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His Good Pleasure

“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” | Philippians 2: 13

Everything concerning a sinner’s salvation is of God.

Nothing is of us.

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” (Philippians 1: 6)

We don’t begin the work of salvation, He does.

We don’t perform the work of salvation, He does.

“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” (John 19: 30)

We don’t finish the work of salvation, He does.

“Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;” (Hebrews 1: 3)

We don’t call on Him, He calls us.

“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19: 10)

We don’t seek Him, He seeks us.

“And he spake this parable unto them, saying, What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.” (Luke 15: 3-6)

We don’t find Him, He finds us.

“To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” (Ephesians 1: 6)

We don’t accept Him, He accepts us.

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

We don’t produce our own faith to believe on Him, He puts His own faith in us and causes us to believe on Him.

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;” (Titus 3: 5)

We don’t earn any perfection of our own, He earned it for us.

“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” (1 John 4: 10)

It’s not that we loved Him, but that He loved us.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Peter 1: 3-5)

We don’t keep ourselves in His love, He keeps us there.

“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)

Salvation is totally of the Lord.

~ Pastor Gabe Stalnaker

Click here to listen to the message “Lord, Don’t Leave Me To Myself!” (36:17 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: Special | Previous post date: 21 February, 2021

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“Lifelock”

“At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.” | John 14: 20

Recently I received an advertisement from a company called “LifeLock.”

It is a company that provides security against “identity theft.”

Identity theft has undoubtedly become a real issue and problem in today’s world.

Crooks and thieves steal your identity and run up debt in your name.

As I read over that advertisement, I was thinking how the Lord Jesus did that to His people in reverse.

Without their permission, He assumed the believer’s identity.

He stepped into their personal business, the business between them and God and He took their place.

“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” (1 Timothy 2: 5)

He took control of their account and made it His own.

He didn’t take control of their identity to add debt like a thief does. NO!

He took control of the believer’s account in order to pay the debt of sin that they had accumulated.

He took my debt and paid it in full as a rich friend might do.

O what a rich friend Christ is.

He is rich in love, mercy, grace and forgiveness.

How many friends do you have that would die to pay the debt you owe?

“Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.”

Now, I have His perfect identity, and I am eternally life-locked to Him.

~ Pastor David Eddmenson

Click here to listen to the message “Trust In The Lord” (34:17 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: Special | Previous post date: 25 January, 2021
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Christ Receives Sinners

“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.

“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)

What a blessing from the Lord to have a willingness to draw near to Him and then to have ears to actually hear a word from 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.” (Acts 10: 33)

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)

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

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.

“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!

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

What a miracle of amazing grace.

~ Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “The Deadly Sin Of Self-rigtheousness” (32:27 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 January, 2020 | Previous post date: 31 December, 2022

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Come To Christ, Not An Altar

”So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” | Luke 14: 33

The “invitation” or “altar call” at the end of a service has become such an accepted tradition in today’s religion that those who do not sing an “invitation hymn” and invite people to the front of the church to “get saved” are branded with all sorts of names and charges.

It never seems to trouble religious people that this “altar call” is nowhere to be found in God’s Word.

It never seems to trouble religious people that the great majority of those who “come forward” usually “go back” into indifference and worldliness.

It never seems to trouble religious people that coming to Christ is not a physical move at all but a heart commitment to the Redeemer.

It never seems to trouble religious people that the Scripture presents BAPTISM as our public confession of Christ, not “shaking the preacher’s hand”.

It never seems to trouble religious people that the gospel is a COMMAND to repent, believe, and follow the Lord in baptism, not a mere invitation.

The King of kings does not invite His subjects to obey and believe Him; He commands them!

I preach to you the Word of the living God!

In the preaching of His Word the holiness, justice, and righteousness of God are declared.

The truth of our fall, sinfulness, and inability is clearly set forth, as is the grace and mercy of God in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Are you a sinner?

Confess that fact before God, not before me!

Do you believe the Lord Jesus Christ is the only Redeemer and righteousness and sin-offering for one such as you?

Then settle that issue before the throne of grace, not at the front of the church!

Has God spoken peace to your heart in Christ?

Do you now rest in Him alone as your Lord and Saviour, your High Priest, and Mediator?

Is the old man crucified with Christ, buried, and you are risen in Him a new creature?

Then ask the pastor to assist you in believer’s baptism that you may declare publicly what God has done for you personally!

~ Pastor Henry T. Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Christ’s Terms of Surrender”

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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: 18 April, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

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Only One Way Of Salvation

“And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.” | Genesis 7: 1

When our God sent the flood, the whole world perished except those happy ones who were found in the ark.

Even so, there is only ONE WAY of salvation for all persons living under heaven.

There is only one name whereby they can be saved.

Would you be saved, rich man? There is no way except that way whereby the poorest pauper is also to be saved.

Would you be delivered, O man of intelligence? You must be saved in the same way as the most ignorant!

There were not two arks, only one. So there are not two saviors, only one Savior!

There was no other means of salvation except the ark; so “there is none other name under heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved”, except “Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “The Ark – A Picture of 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: 18 February, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a

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I Kill And I Make Alive

”See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.” | Deuteronomy 32: 39

THERE is no greater comfort for the believer than this. This blessed truth will deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage “And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” (Hebrews 2: 15)

Our Lord is the Author (giver) of this life and the Finisher (taker) of it.

God tells us this about man: “Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass” (Job 14: 5)

The bounds He has set for us are the place, the time, and the instrument of our death to this world. The day, the hour, the moment, the means of our passing is set by the Lord. Though it may be sickness, old-age, bullet, sword, car-wreck… no matter; God determined it for each of us before the world began.

“I Kill”, saith the Lord. What a comfort that is.

Our God in His wisdom, takes us in His good time, according to His will and pleasure. We are immortal until it’s our time.

There is nothing and no-one to fear.

The Lord encourages every believer in this, saying: “Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;” (Psalm 91: 5)

Let the unbelievers of the world fear terrorists; but let the people of God fear no one but God. “Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.” (Psalm 91: 6-7) This is God’s command to His people: ‘Fear not!… Thou shalt not be afraid.’

We wouldn’t be flesh and blood if we had no fears, but too much fear and worry dishonors our God and leaves us in distress and anxiety. Rest in this thought: the Lord gave us this life as it pleased Him and the Lord will take it when He pleases.

I had my old dog put down the other day and personally buried his body. Though I had another give him the injection that put him to sleep, I was the one who determined it. It was completely my decision. I was his master. He was my dog. I was the one who chose him as a pup, picking him out of all the rest, purchased him, brought him home, fed him, nurtured him, taught him, loved him. He was my dog. No-one knew him as I did. I knew when it was time and I gave the command. So it is with our Master.

Our Lord and Master chose His people before the world began, brought them into this world, led, fed, taught, bought and cared for them all the days of their lives. And in His good time… He puts them to sleep.

There is no death for those in Christ. He takes them home.

What peace there is in believing that our kind Master in His infinite wisdom and eternal purpose wounds and heals, kills and makes alive.

~ Pastor Paul Mahan

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: 6 April, 2014 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

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The Moment Grace Becomes Amazing

“Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth. But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved. He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.“ | John 5: 33-35

John Newton spoke on behalf of every sinner who has been washed in the Blood of Christ when he wrote:

“Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me!”

When God reveals to us what absolute “wretches” we are…

That is the moment GRACE becomes AMAZING!

~ Pastor Gabe Stalnaker

Click here to listen to the message “A Greater Witness Than John”

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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.

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Christ Receives Sinners

“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.

“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)

What a blessing from the Lord to have a willingness to draw near to Him and then to have ears to actually hear a word from 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.” (Acts 10: 33)

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)

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

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. “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!

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

What a miracle of amazing grace.

~ Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “The Deadly Sin Of Self-rigtheousness”

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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 January, 2020 | Previous post date: 30 April, 2021

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God First Loved Us

“We love Him, because He first loved us.” | 1 John 4: 19

Because He first loved us, there are some things that we, God’s people, love about Him:

We love His sovereignty. We love the fact that He has the power, ability, and right to do as He pleases. We especially love that truth because He said, in Christ, it pleased Him to make us His people. “For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people.” (1 Samuel 12: 22)

We love His election. We love who He elected to save. He said He chose to save sinners, and that is what we are. “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” (1 Timothy 1: 15)

We love His predestination. It is the means that He said He would use to conform us to the image of Christ, and that is our greatest desire and need. “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” (Romans 8: 29)

We love His grace, because it is what gave Christ to us.

We love His mercy, because it is what gave Christ to the cross of our punishment. It is what shed His blood for the payment of our sin.

We love His redemption, because it is finished. We are washed clean, made pure, and accepted in Him.

We love His righteousness, because it has covered everything that we are in our flesh with His perfection.

We love His glory, because it magnifies Him.

We love His word, because it reveals Him.

We love His message, because it points us and calls us to Him.

We love His people, because there is no greater pleasure on earth than being with those who love Him and desire to worship and praise Him together.

The glorious gospel of Christ is in the fact that He loved us, even when there was nothing about us to love.

For that, we love Him.

~ Pastor Gabe Stalnaker

Click here to listen to the message “The Problem Is Within”

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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: 21 April, 2021

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DOGS

”Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs. And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” | Matthew 15: 25-27

My wife and I have a little dog. We love that little dog.

That little dog serves no real purpose in life, she only desires to be the object of our affection.

She begs for food. Sometimes she has to be cleaned up after. She is totally dependent on us and without our constant care, she will die.

She is somewhat a liability. Yet, in spite of her liabilities, she brings us great joy.

She is always glad to see us when we return from being away.

She loves us dearly and desires to be with us every hour.

We go to great lengths to make sure every need of our dog is provided for. We see to it that she is treated with compassion and tender care. Regardless of all her endearing qualities, at the end of the day, she is still a dog.

She still acts like a dog. I think she enjoys being a dog. Many dogs in this world do not fare so well as our dog does.

From my perspective, being OUR dog is a wonderful privilege. I have seen other dogs that do not fare as well as our dog. It seems that the quality of a dog’s life depends on who their master is.

I rejoice greatly that I, the dog that I am, belong to that Master who constantly sees to it that I have all I need and yet much more.

My Master, the Lord Jesus Christ, requires only one thing from me in return.

What does He require of me?

Nothing but my love, adoration and worship of Him.

How wonderful and life sustaining it is to constantly eat of the crumbs that fall from His table.

Child of God, I like being my Master’s dog! Don’t you?

~ Pastor David Eddmenson

Click here to listen to the message “Even Dogs Get Crumbs”

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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: 31 October, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia