Posts in Community
52 Sundays: Am I A Part-Time Church Attender?

This year we're challenging our members and regular attenders to attend a church service every week in 2014. You can read more about the 52 SUNDAYS challenge here. This article is part of a series of articles about 52 SUNDAYS.

Am I A Part-time Church Attender?

What constitutes a "part-time" church attender? Someone who goes to church half the time? Three times a month? Five out of six? How regular do you need to be in order to say "I go to church all the time." Because face it...stuff happens. Nobody goes ALL the time.

Trevin Wax recently did the math on a fictional young couple named Geoff and Christine:

  • Vacation: To maximize his allotted days, Geoff took the family to the mountains during the kids’ spring break, stretching over two weekends (one of which happened to be Easter!). There was the summer beach vacation, another stretch of a week and two weekends, and then a fall getaway. Total = 5 Sundays.
  • Sports: Their oldest son is on a travel soccer team. Many of the games are on weekends, and they believe it would be a better testimony to be among unbelievers on Sunday mornings rather than let down the team. Total = 9 Sundays.
  • Sickness: With their youngest child going to preschool, the family seems more susceptible to illnesses than before, and sickness always seems to hit on the weekends. Total = 3 Sundays.
  • Guest Preacher: When Pastor Jon is out of town, Geoff and Christine usually take the weekend off. They never like the guest speaker as much as Pastor Jon. Total = 3 Sundays.
  • Visiting In-Laws: Christine’s parents come twice a year to spend the weekend with the family. To maximize their time, they usually spend the weekends catching up and doing some shopping. Total = 2 Sundays.
  • Holiday: Thanksgiving weekend, and the week in between Christmas and New Year’s, the family is traveling. Total = 2 Sundays.

That's 24 Sundays. Half-time.

Maybe more of us are part-time attenders than we think? I don't think so (not Sovereign Grace Church overall), but I think it's fair to say that the value of meeting together weekly is quickly eroding in the broader church world.

If our Sundays together remain a centerpiece of our community, we need to fight for it. We need to define it. We need to encourage one another in it and not assume every new person who joins our church will think the same.

Our Sunday services please God.

Our Sunday services encourage Christians.

Our Sunday services reach the world.

It really doesn't matter what stage of the Christian life you are in. These three goals are the full-time occupation of every person who calls themselves a Sovereign Grace.

Community, SundaysEric Turbedsky
Rod's Story of Saving Grace

This summer we are highlighting God’s power to save people through a series of testimonies. Every few Sundays, a church member will tell us a bit about their story and how God has been at work in their lives.  We hope these are as encouraging to you as they've been to us. Testimonies are a great reminder that God’s gospel is still powerful, spreading throughout Orange County, and saving individuals like us. 

Rod's Story

"I thought I could handle my life. Work, family, raising a child. I was in control and capable. But I was wrong."

"My marriage broke down and I suffered divorce. It was then that I realized I needed help."

"I started reading a bible and then my brother invited me to his church. That morning everything changed."

"A few years later I faced a job relocation to Orange County. Again another crisis...I had never left my hometown, my family and friends, and now my first church."

"I'm so grateful I'm not alone and that God has given me you (Sovereign Grace Church). You are so important to me and I couldn't imagine life without you. Thank you for loving me like Christ loves you."

 

Community, Stories, SundaysChurch Staff
Guests Get A Free Lunch This Sunday
SGOC Baptisms July 2014-006.jpg

Lunch is on us.

If you are a recent guest, first-time attender, just passing through, or have been around a couple weeks but haven't yet been to a guest luncheon, then please be our guest! Join us this Sunday, 07-27-14, immediately following the service, for a luncheon in the Woman's Club Garden.

We'd love to get to know you better.

The format is "come-and-go as you please" and kids are welcome. A few members of the church and one of our pastors will be there to greet you.

More info will be available at the service on Sunday. See you then!

Events, Community, SundaysChurch Staff
A Thousand Points Of Volunteering Light

Well played Sovereign Grace.

One of the best parts of Worship God 2014 was watching you serve. Thank you for living for Jesus and going above and beyond to bless brothers and sisters from all over the world. Each and every act of service was a reflection of the character of God...Father, Son, and Spirit.

Only He knows.

So many of you served, it'd be difficult to thank every one of you here by name. Plus we don't even know everything you did. Only God knows. However, here are a few of the "thousand points of light"...

  • Dylan and Christy - They both took the week off to lead us on-site. First to arrive, last to leave, all conference long. Wow.
  • David C. - His coordination with Sovereign Grace Music early on in the process enabled us to serve. We'd have been lost without his help.
  • Rebecca - Books and food for everyone. Nobody was going to go home hungry as long as she was on the job. We crown you the "conference mom" :)
  • Kristin - She took 1 billion photos and they all are awesome. Check them all out here.

Ok...now we are regretting starting this list. Where to stop? The Spirit is at work in you church. Praise God.

Events, Community, StoriesChurch Staff