On Sunday, Pastor Dustin referenced a few quotes by one of the founders of our denomination, CJ Mahaney. You can read an excellent article that he wrote on the doctrine of election in Sovereign Grace Churches’ journal from December 2021.
The Lord met us graciously this past Saturday. 45 men from the Sovereign Grace Churches in Santa Ana, Orange, and Yuma gathered together to learn what the Bible has to say about human sexuality and how to grow in "glorifying God in our bodies” (1 Cor. 6:20). Pastor Erik Rangel served up one of the clearest and most coherent teachings on the subject we’ve ever heard. We left inspired, prepared to serve one another, ready to enter into the fight, and profoundly grateful for our partnership with our sister churches.
See the full list of resources Pastor Erik Rangel suggested for further study below.
The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self: Cultural Amnesia, Expressive Individualism, and the Road to Sexual Revolution by Carl Trueman
Pure in Heart: Sexual Sin and the Promises of God by J. Garrett Kell
Sex and the Supremacy of Christ by Editors John Piper and Justin Taylor
God, Marriage, and Family by Andreas Kostenberger
Sexual Temptation: Establishing Guardrails and Winning the Battle by Randy Alcorn
The Meaning of Marriage by Timothy and Kathy Keller
Christian Ethics: An Introduction to Biblical Moral Reasoning by Wayne Grudem
Friends and Lovers by Joel Beeke
Men of God by The Good Book Co. - Philip Jensen, Tim Chester, Rico Tice, Hugh Palmer and others
The Masculine Mandate by Richard D. Philipps
The Death of Porn, Men of Integrity Building a World of Nobility by Ray Ortland
Disciplines of a Godly Man by Kent Hughes
On Sunday Pastor Dustin preached from Ephesians 1:3-6. He reminded us that God chose those He would save in Christ before the foundation of the world. Our salvation is gracious from beginning to end. We add nothing to it except the sin from which we need to be saved. And while His choosing leaves us with some unanswered questions, the doctrine of election is in our Bibles to lead us to worship the God who has sovereignly saved us to the praise of His glorious grace.
“None can believe how powerful prayer is, and what it is able to effect, but those who have learned it by experience.”
Martin Luther
We learn the power of prayer by experience. We pray so that we can participate in what God is doing. We pray so that we don’t miss it when he answers.
Our monthly prayer meeting is on the 4th Tuesday of every month. Unite your heart and your voice with ours as we seek God together.
Our next one is this coming Tuesday 2/22/22 at 7:00pm in Old Towne Orange. 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.
Put it on your calendar now! Our annual communion service is happening on Daylight Savings Sunday. It’s the toughest day of the year to wake up, but we’re giving you 7 extra hours of sleep. You’re welcome!
Join us at 5:00pm for a family-style meal punctuated by reflections on the Lord’s Supper. It’s a potluck, everyone contributes. We’ll provide more details soon.
We can’t wait to celebrate our great salvation with you.
Last Sunday, we began a 4-week sermon series highlighting just a few of the major sections of our new Statement of Faith (SoF). This statement defines our church and our family of churches. It’s our confession of faith. It articulates our most cherished beliefs about God, the gospel, the Bible, and many other crucial doctrinal points.
If you didn’t get one last Sunday, we’ll have more paperback copies of the SoF available this week. Check near the entrance to the garden as you arrive. There are plenty for everyone. Take it, read it, and let it lead you to worship our great God and Savior.
You can read a digital copy and learn more about the SoF here.
Pastor Eric is in El Paso, TX this week for the Antioch Project retreat. This denominational initiative is designed to help established churches make a plan for church planting. Join us in praying for a fruitful retreat. Pray that it would result in more gospel-preaching churches reaching new neighborhoods!
“Suffering does not create weakness. Suffering highlights weakness. It takes suffering to help us realize our weakness. If God’s strength is made perfect in weakness, then how gracious is God to help us understand the reality of our weakness so that we can turn from self-sufficiency and boast in his power!”
Dave Zuleger, Partnering With People in Their Pain
Physical pain is a reality many of us face. This article is written by a pastor who’s learned how to walk with his wife as she fights chronic pain. His biblical counsel is a gift to those us of who want to help those we love who have ongoing health problems.