Salvation Is For Sinners

”The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.” | Matthew 11: 19

The Pharisees called our Lord, “The friend of sinners.”

They thought to brand Him with shame and hold His name up to ridicule; but what they thought to be shame is His chief glory. He is indeed, “the friend of sinners.”

Thank God He is!

This is what makes the gospel good news.

This is no sham gospel that we preach, but it is real salvation for real sinners. It is real grace for real guilt.

We preach no gospel of merit for moralists.

We preach good news of pardon and forgiveness for men who are nothing, have nothing, and can do nothing!

~ Pastor Henry T. Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Jesus – Friend of Sinners”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ o ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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 April, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a

Forsake All or Be Forsaken

”If any man come to me and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple… Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” | Luke 14: 26, 33

The Lord is not telling us to hate our families, for He gave commandment to love one another.

He is telling us that nothing and no one is to have preference over Him; that we are to love Him above all, and be willing to forsake all for Him.

This is the true love of God shed abroad in the hearts of all His true people. It is supernatural, born again love that the world does not have and cannot understand; accusing those who have it of not loving their families (hate).

When brother Groover was taking his family to the Mexican mission field, a few unsaved relatives accused him of not loving his family. So it will be with all who love the Lord supremely and forsake their flesh and blood to go where He is, where His gospel is; all who would rather be with God’s family than their own.

On the other hand, any man or woman who forsakes Christ; (and to “forsake the assembling of ourselves…” to forsake the gospel, is to forsake Christ) anyone who ignores Christ for any reason, should not think it unreasonable that He will someday ignore them.

One who forsakes Christ to further their career, should not think it unreasonable that He would forsake them for His own glory. One who is more interested in making money than hearing the gospel of the unsearchable riches of Christ, should not think God to be cruel when He takes everything away from them someday.

One who forsakes Christ for their family, should not think it wrong when he forsakes them in favor of His family.

One who forsakes the assembly of the church on earth, should not be surprised when Christ does not allow them into the assembly of the saints in Heaven.

One who is not interested in the worship and fellowship of Christ now, should not complain when He has no interest for them in the end.

One who is unmoved and unfeeling upon hearing the gospel of Christ’s unspeakable love, sufferings and sorrow, should not think Him hard when He is unmoved by their cries of misery at the judgment.

NO, NO!

It is not the Lord who is unreasonable, hard and uncaring, it is the unbeliever.

“Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;” (Proverbs 1: 24)

If you end up without Christ someday, do not blame Him, for He “called and you refused. He warned and you would not listen.

“Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.” (John 10: 25)

“I told you”, He said, “and ye believed not”.

~ Pastor Paul Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Praise Ye The Lord in the Congregation”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ o ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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: 10 April, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

Divine Paradoxes

“And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,” | Ephesians 6: 19

“Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.” (1 Corinthians 3: 18)

The wiser we get, the greater fools we become.

“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” (2 Corinthians 12: 9-10)

The stronger we grow, the weaker we are.

“As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.” (2 Corinthians 6: 10)

The more we possess, the less we have.

“And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?” (Luke 7: 42)

The more completely bankrupt, the more freely forgiven.

“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19: 10)

The more utterly lost, the more perfectly saved.

“Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18: 4)

And the more like a child, the greater in the kingdom of heaven.

Click here to listen to the message “See, Here Is Water”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ o ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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 April, 2021 | Previous post date: 9 June, 2021

The Preacher’s Call Or God’s Call?

”And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” | John 5: 37-40

The “invitation” or “altar call” at the end of a service has become such an accepted tradition in today’s religion that those who do not sing an “invitation hymn” and invite people to the front of the church to “get saved” are branded with all sorts of names and charges.

It never seems to trouble religious people that this “altar call” is nowhere to be found in God’s Word; that the great majority of those who “come forward” usually “go back” into indifference and worldliness; that the Scriptures present BAPTISM as our public confession of Christ, not “shaking the preacher’s hand;” that the gospel is a COMMAND to repent, believe, and follow the Lord in baptism, not a mere invitation.

The King of kings does not invite His subjects to obey and believe Him; He commands them!

I preach to you the Word of the living God!

In the preaching of His Word, the holiness, justice, and righteousness of God are declared.

The truth of our fall, sinfulness, and inability is clearly set forth, as is the grace and mercy of God in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Are you a sinner?

Confess that fact before God, not before me!

Do you need mercy?

Tell God you need mercy, not me!

Do you believe the Lord Jesus Christ is the only Redeemer, righteousness, and sin-offering for one such as you?

Then settle that issue before the throne of grace, not at the front of the church!

Has God spoken peace to your heart in Christ?

Do you now rest in Him alone as your Lord and Savior, your High Priest and Mediator?

Is the old man crucified with Christ and buried, and are you risen in Him, a new creature?

Then ask the pastor to assist you in believer’s baptism that you may declare publicly what God has done in you personally!

~ Pastor Scott Richardson

Click here to listen to the message “Why Men Won’t Come to Christ for Life”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ o ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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: 7 January, 2007 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

Reserved

”But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.” | Romans 11: 4

What is most amazing about this verse is not how many!

Although seven thousand men is no number to shake a stick at, that is not the important message our Lord is pleased to reveal here.

“I have reserved’ is the message to take away from this!

God’s sovereignty is declared above all things, he is the one who reserved those men, by keeping them from bowing their knees, or even praising the idol of Ba-al. “Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.” (1 Kings 19: 18)

If you changed that number to two, would it make a difference?

NO!

It has become a praise of men, to declare the number of souls they have won for the lord.

They say their numbers are the result of their preaching or witnessing, their so-called truth!

They declare they must be teaching the truth, look at the numbers.

But what saith the scriptures?

The word remnant means “a portion of” or “what’s left over of,” or in other words, the seven thousand men were but a small portion, compared to all that had bent their knee to Ba-al. “Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.” (Romans 11: 5)

“Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.” By GOD’S GRACE, there is a remnant he has reserved unto himself. “And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.” (Romans 11: 6)

Numbers are not the issue!

GOD’S GRACE IS!

~ Pastor John Reeves

Click here to listen to the message “Five Things I Could Not See”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ o ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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: 3 April, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a

Happy Fear

”Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.” | Philippians 4: 4

God’s people rejoice in the Lord always.

They rejoice that His grace is always sufficient, that His blood cleanses them from all sin, that by His imputed righteousness they are justified before the law, that His love for them never fails, that by His providence all things work together for their good, that His intercession for them before the Father is never ceasing and that their names, for His sake, are written in heaven.

~ Pastor Marvin Stalnaker

Click here to listen to the message “Happy Fear”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ o ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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: 3 April, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a

Behold, What Manner of Love

”Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.” | 1 John 3: 1

There is no greater misery than sin exposed.

“But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend. Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away. Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” (Isaiah 41: 8-10)

“For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.” (Isaiah 41: 13-14)

There is no greater joy than forgiveness revealed.

Click here to listen to the message “Behold, What Manner of Love”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ o ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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 April, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a

Who Does Your Work?

”The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.” | Acts 8: 32-35

Nothing more clearly reveals to us that salvation, sanctification, and redemption is the work of our God than to observe the efforts and failure of those who TRY TO ACCOMPLISH THIS WORK FOR THEMSELVES!

The disciples asked, “Lord, who then can be saved?”

He said unto them, “WITH MEN THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE; but with God all things are possible.”

It is impossible in the flesh for a man to please God.

Yet millions, ignorant of the righteousness of Christ, still go about to establish their own righteousness and WILL NOT SUBMIT to the righteousness of God, which is Christ Jesus, our Lord.

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7: 21-23)

Many keep up this masquerade to the judgment and then plead their works before God; but most finally lose interest, keep their names on church rolls, and play church on special days.

“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)

When they die, their preachers try to find some cause on which to give their families hope; but that, too, is impossible; for IF CHRIST IS NOT IN YOU, there is no hope of glory.

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “An Encounter With Christ”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ o ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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: 7 January, 2007 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

Christ Is All

”Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.” | Colossians 3: 11

“I AM”

“And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.” (Exodus 3: 14)

To His elect people God is everything all the time.

He has always been God and He will always be God.

Yet, there is nothing more comforting and assuring to the saved sinner than to know that God is the ever-present “I AM.” He declares Himself to be “I AM” leaving what follows to be unwritten since He is the believer’s everything.

Jesus Christ is God and concerning His elect God says:

They are weak, “I AM” their strength.

They are poor, “I AM” their riches.

They are in trouble, “I AM” their help and comfort.

They are sick, “I AM” their healing and their health.

They are in darkness, “I AM” the Light of the world.

They are lost sheep, “I AM” the Door and the Good Shepherd.

They are unrighteous, “I AM” their righteousness.

They are unholy, “I AM” their holiness.

They are ungodly, “I AM” their God.

They are nothing, “I AM” their everything.

They are hungry, “I AM” the Bread of Life.

They are in darkness, “I AM” the Light of the world.

They are unprofitable branches, “I AM” the True Vine.

They are dead, “I AM” the Resurrection, the Way, the Truth, the Life.

As a preacher of the Gospel, the message I am to preach is clear and plain. “Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, I AM the Lord your God.” (Leviticus 18: 2)

Dear sinner, if you are in Christ, God is all these things to you.

~ Pastor David Eddmenson

Click here to listen to the message “Christ Is All”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ o ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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: 10 April, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

Moses Typical Of Christ

“And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi. And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months. And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river’s brink.” | Exodus 2: 1-3

Election is sovereign – the purpose of God.

The Bible reveals God to be sovereign in creation, providence, and salvation.

When men object to God’s sovereignty exercised in election, we do well to point them to the apostle’s words in Romans 9: 20-21: “Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?”

Men have been told for so long that God is in their hands, it is no wonder that many are astonished to hear that the Bible says it is just the opposite.

~ Pastor David Pledger

Click here to listen to the message “Moses Typical of Christ”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ o ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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: 15 April, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a