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Eternally Beloved Of The Lord

“We are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation.” | 2 Thessalonians 2: 13

If you are “beloved of the Lord,” you always were “beloved of the Lord.”

He did not begin to love you when you repented of sin and believed on Christ.

God saw you in Christ in His eternal covenant and loved you then.

That love for those “beloved of the Lord” was shown two thousand years ago when it pleased Him to bruise His Son for you.

“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” (1 John 4: 10)

Christ redeemed you not only before you were aware of His grace, but before you were born.

There was nothing in you to merit His eternal, infinite, and unchangeable love.

On the contrary, you were His enemies, profaned His name, and even despised His mercy after you heard about it.

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Why Is The Lord Good?” (31:20 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: 11 July, 2021 | Previous post date: 24 August, 2021

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What Do You Think Of The Cross?

”He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.” | 2 Kings 18: 4

I am confident that the religious, superstitious Israelites were horrified when King Hezekiah destroyed their sacred symbol (which they worshipped, the serpent of brass Moses had made) calling it “a (worthless) piece of brass.”

Hezekiah declared it to be of no value in the worship of God, but rather a hindrance to the worship.

I can understand a person’s interest in that brazen serpent.

It would be extremely interesting to see it.

It would be interesting to see the rod of Moses, the tables of the law, the tabernacle, the ark of the covenant, and the cross on which our Lord died!

But interesting is all that these things can be certainly not inspirational, nor edifying, nor of any spiritual value, nor of any consequence where our relationship with God is concerned.

These are but types, pictures, and things which the Lord used to point our faith, hope, and trust to CHRIST JESUS!

In the knowledge, love, and worship of God, “CHRIST IS ALL!”

Hezekiah shocked Israel when he called Moses’ serpent “A PIECE OF BRASS.”

We may shock religion today by calling the cross on which Christ died “A PIECE OF WOOD,” or the tomb in which He laid, “A HOLE IN THE GROUND,” or the winding sheet in which He was wrapped, “A PIECE OF CLOTH;” but, having served their purpose, that’s all that they are.

And to make them of any spiritual significance is to be in danger of idolatry!

Idolatry is a subtle tool of Satan and must be avoided.

“God is a spirit, and they that worship Him MUST worship Him in spirit and truth.”

True believers have no superstitions regarding days, hallowed places on earth, religious relics, symbols, signs, nor ancestors.

Christ is our sabbath, our altar, our prophet, priest, and king.

To Him and only to Him we come, bow, believe and worship.

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “What Do You Think of the Cross” (32:25 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: 25 February, 2007 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

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Dwell In Us

”Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust. O my soul, thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee; But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight. Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips. The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.” | Psalm 16: 1-5

Paul exhorts us to a diligent study of God’s word.

“Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.” (Romans 15: 7)

This study of the word is not for information and doctrine alone, but that our Lord’s word might become a part of us, such a part of us that it is said to DWELL IN US, as a member of the family lives in a home.

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” (Colossians 3: 16)

The word of God is loved, respected, obeyed, and delighted in richly in an abundant manner.

We are not to study just one part of the scriptures, but all of it, that we may benefit and grow in grace and the knowledge of Christ, and that we may teach others His word.

It is not only the duty of ministers and elders to teach and encourage others, but it is the duty of all believers to be ready always to give to every man that asketh them a reason of the hope that is in us, with knowledge, meekness, and fear.

“Lord, give us a love for your word, an understanding of your word, and the wisdom to be a good witness of your gospel.”

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Show Me Your Glory” (34:42 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.

Zebulon Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 18 February, 2007 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

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What A Saviour

”In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” | John 1: 1

Believer, what a Saviour God has provided for His people!

The Almighty God, yet all tender Saviour and Shepherd!

“I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” (John 10: 11)

How well fitted is He to be our Great High Priest.

“Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.” (Hebrews 2: 17)

How sufficient is He to supply our every need.

“For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:” (Colossians 2: 9-10)

How complete His wisdom and grace to provide for us perfect atonement and full justification from all sin.

“Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” (Hebrews 9: 12)

May God be pleased to give us a greater love, adoration, and reverence for our Saviour and Lord.

“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” (1 John 4: 10)

We love to sing, “Hallelujah! what a Saviour, who can take a poor lost sinner, lift him from the miry clay, and set him free!”

~ 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: 29 August, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a

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The Two Adams

”For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” | 1 Corinthians 15: 22

By Adam’s disobedience “in Adam all die.”

But by Christ’s obedience that text continues with this good news, “even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”

When you read the word “all” in connection with Adam, it refers to all who Adam legally represented who shall be born of Adam’s corrupt seed which is all mankind.

When you read the word “all” in connection with Christ, it refers to all who Christ legally represented who shall be born-again of Christ’s incorruptible seed which all who God chose in Christ before the foundation of the world.

~ Pastor Clay Curtis

Click here to listen to the message “The Two Adams” (39:50 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: 24 June, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a

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Herein Is Love

”Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” | 1 John 4: 10

We rejoice to know that “God is love”.

Love is an attribute of God.

“He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love; And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” (1 John 4: 8, 16)

But that does not mean that God loves all men.

Any reasonable person, whose mind is not perverted by the influence of Arminian, free-will religion, must recognize that fact.

Did God love those multitudes whom he swept off the earth in the flood?

Did God love the degenerate Sodomites, upon whom he rained fire from heaven?

Did God love Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and their followers whom he swallowed up into hell?

Anyone who imagines that God loved those multitudes might well pray to be forever hidden and excluded from the love of God!

But the Scriptures nowhere assert, or even imply, that God’s love is universal, that it extends to all men.

The Scriptures say, ”He loved us!”

And the “us” whom he loves are all believers, past, present, and future.

“He loved us,” who are chosen, redeemed, and called by his almighty grace.

John tells us four things about the love of God in this text.

  1. God loves sovereignly — “Herein is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us.”

“The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” (Jeremiah 31: 3)

There is nothing that compels God to love any of his creatures. But in his infinite goodness, God says, “Jacob have I loved.”

Our God is infinite, immutable, and sovereign, and so is his love.

He loves whom he will, because he will, and he loves them eternally, “with an everlasting love”.

  1. God loves sinners — “He loved us.”

I preach fully, without reservation, unlimited love, unbounded mercy to the vilest of men. We have nothing in us worthy of consideration.

We deserve the utmost extremity of God’s wrath.

But “he loved us!” Who can express the infinite magnitude and fulness of those words?

  1. God loves sacrificially — He “sent his Son.”

“In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.” (1 John 4: 9)

God gave his darling Son to suffer and die upon the cursed tree to save the multitudes of his elect whom he loved with an everlasting love.

  1. God loves savingly — God loved his elect before the world began.

But in order for us to be reconciled to God, justice had to be satisfied.

Therefore, our loving heavenly Father made his Son to be the sin-atoning, justice-satisfying “propitiation for our sins.”

Through the substitutionary death of Christ, all the sins of God’s elect were washed away. — “Herein is love!”

The love of God is more than a helpless passion.

It is his saving commitment and determination toward his elect.

~ Pastor Don Fortner

Click here to listen to the message “Who Is Elected” (56:24 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: 4 February, 2007 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

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He Laid Down His Life For Us

”For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” | 1 John 3: 16

Children of God, this is the foundation of our faith, the rock of our salvation, and the hope of our souls.

Since Christ has died in the place of his people, they cannot perish.

I know that there are men whose minds are so distorted that they can conceive it possible that Christ died for men who in the end will be lost in hell.

I am sorry to say that there are men in the pulpits of the church today, whose brains have been so addled by religious tradition and false doctrine that they cannot see that the doctrine they hold is both a preposterous lie and a blasphemous error.

Their doctrine is this – Christ dies for a man, and then God punishes that man again; Christ suffers in the sinner’s stead, and then God condemns that sinner after all!

It shocks me to even mention such an error.

Were it not so commonly held, I would pass over it with the contempt that it deserves.

That would be a perversion of justice, a double-cross, and a requirement of double indemnity.

The doctrine of Scripture is this – God is just.

Christ died in the stead of his people, satisfying God’s justice; and now, as God is just, he will never punish one soul for whom the Savior shed his blood.

Justice will not allow a double payment for the same offense, first at the hands of Christ, and then from me.

The idea that Christ was the Substitute and Surety for all men is so inconsistent, both with reason and Holy Scripture, that we are obliged to reject it with abhorrence.

We cannot, for the glory and honor of our dear Savior, let go of the blessed gospel doctrine of particular and effectual redemption.

To deny the efficacy of Christ’s substitutionary atonement would be, for me, a total denial of the gospel.

And it would rob me of my soul’s greatest comfort.

~ Pastor Don Fortner

Click here to listen to the message “Tell Me the Story of Jesus” (57:57 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.

Hurricane Road Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 21 February, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Cattletsburg, Kentucky

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Lord, Don’t Leave Us Alone

”And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God” | Mark 1: 23-24

When the Lord Jesus went among the people preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, the people in the synagogue were astonished at His doctrine, for He taught them with authority.

They did not recognize, acknowledge nor confess His person as God the Son, but they were amazed at His words.

What is most remarkable the “unclean spirit,” knew exactly Who He was and confessed that Jesus Christ is the, “Holy One of God.” The demon spirit also confessed he was deserving of God’s righteous judgment, “art thou come to destroy us.” The demon spirit also cried out and said, “Let us alone; what have we to do with thee.”

“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2: 9-11)

The believer’s cry before the Lord is similar, yet completely different. We, by His grace do confess that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Saviour, but not only acknowledging His Lordship over us, but we willingly submit to Him and love Him supremely.

“Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,” (1 Peter 2: 7)

We say with Thomas, Jesus Christ is, “My Lord and my God”. “Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.” (John 20: 28)

“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.” (Psalm 51: 1-4)

Believers also confess they are deserving of God’s righteous judgment against our sin and plead for mercy.

“And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” (Luke 18: 13-14)

However, our plea before the Lord is, don’t leave us alone, we need thee every hour in every way.

“By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.” (Hebrews 7: 22)

We need Thee, to be Surety and Sacrifice for us.

“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” (1 Timothy 2: 5)

We need Thee, to be Mediator representing us.

“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:” (1 John 2: 1)

We need Thee, to be Advocate pleading for us.

“For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.” (Hebrews 2: 10)

We need Thee, to be Captain guiding and fighting for us.

“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.” (Hebrews 2: 14-17)

We need Thee, to be Redeemer delivering us.

“Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4: 14-16)

We need Thee, to be Great High Priest interceding for us.

“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 need Thee, to be the Chief, Great, and Good Shepherd providing all things for us. “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4: 19)

This is the Lord’s unwavering and steadfast promise to His covenant people that, He never will leave us. “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” (Hebrews 13: 5)

“He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8: 32)

What sweet comfort this affords the believer!

As one old writer put it, “The Lord Jesus Christ freely gives us all grace now and all glory hereafter”.

~ Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “Christ Shall Have All Dominion” (36:59 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: 17 June, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a

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Behold Your God!

”O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!” | Isaiah 40: 9

When we first believe in Christ we see but little of Him.

The higher we climb the more we discover of His beauties.

But who has ever gained the summit?

Who has known all the heights and depths of the love of Christ which passes knowledge?

Paul, when grown old, sitting grey-haired, shivering in a dungeon in Rome, could say with greater emphasis than we can, “I know whom I have believed,” for each experience had been like the climbing of a hill, each trial had been like ascending another summit, and his death seemed like gaining the top of the mountain, from which he could see the whole of the faithfulness and the love of Him to whom he had committed his soul.

Get thee up, dear friend, into the high mountain

~ C. H. Spurgeon

Click here to listen to the message “All Hail The King” (30:15 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: 1 May, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a

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The Declaration Of Dependence

“In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.” | Psalm 62: 7

Sooner could the ocean prove too little for a small fish or the sky be too small for a swallow than the grace of God prove insufficient for one of God’s people.

Not all their weaknesses, failures or sins can use it up.

~ Pastor Joe Terrell

Click here to listen to the message “Confidence in God’s Gospel” (49:52 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: 11 July, 2021 | Previous post date: 21 August, 2021