Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

God’s Ways And God’s Word

”It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.” | Psalm 119: 71

God’s Ways and God’s Word are best learned by experience and in time of trouble.

When our Lord is pleased to lay His hand heavily upon us, we do not soon forget the lessons learned.

When the Lord singles out a believer or a church for special affliction and adversity, it is not for punishment nor lack of love for them; it is for eternal blessings and because He does love them. “Whom the Lord loveth” He chastens, corrects, and teaches!

When Job sat before his friends, who was afflicted? The one God loved!

When Paul stood before King Agrippa, who wore the chains? The one God loved!

Humanly speaking, which path of life would you prefer to live on earth, that of Esau or Jacob?

Esau had the life of prosperity and ease; Jacob was full of trouble and conflict – but God loved Jacob!

Thank God He has not left us alone!

Thank God He has loved us in Christ and is pleased to teach us His ways by dealing with us in such a way that we are weaned from the world and find our life, comfort, and hope only in Him.

“But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.” (Hebrews 12: 8)

A person who measures his blessings and relationship with God by His prosperity, health, happiness, and worldly comforts makes a fatal mistake.

He who sends the trial for His glory and my good will supply the Grace sufficient.

“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)

Those who know the Redeemer also know that when we are weak, we are strong; when we are poor, we are rich; when we are empty, we are full; and when we die, we live!

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “The Persecutor Turned Preacher” (38:08 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.

Zebulon Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 4 February, 2007 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

Great And Mighty Themes

”For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” | 1 Corinthians 1: 22-24

That which should be preached the most often is, I’m afraid, the least often preached and that is the cross of Christ.

Bishop J.C. Ryle, one of the great, old preachers of many years ago and one of the great writers said this: “The cross of Christ is the strength of the preacher. I for one would not be without the cross of Christ. I’d feel like a soldier without his weapons.”

I’d feel like an artist without a pencil.

I’d feel like a pilot without a compass.

I’d feel like a carpenter without his tools.

-Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Great And Mighty Themes” (57:57 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: 17 June, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a

Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

Only Sinners Saved By Grace

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” | Ephesians 2: 8

In Christ there is no great and small, no important and unimportant, but only sinners saved by the grace of God.

We are all brethren!

The servant is not greater than his Lord; and if the Lord humbled himself to become a servant, shall we not do likewise?

Happy are those who know this gracious truth by experience and perform the doing of it.

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “The Impossible Made Possible”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 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: 27 June, 2021 | Previous post date: 19 August, 2021

Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

We Preach Christ Jesus the Lord

”For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.” | 2 Corinthians 4: 5

The apostle describes in this verse the ministry of every true preacher; we preach Christ, not ourselves!

We point you to Christ and not to us, our wisdom, or our organization.

With that in mind, when can it be said of us that we are preaching ourselves and not Christ?

1.) When we preach what we think instead of preaching what God says.

2.) When we preach what men want to hear instead of what men ought to hear.

3.) When we seek to please men by taking the offense out of the cross and glory in the flesh.

4.) When we set ourselves up as spiritual authorities over the consciences of our hearers, judging their salvation by their relationship with us and our requirements.

5.) When we try to impress men with our wisdom, knowledge, or piety.

6.) When we become ambitious for personal recognition and begin to boast of numbers and converts and attach our names to buildings, organizations, monuments, and movements.

7.) When we fear public opinion and court the friendship and approval of carnal men at the expense of truth.

8.) When we allow our hearers to entertain any hope of salvation except by the sovereign grace of God through the merits of Jesus Christ.

9.) When we preach for any other reason than the glory of Jesus Christ and the eternal good of our hearers.

We preach Christ, not ourselves!

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Blessed Be The Name Of The Lord” (29:28 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: 1 July, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a

Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

I Must Preach The Gospel

”For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of; for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!” | 1 Corinthians 9: 16

The most humbling and challenging thing I face, the great concern of my heart is that my generation experience a return to the preaching of the gospel of God’s glory.

“For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.” (Romans 10: 2)

We are plagued today with a gospel of works, a religion of form and ceremony, a zeal for God but not according to knowledge.

I pray for a return to the message God was pleased to use in other days to awaken sinners to their need for mercy; that message that reveals the redemptive glory of God in Christ; that message that humbles the proud Pharisee and gives hope to the chief of sinners.

If God is pleased to restore that message men will once again sense the awesome Holy presence of the Living God.

Gone will be the voice of the proud sinner who inwardly debates whether he will accept Jesus or reject Him.

Gone will be the haughty spirit that refuses to bow to the Lordship of Christ.

Gone will be the bragging of the religionist who boasts of his righteousness and what he has done for God.

Once again we may hear men cry, “Depth of mercy, can there be mercy still reserved for me, can my God His wrath forbear and me the chief of sinners spare?”

It may be that we will hear someone ask, “And can it be that I should gain and interest in the Savior’s blood?”

“For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of; for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9: 16)

I know not what course others may take, but I am determined to put forth every effort to preach that gospel every time I step into the pulpit.

~ Pastor Henry T. Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Preaching for a Verdict”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 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: 10 June, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a

Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

How Is The Believer Dead To The World?

”And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” | 1 Timothy 3: 16

A young student asked his Bible teacher ‘How is the believer dead to the world when he lives in the world, works a regular job, raises a family, and owns property in the world?’

The teacher sent him out to the gravesite of a friend with instructions to criticize the dead friend, harass him, and find fault, and then praise him with glowing terms and brag on him to excess.

Upon his return, the teacher asked, ‘What did your friend say when you criticized him?’

‘Nothing.’

‘How did he react when you praised him?’

‘It made no difference to him; he is dead!’

‘That is what it means to be dead to this world,’ said the teacher.

Its applause means nothing and its hatred means nothing.

We neither admire the people of this world nor do we fear them.

The riches of this world are but the fancy of fools, and the honors of this world mean little or nothing; for to be a child of God is the highest calling.

The religious traditions and ceremonies of the world have no attraction nor meaning when Christ is all!

That which was once important to us we now consider loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ, our Lord.

This spiritual life in Christ cannot be explained; it must be experienced.

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “The Summary of True Religion”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 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.

FreeGraceRadio.com Bulletin Article date: 10 February, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Danville, Kentuky

Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

And The Lot Fell ON Christ

”And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.” | 1 Peter 2: 8

The real offense is in the gospel of His grace!

It was not His works but His words that caused the division among the Jews.

His works did anger them, and they tried to discredit them; for His works bore a strong witness to His deity.

But the thing they hated and resented most was His claim to deity, to being THE CHRIST, to being THE REDEEMER of whom Moses wrote and for whom Abraham looked.

They said, “For good works we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou being a man, makest thyself GOD”. (John 10: 33)

Men today have no quarrel with religion, good works, nor noble efforts in the name of God; it is THE GOSPEL of sovereign mercy through a suffering and sufficient Substitute which causes them to stumble and become offended.

“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, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.” (1 Peter 2: 7-8)

Who He is, what He suffered, why He suffered, and where He is now, if clearly preached, will cause the sheep to rejoice and the rest to stumble.

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “And The Lot Fell ON Christ” (31:05 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: 1 May, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a

Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

Mechanics of Grace?

”Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” | 1 Corinthians 1: 20-24

Where can I go this Lord’s Day and hear the mercy of God, not the mechanics of grace?

Where can I go and hear the love of Christ and not the law of God for saints?

Where can I go and hear of the righteousness of God fulfilled by Christ and not the righteousness of the creature to be rewarded by God?

Let us say, by God’s grace, this will be the place and I will be the preacher.

The message will not be flowery but full of grace; it will not be with enticing words of man’s wisdom but the sovereign mercy of God to helpless sinners in a language all men understand.

Let the scholars, theologians and authors go elsewhere to have their intellects “challenged.”

Lord make me Thy voice to thy people!

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “We Preach Christ Crucified”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 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.

FreeGraceRadio.com Bulletin Article date: 2 February, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Danville, Kentuky

Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

The Justice Of God

”Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict.” | Job 37: 23

The justice of God is in itself a great barrier to the salvation of a sinner.

Because God is just, our sins must be punished.

“Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;” (Romans 3: 25)

Never has there been a sin pardoned without atonement since the world began.

There has never been a sin remitted by the great Judge of heaven until justice has been fully satisfied.

How, then, can a sinner be saved?

“Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.” (Isaiah 45: 22)

This is the great riddle of the law and the grand discovery of the gospel.

“To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” (Romans 3: 26)

The answer is, God’s justice has been fully satisfied through the substitution of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:” (1 Peter 3: 18)

Through the obedience and death of our Lord on our behalf, God can be just and justify the believer.

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Seven Sayings Of The Savior On The Cross”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 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: 1 August, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a

Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

Tell It One More Time

“And it came to pass, when the king of Israel had read the letter, that he rent his clothes, and said, Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man doth send unto me to recover a man of his leprosy? wherefore consider, I pray you, and see how he seeketh a quarrel against me. | 2 Kings 5: 7

Our Lord was made flesh and dwelt among men on this earth for over thirty years in full and perfect obedience to the law of God.

“By the obedience of ONE shall the many be made righteous.” He then took upon Himself all of our sins. He was arrested, not only by men, but by the hand of divine justice, as if He had been the greatest sinner.

“He was numbered with the transgressors” and given over to wicked men who scourged Him, crowned Him with thorns, spit upon Him, and condemned Him to be crucified. He died on the cruel tree, not for any sins of His own, (for He had none) but “He was made a curse for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.”

“He died, the Just for the unjust that He might bring us to God.” Our Lord was buried and has risen from the dead, leaving our sin in the grave, and has ascended to the right hand of the Majesty on High to intercede and prepare a place for all who believe in Him. This is good news to the guilty, for our Lord “came to seek and to save the lost.”

Let the guilty sinner, who would be saved from all his sins, believe God and trust God as He is revealed in and through the Lord Jesus Christ; for, with Him, there is plenteous redemption, and sin is no longer imputed to those who are IN CHRIST BY FAITH. (Romans 4: 7-8)

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “The Way Up Is Down”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 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: 6 June, 2021 | Previous post date: 7 July, 2021