THANKING GOD FOR 2025

From Mark Prater, Executive Director of Sovereign Grace Churches:

In Acts 14, Paul and Barnabas returned to Antioch after their first missionary journey, and verse 27 tells us, “And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done.”

This end of year video is doing just that–looking back at 2025 to declare all that God has done. Sovereign Grace experienced a year full of God’s grace, undeserved mercy, and so much more than could fit in this short video. However, it is good for us to consider all He has done, giving Him thanks, and looking with hope to the future.

I hope this video encourages you. He has used the members, leaders, and pastors of our local churches to reach the lost, disciple, reach the next generation, build strong local churches, and so much more. Hasn’t He been good?

May we never tire of declaring all God has done, for his glory alone. As we go forward in mission together in 2026, let’s be actively aware of God’s activity in us, through us, and around us. He has done great things!

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE

LET’S CONTINUE TO TAKE CARE OF OUR SUNDAY MEETING SPACE

We love the Ebell Club and are so grateful to gather in the heart of DTSA. As an expression of that gratitude, let’s continue being the best tenants we can. In addition to our regular Sunday morning “house rules” (supervising kids at all times & staying out of the planters), we’ve got one new one for you:

• Please keep the employee entrance off Mortimer St clear. Let’s keep our kids off the porch railing outside the employee entrance door for their safety as well as the good of the nearby planters. Parents, please help by keeping an eye on your kids after service and encouraging them to play along the sidewalk.

Thanks for doing your part to love our meeting space!

JANUARY 5 - JANUARY 11

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. Below we’ve got a snapshot of what’s on the calendar this week:

TUESDAY, JANUARY 6

• Basketball in the Park

  • 6:00pm - El Camino Park

    • Reach out to Manny for more info

THURSDAY, JANUARY 8

• French Park Run Club

  • 6:30am - French Park Grass Area

• Men’s Meeting

  • 7:00pm - Robles home

SUNDAY, JANUARY 11

• Sunday Gathering at the Ebell Club

  • 10:00am - Meeting Room: Ballroom

JOIN US FOR RUN CLUB - EVERY THURSDAY AT 6:30AM

It’s a new year, and you likely have new goals you want to pursue and fresh patterns you want to create. We encourage you to add Run Club to the list. Each Thursday morning at 6:30am, you can start your day with Christian fellowship, build relationships with French Park neighbors, and do your body some good in the process. Consider joining us in the center of French Park for a casual run in our community. Share this digital flyer to spread the word. RSVP with Pastor Jeff.

THE COSMIC CONFLICT OF THE PLAGUES

On Sunday, we journeyed through Exodus 7:14-10:29 - the first 9 of 10 plagues upon Egypt. This is the great action sequence of Exodus. And, unlike so many stories and movies today, this action actually means something. No explosions just because. No fights that are just meant to entertain. No action just for action’s sake. But all of it designed to teach us more about who we are, the world we live in, and the whole purpose of it all. God decided to tell the story this way to not only captivate us with this run of compelling scenes, but to show us something we really need to see.

Zooming in on one of these 3 sights, we focused on the world we live in. Exodus teaches us that it’s an embattled world. And one of the purposes of the plagues is to: Demonstrate the real power of darkness & God’s real triumph over darkness. This stands at the heart of what the central conflict in the story is all about. As scholar, Philip Ryken puts it:

“The great confrontation in Exodus was not simply a dispute between Moses and Pharaoh, or a conflict between Israel and Egypt, but a battle between God and Satan. A battle which pitted YHWH, the true God, who moved Moses and Israel, against all the false gods of the Egyptian pantheon, backed by a host of fallen angels who had turned from God as part of Satan’s original rebellion. Thus, the exodus was another engagement in the invisible war that continually rages between Heaven and Hell.”

The “great confrontation” in Exodus is not just Moses against Pharaoh and his magicians, but YHWH, the God of Israel, vs. the real dark powers that stood behind these sorcerers. In no uncertain terms, it is a battle of YHWH vs. the gods of Egypt, and this conflict comes to a head in the plagues upon the land. Because in the plagues, YHWH is defeating the gods of Egypt. He’s dethroning the powers they trusted in one by one. He’s demonstrating to them that they need a better God. He’s proving to the Egyptians back then and to everybody, everywhere, ever since that he alone is worthy of our worship.

Learn more about the cosmic conflict and find a full hit list of dethroned gods here.

ACTION THAT SEIZES OUR ATTENTION & SHAPES OUR HEARTS

We come to the most familiar part of the Exodus story: the plagues upon Egypt. It’s the great action sequence of the story. Images of blood, destruction, and power from on high in our minds. Undrinkable waters, devastated farm lands, the death of livestock, and darkness reigning over Egypt. All this is true. All this is real. All this is what God did back then. But why did he do it? Why 10 plagues and all that came with them on the way to breaking his people out of slavery? Unlike so many stories today, does all this “action” mean anything? God could have said the word and shattered the chains that bound them. He could have done things any other way - he is the potter and the whole world is his clay! Yet, he chose to write the story like this to teach us something significant about who we are, the universe we live in, and the whole purpose of it all. He wants us to see the dead-end road of any man who resists his Maker. How much better a Savior he is than anything else we could trust in. The worship that we - and everyone and everything else - was made for. This is the purpose of the plagues. 

LISTEN TO THE SERMON HERE

IMPORTANT AIMS FOR THE YEAR AHEAD

As the new year gets under way, here are a few key ways you can spread the joy of our unchanging Savior (Heb 13:8). Opportunities to gather with the church, get shoulder to shoulder with our neighbors, and glorify God in the city he’s called us to - and beyond.

MISSION & EVANGELISM

Here’s “how” you can spread the joy of Jesus in 2026. In addition to participating in city activities and our big events like the Block Party, Bridge Course, and Carols in the Park, here are some important ways to get involved with what Jesus is doing in and through us:

• Monthly Prayer Meetings - 9am-11am on the first Saturday of the month. Gather at the Warm’s home to ask the Lord to revive our hearts & revive our city. Kids are welcome. First meeting this Saturday, 1/3 at 9am.

• Neighborhood Outreaches - Saturday mornings we’re setting aside throughout the year to go into our city to strike up spiritual conversations, share the gospel with our neighbors, and become equipped and emboldened to make evangelism a part of our everyday lives. Go into our city with us on 1/17 at 10am. RSVP with Robert Lopez & check out the calendar for all the dates.

• Weekly Fellowship & Relationship Building - Basketball Nights & the French Park Run Club. Come together with members of CGSA, Santa Ana neighbors, and whoever the Lord may bring to build relationships and give a glimpse of the joy we have in Jesus - one game at a time, one run at a time.

  • Basketball Nights - Every Tuesday at 6:30pm at El Camino Real Park in Orange. Come to play, cheer on your friends, and make some new ones.

  • French Park Run Club - Every Thursday morning at 6:30am. Meet right in the heart of French Park for 3 casual miles followed by coffee. Runners of all skill levels welcome.

• Supporting the Mission to Spain - Last summer, we sent Emily Jones to Santander, Spain! She’s living life with the saints of Iglesia Gracia Soberana de Santander & living on mission amongst her neighbors. Here’s how you can partner with Emily this year:

  • Learn more about here mission to Spain here & join us in praying:

    • For God to open a door to a meeting place in the heart of Santander. The church currently meets in Renedo (a small suburb 30min outside the city), but feels called to move to a place more conducive to their mission

    • For growth in Christian maturity, spiritual gifts, and evangelism among this young church

    • For Pastor Norman Pedd as he completes the Sovereign Grace Churches ordination process, preaches weekly, and leads this budding young church

    • For more laborers to enter the harvest in Spain

  • Subscribe to her monthly newsletter here & partner with her financially, by giving here

YOUTH MINISTRY

Youth Ministry is back! We’re heading into year 2 and couldn’t be more excited for what the Lord will do. All youth ages 12-17 are invited to join in bi-monthly meetings centered around reading good books, enjoying rich fellowship, and maturing in life and faith. First meeting of the year is this Sunday, 1/4 at 6:30pm. Go here to learn more.

PRAYER FOR WHERE WE’RE GOING

Finally, join us in praying about some important next steps and opportunities on the horizon for us in 2026.

• We’ve got a new pastoral intern - As of 1/1/26, Robert Lopez has begun a pastoral internship at CGSA. This is arguably the biggest way we’re aiming to advance our mission in 2026. Assessing, equipping, and asking, “Could Robert be our next pastor?” Join us in praying for Robert and his wife Rosie as he takes on this new role, engages in the life of the pastoral team, and prepares to attend the SGC Pastors College in Louisville, KY in fall 2026.

• We’re putting down deeper roots in our city - For the first time ever, we’re renting an office space in DTSA! More details to come - but soon you’ll find us right off 4th St! Join us in asking the Lord to use this space for his glory and anchor us in our city for years to come.

• We’re praying about some new initiatives - Join us in asking for the Lord’s wisdom and leading as we consider:

  • A Spring Bridge Course - we’d love to expand the Bridge to 2 courses a year. With the first being a more simple, casual “pedestrian Bridge,” which includes only coffee & dessert and is open only to guests or those who bring guests. Coming March 2026, Lord wiling.

  • A Recovery Ministry - to serve those within and outside the church seeking seeking freedom from substances and addictions of any kind via Christian discipleship and accountability. Pray the Lord would provide leadership, direction, and everything else we’d need to make these meetings effective.

Would the Lord lead us into a new year with fresh faith and eager expectation for all he has ahead of us. Seizing the opportunities to share in the joy of Jesus and spread it to our Santa Ana neighbors!

GET READY FOR ALL THE LORD HAS IN STORE IN 2026!

AT THE WARM’S HOME AT 9AM

This Saturday, from 9am-11am, Cordell & Marina Warm are graciously opening their home to host our first prayer meeting of the year! Join us as we pray for the needs of our church, the good of our neighbors, and ask God to bring revival in our city. Make these meetings part of your regular rhythm on the first Saturday of each month. Cafe y pan provided. Kids are welcome. Invite your friends.

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, in Santa Ana as it is in heaven” (Mt 6:9-10)

CONTACT US HERE FOR LOCATION DETAILS

THIS SUNDAY AT 6:30PM

Youth Ministry is back and ready to roll after taking a month off in December. We’re excited to start a new book that’s really quite old: The Faith: Teen Zine vol. 1. A book which walks teens through the Apostles’ Creed and connects modern readers to an ancient confession of the Christian faith. We’ll explore big questions about faith that the church has been asking since the beginning. We’ll dwell on the rock-solid answers God has revealed. We’ll join our voices to the chorus of praise that’s been echoing in every place, culture, and time for the past 2,000 years. You won’t want to miss this!

We’ve got pre-ordered copies so you are able to purchase the book at a discounted rate. Show up this Sunday evening, grab a copy of the book if you still need one, and get ready to resume our normal schedule of meeting on the 1st & 3rd Sundays of the month. See you at Hopper & Burr!

FIND MORE INFO ON CGSA YOUTH MINISTRY HERE

HERE COMES 2026

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews‬ ‭13‬:‭8‬)

We’re grateful for 2025 & hopeful for 2026, because the One who held us then holds us now.

Here’s to a new year of enjoying, serving, and laboring for the glory of our unchanging Savior!

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM CROSS OF GRACE SANTA ANA!