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”

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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.

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

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”

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

Where Does Grace Lead?

”And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,” | 2 Thessalonians 1: 7

Some people would have us believe that if we preach pure grace it will lead people to licentious living.

They say if we remove the law as a guide or motivation for Christian living, people will have nothing to keep them faithful.

They say to tell a person to just follow Christ doesn’t provide enough structure and will lead people to careless living.

Is that where the gospel of God’s free grace in Christ Jesus leads?

Grace preachers have always been, and always will be, falsely accused of this devilish lie.

The apostle Paul spent much of his time defending the gospel of grace against this lawmongers view of self- righteousness. “What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.” (Romans 6: 15)

Grace does not lead to sin.

“For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:” (2 Corinthians 5: 14)

Grace leads to Christ.

“The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.” (1 Corinthians 15: 56)

Truth is ‘the strength of sin is the law.’

Show me a man preaching the law, and I’ll show you a people with no hope for their sin; its penalty, power, and ultimately its presence.

~ Pastor Greg Elmquist

Click here to listen to the message “Rest For The Troubled”

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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: 14 March, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Cattletsburg, Kentucky

Salvation Is Of The Lord

“But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD” | Psalm 37: 39

We have all heard of putting the cart before the horse.

That summarizes man’s religion.

It inverts the divine order.

It makes forgiveness the end rather than the beginning of salvation.

“The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3: 2-3)

Man’s religion says you must believe before you can have life, rather than you believe because you live.

It says God will if you will, rather than God will and you shall.

It makes man the deciding factor rather than God.

Anything that has man as the deciding factor is doomed for failure.

Thank God, salvation is of the Lord!

~ Pastor Todd Nibert

Click here to listen to the message “Christ The Only Foundation”

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

Demand And Supply

”For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables” | 2 Timothy 4: 2-3

Paul predicted that the time would come when people would not receive the gospel of grace.

Motivated by their carnal desires, they will, therefore, seek out, find and listen to those preachers whose objective is to tell folks exactly what they want to hear. Surely the time about which Paul prophesied has arrived. The philosophy of consumerism has been carried over from the marketplace into the church building.

The rule of the day among false religionists is demand and supply.

Whatever the congregation demands, that’s what lying prophets are ready to supply. The average preacher today may be likened to a clever businessman. He is consumer oriented and motivated by personal success. His job is to find out what religious consumers want and then provide it for them.

That is the secret to success in the business world, and that is the secret to making it big in the religious arena.

There are multitudes of preachers saying virtually anything anybody would want to hear. The demand creates the supply. The hearers determine what their preachers will say and do. As one of the old writers said, “If the people desire a golden calf to worship, a ministerial calf-maker is readily found.”

“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” (2 Timothy 4: 2)

Though most preachers are ready to supply the demands of the multitudes, the Lord still has His servants who are faithful to their commission which is summed up in Scripture: “preach the Word.”

God’s men boldly proclaim the truth as it is in Christ Jesus.

God’s men seek the approval of God, not the applause of men.

God’s men have no selfish ambitions; they have set no lofty, personal goals.

God’s men seek the glory of God in all things and, as Paul told the Corinthians, they are “determined not to know anything among you save Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”

God’s men faithfully set forth God as being absolutely sovereign in all that He does.

“But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.” (Jonah 2: 9)

God’s men proclaim that “salvation is of the LORD”

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” (Romans 12: 1)

God’s men proclaim man’s total depravity and his utter inability to save himself or make himself acceptable before a holy God.

“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)

God’s men proclaim the successful, redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ for His people.

“But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.” (1 Corinthians 8: 6)

God’s men proclaim the regenerating grace of the Holy Spirit. Boldly and unashamedly they declare that “Christ is all.” He is all to be known, all to be seen in the Bible and all to be preached from the pulpit.

“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)

God’s men proclaim how God can be Just and justify the ungodly through the doing and the dying of the Lord Jesus Christ.

When their hearers are amening the sermon, they preach Christ crucified.

When their hearers are ready to stone them to death because of the gospel they proclaim, they just continue preaching the Word of the Lord in obedience to their Master.

The world’s rule of demand and supply means nothing to them.

The message God has supplied and demands them to preach, that is what they proclaim.

~ Pastor Jim Byrd

Click here to listen to the message “A Promise That Ought To Revive”

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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.

FreeGraceRadio.com Bulletin Article date: 1 February, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Danville, Kentuky

Leave All Judgement In His Hands

”Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye..” | Matthew 7: 1-5

The voice from the cross did not summon men to do, but to be satisfied with what was done, “It is finished.”

”And whosoever offereth a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the LORD to accomplish his vow, or a freewill offering in beeves or sheep, it shall be perfect to be accepted; there shall be no blemish therein.” (Leviticus 22: 21)

The sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ is the only perfect thing which has ever been presented to God on man’s behalf.

~ Pastor Scott Richardson

Click here to listen to the message “Leave All Judgement In His Hands”

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

The Plank Of Free Grace!

”But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.” | Acts 15: 11

A minister lay dying in Scotland.

A fellow-minister called to see him, and inquired, “Well, my brother, what are you doing?”

“Doing?” answered the dying servant of God.

“Doing? I will tell you: I am gathering together all my prayers and sermons, all my good deeds and bad deeds – and am going to throw them all overboard together, and swim to glory on the plank of free grace!”

”Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)” (Ephesians 2: 5)

~ Charles H. Spurgeon

Click here to listen to the message “Comfort In Appointed Trials”

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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: 13 May, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a

Contemporary Religion

”Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee.” | Song Of Solomon 1: 4

NEVER in the history of the world has there been so much religious activity.

Religious men and women, young and old, are actively involved in political, social, and moral issues in the name of God (and for the good they do, I am truly thankful).

In the matter of “soul-winning,” evangelists, missionaries, pastors and personal witnesses “compass sea and land” (Matthew 23: 15) in their efforts to “win” sinners to Jesus (and for the success they have, generally speaking, I am truly sorry!).

The true “soul-winners” are those evangelists, missionaries, pastors and witnesses whose chief endeavor is to set forth the Lord Jesus Christ and him crucified before sinners as He is revealed in the Word of God, leaving the results to God the Spirit.

”O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?” (Galatians 3: 1)

The Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of Glory, is not standing by someplace waiting for “soul-winners” to bring sinners to Himself.

”For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2: 2)

The Christ of God comes to the sinners He saves.

Where they are, as they are, through the preached Word, opening their hearts and taking up residence there by the Holy Spirit.

Sinners cannot come to the Lord Jesus, nor can they be “won” to the Lord Jesus by the wiles of some alleged “soul-winner.”

”Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.” (Psalm 110: 3)

The Lord Jesus Christ came into this world to SAVE sinners, and He is doing just that!

He pursues, subdues and renews whom He wills. ”For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.” (John 5: 21)

“Salvation is of the Lord.”

”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)

“Lord Jesus, come quickly.” Come to your saints here today. Come to lost sinners here today. “Draw us and we will run after Thee”

~ Pastor Maurice Montgomery

Click here to listen to the message “The Words of The Preacher”

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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.

Central Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 27 April, 2014 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

A Believer Wouldn’t Do That

”What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:” | Psalm 8: 4-6

Let us never again be guilty of saying, “A believer wouldn’t do that.”

Oh yes they will!

When we say such a thing we are trying to take some credit for our righteousness.

A believer will commit any sin an unbeliever will commit with the exception of apostacy (and only because God keeps them from it).

David, the man after God’s own heart, committed adultery and murder and didn’t even feel guilty about it for a time.

“Just Lot” (2 Peter 2: 7) chose to separate from Abraham and live in the well watered plain of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Peter who confessed all of his hope was in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, also denied he even knew the Lord Jesus and later, by his actions, denied salvation by grace without works when he quit eating and fellowshipping with the Gentiles when some Jews arrived at the dinner.

Yes, the strongest of believers will commit any kind of sin.

So rather than say, “A believer wouldn’t do that”, let’s say “I am nothing but sin but Christ is my righteousness and He will never fail me.”

~ Pastor Frank Tate

Click here to listen to the message “Why Would God Think On Man?”

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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: 14 March, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Cattletsburg, Kentucky

A Fountain Opened

”In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.” | Zechariah 13: 1

Preachers are more interested with telling their folks what to do, instead of telling them what Christ has done.

When they know what He has done they will stop telling folks what to do.

For they will be saying; “more about Jesus would I know, more of his grace to others show, more of His saving love to see, more of His love who died for me.”

~ Pastor Donnie Bell

Click here to listen to the message “A Fountain Opened”

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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: 13 May, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a