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Six Stubborn Statements

I realize, as much as any of you, that we are out of step with the great parade of religion today.

I realize we are putting a question mark on some very successful religious organizations, and in conflict with all the major denominations.

I realize that we are charging some popular, recognized, powerful, and hard-working preachers and religious leaders with failure to preach the true gospel of God’s glory and grace.

We are charging them with the crime of preaching “another gospel.” This is serious; for Paul said, “If any man preach any other gospel, let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1: 8) I realize that we are a very small minority compared with the vast religious movement of this day. But, to me, the issues are as clear as the sun!

  1. God is infinitely sovereign in all things, including salvation; or he isn’t sovereign at all.
  2. Man, in the fall, was rendered spiritually dead, without hope, without God, without Christ, and is shut up to the power of God to give him life; or he is not dead at all.
  3. God either elected a people to eternal salvation according to the good pleasure of his sovereign will, or he did not choose anyone, and has left the success of his purpose to save totally in the hands of the creature.
  4. Christ either sufficiently, effectually, and eternally saved those for whom he died, by his obedience and death, or he actually saved no one! The ransom was no ransom at all, only an offer.
  5. The eternal Spirit of God either effectually and powerfully quickens, regenerates, and calls the elect to repentance toward God and to faith in Christ, or extends an offer to all sinners to regenerate themselves. We must go back to the question, “Is man dead?”
  6. All the elect of God will be preserved by his grace and will persevere in the faith of Christ; or none will. For, if left to ourselves, we shall eventually fall as all creatures have.

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Standing Up Under 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.

Central Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 19 September, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

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OPTIONS

“Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.” | Isaiah 42: 1-4

Have you ever made a phone call and a voice comes on and says push 1 or 2 or 4, then when you push that number it starts all over again? How frustrating. In every part of life there are too many things to choose from, in going to a restaurant, in choosing a car, what kind of computer should I get, on and on it goes.

But there is one thing in which there are no options: SALVATION from sin and condemnation. (Romans 8: 1) God in His Holy Word has made it plain and straightforward; “This is my beloved Son, hear Him.”

God says there is ONE WAY to come unto Him, (John 14: 6) One who has the power to give eternal life, One who has the power to make God the Father known, One in whom a sinner can be accepted. The Holy Scriptures tell us there is One Righteousness; One Savior of sinners, One Mediator between God and men, “The man Christ Jesus.” One who has the power to give life and quicken whom He will. God says there is One whom He appointed heir, One by whom He will be addressed, One by whom He will address sinners, One JUST ONE.

God will give no man any wiggle room here, freewill won’t do, works won’t do, merit has no place, and law keeping won’t be accepted. The Lord God said it this way, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life: but the wrath of God abideth on him.” (John 3: 36)

I am so thankful that God the Father brought me to the place where there was no way out from under the guilt and condemnation of my sin and revealed the ONE WAY in which He would accept and make me righteous. That Way is through and by the Lord Jesus Christ.

~ Pastor Donnie Bell

Click here to listen to the message “Behold mine elect”

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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: 25 July, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a

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HIS GLORY

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” | Ephesians 1: 3-6

The Glory of the Triune God is paramount in all things.

This Glory is magnified in the electing of a people by the Father in Christ. It is magnified in the saving of that people through the blood of Christ. And it is magnified in the revelation of our Savior, in our new hearts, through the Holy Spirit.

When the child of God is finally brought home, we will forever sing praise to His Glory in perfection and for eternity.

~ Pastor Kevin Thacker

Click here to listen to the message “Thoughts in the Night”

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

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Christ is All and in All!

“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

Unto you that believe, He is precious.

Believers receive Christ, rejoice in Christ, and to them He is precious.

His obedience is our righteousness, His blood is our atonement.

His prayers are our intercession.

His reign is our glory.

His coming is our hope!

Christ is all and in all!

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “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.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 19 December, 2020 | Previous post date: 22 January, 2021

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Only Sinners Saved by Grace

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” | Ephesians 2: 8

In Christ there is no great and small, no important and unimportant, but only sinners saved by the grace of God.

We are all brethren!

The servant is not greater than his Lord; and if the Lord humbled himself to become a servant, shall we not do likewise?

Happy are those who know this gracious truth by experience and perform the doing of it.

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Who Is The Blessed 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.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 27 June, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a

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Cast All Your Care Upon Him

The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.” | Numbers 6: 24-26

We are at the mercy of the Lord our God at all times, and in all things.

He must give everything or we will have nothing.

He must do everything or nothing will be done.

Thank God, all things have been done for us, and given to us in the Person of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

We have been (and we are) blessed, in Him. (Ephesians 1: 3)

We have been (and we are) kept, in Him. (1 Peter 1: 5)

We have received the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, in Him. (2 Corinthians 4: 6)

The Lord has been gracious to us in Him. (John 1: 17)

The Lord has looked upon us, in Him. (Exodus 12: 13, Exodus 33: 22, Psalm 27: 5, 2 Corinthians 5: 21)

And we have peace with God, in Him. (Ephesians 2: 14)

Every good and perfect gift from God has come to us in, and through, the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. In Him, all that we need has been given to us; and all that God requires has been done.

~ Pastor Gabe Stalnaker

Click here to listen to the message “Cast All Your Care Upon Him”

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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 July, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a

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Behold The King Cometh

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.” |Zechariah 9: 9-11

God gave to His prophet the very exact description of our Lord Jesus Christ as He entered into Jerusalem to accomplish our salvation, 550 years before it actually happened, (Luke 19: 28-40) what He would accomplish.

Notice these vital things!

1). Jesus Christ is the King of our salvation. “Behold thy King cometh unto thee.” The wise men ask, where is He that is born King? (Matthew 2: 2) Our Lord as God incarnate, is King of Kings. (Revelation 19: 9-16; Psalm 2: 6; Acts 2: 36) As King He is sovereign in salvation. (John 17: 2; Romans 9: 12-16)

2). Jesus Christ is the Just God, “He is just.” That means He is righteous in all His ways and Holy in His character. Stephen and Peter called Him, “the Just One.” (Acts 3: 12-15; Acts 7: 52)

3). Jesus Christ is the only Saviour, “having salvation.” He is not only a Just God but also our righteous Saviour. (Isaiah 45: 21) Paul often calls Christ God our Saviour. (Titus 1: 3; Luke 2: 30) He came to give His life as a ransom to purchase His covenant people. (Matthew 20: 28; Acts 20: 28)

4). Jesus Christ is also identified with our humanity, “lowly, and riding upon an ass.” Totally, fully God Almighty, yet also a real man. (John 1: 14; 1 Timothy 3: 16; Philipians 2: 5-9) As the Godman He honored the law and perfected righteousness for us. (Isaiah 42: 21; 2 Corinthians 5: 21; Hebrews 9: 12; 1 Peter 3: 18)

5). Jesus Christ is our Peace with God, “he shall speak peace unto the heathen.” (Zechariah 9: 10) Surely, no one else has the authority to speak peace unto the sinner, but Jesus Christ Himself. (Ephesians 2: 12-17; Romans 5: 1) He made peace with God for His people through the blood of His sacrifice. (Colossians 1: 19-22)

6). Jesus Christ is our Deliverer, “by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water.” (Zechariah 9: 11) Our blessed Lord came to set His people free (Luke 4: 18); from the curse of the law, (Galatians 3: 10-13) from the bondage of sin, (Romans 6: 14) from the terror of death, (Revelation 1:18) from the grip of the devil. (Hebrews 2: 14)

What a great Deliverer we have in the Lord Jesus Christ! (Romans 11: 26)

~ Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “Behold The King Cometh”

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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: July 22, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

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Is Our Message Offensive?

“I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be. And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased. I would they were even cut off which trouble you.” | Galatians 5: 10-12

Paul called his message “the offence of the cross.” Again and again he warned that the true gospel of God’s grace and glory would meet with great opposition from the religious world and the natural world. “The preaching of the cross is foolishness.” “The natural man receiveth not the things of God.”

Our Lord said, “Marvel not if the world hate you.” He also said in John 16, “They will cast you out of organized religion, and whosover killeth you will think that he serves God in doing so.” If what we preach is NOT offensive to the religionist and to the worldling, then it is NOT THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. I repeat, it is not the gospel!

1). GOD’S ABSOLUTE SOVEREIGNTY in creation, providence, and redemption offends man’s claim to a freewill! “WE WILL NOT have this man REIGN over us.”

2). The preaching of TOTAL DEPRAVITY and INABILITY offends man’s dignity and claim to personal righteousness. “We be not born of fornication”, that is, “we be not (they say) born in sin.” “We may not be perfect, but we are not totally corrupt in God’s sight.”

3). The gospel of Christ comes by REVELATION and this offends man’s natural wisdom. The college professor knows as much about the mysteries of grace as the farmhand, which is nothing apart from the Spirit of God.

4). EFFECTUAL REDEMPTION through the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ, our substitute and sin-offering, offends man’s pride. Men would have God do all that He wants to do or can do; but, there must be a work left for the sinner to perform, that we might share somewhat in the glory.

5). The LORDSHIP OF JESUS CHRIST offends man’s desire for recognition here and the hereafter. “Grant, Lord, that we may sit at Thy right and left hand.” “Let us have a system of rewards to distinguish us in some way from the beggar.” We have established our social levels here and choose to continue them in heaven.

~ Pastor Henry T. Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “The Offense of 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.

Zebulon Grace Church Bulletin Article date: July 22, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

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The Significance of the Pool

“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. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.” | John 5: 1-9

Some say the pool at Bethesda was a superstitious pool and had no virtue in its water. Others say that it was blessed of God by the presence of an angel who troubled its water and gave healing virtue to the first to plunge into the pool.

I personally see this pool as a picture of both. But the real significance of Bethesda’s pool is the sovereign King of Glory who graced it with His presence. The only reason for it to be preserved or mentioned at all; the only value to it or virtue it could claim is that of the Lord Jesus Christ. Before He appeared or after his appearance, he is still the source of its virtue and the magic of its water.

I thought as I studied these passages how much this applies to all that we are and do.

  1. As your pastor: I have no reason to be honored, listened to, obeyed, or followed except for Christ. If Christ be in me and in my ministry and in my life then this office has honor but without Him it is just another hollow form of religion.
  2. The building we meet in: There is nothing special about this building or the grounds. But if this place is used to honor God’s King, He will also honor this place. If Christ be here, I had rather meet here than in the greatest cathedral in the world.
  3. This assembly: Of what value is a crowd if Christ is not in their midst? A huge multitude gathered on the outskirts of Canaan without Christ and accomplished nothing except to bring down the wrath of God on their heads.
  4. Worship: Who will bring us to the Father? Who will take our pitiful gifts and make them acceptable? Who will show us the Father that we might know him and be stirred to worship?
  5. Reading the scriptures: “To Him give all the prophets witness”, Take Christ out of the Bible and it is just another book.
  6. Preaching: Oh, what a pitiful exercise would preaching be if it were not for Christ. What could you say to perishing sinners? What comfort could you give to the suffering? What hope could you offer to the lost?

The real significance of the pool is that which God has attached to everything that is – The Lord Jesus Christ. “All things were created by Him and for Him” (Colossians 1: 16)

~ Pastor Darvin Pruitt

Click here to listen to the message “A Preachers’ 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.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 13 June, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a

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Christ, Our Advocate

“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: | 1 John 2: 1

No trial or suffering is easy.

If trials were without pain and discomfort, they would not accomplish the purpose for which they are sent. (James 1: 2-4)

But, when we look at all of earth’s sorrows, sufferings, and trials in the light of His eternal glory; when we shall be like Him, enjoy His presence, and partake in His perfect kingdom, then we will look on these present inconveniences as nothing. They are not worthy to be compared to that glory. (1 John 3: 1-3)

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Christ, Our Advocate”

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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 June, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a