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Lord, To Whom Shall We Go?

“And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.” | John 6: 65-69

Believers often are very concerned over their spiritual state; they grieve over the condition of their hearts and minds of the way they act and react to their Lord Jesus and his word and dealings with them.

Our Lord asked a pointed and poignant question to the twelve, “Will you also go away”? Why would he ask such a question?

Because there were many defections from him! “From that time many of his disciples went back”.

Have you ever wondered if you would go back, or where would you be a year or five years from now?

Simon Peter makes a blessed declaration of faith, even in the midst of defection and betrayal. “Lord to whom shall we go, thou hast the words of eternal life, and we believe and are SURE that thou art that CHRIST”.

Here is a humble confession, maybe even a hint of fear, or urgency.

Everyone who is anyone has turned thumbs down on you …but to whom shall we go?

What would we gain by forsaking you?

Where could we show our faces without feeling every eye on us and every thought accusing us?

Lord you have spoken WORDS OF LIFE to us. Words of forgiveness, words of peace, words from the Father and you said, we could come unto him by you.

You said; “I AM HE”, the true vine, the light of the world, the water and the bread of life which came down from heaven.

To whom shall we go to find peace of heart, peace with God?

To find hope of eternal life, forgiveness, justification, righteousness, sanctification, redemption…O Lord to whom shall we go?

To find comfort in our trials, courage in our fears, strength for our weakness, light for our darkness, understanding for our ignorance.

Lord to whom shall we go?

However sorry and poor our love, zeal, faithfulness, and service, Lord to whom we go?

You have the WORDS of eternal life that holds up my soul.

Lord to whom shall we go?

~ Pastor Don Bell

Click here to listen to the message “No tears in heaven” (47:08 minutes)

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Visit our primary website at www.ksgctn.org for more information about Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church, watch our livestream (when available) and access our previously recorded messages.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 7 April, 2024 | Previous post date: n/a

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A Worthless Piece Of Brass

”He trusted in the LORD God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him. For he clave to the LORD, and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses.” | 2 Kings 18: 5-6

Forgetting those things which are behind is difficult work.

It is like the runner who tries to shed every weight that does so easily beset him.

However, if God has forgotten our sins and will remember them no more, then we must let them go also.

We must not go back and try to repair our past; only Christ can make satisfaction for the sins of God’s elect: past, present, and future.

”Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3: 13-14)

Therefore, let us do this: “Reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

Let us spend our time reaching forth, looking to Him, learning of Him.

Christ is the mark; He is the prize.

The high calling of God is to be made like His Son.

May God help us to quit looking back and just look to Him. (We have enough to mourn over in a day without looking back for something else.)

~ Pastor John Chapman

Click here to listen to the message “A Worthless Piece of Brass” (27:00 minutes)

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Visit our primary website at www.ksgctn.org for more information about Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church, watch our livestream (when available) and access our previously recorded messages.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 31 March, 2024 | Previous post date: n/a

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True Faith

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” | Hebrews 13: 8

True faith is built upon the strongest evidence possible – the WORD OF GOD!

True faith is a total dependence upon the LORD JESUS CHRIST for all our needs; such as forgiveness, sanctification, peace, and eternal life.

The believer renounces all confidence in his flesh, rejoices only in Christ Jesus, and worships God in spirit.

He feeds upon Christ as the Bread of Life, embraces Christ as his wedding garment, derives all strength and comfort from Christ, and trusts himself to the care of Christ as his Shepherd, Teacher, Priest, and King.

This is the life of faith.

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Yesterday, Today, Forever” (39:56 minutes)

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Visit our primary website at www.ksgctn.org for more information about Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church, watch our livestream (when available) and access our previously recorded messages.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 7 April, 2024 | Previous post date: n/a

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The Plague Of His Own Heart

“What prayer and supplication soever be made by any man, or by all thy people Israel, which shall know every man the plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands toward this house:” | 1 Kings 8: 38

When a child of God begins to speak of the “plague of his own heart,” this poor blind and religious world does not understand.

They think within themselves, “What on earth is this man doing? What ever it is he ought to stop it.”

But little do they know, it’s not what he’s doing, but what he feels himself to be.

He is sin.

He has an open wound that is always running and stinking.

This wound is his heart, his nature, who he is, in and of himself.

This heart is an incurable plague.

Not even the Lord God can cure it.

Yet this is the only people who are accepted of God in Jesus Christ.

Those who know the plague of their own heart are the only ones God acquits of all charges.

These are the only ones who truly rejoice in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in their stinking flesh.

It’s knowing the plague of their own heart that makes them to know their need of a new heart and imputed righteousness and to rejoice with exceeding great joy to believe that God has been pleased to freely give them what they need, all for the mere sake of His Dear Son.

So while they cast contempt upon themselves, they rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

~ Pastor Bruce Crabtree

Click here to listen to the message “Imputed Righteousness and a Weak Faith” (48:26 minutes)

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Visit our primary website at www.ksgctn.org for more information about Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church, watch our livestream (when available) and access our previously recorded messages.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 7 April, 2024 | Previous post date: n/a

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Jesus Is The Christ

”But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” | John 20: 31

The scriptures tell us plainly that if all the miraculous, holy and righteous things that Christ our Lord did had been recorded in the Scriptures the world is too small to hold them.

“And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.” (John 21: 25)

However, that which has been recorded in the pages of divine inspiration are written for one purpose, “that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.”

Jesus Christ is salvation.

“Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?” (John 9: 35

All the scriptures are concerning Him!

“My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word. I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach me thy statutes. Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.” (Psalm 119: 25-27)

In believing this, you have eternal life through His name.

~ Pastor David Eddmenson

Click here to listen to the message “Do You Believe On Christ” (48:23 minutes)

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Visit our primary website at www.ksgctn.org for more information about Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church, watch our livestream (when available) and access our previously recorded messages.

Zebulon Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 1 May, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

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Good News For The No Good

“I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.” |

The man who trusts so much as a single hair’s breadth to his works has missed Christ!!!

We cannot trust partly to our works and partly to Christ.

We must feel that we are utterly stripped of everything.

I love to find those who have nothing good about them.

Some preachers like to find something good in men before they preach to them, but I like to find men who know there is nothing good in them and then preach God’s sovereign mercy to them.

If you were in the hospital and wanted the attention of the physician, what would you do?

Would you write over your bed or tell your doctor you were in pretty good condition?

Actually, you would be inclined to appear worse than you really are.

You certainly cannot exaggerate your low and sinful condition, for we are all “chief of sinners.”

~ C. H. Spurgeon

Click here to listen to the message “Potentate, King, & Lord” (34:16 minutes)

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Visit our primary website at www.ksgctn.org for more information about Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church, watch our livestream (when available) and access our previously recorded messages.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 7 April, 2024 | Previous post date: n/a

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I Commend You To God

“And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified” | Acts 20: 32

As Paul departs from the elders from Ephesus he gives them this good and true word by inspiration of God.

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” (2 Timothy 3: 16)

It was not only good for those to hear in that day but also for us today.

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10: 17)

What blessing to be given over to the total care and keeping of the Lord Jesus Christ; the good, great and chief Shepherd of the sheep.

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” (Psalm 23: 1-4)

We are truly and fully in His almighty hands.

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.” (John 10: 27-30)

We are truly and fully kept by His power.

“Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Peter 1: 5)

We are truly and fully justified by His grace.

“Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:” (Romans 3: 24)

We are truly and fully redeemed by His blood.

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;” (1 Peter 1: 18)

We are truly and fully blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:” (Ephesians 1: 3)

But the apostle Paul also adds to that recommendation, “To the word of His grace;” this is the same as the gospel of His grace that is the power of God unto salvation, who is also the God of all grace and glory. “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” (1 Peter 5: 10)

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1: 16)

“But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” (Acts 20: 24)

And then Paul tells us what the word of His grace will do for the believer in Christ, “Which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance;” not puff us up with religious pride but rather build us up in faith, grace and love in Christ.

Our Lord said, “Upon this rock, (foundation) I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” “Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.” (Isaiah 28: 16)

“And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16: 18)

The Lord Jesus Christ is our total and complete inheritance. “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” (Romans 8: 17)

“In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:” (Ephesians 1: 11)

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” (1 Peter 1: 3)

These blessings of the gospel are sovereignly and exclusively given only to those that are sanctified in Christ; “Among all them which are sanctified.”

“But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:” (1 Corinthians 1: 30)

How are sinners sanctified?

Not by anything we do!

“For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.” (Hebrews 10: 14)

But rather upon the sacrifice of Christ for us, “For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.”

~ Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “Our Precious Unity In Christ” (36:42 minutes)

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Visit our primary website at www.ksgctn.org for more information about Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church, watch our livestream (when available) and access our previously recorded messages.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 22 August, 2021 | Previous post date: 10 March, 2022

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Delivered, Stablished, Kept And Directed

”Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.” | 2 Thessalonians 3: 1-2

The more faithful the Lord is to bless us, the more prone we are to take His favor for granted.

“But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.” (2 Thessalonians 3: 3)

I pray that He will not need to take away any of His mercies from us, in order to remind us from whence they come.

~ Pastor Chris Cunningham

Click here to listen to the message “Delivered, Stablished, Kept and Directed” (34:11 minutes)

Visit our primary website at www.ksgctn.org for more information about Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church, watch our livestream (when available) and access our previously recorded messages.

Central Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 22 June, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

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Knowing God

”God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;” | Hebrews 1: 1-3

How much religion, tradition, and ceremony can a man know and observe and yet not know God?

Well, the Jews observed thousands of Passovers yet never saw Christ, our passover.

They slew thousands of lambs yet never saw Christ, the Lamb of God.

They kept thousands of sabbaths yet never knew the rest of Christ, our Sabbath.

They ordained thousands of priests yet never saw Christ, the Great High Priest.

They actually carried the mercy-seat on their shoulders yet never came to Christ, our Mercy-Seat.

They ate the manna and drank from that Rock, yet never tasted the Bread and Water of Life – Christ Jesus.

Oh, Lord, open my eyes to see Him who is all and in all!

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “In Him Was Life” (24:14 minutes)

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Visit our primary website at www.ksgctn.org for more information about Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church, watch our livestream (when available) and access our previously recorded messages.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 31 March, 2024 | Previous post date: n/a

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A Good Hope Through Grace

”Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,” | 2 Thessalonians 2: 16

I have a hope of eternal life and eternal glory.

It is a “living hope” because my Lord Jesus lives!

As my surety and substitute “He lives, and was dead, and behold He is alive forevermore.”

“He EVER LIVETH to make intercession for us.”

My hope is a “good hope” because the Lord Jesus and the Father gave it to me through grace.

I did not earn it nor deserve it by my works.

It is the free gift of His love and mercy in Christ.

If my merit or works enter in at any point, it would not be a good hope.

Therefore, if I am asked a reason for my hope, I would ground my reply in the three foundations of the Great Reformation.

1.) THE SCRIPTURES ALONE. I believe the Word of God! I cannot trust my feelings, my thoughts, nor my experiences; but, I can rest my soul on His Word.

2.) GRACE ALONE. Salvation is by God’s free and sovereign grace from its origination to its consummation. All that I am, have, know, or shall ever be is the gift of God to me. “A beggar poor, at mercy’s door, lies such a wretch as I.”

3.) CHRIST ALONE. “I know WHOM I have believed and I am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed to HIM against that day.” If I have believed and trusted Christ alone, then I am sure that the Father will put forth all His power to preserve me, that His Son be not dishonored.

This is indeed A GOOD HOPE THROUGH GRACE.

~ Pastor Henry T. Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “How Is Salvation Received?” (14:47 minutes)

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Visit our primary website at www.ksgctn.org for more information about Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church, watch our livestream (when available) and access our previously recorded messages.

Zebulon Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 1 May, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky