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Is Our Message Offensive?

“I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be. And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased. I would they were even cut off which trouble you.” | Galatians 5: 10-12

Paul called his message “the offence of the cross.” Again and again he warned that the true gospel of God’s grace and glory would meet with great opposition from the religious world and the natural world. “The preaching of the cross is foolishness.” “The natural man receiveth not the things of God.”

Our Lord said, “Marvel not if the world hate you.” He also said in John 16, “They will cast you out of organized religion, and whosover killeth you will think that he serves God in doing so.”

If what we preach is NOT offensive to the religionist and to the worldling, then it is NOT THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST.

I repeat, it is not the gospel!

1). GOD’S ABSOLUTE SOVEREIGNTY in creation, providence, and redemption offends man’s claim to a freewill!

“But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.” (Luke 19: 14)

2). The preaching of TOTAL DEPRAVITY and INABILITY offends man’s dignity and claim to personal righteousness.

“We be not born of fornication”, that is, “we be not (they say) born in sin.”

“We may not be perfect, but we are not totally corrupt in God’s sight.”

3). The gospel of Christ comes by REVELATION and this offends man’s natural wisdom.

The college professor knows as much about the mysteries of grace as the farmhand, which is nothing apart from the Spirit of God.

4). EFFECTUAL REDEMPTION through the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ, our substitute and sin-offering, offends man’s pride.

Men would have God do all that He wants to do or can do; but, there must be a work left for the sinner to perform, that we might share somewhat in the glory.

5). The LORDSHIP OF JESUS CHRIST offends man’s desire for recognition here and the hereafter.

“Grant, Lord, that we may sit at Thy right and left hand.”

“Let us have a system of rewards to distinguish us in some way from the beggar.”

We have established our social levels here and choose to continue them in heaven.

~ Pastor Henry T. Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “What Is Your Response To The Gospel?” (38:55 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: July 22, 2018 | Previous post date: 11 August, 2021 | Pikeville, Kentucky

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Who Gets The Glory?

”And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.” | 2 Kings 2: 14

If you wish to know if the gospel you are hearing preached is the gospel of God, ask yourself this question, ‘Who gets the glory?’

If you wish to know whether your religious experience is of the flesh or of the Lord, ask yourself the same thing, ‘Who gets the glory?’

Also, examine all your gifts, works, and missionary efforts by the same rule, ‘Who gets the glory?’

”That no flesh should glory in his presence… That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1: 29, 31)

God will not share His glory!

That which is of God, from God, and for God’s glory will be blessed with His presence and power.

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Where Is The Lord God of Elijah?” (31:36 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 May, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a

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I Will Give Unto Him That Is Athirst

”And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” | Revelation 22: 17

It is not good for people to spend their lives seeking God and not finding peace in Him.

It is not good that we should be ever learning and never able to rest in the knowledge of Christ.

It is not good to be always doubting, and when asked about our doubts to make the untrue excuse, ‘Oh, I am not doubting God, I am only doubting myself,’

No!

”And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” (Revelation 22: 17)

It is God who promised life in Christ, and it is God whom we are doubting.

”And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.” (Revelation 21: 6)

Of this promise BONAR wrote, “Thirsty one, it is with the WATER and not the VESSEL that our souls need to be concerned! It is not the quality of your vessel, but the quality of the water of life (Christ Jesus) that satisfies, sanctifies, and purifies! And he whose pride will not allow him to drink from a weak, soiled, and broken vessel (such is the best faith) must die of thirst; and he who puts away the promise of reconciliation because of imperfect faith must die the death.”

He who says, “I believe the right doctrine, but I don’t believe it in the right way; therefore, I can’t have peace” is looking totally in the wrong direction and will never find peace.

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Fear Not” (33:06 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: 8 April, 2007 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

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A Sermon For Me

“Unto you that believe, He is precious” | 1 Peter 2: 7

Believers receive Christ, rejoice in Christ and, to them He is precious.

His obedience is our righteousness.

His blood is our atonement.

His prayers are our intercession.

His reign is our glory.

His coming is our hope.

Christ is all and in all.

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “A Wonderful Persuasion” (35:16 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: 15 March, 2020 | Previous post date: 18 April, 2022

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Do What God Commands You To Do

”No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.” | John 6: 44-45

Suppose a man should say to you, “I will not open my store today because I do not know if God has decreed that I should sell my goods, or do not know if God has ordained anyone to buy from me.”

Suppose that he added, “I shall neither eat nor drink this month, for God has fixed the length of my life and I shall die at the appointed time.”

Would you not conclude that the man was either mentally ill or a total fool?

EVEN SO, the man who declares, “There is no need to search the Scriptures, seek the Lord, nor strive to enter the kingdom of God; for if I am elected and ordained to life, I will be saved,” IS ALSO A FOOL!

It is true “the election of grace hath obtained,” and “as many as were ordained to eternal life believed;” but let me tell you, in the matter of seeking the Lord, repenting toward God, and believing on Christ, you have no more concern with the secret counsels and purposes of God than you have in the length or quality of your life on earth.

DO WHAT GOD COMMANDS YOU TO DO; believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, reach out (like the weary woman) and touch the Lord, cry out for mercy like Bartimaeus of old, and THEN YOU SHALL KNOW YOUR ELECTION OF GOD.

“God maketh rich and God maketh poor;” but the man who draws the paycheck is the man who goes faithfully to work; the man who enjoys eternal glory is the man who goes, believing, to Jesus Christ.

~ Pastor Henry T. Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “No Man Can Come” (16:21 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: 17 April, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

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Preaching

”And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.” | 1 Corinthians 2: 3

C. H. Spurgeon is called by many “The Prince of Preachers”.

Spurgeon wrote, “For many years my own preaching was exceedingly painful to me, because of the fear and trembling which beset me before entering the pulpit. Often, the dread of facing my hearers has been overwhelming.

“I wrote to my dear grandfather, who was a minister of God for many years, and told him of the overwhelming mental emotions, sickness of body, and trembling fears which gripped my heart when I preached the Word of God.”

The old gentleman wrote back, “My son, I have been preaching the gospel of Christ sixty years, and I still feel the same trembling fears that you feel. Be content to have it so. When these emotions go away, your strength will also be gone. When you are able to preach the gospel and think nothing of it, the people will think nothing of it, and God will do nothing with it.”

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Delivered From the Fear of Death” (39:10 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: 8 April, 2007 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

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Wisdom In Death

”LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am.” | Psalm 39: 4

When we, by God’s grace, are wise enough to face death, judgement, and eternity, things are seen in their proper light.

”God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar. Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.” (Psalm 118: 27-29)

All these fine ideas of fame, fortune, and friends, and our so-called importance melts like frost in the sun.

”But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” (Matthew 22: 31-32)

Death reveals the truth, blows away the chaff, shuts a man’s mouth, and opens the books!

”Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.” (Luke 20: 36)

Death takes no notice of what I thought nor what others thought of me, but only of what God thinks.

“Oh, that I may win Christ and be found in him.”

~ Pastor Henry T. Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “What Did It Please God To Do?” (14:48 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: 17 April, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

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Leave Them There

“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” | 1 Peter 5: 7

I know my sins, but I rejoice in His grace.

I know my weakness, but I rest in His strength.

I know my emptiness, but I am complete in Him.

“O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,” all because we do not cast our sins, our souls, on Christ and LEAVE THEM THERE!

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “HIS Mind, Will, Purpose & Work” (31:17 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: 26 September, 2021 | Previous post date: 6 April, 2022

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Who Gets The Glory?

“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

If you wish to know if the gospel you are hearing preached is the gospel of God, ask yourself this question, “WHO GETS THE GLORY?”

If you wish to know whether your religious experience is of the flesh or of the Lord, ask the same question, “Who gets the glory?”

Also examine all of our gifts, works, and missionary efforts by the same rule, “Who gets the glory?”

“That no flesh should glory in his presence.” (1 Corinthians 1: 29)

God will not share His glory!

“That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1: 31)

That which is OF God, FROM God, and FOR God’s glory will be blessed with His presence and power.

“That no flesh should glory in His presence…that according as it is written, he that glorieth let him glory in the Lord”.

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “A New Last Name” (30:37 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: 25 February, 2025 | Previous post date: n/a

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From Nothing, Everything

”For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” | Hebrews 9: 26

The preacher often says, “Mine is a very hard task, for I preach to many in whom I see nothing hopeful. I thunder forth the law, and the conscience is not stirred. I talk of the love and mercy of God, and the heart is not moved. I preach the sufferings of Christ for our sins, and the eye does not weep. I point to hell, and there is no fear, nor is there any desire kindled when I speak of the glory of heaven. There is absolutely nothing in men that encourages me to continue to preach to them. Is there any reason why I should preach the Word to those in whom I see nothing?”

Brother, come back with me to the world’s creation.

Of what did God make the world?

Did He not make it out of nothing?

You have never yet grasped the idea of nothing until you consider the creation.

When God spoke, there was no ear to hear.

When He said, “Let there be light,” there was no eye to see it.

When He made the rose, there was no nose to smell it.

When He made the apple, there was no mouth to taste it.

And when He made the garden, there was no foot to walk in it.

Nothing was everywhere, and yet out of nothing He made all things.

He spoke, and it was done.

He commanded, and it appeared.

You say there is nothing in the sinner to whom you preach?

That’s wonderful, for there is in that state of nothing, room for the great God to create something!

Inasmuch as the heart of man is empty and the soul is dark, the conditions are right for God to create a new heart and a right spirit and put His grace where there was no grace.

If you had to convert the sinner, then I would agree that your task is hopeless; but, if salvation is of the Lord, you may comfort your heart with this thought; that He who created all this marvelous earth out of nothing can also create life, love, faith, and hope where there are no spiritual ingredients nor interest with which to work.

~ Pastor Henry T. Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “What Christ Accomplished” (13:37 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: 24 April, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky