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I Am A Worm

“But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.” | Psalm 22: 6

This verse is a miracle in language.

How could the Lord of glory be brought to such abasement as to be not only lower than the angels, but even lower than men?

What a contrast between “I AM” and “I am a worm”!

Yet such a double nature was found in the person of our Lord Jesus when bleeding on the tree.

He felt himself to be comparable to a helpless, powerless, downtrodden worm, passive while crushed, and unnoticed and despised by those who trod upon him.

He selects the weakest of creatures, which is all flesh; and becomes, when trodden upon, writhing & quivering flesh, utterly devoid of any might except strength to suffer.

This was a true likeness of himself when his body and soul had become a mass of misery-the very essence of agony-in the dying pangs of crucifixion.

Man by nature is but a worm; but our Lord puts himself even beneath man, on account of the scorn which was heaped upon him and the weakness which he felt, and therefore he adds, “and no man.”

The privileges and blessings which belonged to the fathers he could not obtain while deserted by God, and common acts of humanity were not allowed him, for he was rejected of men; he was outlawed from the society of earth, and shut out from the smile of heaven.

How utterly did the Saviour empty himself of all glory, and become of no reputation for our sakes!

“A reproach of men” their common butt and jest; a byword and a proverb unto them: the sport of the rabble, and the scorn of the rulers.

Oh the caustic power of reproach, to those who endure it with patience, yet smart under it most painfully!

“And despised: of thee people.”

The very people who would once have crowned him then contemned him, and they who were benefited by his cures sneered at him in his woes.

Sin is worthy of all reproach and contempt, and for this reason Jesus, the Sin bearer, was given up to be thus unworthily and shamefully entreated.

~ Charles Spurgeon

Click here to listen to the message “I Am A Worm” (45:42 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: 31 May, 2021

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This Man Recieveth Sinners, And Eateth With Them

“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.” (Acts 10: 33)

“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.

“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 life.

“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)

His words are words of salvation.

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.

“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)

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.

“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)

No man will ever come to Christ while he is resting in the deeds of the law for salvation.

“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)

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.

“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)

This Man receives sinners! What a miracle of amazing and sovereign grace.

-Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “Some Believed and Some Believed Not” (37:01 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: 15 May, 2021

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A Believer’s Peace

I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. | Psalm 78: 3-5

Where does a believer find real and genuine peace?

On what foundation can we rest and say in truth, “It is well with my soul”?

I’ll tell you; it lies in this – that we are justified by faith and not by works.

Christ Jesus stood in my stead before God.

I was guilty with nothing to pay, doomed to hell; and Christ took my place!

He died for me!

How can I perish?

How can I be punished for sins which have already been laid on Christ and for which He has suffered?

God demands of me that I keep His holy law perfectly.

I cannot do it.

But Christ has kept it for me.

He kept it, magnified it, made it honorable in my flesh.

What more can God demand of me?

I am washed in the blood of Christ Jesus; I am risen and seated at His right hand in Christ Jesus.

You may ask, “How is all this yours?”

I reply, “By the grace of God, through the merits of Christ, revealed by the Spirit of God THROUGH FAITH!”

God said, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.”

I do believe, I sincerely believe in Christ; therefore, I have eternal life.

~ Pastor Henry T. Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Every Need Met In Christ Jesus The Lord” (30:09 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: 10 May, 2021

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Cleanse Us From All Sin!

”Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.” | 2 Corinthians 9: 15

A man is never so fit for believing as when he is most unfit.

It is unfitness, not fitness, that is really required.

What is fitness for being washed? Filth!

What is fitness for receiving pardon? Guilt!

If you are filthy, if you are guilty, you have all the fitness that is required.

So, come and find in Jesus Christ all that meets your greatest need.

~ C. H. Spurgeon

Click here to listen to the message “Cleanse Us From All Sin!” (28:14 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: 3 April, 2023

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Set Us In The Way Of His Steps

“Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven. Yea, the LORD shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase. Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps.” | Psalm 85: 11-13

Several hundred years before the Savior came into the world, God’s prophet Isaiah saw a grand and glorious vision and cried, “Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, traveling in the greatness of his strength?”

“Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.” (Isaiah 63: 1)

And the Saviour answered, “I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save”.

“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1: 21)

While the Savior was yet in His mother’s womb, God sent an angel to Joseph with these words, “She shall bring forth a son” (and she did), “and thou shalt call his name JESUS” (and he did), “for he shall save his people from their sins”. (He most certainly shall!)

“As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.” (John 17: 2)

The Savior said, “Thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him”; and again says the Savior, “This is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day”.

“And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.” (John 6: 39)

Most assuredly, the Lord Jesus “SHALL save his people from their sins.”

“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: 4)

“He shall not fail nor be discouraged”; but rather, “He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied”.

“He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.” (Isaiah 53: 11)

In light of the above verses (which are supported by the whole of the Word of God) it should never enter the mind of anyone that the Savior — the Lord Jesus Christ – is TRYING to save sinners… HE IS NOT!

Those who say to sinners, “Jesus is trying to save you; won’t you let him save you?” are not ambassadors of Christ.

They represent another person, another spirit, another power – Satan!

The Lord Jesus, from His throne of universal dominion and almighty grace is seeking out His lost sheep, His people, snatching them out of the kingdom of darkness and planting their feet in the kingdom of heaven; and shall bring them safely into His eternal glory.

He is a conquering, victorious, successful, satisfied Savior!

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”” (Matthew 11: 28)

However, let it be just as clearly understood that the Lord Jesus Christ, the only Savior, from His throne of almighty grace, stands with open arms and a heart filled with love and grace, ready to receive sinners who come to Him. “Come unto me” says He, “all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest”.

~ Pastor Maurice Montgomery

Click here to listen to the message “Set Us In The Way Of His Steps” (25:30 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: 5 October, 2025 | Previous post date: n/a

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Go Forth Unto Him

”Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein. We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.” | Hebrews 13: 9-11

If you are will believe on Christ Jesus the Lord then you must leave behind all ceremony, legalistic, human works, worldliness, and every other falsehood, and identify ourselves as being one with Christ.

It will mean reproach from those who yet attempt to come to God some other way, but it is reproach worth bearing if we believe that Christ is all.

Atonement ‘at’ ‘tone’ ‘ment’ – God is holy.

God’s elect are sinners.

In order for God to accept a sinner, God must make that sinner holy.

Atonement makes a sinner, holy, so he can be at one with holy God.

God declared how atonement is made for a sinner.

A spotless, sinless, innocent sacrifice is made to be sin for that sinner.

Then the sacrifice dies in the place of that sinner.

Its blood — wherein is the life of the sacrifice – is offered to God upon the mercy seat in the holiest of holies.

Only the High Priest could enter the holiest of holies with the blood.

God prepared a body like ours for his Son.

He took upon him flesh and blood like those he came to save.

He was made under the law of God like those he came to save in order that he might show himself to be perfect in thought, word and deed.

He is the perfect, sinless, spotless, Lamb which God provided to take away the sin of his people.

He had to be perfect or he would not be fit to take our sin.

In order to pay the debt his people owed to the law’s justice, it was a must for the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who had never done any sin, to be made sin for us, to made a curse for us.

And it was a must that he suffer all the consequences of our sins until God’s justice was fully satisfied.

It meant Jesus had to suffer the fire of God’s holy law and wrath.

It had to be because God can not show you or me mercy unless his law is first honored and his justice first satisfied toward his people.

Do you see how holy God is?

He will by no means clear the guilty.

God is so holy that he sent his only begotten Son to bear the guilt of his people.

God is so holy that when sin was found on the Lamb he provided, he would not hold back his holy fury.

God is so holy that he will not accept his people until there sin be completely put away and they be made the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.

That is why Christ was made a curse for his people

But we see in this, not only the suffering our Lord endured under the fire of God’s holy, unbending justice, but we see also the shame and reproach he endured by being made sin for us.

If you confess to this world that all your hope is — not in yourself – but in Christ Jesus your Lord you will be an offense to this world.

Glorying in the cross of Christ means renouncing any sanctifying, justifying work that you or I or any other man can perform.

Glorying in the cross of Christ is to confess that Christ sanctified me, made me holy and without blame by his one offering without the camp.

If you leave behind this self-serving, self-righteous, will-worshipping generation and go forth unto Christ without the camp, you shall bear his reproach.

And you will bear it most of all from this religious world.

Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate – in that shameful, reproachful place where the cursed leper was separated from the camp.

Remember: the reproach which Christ suffered was at the hands of religious men and women – religion excommunicated him, kicked him out of the camp, because they would not confess their sin and let go of their self-righteous deeds.

But if he makes you know that he was suffering for you then you will find that there is not anything which is too much to suffer for Christ!

~ Pastor Clay Curtis

Click here to listen to the message “Christ Teaches Lydia the Gospel” (42:14 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 March, 2009 | Previous post date: n/a | Ewing, New Jersey

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God Delights To Show Mercy

”Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.” | Micah 7: 18

Do not try to come to God through your religious ceremonies and traditions.

God does not delight in outward shows of religion.

”To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats. When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts? Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.” (Isaiah 1: 11-15)

Do not try to come to God through the strength of the flesh.

God does not delight in the works of the flesh.

”He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man.” (Psalm 147: 10)

Come to God begging His mercy for guilty sinners.

God delights to show mercy to sinners.

Nothing glorifies God more than showing mercy to sinners through the sacrifice of Christ.

”The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.” (Psalm 147: 11)

God delights in mercy and He delights in those who come to Him begging mercy.

~ Pastor Frank Tate

Click here to listen to the message “Christ Our Mediator” (54:16 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.

Hurricane Road Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 24 July, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a | Cattletsburg, Kentucky

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At His Feet

“There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.” | Luke 7: 41-43

Modern day religion proclaims what sinners do for God.

True religion declares what God has done for sinners in Christ.

Which do you believe gives all the glory to God?

~ Pastor David Eddmenson

Click here to listen to the message “The Only Conclusion We Can Come To” (30:48 minutes) sermonaudio.com/sermon/4172215457166

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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 March, 2020 | Previous post date: 23 April, 2022

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An Adversaries Scheme To Destroy

“And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king’s laws: therefore it is not for the king’s profit to suffer them. If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king’s treasuries.” | Esther 3: 8-9

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PREACH…

  1. That man is both totally and partially depraved.

“I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.” (Psalm 89: 1)

  1. That election is both conditional and unconditional.

“For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens.” (Psalm 89: 2)

  1. That regenerating grace is both resistible and irresistible.
  2. That redemption is both limited and unlimited.

“I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant, Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations.” (Psalm 89: 3-4)

  1. That perseverance is both certain and uncertain.

~ Pastor Rolfe Barnard

Click here to listen to the message “An Adversaries Scheme To Destroy” (31:41 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: 22 May, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a

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Preaching

”And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.” | 1 Corinthians 2: 3

C. H. Spurgeon is called by many “The Prince of Preachers”.

Spurgeon wrote, “For many years my own preaching was exceedingly painful to me, because of the fear and trembling which beset me before entering the pulpit. Often, the dread of facing my hearers has been overwhelming.

“I wrote to my dear grandfather, who was a minister of God for many years, and told him of the overwhelming mental emotions, sickness of body, and trembling fears which gripped my heart when I preached the Word of God.”

The old gentleman wrote back, “My son, I have been preaching the gospel of Christ sixty years, and I still feel the same trembling fears that you feel. Be content to have it so. When these emotions go away, your strength will also be gone. When you are able to preach the gospel and think nothing of it, the people will think nothing of it, and God will do nothing with it.”

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Delivered From the Fear of Death” (39:10 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: 8 April, 2007 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky