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When Believers Die

”But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.” | 1 Thessalonians 4: 13

Our Lord calls our death in Him “sleep.”

We are not afraid to fall asleep. Sleep is comfort, rest, health and peace.

The full realization of all of these for the believer, is experienced when this body lays down and we rise incorruptible like our Master and Savior.

~ Pastor Chris Cunningham

Click here to listen to the message “When Believers Die – Daniel Parks Funeral Service”

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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 May, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a

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Serving Two Masters

”No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” | Matthew 6: 24

The orders of the two masters are diametrically opposed.

The one commands you to walk by faith, the other by sight;

…the one to be humble, the other to be proud;

…the one to set your affection on things above, the other to set it on the things on the earth;

…the one to look at things unseen and eternal, the other to look at the things seen and temporal;

…the one to have your conversation in Heaven, the other to cleave to the dust;

…the one to be careful for nothing, the other to be full of anxiety;

…the one to be content with such things as ye have, the other to enlarge your desires as hell;

…the one to be ready to distribute, the other to withhold for self;

…the one to look on things of others, the other to look out for one’s own things;

…the one to seek happiness in the Creator, the other to seek happiness in the creature.

Is it not plain that there is no serving two such masters? “If ye love the one, ye must hate the other; if ye cleave to the one, you must despise the other.”

You cannot serve God and mammon!

To serve mammon, to lay up treasures on earth, is to make present, sensible, worldly things, the great subjects of our thoughts, the great object of our affection.

To serve God, to lay up treasures in Heaven, is just to make the things divine and heavenly the great subjects of our thoughts, and the great objects of our affection. The two things are obviously incompatible.

Scripture says the covetous man is an idolater.

The friendship of the world is enmity with God; and, whosoever will be a friend of the world, must be an enemy of God.

~ William Jay

Click here to listen to the message “The Gospel For Children And Babes”

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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: 20 March, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

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That Is The Problem

“Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.” | Romans 16: 25-27

A believer related a story to me about a discussion he had with another man (a very religious man) concerning the doctrine of election.

When the man disagreed with the doctrine of election, the believer told him to search the scriptures of which the man replied, “I don’t need to search the scriptures.”

I replied, “That is his problem.”

People believe what they want to believe regardless of what the word of God teaches.

Most try to make the word of God fit what they believe instead of believing what it says.

The only warrant and foundation for all that we believe is the word of God.

~ Pastor John Chapman

Click here to listen to the message “Christ Is Enough”

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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: 16 May, 2021 | Previous post date: 13 July, 2021

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How To Receive God’s Word

”Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them. The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments. Look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me, as thou usest to do unto those that love thy name. Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me. Deliver me from the oppression of man: so will I keep thy precepts. Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; and teach me thy statutes. Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.” | Psalm 119: 129-136

WHEREFORE

Since it is by the Word of truth that the believer is conceived…

Since it is by the sincere milk of the Word that believers grow… “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:” (1 Peter 2: 2)

Since it is by the Word that believers are comforted… “Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4: 18)

Since it is by the Word that believers will be confirmed unto the end… “I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1: 4-9)

…the Holy Spirit gives us instruction on how brethren receive God’s Word.

BE SWIFT TO HEAR, SLOW TO SPEAK, SLOW TO WRATH

The Pharisees exhibited the opposite of these characteristics toward the Lord Jesus Christ.

The first message that the Word of truth ever preached, declared that salvation is by the sovereign, electing grace of God in Christ, in whom sinners are made complete.

“And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong” (Luke 4: 28,29)

Over the course of one day, the Pharisees attempted to entangle Christ in his words by using the Herodians, the Sadducees, and one of their own best lawyers, all of which the Word silenced.

The scribes and Pharisees claimed by their words to be doing “all for the glory of God.”

However, everything they did was in defense of their dead, rotting corpses.

Therefore they were swift to speak instead of to hear the Word of truth.

Their wrath was against Christ, the Word of truth.

“Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.” (Matthew 23: 2-3)

If we would hear God speak, we must give our full attention to his Word and put off the old dead sinner, with our vain traditions and imaginary thoughts of how sinners are saved.

“For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: And profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers. But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:” (Galatians 1: 13-16)

~ Pastor Clay Curtis

Click here to listen to the message “The Entrance Of God’s Words”

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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.

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church Bulletin Article date: 8 February, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Ewing, New Jersey

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Will God Save A True Sinner?

”And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” | John 6: 40

Christ will never have finished his work upon believers till he has raised their bodies from the grave and glorified them like his own resurrected body.

He will never cease from the work which he has commenced on any one of his people till he has laid the top stone in the glorious perfections of heaven; and this truth is the joy of our hearts even now.

~ Charles Spurgeon

Click here to listen to the message “Will God Save A True Sinner?”

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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: 27 February, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a

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Boldness, Access, And Confidence

”In Whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him.” | Ephesians 3: 12

“Boldness” means: freedom in speaking; cheerful courage.

“Access” means: an open way without denial; the ability, right, and permission to approach and enter in.

“Confidence” means: trust, reliance, and assurance.

In chapter 2 verse 12 of his letter, the apostle Paul told the Ephesians that: without Christ we are aliens from the Commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.

But he said in chapter 3 verse 12… With Christ! (In Christ) we have cheerful courage, an open way without denial, and assurance that we will be received!

“Seeing then that we have a Great High Priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God…” “Let us therefore come boldly (in Him) unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4: 14, 16)

~ Pastor Gabe Stalnaker

Click here to listen to the message “What God’s People Glory In”

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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 May, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a

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Firstfruits Born Of The Word Of Truth

”Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.” | James 1: 18

The Word of truth is that by which believers are born which Peter says is “not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever” “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” (1 Peter 1: 23)

When a gardener has a crop of tomatoes which are cursed with blight, the gardener does not reserve the seed of those tomatoes for next year’s planting. He knows the seed is corrupt. It will only produce more corrupt fruit.

Yet, false preachers who take to themselves the honor of husbandry which belongs to God alone, sow the blight-ridden-seeds of man’s free-will, in order that they might glory in their own green-thumbs, when in fact, all they produce are fields of weeds.

What a rare privilege to hear Christ and him crucified preached as the full, effectual, redeeming, God-pleasing sacrifice whereby all God’s elect shall be saved from their sins.

This is the Word of truth.

This is the incorruptible seed sown into the heart of the believer by the Holy Spirit.

It is the Seed of God, Christ Jesus the Life, which results in the new birth within the tilled soil of these old dead carcasses.

This Seed is the germinating Life whereby the believer no longer lives in the great sin of unbelief but continually lives and abides in Christ by faith, as John declares, “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God” (1 John 3: 9)

One plants the Word of truth. Others water with the Word of truth. But God gives the increase.

We are God’s husbandry “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.” (1 Corinthians 3: 6,7)

Every gardener anticipates with great joy the first fruits of his labor.

Even so our God who gave us life by the Word of truth rejoices over every believer as a kind of first fruits of His creation.

~ Pastor Clay Curtis

Click here to listen to the message “Looking To Our King”

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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.

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church Bulletin Article date: 7 February, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Ewing, New Jersey

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God’s Dealings With Sinners

”Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;” | Titus 2: 12

In vain do we claim to be saved if the world still rules our heart.

Divine grace not only delivers from the wrath to come, but even now effectually “teaches” its recipients to deny “all ungodliness and worldly lust, that we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world.”

Our Lord says, “Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.”

That is, to turn away from all that stands in competition (for our affections) with the Lord Jesus, he cannot become a Christian.

~ Pastor Scott Richardson

Click here to listen to the message “God’s Dealings With Sinners”

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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 March, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

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God Never Tries

”But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.” | Romans 7: 6

God never “tries”; God does!

“That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Romans 8: 4)

Some speak of some other god who “wants” to save, some other jesus who is “trying” to save, yet he is frustrated by the sinner.

They say their god has no hands but the sinner’s hands and no feet but the sinner’s feet.

That is not the God of the Bible!

But the God of the Bible does describe such men and their god, “They bear him upon the shoulder, they carry him, and set him in his place, and he standeth; from his place shall he not remove: yea, one shall cry unto him, yet can he not answer, nor save him out of his trouble.” (Isaiah 46: 7)

Those saved by the sovereign and free grace of the one true and living God declare “Our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.” (Psalm 115: 3)

~ Pastor Clay Curtis

Click here to listen to the message “Sin Shall Not Have Dominion”

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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 April, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a

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Sin And Forgiveness

“For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.” | 1 Corinthians 12: 12

We love to hear the gospel that tells us of sin forgiven, of being washed from our sin in His precious blood.

Sin is too familiar with us. We have committed it, we are affected by it daily, and it is our daily trial.

Sin of our past, sin is our burden today, sin as it is, is our own affliction until we enter into our eternal rest.

It is a battle we have entered into that is a war without and within… but, thank God for Ephesians 1: 7 says; “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sin;” how? “according to the riches of his grace!”

Forgiveness of sin, what a joy, what greater news can a sinner hear?

God’s free grace gave us His son to redeem us by His own blood.

God’s free grace came and effectually applied that blood to our souls!

It was free grace that forgave us all our sin, “where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.” (Romans 5: 20)

~ Pastor Donnie Bell

Click here to listen to the message “Encouraging the saints”

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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: 16 May, 2021 | Previous post date: 6 June, 2021