Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

What God’s People Glory In

“But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” | Galatians 6: 14

CHRIST is more than a Saviour; He is salvation itself!

David said, “The Lord is my light and my salvation.”

It is well to see salvation in the work, life, and death of Christ; but we must never forget that the essence of salvation lies in His Person.

HE HIMSELF IS SALVATION!

It is WHO He is which gives virtue to WHAT He does.

We are bidden to come, not to His work, but to HIMSELF.

The gospel loses much of its sweetness when the Person of Christ is put in the background and honor given only to His work.

~ Charles H. Spurgeon

Click here to listen to the message “What God’s People Glory In”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 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 March, 2020 | Previous post date: n/a

Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

Hope For the Defiled

“There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.” | Mark 7: 15

I should never have found peace with God nor come to love the Lord at all if it had not been that I distinctly saw that He, Who knew no sin, was made sin for me that I may be made the righteousness of God in Him.

~ C. H. Spurgeon

Click here to listen to the message “Hope For the Defiled”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 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 October, 2020 | Previous post date: 5 February, 2021

Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

The Guilt Of Past Sin

“Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.” | 1 Peter 2: 17

Do you remember when God was pleased to awaken you from your long sleep, when you looked within and saw that you were all defiled, and full of pollution, and all manner of evil?

Do you recollect how the thoughts pierced you like poisoned arrows… “God requireth that which is pure”; “For every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give an account thereof at the day of judgment”? Do you recollect how it seemed as though hell flared up right before you where you stood, and it seemed as though there were a step only betwixt you and death! The terrors of the Lord got hold upon you, and the very marrow of your bones seemed to freeze as you thought upon an angry God, and of how you, in your sins, without any preparation, could meet him! Oh! it is not so long ago with some of us but what we recollect being startled in our sleep under a sense of sin; and all day long the common joys of men were no joys to us, and though before we had been sprightly and cheerful like others, yet our mirth was now turned into mourning, and all our laughter into lamentation!

Perhaps some of you are passing through this state of mind now. You are conscious now of your old sins: the sins of your youth are coming up before your remembrance. Now, if so, listen to what David says, “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.” Beloved! if you would ever get rid of the fear of your past sins, remember that the Lord Jesus Christ came into the world to suffer for the sins of all who trust Him. All the sins of all His people were reckoned as upon Him, and all that they should have suffered on account of those sins Jesus Christ suffered in their stead. The mighty debt, too huge for us to calculate, was all laid upon Him, and he paid it to the last farthing. He was sued and summoned at the court of the eternal justice, for the sins of His people were reckoned as upon Him, and all that they should have rendered with hands and feet, and brow and side, He discharged: the whole tremendous debt that was due to God, the debt caused by the sins of all His people were paid by Him.

Now, it is a blessed thing when sin burdens us to fly away to Christ, and stand in spirit beneath the cross, and feel that under that crimson canopy no flash of divine penalty shall ever fall upon us. “Smite me! Great God! Thou canst not, for hast thou not smitten the redeeming Christ on my account! Is it not recorded that for those who trust Him, thy Son is both surety and substitute! How, then, canst thou first sue the Substitute, and then afterwards sue the person, for whom the Substitute stood?” Faith thus clings to the cross, and feels, nay! knows, that all is safe. I would God that some of you who are lamenting over the burden of your sins, and are pressed down by it, would look to the Son of God, pouring out His life, and would trust Him, for then your sins would be gone in a moment. Only look on Jesus, and though you had committed all the sins that are committable by mortal man, yet Jesus Christ can and shall put them all away. If every form of iniquity. were heaped upon you, till you were dyed through and through with it, like the scarlet that has been lying long a-soak in the dye, yet if the crimson blood of Jesus come into contact with your crimson sins, and they: — “Shall vanish all away, Though foul as hell before; Shall be dissolved beneath the sea, And shall be found no more.” Now, I know it is very easy when we do not feel our sins to trust in Christ, but the business of faith is to trust in Christ when you do feel your sins. Brethren, it would be cheap faith to take Christ as the saints’ Savior, but it is the faith of God’s elect to take Him as the sinner’s Savior.

When I can see marks of grace in myself, to trust Christ is easy; but when I see no marks of anything good, but every mark of everything that is evil, and then come and cast myself upon Him, and believe that He can save me, even me, and rest myself upon Him—this is the faith which honors Christ and which will save us. May you have it, and such time as you are afraid of sin, may you trust in Christ.

~ Charles Spurgeon

Click here to listen to the message “As Strangers and Pilgrims”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 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: 5 September, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

No Rewards in Heaven

“Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name.” | Psalm 29: 2

God’s glory is the result of his nature and acts.

He is glorious in his character, for there is such a store of everything that is holy, and good, and lovely in God, that he must be glorious. The actions which flow from his character are also glorious; but while he intends that they should manifest to his creatures his goodness, and mercy, and justice, He is equally concerned that the glory associated with them should be given only to himself.

Nor is there aught in ourselves in which we may glory; for who maketh us to differ from another? And what have we that we did not receive from the God of all grace? Then how careful ought we to be to walk humbly before the Lord!

The moment we glorify ourselves, since there is room for one glory only in the universe, we set ourselves up as rivals to the Most High. Shall the insect of an hour glorify itself against the sun which warmed it into life? Shall the potsherd exalt itself above the man who fashioned it upon the wheel? Shall the dust of the desert strive with the whirlwind? Or the drops of the ocean struggle with the tempest?

Give unto the Lord, all ye righteous, give unto the Lord glory and strength; give unto him the honour that is due unto his name. Yet it is, perhaps, one of the hardest struggles of the Christian life to learn this sentence: “Not unto us, not unto us, but unto thy name be glory.” It is a lesson which God is ever teaching us, and teaching us sometimes by most painful discipline.

Let a Christian begin to boast, ‘I can do all things’, without adding ‘through Christ which strengtheneth me’, and before long he will have to groan, ‘I can do nothing’, and bemoan himself in the dust. When we do anything for the Lord, and he is pleased to accept of our doings, let us lay our crown at his feet, and exclaim, ‘Not I, but the grace of God which was with me’!”

~ Charles H. Spurgeon

Click here to listen to the message “No rewards in heaven”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 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: 20 June, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a

Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

HE WHO COUNTS THE STARS!

“He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names. Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.” | Psalm 147: 3-5

He who counts the stars and calls them by their names, is in no danger of forgetting His own children! He knows your case as thoroughly as if you were the only creature He ever made, or the only saint He ever loved!

It is most important for us to learn, that the smallest trifles are as much arranged by the God of Providence, as the most startling events.

He who counts the stars — has also numbered the hairs of our heads.

Our lives and deaths are predestined — but so, also, are our sitting down and our rising up!

“Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” (Matthew 10: 29-30)

~ Charles Spurgeon

Click here to listen to the message “The First Day”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 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: n/a

Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

In Him I Rejoice!

“Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. | Matthew 2: 2

Although I am a sinner, yet I despair not; for Christ, who is my Redeemer and my righteousness, liveth.

In Him I have no sin, no fear, no sting of conscience, and no fear of judgment; (Galations 2: 20) for in Him there is no condemnation. (Romans 8: 1)

I am indeed a sinner as touching this present life; but I have a righteousness of God which is above this life, who is Christ my Lord.

In Him I rejoice!

~ Martin Luther

Click here to listen to the message “Where Is He That Is Born King?”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 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: 20 December, 2020 | Previous post date: 13 January, 2021

Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

I Am A Worm

“But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.” | Psalm 22: 6

This verse is a miracle in language.

How could the Lord of glory be brought to such abasement as to be not only lower than the angels, but even lower than men? What a contrast between “I AM” and “I am a worm”!

Yet such a double nature was found in the person of our Lord Jesus when bleeding on the tree. He felt himself to be comparable to a helpless, powerless, downtrodden worm, passive while crushed, and unnoticed and despised by those who trod upon him.

He selects the weakest of creatures, which is all flesh; and becomes, when trodden upon, writhing & quivering flesh, utterly devoid of any might except strength to suffer. This was a true likeness of himself when his body and soul had become a mass of misery-the very essence of agony-in the dying pangs of crucifixion.

Man by nature is but a worm; but our Lord puts himself even beneath man, on account of the scorn which was heaped upon him and the weakness which he felt, and therefore he adds, “and no man.” The privileges and blessings which belonged to the fathers he could not obtain while deserted by God, and common acts of humanity were not allowed him, for he was rejected of men; he was outlawed from the society of earth, and shut out from the smile of heaven.

How utterly did the Saviour empty himself of all glory, and become of no reputation for our sakes! “A reproach of men” their common butt and jest; a byword and a proverb unto them: the sport of the rabble, and the scorn of the rulers. Oh the caustic power of reproach, to those who endure it with patience, yet smart under it most painfully!

“And despised: of thee people.” The very people who would once have crowned him then contemned him, and they who were benefited by his cures sneered at him in his woes. Sin is worthy of all reproach and contempt, and for this reason Jesus, the Sin bearer, was given up to be thus unworthily and shamefully entreated.

~ Charles Spurgeon

Click here to listen to the message “I Am A Worm”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 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.

Lantana Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 15 April, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a | Crossville, Tennessee

Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

Glory That Excelleth

“For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” | 2 Corinthians 5: 21

Mourning Christian! Why weepest thou? Art thou mourning over thine own corruptions?

Look to thy perfect Lord, and remember, thou are complete in Him; thou art in God’s sight as perfect as if thou hadst never sinned; nay, more than that, the Lord our Righteousness hath put a divine garment upon thee, so that thou hast more than the righteousness of man – thou hast the righteousness of God.

O thou who art mourning by reason of inbred sin and depravity, remember, none of thy sins can condemn thee. Thou hast learned to hate sin; but thou hast learned also to know that sin is not thine – it was laid upon Christ’s head.

Thy standing is not in thyself – it is in Christ; thine acceptance is not in thyself, but in thy Lord; thou art as much accepted of God today, with all they sinfulness, as thou wilt be when thou standest before His throne, free from all corruption.

O, I beseech thee, lay hold on this precious thought, perfection in Christ!

For thou are “complete in Him.”

With thy Saviour’s garment on, thou art holy as the Holy one. “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” Christian, let thy heart rejoice, for thou art “accepted in the beloved” – what hast thou to fear?

Let they face ever wear a smile; live near thy Master; live in the suburbs of the Celestial City; for soon, when thy time has come, thou shalt rise up where thy Jesus sits, and reign at His right hand, even as He has overcome and has sat down at His Father’s right hand; and all this because the divine Lord “was made to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.”

~ Charles Spurgeon

Click here to listen to the message “Glory That Excelleth”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 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.

Lantana Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 15 April, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a | Crossville, Tennessee

Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

HE WHO COUNTS THE STARS!

“He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names. Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.” | Psalm 147: 3-5

He who counts the stars and calls them by their names, is in no danger of forgetting His own children! He knows your case as thoroughly as if you were the only creature He ever made, or the only saint He ever loved!

It is most important for us to learn, that the smallest trifles are as much arranged by the God of Providence, as the most startling events. He who counts the stars — has also numbered the hairs of our heads. Our lives and deaths are predestined — but so, also, are our sitting down and our rising up!

“Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” | Matthew 10: 29-30

~ Charles Spurgeon

Click here to listen to the message “HIS Mind, Will, Purpose & Work”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 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: n/a

Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

Words About Our Faith

Strange to say, the faith of Christians is a PERSON.

You may ask all other religions wherein their faith lieth, and they cannot answer on this wise.

Our faith is a PERSON; the gospel that we have to preach is a PERSON, and go wherever you may, we have something solid and tangible to preach. If you had asked the twelve apostles, in their day, “What do you believe in?” They would not have needed to go round about with a long reply, but they would have pointed to their Master and they would have said, “We believe in HIM.” “But what are your doctrines?” “There they stand INCARNATE.” “But what is your practice?” “HE is our example.”

“What, then, do you believe?” Hear ye the glorious answer of the apostle Paul, “We preach Christ crucified.”

Our creed, our body of divinity, our whole theology is summed up in the PERSON OF JESUS CHRIST.

The apostle preached doctrine, but the doctrine was Christ. He preached practice but the practice was all in Christ. There is no summary of the faith of a Christian that can compass all he believes, except that word – CHRIST; and that is the Alpha and Omega of our creed, that is the first and last rule of our practice – Christ, and Him crucified.

To spread the faith, then, is to spread the knowledge of Christ crucified; it is in fact, to bring men, through the agency of God’s Spirit, to feel their need of Christ, to seek Christ, to believe in Christ, to love Christ, and then to live for Christ.

~ Charles H. Spurgeon

Click here to listen to the message “O Keep My Soul!”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 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 May, 2020 | Previous post date: n/a