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I Am, I Will

”I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.” | 2 Corinthians 12: 11

The same man who said: “I be nothing” said: “Christ is all!”

Every true child of God enters in to what the apostle said, and totally agrees!

“Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.” (Colossians 3: 11)

I am the chief sinner; He is the Chief Shepherd and Savior of sinners!

I am vile and wicked; He is Holy and Just!

I am absolute weakness; He is infinite strength!

I must decrease; He must increase!

I am worthless vanity; He is unsearchable riches!

I deserve wrath; He deserves Honor!

I deserve DEATH; He deserves GLORY!

I AM NOTHING; and CHRIST IS ALL!

But do you know what the glory of the gospel is?…

…He traded places with me.

~ Pastor Gabe Stalnaker

Click here to listen to the message “I Am, I Will”

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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 May, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a

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Hearers Only

”But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.” | James 1: 22-24

Hearing Christ preached — which is looking into the perfect law of liberty – is compared to a man looking at his natural face in a mirror.

Those who are “doers of the word” behold their unrighteousness when compared to the impeccable righteousness of Christ.

They behold themselves as being as incapable of providing eternal life, perfect righteousness, justification, and preserving grace as they are of resurrecting themselves from the dead.

Yet, those who are “hearers only” go back to their day-to-day lives, immediately forgetting the pollution they saw in themselves and the liberty they beheld in Christ.

Though they beheld the all-sufficient grace of God for salvation and for every trial, yet they do not continue trusting Christ alone, looking to Christ alone, walking in the Spirit of Christ alone.

Instead, “hearers only” deceive themselves into thinking they have strength.

They draw the sword of the flesh at every turn.

They live by their own hands in their homes, in their work place, in their communities and especially in their religious activities.

They have turned from the law of perfect freedom which is Christ our Peace, to trust the unstable, decaying, corpse called ‘self’.

Through all their works they prove themselves to be “hearers only”.

Before the all-seeing eye of God, this man’s deeds are really no deeds at all.

He is deceived.

~ Pastor Clay Curtis

Click here to listen to the message “How We Know Christ Is All”

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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: 14 February, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Ewing, New Jersey

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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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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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True Faith

”And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.” | Matthew 14: 19

Those who have that faith which is the gift of God, that faith which comes through hearing the Word of God – one need not be troubled about them trusting in their faith.

This faith causes those who have it – without exception – to renounce themselves and trust entirely in Christ the Saviour.

This faith causes self to be abhorred and Christ adored.

Those who have this faith could never trust in their faith.

~ Pastor Maurice Montgomery

Click here to listen to the message “Faith In Christ”

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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 March, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a

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Good News For Pilgrims

”These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” | Hebrews 11: 13

Let us go to Calvary to learn how we may be forgiven; and then let us linger there to learn how we may forgive.

~ Charles Spurgeon

Click here to listen to the message “Good News For Pilgrims” 5

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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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Clean And Unclean Animals

”And the LORD spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying unto them, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, These are the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth. Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat. Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the hoof: as the camel, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.” | Leviticus 11: 1-4

When God told Noah to fill up the ark with animals, He distinguished between the “clean and unclean.”

Clean animals were designated as those which “parteth the hoof… and cheweth the cud”

There were some animals which had cloven (parted) hooves but did not chew the cud, and there were some which chewed the cud but did not have the parted hooves.

These were declared unclean.

Why these distinctions and what are their significance?

When God creates a “new creature in Christ”; when He makes him “holy, righteous… CLEAN”, that new person then exhibits two characteristics: he parteth from his sin and cheweth on the gospel.

Repentance and faith is what I am talking about.

Every regenerated person has been given both repentance and faith; every one born of God repents and believes.

If not, he or she is not clean.

There is no true conversion without a “turning to God… “turning from sin” and “believing on the Son”… belief of the Truth.

Repentance and faith (parting and chewing) are lifelong characteristics.

Also, most of the “unclean” animals were FLESH EATING.

The new creature in Christ, the child of God, the true circumcision… “puts no confidence in the flesh.”

Brother Nibert said of the Raven which never returned to the ark, “it represents the religious man who… is satisfied with the dead, rotting works of the flesh.”

But the believer is only satisfied with Christ and His Gospel!

When he hears the gospel of Christ, he feeds on that gospel, he feeds on Christ Himself, and then chews upon it as a cow chews his cud, over and over, the same blessed gospel, which gets better the more you chew on it.

What about you?

Do you desire to part with your sin and do you love to chew upon the gospel?

~ Pastor Paul Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Salvation By Covenant Mercies”

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

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The Man With The Unclean Spirit

”Go home to thy friends and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee” | Mark 5: 19

The Lord had shown great mercy to this poor sinner, setting him free from demons and from sin.

Now He tells him to go home to his family and friends and be the Lord’s witness.

Do not go home and begin to preach.

Do not go home and take up the great doctrines of grace and expound them.

Do not go home and strive to bring everyone to your views and beliefs.

Do not go home and condemn all who do not see what you see.

Go home and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you! Not what great things you have read or heard, but what great things you have experienced!

“We preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.” (2 Corinthians 4: 5)

This is the way to begin our witnessing.

There never is a more interesting story than the story a person has experienced, lived, and felt.

If you would really interest others and get their attention, tell them what great things the Lord has done in you and for you!

Notice, the Lord said, “Tell them what great things the Lord hath done.”

It is a story of free grace.

Not what we did, willed, or gave, but what He did for us by his own free, sovereign, and undeserved love.

We will not convince them nor change them any more than another man could convert us.

But the Lord, who did great things for us, can do great things for them if He is so pleased.

“But the LORD shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment. And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness. The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee. Sing praises to the LORD, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings.” (Psalm 9: 7-11)

And He is pleased to use the faithful witness of those who go and tell “how great things the Lord hath done for thee.”

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “The Man With the Unclean Spirit”

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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: 14 January, 2007 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

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The Blood Of Jesus Christ

”The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.” | 1 John 1: 7

Oh, what good news the gospel of Jesus Christ declares to sinners!

We are by birth and nature children of darkness, loving darkness rather than the Light of the truth. “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” (John 3: 19)

“That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:” (Ephesians 2: 12)

However, by the marvelous power of God through the gospel of Christ, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1: 16) God has delivered us from the power of darkness into the kingdom of the Son of His love.

“Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:” (Colossians 1: 13)

That we should show forth the praises of Him Who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 4: 6)

“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:” (1 Peter 2: 9)

Furthermore, the gospel declares unto all that believe, that the precious blood atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.

“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)

Not the blood of bulls and goats, not the ceremony and traditions of men, but the glorious blood offering of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, nothing less and nothing more, cleanses from all sin.

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,” (1 Peter 1: 18-20)

Original sin, actual sin, spiritual and natural sin, ALL sin forever!!

Oh, the glory of this perfect, full and finished salvation we are blessed to possess and enjoy through our victorious Lord.

“But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15: 57)

“Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

~ Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “Freewill or Free Grace?”

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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: 7 January, 2007 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

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Christ Is Precious To Those Who Believe

“Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them” | Luke 15: 1-2

While the self-righteous Pharisees and scribes withdrew from the Lord Jesus Christ and then harshly criticized Him, many publicans and sinners drew near to hear Him.

“Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.” (Act 10: 33)

What a blessing from the Lord to have a willingness to draw near to Him “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.” (John 6: 44) and then to have ears to actually hear a word from Him.

His words are words of life. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” (John 5: 24)

His words are words of salvation. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1: 16)

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4: 12)

The worst thing the Pharisees and scribes said of the Lord, “This man recieveth sinners, and eateth with them;” is the best thing any sinner could hear.

It is not sin that keeps a man from hearing the good news of the gospel of Christ, it is his presumed righteousness he is going about to establish by his religious deeds. “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 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: 1-4)

No man will ever come to Christ while he is resting in the deeds of the law for 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. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” (Romans 3: 19-20)

“And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;” (Ephesians 2: 1)

It is only by the almighty power of His sovereign grace that will effectually quicken us and make us alive in Christ that will cause us to draw near to Him, to hear Him and to believe Him. “For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.” (John 5: 21)

“Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.” (1 John 5: 1)

This Man receives sinners!

“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)

What a miracle of amazing and sovereign grace.

~ Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “Christ Is The Rose Of Sharon”

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