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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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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

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Have We Learned Christ?

“But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:” | Ephesians 4: 20-21

The believer is a person who has undergone and is undergoing a divine work of grace within.

This work began and continues by the hearing of the gospel of Jesus Christ. In verse 21, of our text, plainly states, “if so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus.” This hearing is not the common hearing of men but the hearing of the gospel in power and in demonstration of the Holy Spirit.

In 1 Corinthians 2: 4, where this is stated, the word demonstration means an inward manifestation of the gospel. God, the Holy Spirit, demonstrates the mercy and grace of Christ within the hearing sinner and he is sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. (Ephesians 1: 13) Those who truly hear know that both the messenger and his message is from the Lord. John said, “we are of God; he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby, know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.” (1 John 4: 6)

All those who hear the gospel, in power, are born of God and given the ability, the right, and the privilege to become sons of God. (John 1: 12-13) They have, by the gracious gift of the Father, been “made meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.” (Colossians 1: 12) Those who truly hear, keep on hearing, and never lose their appetite for the gospel.

In Hebrews 10: 39, Paul says, “we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.”

The believer is a person who has undergone a divine transformation; a divine work of grace within. He is not what he was and not yet what he hopes to be, but is what he is by the grace of God; a new creature in Christ Jesus. “For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that he should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2: 8-10)

The believer is rather like a woman shopping who sees a garment and thinks to herself how good she would look with it on. So she finds a way to get it. Believers do not continue to walk in the vanity of their minds but have seen with spiritual eyes the beauty and majesty of Christ.

“Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ and make provision for the flesh.” (Romans 13: 14)


Apart from this inward work of grace all else is folly.

~ Pastor Darvin Pruitt

Click here to listen to the message “How Can You Believe?” (36:16 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.

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church Bulletin Article date: 15 June, 2014 | Previous post date: 18 July, 2021 | Ewing, New Jersey

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We Glory Only In Jesus Christ

“I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God.” | Romans 15: 17

Paul was very careful throughout his ministry not to glory, boast or brag in the flesh.

“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:” (Philippians 3: 7-9)

He taught others not to do this and certainly he would not glory in himself; not in his religious heritage, nor in his attainments or gifts, nor in his labors and success in the ministry but only “through Jesus Christ”.

“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)

All the apostles and those who truly believe the gospel of God’s grace only glory “in those things that pertain to God.”

As a result of Adam’s sin, rebellion and fall into condemnation, we have absolutely no reason to glory in the flesh.

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5: 19-21)

The things that pertain to our sinful nature give us no motivation to glory or honor the old man and his deeds.

“Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;” (Colossians 3: 9)

We are told in scripture to, “put off the old man with his deeds”.

We truly can only glory in those things that pertain to God.

What are those things?

1). We glory in Christ incarnate as the only hope for sinners. “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)

2). We glory in Christ crucified as the only remedy to put away our sin. “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)

3). We glory in Christ Jesus Who is all our sufficient righteousness and acceptance before a thrice holy God. “To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” (Ephesians 1: 6-7)

“As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.” (Psalm 17: 15)

4). We glory in Christ Jesus exalted and seated at God’s right hand as all our justification before God. “Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.” (Romans 4: 25)

“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” (1 John 3: 1-2)

5). We glory in Christ Jesus coming again as all our hope throughout eternity. When He comes we shall not only see Him as He is, but we shall also be made like Him forever. Every believer can say with David, “I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” (Psalm 34: 1-4)

~ Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “A Living Hope” (35:45 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.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 1 December, 2024 | Previous post date: n/a

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The God Of Daniel Is Able

”And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” | John 17: 3-4

In all the heresies that have troubled the church over the last 2,000 years — there is, in truth, only one heresy – The Insufficiency of Christ.

No matter what form a heresy may take – free-willism, ceremonialism, legalism, moralism and so forth – the underlying issue is a lack of belief that Christ is the necessary and sufficient Savior for sinners.

We need Him, and He is all we need.

In a very real sense, many shall perish forever, not because they did not have enough, but because they had too much.

They believed that Christ was necessary for their salvation, but they prove they do not believe that Christ is sufficient for they act as though the salvation brought by Christ is waiting for them to do something that activates or supplements the work of Christ.

But the glory of the gospel of Christ is that its success rests entirely on the work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The gospel of God requires nothing from us.

It comes to us as sinners, expecting nothing from us other than sin.

Even the faith by which we lay hold of Christ does not arise from our natural selves but is a gift from God, given to us without us asking for it, worked in us by the power of the Spirit of God as He imparts new spiritual life to us through the New Birth.

Everything in the gospel is designed so that “he who boasts, boasts in the Lord.”

The praise of heaven does not contain a single word about the works of man.

Rather, every syllable is toward the Son of God.

He did it; He did it all; He did it well!

~ Pastor Joe Terrell

Click here to listen to the message “The God of Daniel is Able” (49:46 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.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 31 March, 2024 | Previous post date: n/a

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Two Questions: Two Religions

“For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” | Romans 10: 3-4

Sooner could the ocean prove too little for a small fish or the sky be too small for a swallow than the grace of God prove insufficient for one of God’s people.

Not all their weaknesses, failures or sins can use it up.

~ Pastor Joe Terrell

Click here to listen to the message “Behold My Glorious Servant” (33:45 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.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 11 July, 2021 | Previous post date: 13 March, 2022

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Lord, To Whom Shall We Go?

“And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.” | John 6: 65-69

Believers often are very concerned over their spiritual state; they grieve over the condition of their hearts and minds of the way they act and react to their Lord Jesus and his word and dealings with them.

Our Lord asked a pointed and poignant question to the twelve, “Will you also go away”? Why would he ask such a question?

Because there were many defections from him! “From that time many of his disciples went back”.

Have you ever wondered if you would go back, or where would you be a year or five years from now?

Simon Peter makes a blessed declaration of faith, even in the midst of defection and betrayal. “Lord to whom shall we go, thou hast the words of eternal life, and we believe and are SURE that thou art that CHRIST”.

Here is a humble confession, maybe even a hint of fear, or urgency.

Everyone who is anyone has turned thumbs down on you …but to whom shall we go?

What would we gain by forsaking you?

Where could we show our faces without feeling every eye on us and every thought accusing us?

Lord you have spoken WORDS OF LIFE to us. Words of forgiveness, words of peace, words from the Father and you said, we could come unto him by you.

You said; “I AM HE”, the true vine, the light of the world, the water and the bread of life which came down from heaven.

To whom shall we go to find peace of heart, peace with God?

To find hope of eternal life, forgiveness, justification, righteousness, sanctification, redemption…O Lord to whom shall we go?

To find comfort in our trials, courage in our fears, strength for our weakness, light for our darkness, understanding for our ignorance.

Lord to whom shall we go?

However sorry and poor our love, zeal, faithfulness, and service, Lord to whom we go?

You have the WORDS of eternal life that holds up my soul.

Lord to whom shall we go?

~ Pastor Don Bell

Click here to listen to the message “No tears in heaven” (47:08 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: 7 April, 2024 | Previous post date: n/a

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A Good Hope Through Grace

”Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,” | 2 Thessalonians 2: 16

I have a hope of eternal life and eternal glory.

It is a “living hope” because my Lord Jesus lives!

As my surety and substitute “He lives, and was dead, and behold He is alive forevermore.”

“He EVER LIVETH to make intercession for us.”

My hope is a “good hope” because the Lord Jesus and the Father gave it to me through grace.

I did not earn it nor deserve it by my works.

It is the free gift of His love and mercy in Christ.

If my merit or works enter in at any point, it would not be a good hope.

Therefore, if I am asked a reason for my hope, I would ground my reply in the three foundations of the Great Reformation.

1.) THE SCRIPTURES ALONE. I believe the Word of God! I cannot trust my feelings, my thoughts, nor my experiences; but, I can rest my soul on His Word.

2.) GRACE ALONE. Salvation is by God’s free and sovereign grace from its origination to its consummation. All that I am, have, know, or shall ever be is the gift of God to me. “A beggar poor, at mercy’s door, lies such a wretch as I.”

3.) CHRIST ALONE. “I know WHOM I have believed and I am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed to HIM against that day.” If I have believed and trusted Christ alone, then I am sure that the Father will put forth all His power to preserve me, that His Son be not dishonored.

This is indeed A GOOD HOPE THROUGH GRACE.

~ Pastor Henry T. Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “How Is Salvation Received?” (14:47 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: 1 May, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

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The Miracle Of Salvation

”Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.” | Romans 3: 19

The Lord Jesus Christ performed many miracles while upon this earth.

He cast out devils, healed lepers, gave sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf; He raised the dead.

While these miracles certainly prove Him to be the Christ, they are also illustrations of how the Lord saves sinners.

Every sinner the Lord saves, is all these things… possessed by a devil, a sinful leper, deaf, dumb, blind and dead in sin.

Salvation is a miracle of God’s sovereign grace and power.

Nothing more or less can save a sinner but the power of Christ; the Word Truth, the gospel.

May the Lord be pleased to perform a miracle today.

~ Pastor Paul Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “What The Law Saith” (16:54 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.

Central Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 15 June, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

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Jesus, The Example

”Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 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. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.” | Hebrews 12: 1-3

I am sure that some who lived in the days of our Lord’s visitation to earth, and many who heard the Gospel from the apostles, and the faithful preachers who followed them, could tell you the exact day they met the risen Redeemer, and bowed to His sovereign rule.

I have never felt that it was important for a person to be able to tell when he was saved, but rather that he was able now to state he has experienced repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, that now he is looking to Christ as Prophet, Priest, and King, and is now resting in his righteousness, and an effectual sin-offering.

Too often men and women like to establish a time of conversion and an experience, in order to have something to look back upon for comfort and assurance.

This is dangerous!

We are not to look to anything or to anyone but Christ for our hope, our assurance, and our comfort.

Paul said something about “forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward onto those things which are before,” and, “looking unto the Lord Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith.”

Most of us came through the confusion, errors, and false professions of modern fundamentalism and had so much to unlearn, so many false foundations which had to be destroyed, that it is difficult to set an exact hour when our eyes were turned, totally from our idols of religion to our living Lord — when our hearts were weaned from the pride of our religious works and professions and brought to rest in him alone!

This is the unaided work of the Spirit of God, and the Word of God; and this is a living union which shall never be dissolved.

This is accomplished when sinners hear the Gospel of God‘s grace and glory.

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Paul’s Doxology” (49:48 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.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 18 February, 2024 | Previous post date: n/a