Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder

“For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.” | Hebrews 4: 2-3

The apostle Paul told all of the brethren of the church in Philippi: “I have you in my heart”… because “Ye are all partakers with me of grace” (Philippians 1: 7)

I feel the exact same way toward all the brethren of the church in Kingsport.

In the same way that all of God’s chosen people long to be with Christ, God’s people love to be with those who are in Christ, and love Christ, and bow the knee to Christ.

When we have even brief moments of separation it causes us to realize how much we desire being together.

May the Lord God make that desire to grow.

May our love for Christ grow; and may our love for each other grow.

Because of the blood of our Savior, we are brethren – brothers and sisters together in Him.

And I want each one of you to know that I sincerely love you, I thank the Lord for you, and I greatly desire to see you again soon.

Being made to be “partakers of grace together,” “I have you in my heart.”

May Christ be in all of our hearts today, and may we be in His.

~ Pastor Gabe Stalnaker

Click here to listen to the message “Wounded For Me” (23:23 minutes)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 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: 26 September, 2021 | Previous post date: 3 April, 2022

To Him Be Glory

“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” | 2 Peter 3: 18

In everything concerning us, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is owed all the glory!

“All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” (John 1: 3)

He is owed all the glory in creation – “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”

“According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:” (Ephesians 1: 4)

He is owed all the glory in election – “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:”

“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)

He is owed all the glory in redemption – “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.”

“And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;” (Ephesians 2: 1)

He is owed all the glory in regeneration – “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;”

“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2: 4-7)

He is owed all the glory in glorification – “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”

~ Pastor Gabe Stalnaker

Click here to listen to the message “The Most Important Question on Earth” (37:12 minutes)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 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: 25 February, 2025 | Previous post date: n/a

There Is Only One Way!

”There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” | Proverbs 14: 12

There is only one way that leads to eternal life – God’s way; and God’s way is Jesus Christ.

God provided only one way for sinners to be covered from wrath and redeemed from destruction, and that way is through Christ being made to be the substitute for His people and the sacrifice for their sin.

Anything that we sinners add to that is not God’s way.

Anything that we sinners take away from that is not God’s way.

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14: 6)

God’s way is Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ ALONE!

~ Pastor Gabe Stalnaker

Click here to listen to the message “One Man” (27:09 minutes)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 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 February, 2024 | Previous post date: n/a

What Is The Gospel?

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;” | Titus 3: 5,6

Whatever a sinner harps on, that’s where his hope is.

If a sinner harps on: “Man’s Works! Man’s Works!” that’s where his hope is.

If a sinner harps on: “The Blood of Christ! The Blood of Christ!” that’s where his hope is.

~ Pastor Gabe Stalnaker

Click here to listen to the message “What Is The Gospel?” (27:37 minutes)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 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: 12 August, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a

Then Sings My Soul!

“He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.” | Isaiah 42: 4

There is a beautiful song in our hymnal titled: “How Great Thou Art.”

The third verse of that song says, “And when I think that God, His Son not sparing, sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in – that on the cross, my burden gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sin… Then sings my soul!”

Once salvation is revealed to a child of God, from that moment forward the soul of that child sings the glory and greatness of the God who saved him or her.

“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)

The body may break, but the soul will never stop singing!

The heart may ache, but the soul will never stop singing!

Everything about the physical, mental, and emotional state of the child may be silenced under the overwhelming weight and oppression of sin, but knowing what the blood of Christ has done for sinners will cause the soul of that child to never stop singing, “My Savior God, to Thee; How great Thou art, How great Thou art!”

~ Pastor Gabe Stalnaker

Click here to listen to the message “It’s All Because of Him” (34:54 minutes)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 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: 28 March, 2021 | Previous post date: 23 September, 2021

Waiting On The Lord

“Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.” | Micah 7: 7

Here are three reasons why God’s people are happy to wait on their Lord:

  1. Our example and reason for waiting – which is Christ! He waited on us that He might be gracious to us, and have mercy upon us. “And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.” (Isaiah 30: 18)
  2. The danger of NOT waiting! When we do not wait on the Lord for the direction of His will and purpose, we bring nothing but heartache to ourselves. Israel “…soon forgat His works; they waited not for His counsel: But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert. And He gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.” (Psalm 106: 13-15)
  3. The promises from God at the end of waiting! “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart…” (Psalm 27: 14) “…those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.” (Psalm 37: 9) “For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what He hath prepared for him that waiteth for Him.” (Isaiah 64: 4)

~ Pastor Gabe Stalnaker

Click here to listen to the message “We Will Rejoice In Thy Salvation” (28:12 minutes)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 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: 5 August, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a

“Be Still, And Know That I Am God”

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.’

“There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.’

“Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth. He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.” | Psalm 46: 1-11

How comforting it is to know that in moments of chaos and uncertainty, God’s sheep can be still, knowing that their Great Shepherd is God.

Though the world may crumble around them, in the promise of His covenant, and the security of His blood, they can lay down in green pastures of quietness and rest, without fear and without trouble. If the God of Jacob is our refuge, then The Lord of hosts is with us. In Christ our Savior, we shall not be moved. God will help us, and that right early.

Let’s just be still, and know that He is God.

~ Pastor Gabe Stalnaker

Click here to listen to the message “We Are In God’s Hands”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 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 March, 2020 | Previous post date: 16 September, 2021

God Is Patient With The Tares

”What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles” | Romans 9: 22-24

God is patient with the tares that He might have mercy on the wheat.

In Matthew 13 our Lord referred to these “vessels of wrath fitted for destruction” as “tares”, and He referred to His “vessels of mercy” as “wheat”.

He gave a parable of “a man who sowed good seed in his field… But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.”

The man’s servants wanted to pull up the tares and cast them out, but the man said, “Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.”

What do we learn from this?

Our God is patient with the “tares” that He might have mercy on the “wheat”!

He endures with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction, that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy!

If this is our Lord’s way, may it be ours too.

He said: “Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into My barn.”

~ Pastor Gabe Stalnaker

Click here to listen to the message “The Gospel Is For The Guilty” (28:20 minutes)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 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: 29 July, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a

Much To Be Thankful For

“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” | Philippians 1: 3-6

Brethren, do we not have so much to be thankful for?

God, the Heavenly Father chose us before the foundation of the world to save us from all of our ruin and sin.

God, the glorious Son gave His life to pay the price for all of our ruin and sin.

God, the Holy Spirit has called us out of our darkness into the glorious light of the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.

We have been given the word of God.

We have been given the gospel of God.

We have been given each other – the people of God.

We have been given spiritual eyes to see Christ.

We have been given spiritual ears to hear Christ.

We have been given spiritual hearts to believe on Christ.

We have been given a place to worship Him.

We have been given freedom to worship Him.

He has given, and given, and given to us.

What do we have that has not been freely given to us from Him?

Even our trials have been given for the purpose of bringing good to us.

We have no reason to complain about any of our Lord’s dealings with us; only reason to give thanks to Him.

“O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.” (Psalm 107: 1)

May our Lord put a spirit of thanks in our hearts, and a word of thanks on our tongues both now and forever more.

~ Pastor Gabe Stalnaker

Click here to listen to the message “Seek Ye The Lord” (29:14 minutes)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 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: 1 May, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

There Is No Rejection In Election

”But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:” | 2 Thessalonians 2: 13

All men and women are born into this world spiritually “dead in trespasses and sins”.

“And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;” (Ephesians 2: 1)

All are under the curse of the law, and all are deserving of eternal damnation.

“But God”!

God chose to show mercy to some sinners through the death of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Had God not chosen to do that, not one soul would have been saved.

Contrary to what many may believe, there is no rejection in election.

God did not chose for some to be saved and some to be damned.

Mankind was already damned.

God elected to save His people from damnation, and He reveals who He chose to do this for through The Holy Spirit giving a sinner “belief of the truth”.

Therefore, all who have been given this faith to believe on the saving work and blood of Christ alone are bound to give thanks to God for choosing to save them before the foundation of the world.

~ Pastor Gabe Stalnaker

Click here to listen to the message “Every One Written In The Book” (29:00 minutes)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 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 July, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a