AND PUT ON WHAT BUILDS UP

Paul turns from the general principles of putting off the old and putting on the new and provides specific aspects of the old life we need to do away with in Ephesians 4:25-31. But, far from this passage being a list of “don’ts” there is much for us to do as well. Because as we live the new life, we’re not just saying “no” to the old and broken but saying “yes” to the new and following Jesus into a better, blessed, and more beautiful kind of life together. A new life governed by love that does away with all the words and deeds that are incompatible with how God has spoken and acted toward us in Christ (4:32-5:2).

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

CHRISTMAS EVE MORNING SERVICE

Join us Sunday, 12/24, at 10:00am as we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ: God with us, the Savior of the world. We'll sing classic carols, read the nativity story, and hear good news of great joy. There will be special activities for the kids and holiday treats for everyone to take home.

INVITE YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY

All are welcome to join us for this special moment as we rejoice in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Invite whoever you’re spending Christmas with to come along as we share in the joy that Jesus was born to bring! You can find a copy of our digital flyer here.

CHRIST IS BUILDING HIS CHURCH

This upcoming Sunday, we have the privilege of welcoming new members into our midst. These are people who have committed to participating in the life of the church and performing the “one anothers” of Scripture with this local body of Christ. They’re also individuals whom we, as a church, commit to do the same with and for. We praise God for his grace and the advancement of his gospel in Santa Ana.

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 THE SERVICE. MEMBERS REQUIRED, GUEST WELCOMED

DECEMBER 4 - DECEMBER 10

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, DECEMBER 7: FRENCH PARK RUN CLUB

• 6:30 am - French Park Grass Area

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10: SUNDAY GATHERING AT THE EBELL CLUB

• 10:00 am - Meeting Room: Ballroom

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10: Bi-Annual MEMBER’S MEETING

• 12:00 pm - Ebell Club Ballroom

BAPTISM SUNDAY

Baptism is a celebration. Friends, family, and the church gather around to rejoice in what God has done. Celebrating because God the Father, through the sacrifice of His Son, by the power of His Holy Spirit is saving men and women from sin. The lost are being found. Baptism is the evidence of this.

This last Sunday, we had the joy of witnessing the baptism of Anna Forslund, Truett Houlton, and Nidia Manzano. Check out the pictures and relive the celebration of new life in Christ.

COME, THOU LONG-EXPECTED JESUS EDITED BY NANCY GUTHRIE

Let’s celebrate Christmas with the Church throughout the ages! Confessing the “one Lord” Jesus Christ who came to save us from our sins with those who’ve come before us. This anthology edited by Nancy Guthrie draws from the works and sermons of classic theologians such as George Whitefield, Martin Luther, Charles Spurgeon, and Saint Augustine, and from leading contemporary teachers such as John Piper, Randy Alcorn, Tim Keller, and Joni Eareckson Tada to help readers enter into the wonder of Jesus’s incarnation and birth.

PURCHASE A COPY OF THE BOOK HERE

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