CHRISTMAS EVE MORNING SERVICE (Ebell Club at 10:00 AM)

• Run Club

If you ever have any questions about church events, you can look to our church calendar, which is always updated to reflect changes to meetings or events.

Subscribe to the church calendar here.

ways to get involved

It’s the best time of year! What better way to celebrate the birth of Christ than by singing loud for all to hear. 

On 12/17 at 7pm we’re making plans to gather together in French Park to sing carols, spread Christmas cheer, and invite our neighbors to share in the celebration with us. We’ll serve up some hot chocolate, enjoy sweet treats, and extend an invitation for our neighbors to join us at church on Christmas Eve.

Here’s how you can get involved:

1. Invite our French Park neighbors, your family and friends to a night of Carols in the Park, and come sing with us! You can share the digital invite linked here.

2. Along with extending an invitation, consider ways you’d like to get involved, either with setup, being part of the choir, or bring a couple dozen cookies. Sign up below to get involved

SIGN UP HERE

AN OUTWARD SIGN OF AN INWARD WORK

Baptism is one of the sweetest moments in the life of the church. It’s a visible portrayal of the effects of the gospel in a person. A means of grace given to us in order to participate in God’s promise of new life in Christ. Professing our faith in Jesus, making our public entrance into his people, and representing our union with him in his death and resurrection - dying to sin and being raised to walk in newness of life. It’s also an act of obedience, something that every believer is commanded to do.

BAPTISM IMMEDIATELY AFTER SERVICE THIS SUNDAY AT THE CUNNINGHAM HOME

Join us at the Cunningham home immediately after church this Sunday (12/3) to celebrate the baptism of new believers and have a hotdog lunch. If you’re interested in being baptized or have questions about baptism, please contact one of our pastors.

NOVEMBER 27 - DECEMBER 3

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 30: FRENCH PARK RUN CLUB

• 6:30 am - French Park Grass Area

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3: SUNDAY GATHERING AT THE EBELL CLUB

• 10:00 am - Meeting Room: Ballroom

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3: BAPTISM SUNDAY

• 12:15 pm - Cunningham Home

ALL THE MAIN SESSIONS AND BREAKOUT LECTURES ARE AVAILABLE BELOW

This year as the pastors and wives of Sovereign Grace Churches gathered for our annual conference, we were well-served by faithful, joyful, and timely gospel preaching. Your pastoral team encourages you to listen to all 5 of these main sessions. They’ll bless your soul, build you up, and equip you for gospel mission in our current cultural moment.

WATCH OR LISTEN TO ALL THE SESSIONS HERE

AS THE CHURCH, WE ARE ONE. BUT WE ARE NOT THE SAME.

There is blessed unity but not boring uniformity among us. Because the way the Risen Christ has purposed to maintain, strengthen, and protect our unity is through our diversity. Ephesians 4:7-16 teaches us that all the different, varied, and numerous gifts of grace that we’ve been given serve the singular goal of helping our church grow toward maturity. Each of us has received a gift so that ALL of us can play our part in the growth of the church (v.7). These gifts have come to us as the spoils of victory that Jesus won through everything that took place from his death upon the cross to his ascension into heaven. In what might strike us as an unexpected detour in this passage, Paul draws our attention to the nature and wonder of Christ's victory in vv.8-10, so that we'd be assured of Christ's unstoppable purposes for his people in vv.11-16. 

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM CROSS OF GRACE SANTA ANA!

We are a people who have much to be thankful for!

Thankful that we are loved and cared for by our Heavenly Father.

Thankful that we belong to Christ and have passed from death to life.

Thankful that we have the fellowship of the Spirit who gives us peace, comfort, and joy.

Thankful for all we have received from the gracious hand of God.

Thankful that we get to be the church together here in Downtown Santa Ana.

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever” - Ps 136:1

NOVEMBER 21 - NOVEMBER 26

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:

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26: SUNDAY GATHERING AT THE EBELL CLUB

• 10:00 am - Meeting Room: Ballroom

PLEASE MAKE THIS MEETING A PRIORITY

Every six months, we hold a brief members meeting after service. This meeting will last about 45 minutes, since we have some big announcements. The 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 this Sunday eager to hear what God is up to in our church.

IMMEDIATELY AFTER SERVICE. MEMBERS REQUIRED, GUESTS INVITED