CONTINUE LEARNING ABOUT THE ORDINARY MEANS

We’ve just completed a sermon series on the ordinary means of grace. 7 weeks of studying those God appointed means to make us more like Christ. The special channels which bring God’s undeserved favor, spiritual blessing, and soul-altering help to us like delivery trucks carrying gifts to our doorsteps or tortillas which bring the deliciousness of the taco to our hungry mouths. The visible, tangible, experiential handles for our faith which bring us grace. They are: 1) Gathering on the Lord’s Day, 2) Hearing the Word of God, 3) Communion with God through Prayer, 4) the Fellowship of the Church; the Sacraments of 5) Baptism, and 6) Communion, and 7) Generosity.

We hope you’ve come away with a refreshed appreciation and renewed expectation for the extraordinary work God does in us through these ordinary means. To help you catch up on anything you’ve missed, continue learning about these important activities, and encourage you to feast all the more heartily on the grace of Christ, we’ve got some additional resources for you.

Across the board: general resources on all the means

• Habits of Grace, David Mathis

• Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, Donald Whitney

• Sovereign Grace Churches Statement of Faith, Section 12: The Church of Christ

By Topic:

The Lord’s Day

• Sermon - Acts 20:7-12

• Call Sunday a Delight, Jeff Schlieder

• Preparing for Sunday Worship, Kevin DeYoung

The Word

• Sermon - 1 Peter 1:22-2:3

• A Peculiar Glory, John Piper

• Reading the Bible Supernaturally, John Piper

Prayer

• Sermon - Philippians 4:4-7

• A Praying Life, Paul Miller

• Praying Backwards: Transform Your Prayer Life By Beginning in Jesus’ Name, Bryan Chapell

Fellowship

• Sermon - 1 John 1:1-4

• The Grace of Friendship, Jeff Schlieder

• Life Together, Dietrich Bonhoeffer

• How Should We Develop Biblical Friendships?, Michael Haykin

• Made for Friendship, Drew Hunter

• The Four Loves, C.S. Lewis

Baptism 

• Sermon - Romans 6:1-12

• Diving Deeper Into Baptism, Jeff Schlieder

• 10 Key Bible Verses on Baptism, Crossway

• From Paedobaptism to Credobaptism, Gary Crampton

Communion

• Sermon - 1 Corinthians 10:14-22

• Communion Dinner Homily - Luke 24:13-35

• Feasting Our Hearts on the Riches of Communion, Jeff Schlieder

• The Lord’s Supper as a Means of Grace, Richard Barcellos

• The Lord’s Supper: Eternal Word in Broken Bread, Robert Letham

Generosity

• Sermon - 2 Corinthians 9:6-15

• The Treasure Principle, Randy Alcorn

• Joyful Generosity, Brendan Willis, Kyle Houlton, Leo Parris, & Mark Prater

• Gospel Patrons, John Rinehart

ALL LADIES, HIGH-SCHOOL AGED AND OLDER ARE INVITED

Each month, the ladies of CGSA gather for a time of discussion where “women talk like women” about God, experience rich fellowship, and encourage one another. All to promote the growth of women in Christ as women in Christ.

Tonight, they’ll continue their discussion of the Shaping Virtues of our family of churches & ask how they can embody the virtue of servanthood as women in Christ. We hope to see you there!

JOIN IN TONIGHT AT 7PM AT THE SCHLIEDER HOME

MARCH 24 - MARCH 30

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, MARCH 27

• French Park Run Club

  • 6:30am - French Park Grass Area

• Women’s Meeting

  • 7:00pm - Schlieder Home

SUNDAY, MARCH 30

• Sunday Gathering at the Ebell Club

  • 10:00am - Meeting Room: Ballroom

SIGN-UP TODAY

From 7/11-14, students (ages 12-17) from all 9 of our West Region churches will gather at Immanuel Pines in Prescott, AZ for a weekend of worship, teaching, and fellowship complete with breakout sessions, games, lip sync battles, and more!

This year’s theme is “Christ Over All” and it’s our desire for as many of our youth as possible to get out there and learn that there’s nothing more important than Jesus Christ. When it comes to their identity, purpose, future, and more, who Jesus is and what he’s done makes all the difference.

The registration link is active now. Registration: $280 before 3/31/25. $300 until 6/30/25.

Last year, we sent 7 youth and 1 leader. This year, it’s our goal to send at least 10 youth and 2-4 leaders. Parents, sign up your young people today! Interested in serving as a youth leader? Reach out to Pastor Kyle.

WATCH LAST YEAR’S RECAP VIDEO

REGISTER HERE

GOD GIVES FOR YOU TO GIVE

We come to our final sermon in the means of grace series. And this last one might surprise you: Generosity. A clear biblical command. A spiritual discipline to be embraced. But how does it bring us grace? Because, God gives for you to give. And in his economy, when you give you truly “get.” This is exactly what 2 Cor 9:6-15 is getting at. God purposes to bless the generous giver with many gifts of grace. Causing grace to abound to us so that grace would abound from us, all so that more grace would come our way! Enriching our lives - not so much with stuff, wealth, and comfort - but with a much better harvest, with joy, with everything we need to be ready to roll for good works, with understanding and clarity of what our money is for, with a gratitude that overflows from human hearts, and the deep satisfaction we receive at the shining forth of God’s glory most brilliantly reveled in the gospel - which our own joyful sacrifice reflects! In all this, generosity is not just a gift we give but a gift we get - and it's one that truly keeps on giving.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

THURSDAY AND FRIDAY AT 7PM

This week, 4 groups will meet throughout our city to share in the joy of Jesus and apply his gospel to each other’s lives. Outside of Sunday mornings, small groups are the most important moments in the life of our church. Make it a priority to attend one.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SMALL GROUPS, CLICK HERE

BRING YOUR LUNCH TO FRENCH PARK AFTER SERVICE THIS SUNDAY

This Sunday, we’ll walk over to French Park right after service to eat lunch and enjoy one another’s company in the midst of the neighborhood God has placed us in. Here are the details:

• It’s “BYOL” (bring your own lunch). If you forget your lunch or your favorite lunchbox isn’t clean, there are plenty of great restaurants nearby in DTSA.

• It’s optional - but we highly encourage coming!

• Bring some folding chairs - unless you like sitting on the grass, bring something to sit on.

• Expect the Lord to build existing relationships and create new ones.

MARCH 17 - MARCH 23

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, MARCH 20

• French Park Run Club

  • 6:30am - French Park Grass Area

• Small Groups

  • 7:00pm - Roenicke & Lee Homes

FRIDAY, MARCH 21

• Small Groups

  • 7:00pm - Houlton & Erkelens Homes

SUNDAY, MARCH 23

• Sunday Gathering at the Ebell Club

  • 10:00am - Meeting Room: Theater

• Picnic in the Park

  • 12:30pm - French Park Grass Area

JULY 11-14, 2025 - PRESCOTT, ARIZONA

This July, the Sovereign Grace West Region is putting on another epic camp - and our youth are invited! From 7/11-14, students (ages 12-17) from all 9 of our West Region churches will gather for a weekend of worship, teaching, and fellowship complete with breakout sessions, games, lip sync battles, and more!

This year’s theme is “Christ Over All” and it’s our desire for as many of our youth as possible to get out there and learn that there’s nothing more important than Jesus Christ. When it comes to their identity, purpose, future, and more, who Jesus is and what he’s done makes all the difference.

The registration link is active now. Registration: $280 before 3/31/25. $300 until 6/30/25.

Last year, we sent 7 youth and 1 leader. This year, it’s our goal to send at least 10 youth and 2-4 leaders. Parents, sign up your young people today! Interested in serving as a youth leader? Reach out to Pastor Kyle.

WATCH LAST YEAR’S RECAP VIDEO

REGISTER HERE

SHARING IN THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST

This past Sunday, our study of the means of grace brought us to communion - the second sacrament Christ instituted for the church. Like baptism, this activity sets or signifies the grace of the gospel before our eyes in order to seal and confirm the good promises of God upon our hearts. Through baptism we enter God’s house. Through communion, we take our seats at his table. But what happens when we come to the table? 1 Cor 10:14-22 makes it clear that in this moment, God is doing something in us. It’s not only a reflection upon grace given in the past, but a true reception of grace in the present. Not simply an exercise of our faith in Jesus, but a means by which the Risen and Living Christ strengthens our spirits, nourishes our souls, and feeds our faith. Not just a memory of Jesus upon the cross, but a meeting with the Jesus who now sits upon the throne.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE