CELEBRATING NEW LIFE IN CHRIST

This Sunday, we had the joy of celebrating the baptisms of Kimberley Bello and Jayce Lionel! We witnessed them profess their faith in Jesus’ sacrificial death and victorious resurrection. We watched as they demonstrated their own sharing in Christ’s dying and rising - being buried with him in baptism and rising up from water again. We rejoiced as God confirmed in their hearts and before our eyes that they’d truly passed from death to life.

Take a moment to read Jayce’s testimony and bask in God’s saving grace:

I had a rough childhood growing up. I was living in sin and its consequences. Though I grew up in church, my whole life I did not really believe that. When certain circumstances got better in life, things still did not seem to be satisfactory and I thought my problems would just go away. But it didn’t because sin is rooted in me.

After contemplating going back to church after not attending for almost two years, Lana invited me during the week of my birthday. Which brought me to this church. Pastor Kyle gave a sermon that moved me to confess that the issue he spoke about applied to me that morning and that’s how I started this journey. Both Pastor Kyle and Jeff have encouraged me to walk in the faith. Today, I am here to confess the Lord as Savior that I may continue to find peace, joy, and healing in him. Though I am still learning about the Christian life I know this: that Jesus died for my sins so I no longer have to be a slave to sin. As Paul says, “now is the day of salvation.”

Amen! Jesus has set us free from sin and brought us into an entirely new life with him, lived together in his people, for the glory of his name. A life that begins “now” and carries on forever.

Check out the pictures and be encouraged that our neighbors are being saved, our family is growing, and Christ is advancing his mission in our city!

BECAUSE PRAYER ENTRUSTS THE SHAPE OF THE CHURCH & THE WORLD TO GOD HIMSELF

Is there anyone you don’t want to pray for? Anyone you believe is beyond the bounds of God’s reach? Or, maybe, any areas in the world or segments of society you believe God just won’t work in? 1 Tim 2:1-7 confronts our bad beliefs, cynical outlook, and hard hardheartedness by calling us to pray for all kinds of people - no matter how different they are from us. In order for the household of God that is Cross of Grace to be a healthy one, we must not only pray for those “inside the house,” but “outside” as well. For every kind of neighbor. Every kind of sinner. Every sort of person - from the homeless neighbor, to the difficult co-worker, all the way to the president of the United States. We can and should pray for all kinds of people because God desires to save all kinds of people through the person of Jesus Christ.

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

WE’VE GOT FIVE DEACON CANDIDATES - WE NEED YOUR FEEDBACK

Last Sunday, we announced that over the past couple months we’ve been in the process of assessing and equipping a small group of Cross of Grace members to serve in the office of deacon. Your pastoral team commends each of these individuals as faithful saints who have displayed a heart for service and met the qualifications of a deacon as outlined in Scripture.  

But we want to hear from you. You - the members of Cross of Grace Church - have an important part to play in this process. You won’t just passively receive new deacons, but take an active role in their assessment. These candidates will be positioned to serve you in significant ways so we want to hear from you about the grace you see in their lives and their suitability for the office.

THE CANDIDATES

1) Daniel Lee

2) Fernando Madrigal

3) Peter Robles

4) Truman Severson

5) Jennifer Williams

READ 1 TIMOTHY 3:8-13

Before they are formally installed as deacons, we are inviting you, the church, to send any feedback, affirmation, or concerns - specifically as it relates to the qualifications listed in 1 Tim. 3:8-13 - you may have on any candidate to our pastoral team.

8 Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. 9 They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. 11 The women likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things.12 Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. 13 For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

To learn more about the office of deacon and how it functions at Cross of Grace, click here.

PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR FEEDBACK BY 6/1

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 this week.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SMALL GROUPS, CLICK HERE

GET READY TO CELEBRATE NEW LIFE IN CHRIST

This Sunday, we have the privilege of witnessing 2 individuals mark the beginning of their lives in Christ. We’ll gather around as they profess their faith in Jesus’ sacrificial death and victorious resurrection, signify their union with Christ’s own dying and rising, and enter into a new life in a new family which starts now and carries on forever. Christ is advancing his Kingdom, and baptism is proof. Come join us as we celebrate his saving grace, fellowship together, and enjoy lunch as a church.

BAPTISM IMMEDIATELY AFTER SERVICE THIS SUNDAY AT THE LEE HOME

If you’re interested in being baptized or have questions about baptism, please contact one of our pastors.

JOIN IN @ 6:30PM

Get ready for another evening of engaging discussion, rich fellowship, and all kinds of fun this Sunday!

SEE YOU THERE!

FIND MORE INFO ON CGSA YOUTH MINISTRY HERE

MAY 12 - MAY 18

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 15

• French Park Run Club

  • 6:30am - French Park Grass Area

• Small Groups

  • 7:00pm - Lee & Arista Homes

FRIDAY, MAY 16

• Small Groups

  • 7:00pm - Houlton & Erkelens Homes

SATURDAY, MAY 17

• Santa Ana Fun Run

  • 8:00am - Santa Ana Stadium

    • More details here

SUNDAY, MAY 18

• Sunday Gathering at the Ebell Club

  • 10:00am - Meeting Room: Ballroom

• Baptism Sunday

  • 12:30pm - Lee Home

    • Contact us here for more info

• Youth Ministry

  • 6:30pm - Hopper & Burr in DTSA

    • Find out more about Youth Ministry here

RACES BEGIN AT 8AM

Let’s keep building community in Santa Ana one run at a time! Sign up for the 5k, 10k, or Kid’s Dash event. Some of the race events are free! There will be a resource fair following the event. Don’t miss the opportunity to go into our city and get to know neighbors who don’t know Jesus.

Make sure to sign-up with a couple friends, you can find all the registration and event information here.

CHALLENGING ONE ANOTHER WITH THE TRUTH

Every house has house rules. God's house is no exception. There are some actions, attitudes, and beliefs that just don't belong. Because of this, there comes a point when certain members become so disruptive to the life in the house that they need to be removed from the house. This was the case with Hymanaeus and Alexander. Two members of Timothy's church who had devoted themselves to "different doctrine," "made shipwreck of their faith," and were beginning to upset the faith of others as well. In order to protect those who remained inside, prevent the name of Christ from being put to shame, and, as counter-intuitive as it might seem, to promote the restoration of these men, Paul put them out of the church and "handed them over to Satan" (1:20). To our modern ears, this might seem harsh, extreme, or unloving. But God's word recalibrates our thinking and makes it clear that it's not loving to allow someone to continue in error. It's not kind, compassionate, or Christlike to never challenge one another with the truth. 

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

EVERY 2ND THURSDAY OF THE MONTH

All guys, 15 years and older, are invited to participate in a conversation where "men talk like men" about God. Join in at Hopper & Burr (202 W 4th St, Santa Ana, CA 92701) at 7:00 pm.