Caring for Those Who Care for Us

The pastors and their wives from the west region of our denomination are coming to Orange County this week for a first-of-its-kind Pastors & Wives Retreat. Would you join us in praying for God to meet with them and refresh them through the retreat? Pray for their marriages to be faithful, peaceful, and fruitful. Pray for their children to be saved and grow in the Lord. Pray for Mickey and Jane Connolly who are leading the retreat. Pray for the wives to connect with one another and benefit from their fellowship.

Thank you for praying with us!

How do we move ahead when the days are strange?

On Sunday guest preacher Greg Dirnberger from Emmaus Road Church preached from Daniel 12:1-13. Greg asked us to consider what we should do when we know challenges are ahead of us? He called us to take refuge in the providence of God, grow in wisdom, bend our knees to God’s word, engage in God’s mission, and keep our eyes on the cross until the end. That is what we’ve always had to do. That’s what we have to do now. So go your way and keep your eye on the Lord who holds history in His hands and will not let us go.

Listen to the sermon.

“The very fact that God lays a burden of prayer on our hearts and keeps us praying is evidence that He purposes to grant the answer.“
J. Oswald Sanders

We pray because God invites us to come back to Him over and over and over again. He’s training His people to be persistent. He’s ready to answer.

“And [Jesus] told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.”
Luke 18:1

Join us on Tuesday 1/25 at 7:00pm in Old Towne Orange as we seek the Lord together. We’re asking everyone who can be there to be there. Bring a lawn chair, a coat, and a heart ready to meet with the Lord.

All the details are here.

My Soul Will Wait (Psalm 62)

Sovereign Grace Music is preparing to release a new album of songs based on psalms. They’ve just published a live video of one of the first ones! If this is a preview of what’s to come, then we can’t wait to hear the whole album. Let your heart be lifted to the Savior as you listen and sing along.

Take me to the video.

Small Groups

Love one another. Pray for one another. Bear one another’s burdens. Teach one another. The list of instructions for Christian ministry goes on and on. What’s our strategy for doing all these “one anothers”? Gathering in small groups. 8-12 people who can truly know one another and commit to "one another” ministry.

If you’re looking to build vital relationships with other Christians, we invite you to visit a small group. The groups meet on either Wednesday or Friday of this week.

Get your invite right here.
 

John Piper Describes How We Can Grow Through Bible Reading

God does not stop revealing to us the glory of Christ in his word. He starts at new birth, and he keeps on revealing the glory of Christ. Our new life started with a miracle — and it continues with a miracle.

The ongoing miracle that God works by his Spirit is that we become increasingly like the one we admire and enjoy — Christ. The apostle Paul writes,

“We all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

The words “beholding” and “being transformed” are present tense, which means ongoing action — not once for all, but continual. “Beholding the glory of the Lord, we are being transformed.” This is what God does daily as we look to him in his word. It is what he does weekly in the preaching of his word in gathered worship. And it is what, I pray, he is doing right now as you read.

Continue reading the article here.

Our Lives

On Sunday Pastor Eric preached from 2 Corinthians 2:12-17. He reminded us that when people spend time with us it should be like they spent time with Jesus. His life shows itself through our lives. We smell like Him. Those who are perishing will recoil from it. Those who are being saved will be delighted by it. May many be drawn to our Savior through our words, deeds, and lives.

Listen to the sermon.

Money Management Class Registration Deadline Is Two Days Away!

Do you have debt you can’t seem to pay down?
Are you having trouble creating and keeping a budget?
Are you stressed by the state of your finances?
Do you wish you could be more generous?

Once a year we offer a course on the biblical principles of financial stewardship. The classes are conducted in a small group setting, using a discussion format and curriculum adapted from Crown Ministries and Money and the Gospel.

10 classes on Mondays beginning January 24th

Les and Sue lead the class. Their mentorship is invaluable. Check out testimonies of those who’ve been impacted by the class here, here, and here.

Materials cost $30 per person or $55 per couple. Scholarships are available.

Register by this Sunday, January 16th

Spots are limited and time is running out. Sign up today!