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What A Contrast

”When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.” | Acts 7: 54-60

What a demonstration of contrast between the way of the wicked flesh and the way of sovereign grace when God’s servant, Stephen was being stoned to death for the gospel’s sake.

“For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.” (Philippians 3: 3)

The enemies of the gospel were filled with rage; Stephen was filled with joy in the Lord. “And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.” (Acts 7: 56)

“What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.” (Romans 3: 9-11)

They were occupied with hatred; Stephen was bursting with the love of God shed abroad in his heart by the Holy Spirit. “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” (Romans 5: 5)

“They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:” (Romans 3: 12-14)

They were packed with fear; Stephen was occupied with faith. “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12: 2)

“Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,” (2 Timothy 1: 9)

They were chock-full of persecution; Stephen was jam-packed with prayer. “And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.” (Acts 7: 60)

“For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?” (1 Corinthians 4: 7)

Oh, what a difference the sovereign grace of God makes in the believer. “For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.” (Romans 9: 15-16)

“Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes.” (Romans 3: 15-18)

Oh, how dreadfully wicked is the way of the sinful flesh.

~ Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “Is Your Heart Right?” (33:21 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: 18 February, 2007 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

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If You Love Me

”Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.” | Matthew 27: 41, 42

Such is the blindness of natural man that when he attempts to speak of spiritual things, even the most intelligent among them become fools.

The intelligentsia of Jewish religion had long hated Christ.

They had often gone to where he was teaching to ply him with questions in an attempt to tricking Him into saying something they could use against Him.

In so doing they doubtless heard much of His teaching.

Yet, now they say, “Come down from the cross and we will believe you.”

Their taunt is utterly absurd.

If He comes down from the cross, they will have no reason to believe Him; He will have made Himself a liar.

Did He not say, “… the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many,” and, “The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men: And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again”?

If He had come down from the cross, he would have proven Himself a liar and undermined any reason for anyone to believe Him.

But there is a more serious issue.

If Christ were to have come down from the cross, there would have been no value in believing Him. Faith would not have brought salvation.

Had Christ not fulfilled this death-work, believing Him would leave believers in their condemned state.

Their sins would not have been paid for, leaving them in a state of guilt, and God will by no means clear the guilty.

Anyone who does not see the cross-work of the Lord Jesus as the linchpin of the whole scheme of grace does not understand the scheme of grace.

The whole of it rests upon “Christ and Him crucified!”

~ Pastor Joe Terrell

Click here to listen to the message “If You Love Me” (51:32 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.

Hurricane Road Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 29 November, 2020 | Previous post date: n/a | Cattletsburg, Kentucky

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To Whom Coming

”To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” | 1 Peter 2: 4-5

To those of you who truly believe on the Lord Jesus Christ from the heart and are looking to Him for your salvation, hear the good news of the gospel again!

Don’t despair over your salvation because you constantly feel sinful (or fall into sin).

It is the work of the Holy Spirit of God to convict of sin.

It is not a one-time thing but an on-going work in all God’s children.

The Spirit’s first work in salvation is to convict of sin and point to Christ, and it is the continual work of this kind Comforter.

Like a faithful parent, He will never leave us to ourselves but is constantly reproving, rebuking, correcting, instructing, comforting, consoling, and encouraging.

It is true that we can “grieve” the Holy Spirit and “quench” Him.

This is much like when a child does not listen to nor abide by the teachings of its parent.

Every believer is a responsible child unto his heavenly Father and must heed the instructions of his Father.

But don’t ever despair of being His child when you fail or find yourself disobedient and sinful.

That is the Holy Spirit convicting you and calling the prodigal back to the Father.

Despair of yourselves (of ever having any good thing in your flesh) but keep looking to and coming to Christ.

Never despair of His Mercy, for it “endureth forever.”

No matter how sinful you are, come right back to Christ, and you will find that His mercy is “new every morning.”

That is what it means when it says, “Therefore will the Lord wait, that He may be gracious unto you… and that He might have mercy upon you”

“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)

Spoken like a true and loving Father to His children, there is never a time when they will come to Him for mercy and forgiveness only to have Him “cast them out.”

We are always ready to receive our wayward children, so “how much more” the infinitely and eternally loving heavenly Father.

~ Pastor Paul Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “And There Sat A Certain Man” (44:36 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.

Zebulon Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 18 February, 2007 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

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Conviction Of Sin

”And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me;” | John 16: 8-9

Usually, when we think of conviction of sin we think of strong feeling of guilt or remorse over things we have done.

No doubt, feelings of remorse and guilt should come upon us when we have done wrong.

But when the Lord tells us what true conviction of sin is, He says “of sin, because they believe not on Me.”

The sin of sins is to not trust Christ for salvation.

You have experienced Holy Spirit conviction when you see the wickedness of attempting to come into God’s presence any other way than the way of Christ alone.

~ Pastor Todd Nibert

Click here to listen to the message “What Does it take to be a Disciple?” (40:50 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: 18 February, 2007 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

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Faith In Christ Alone

”What is thy beloved more than another beloved, O thou fairest among women? what is thy beloved more than another beloved, that thou dost so charge us? My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand. His head is as the most fine gold, his locks are bushy, and black as a raven. His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, and fitly set. His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers: his lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh. His hands are as gold rings set with the beryl: his belly is as bright ivory overlaid with sapphires. His legs are as pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine gold: his countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars. His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.” | Song of Solomon 5: 9-16

Saving faith is in Christ alone, based upon the Word of God alone.

“And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.” (Acts 15: 1)

To add any other requirement such as what a person does or does not do, what a person wears or does not wear, or where a person goes or does not go is as damning to the soul as preaching “Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.”

“For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.” (Galatians 5: 3-4)

Anyone who adds man-made requirements to faith in Christ alone, based on the Word of God alone, has made themselves “a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.”

“For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.” (Philippians 3: 3)

May God be pleased to make us trust in Christ alone and “worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.”

~ Pastor Frank Tate

Click here to listen to the message “Who Is Your Beloved?” (53:46 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.

Hurricane Road Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 29 November, 2020 | Previous post date: n/a | Cattletsburg, Kentucky

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They Filled Jerusalem With Their Doctrine

”Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” | Acts 5: 28

The Apostles did not back down at the threats of the religious leaders of their day.

They preached Christ every time they were given an open door.

Any one who lived in Jerusalem could tell you who and what the Apostles preached.

They preached that Name that is above every name.

They preached Jesus Christ; the one whom they slew and hanged on a tree, that He is risen and exalted at God’s right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

They never failed to preach His Person, His Work and His Exaltation.

Christ Himself was always their message.

“The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.” (Acts 5: 30-32)

O that this charge would be leveled against us.

That we have filled Ashland and the Tri State area with our Doctrine; which is none other than the preaching of Christ Crucified.

Every one should know Who we believe, love and worship in this assembly.

~ Pastor John Chapman

Click here to listen to the message “I Stand Amazed” (39:45 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: 18 February, 2007 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

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When I Hear The Gospel

”There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” | Joshua 1: 5

The promise of the Lord to Joshua is the same promise He gives to every vessel of His mercy.

And His word to them is the very foundation of their rest.

~ Pastor Marvin Stalnaker

Click here to listen to the message “When I Hear The Gospel” (34:24 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.

Hurricane Road Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 21 February, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Cattletsburg, Kentucky

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What Do You Think Of The Cross?

”He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.” | 2 Kings 18: 4

I am confident that the religious, superstitious Israelites were horrified when King Hezekiah destroyed their sacred symbol (which they worshipped, the serpent of brass Moses had made) calling it “a (worthless) piece of brass.”

Hezekiah declared it to be of no value in the worship of God, but rather a hindrance to the worship.

I can understand a person’s interest in that brazen serpent.

It would be extremely interesting to see it.

It would be interesting to see the rod of Moses, the tables of the law, the tabernacle, the ark of the covenant, and the cross on which our Lord died!

But interesting is all that these things can be certainly not inspirational, nor edifying, nor of any spiritual value, nor of any consequence where our relationship with God is concerned.

These are but types, pictures, and things which the Lord used to point our faith, hope, and trust to CHRIST JESUS!

In the knowledge, love, and worship of God, “CHRIST IS ALL!”

Hezekiah shocked Israel when he called Moses’ serpent “A PIECE OF BRASS.”

We may shock religion today by calling the cross on which Christ died “A PIECE OF WOOD,” or the tomb in which He laid, “A HOLE IN THE GROUND,” or the winding sheet in which He was wrapped, “A PIECE OF CLOTH;” but, having served their purpose, that’s all that they are.

And to make them of any spiritual significance is to be in danger of idolatry!

Idolatry is a subtle tool of Satan and must be avoided.

“God is a spirit, and they that worship Him MUST worship Him in spirit and truth.”

True believers have no superstitions regarding days, hallowed places on earth, religious relics, symbols, signs, nor ancestors.

Christ is our sabbath, our altar, our prophet, priest, and king.

To Him and only to Him we come, bow, believe and worship.

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “What Do You Think of the Cross” (32:25 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: 25 February, 2007 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

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Dwell In Us

”Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust. O my soul, thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee; But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight. Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips. The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.” | Psalm 16: 1-5

Paul exhorts us to a diligent study of God’s word.

“Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.” (Romans 15: 7)

This study of the word is not for information and doctrine alone, but that our Lord’s word might become a part of us, such a part of us that it is said to DWELL IN US, as a member of the family lives in a home.

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” (Colossians 3: 16)

The word of God is loved, respected, obeyed, and delighted in richly in an abundant manner.

We are not to study just one part of the scriptures, but all of it, that we may benefit and grow in grace and the knowledge of Christ, and that we may teach others His word.

It is not only the duty of ministers and elders to teach and encourage others, but it is the duty of all believers to be ready always to give to every man that asketh them a reason of the hope that is in us, with knowledge, meekness, and fear.

“Lord, give us a love for your word, an understanding of your word, and the wisdom to be a good witness of your gospel.”

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Show Me Your Glory” (34:42 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: 18 February, 2007 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

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Herein Is Love

”Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” | 1 John 4: 10

We rejoice to know that “God is love”.

Love is an attribute of God.

“He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love; And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” (1 John 4: 8, 16)

But that does not mean that God loves all men.

Any reasonable person, whose mind is not perverted by the influence of Arminian, free-will religion, must recognize that fact.

Did God love those multitudes whom he swept off the earth in the flood?

Did God love the degenerate Sodomites, upon whom he rained fire from heaven?

Did God love Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and their followers whom he swallowed up into hell?

Anyone who imagines that God loved those multitudes might well pray to be forever hidden and excluded from the love of God!

But the Scriptures nowhere assert, or even imply, that God’s love is universal, that it extends to all men.

The Scriptures say, ”He loved us!”

And the “us” whom he loves are all believers, past, present, and future.

“He loved us,” who are chosen, redeemed, and called by his almighty grace.

John tells us four things about the love of God in this text.

  1. God loves sovereignly — “Herein is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us.”

“The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” (Jeremiah 31: 3)

There is nothing that compels God to love any of his creatures. But in his infinite goodness, God says, “Jacob have I loved.”

Our God is infinite, immutable, and sovereign, and so is his love.

He loves whom he will, because he will, and he loves them eternally, “with an everlasting love”.

  1. God loves sinners — “He loved us.”

I preach fully, without reservation, unlimited love, unbounded mercy to the vilest of men. We have nothing in us worthy of consideration.

We deserve the utmost extremity of God’s wrath.

But “he loved us!” Who can express the infinite magnitude and fulness of those words?

  1. God loves sacrificially — He “sent his Son.”

“In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.” (1 John 4: 9)

God gave his darling Son to suffer and die upon the cursed tree to save the multitudes of his elect whom he loved with an everlasting love.

  1. God loves savingly — God loved his elect before the world began.

But in order for us to be reconciled to God, justice had to be satisfied.

Therefore, our loving heavenly Father made his Son to be the sin-atoning, justice-satisfying “propitiation for our sins.”

Through the substitutionary death of Christ, all the sins of God’s elect were washed away. — “Herein is love!”

The love of God is more than a helpless passion.

It is his saving commitment and determination toward his elect.

~ Pastor Don Fortner

Click here to listen to the message “Who Is Elected” (56:24 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: 4 February, 2007 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky