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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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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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Cleansed But Not Healed

”That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:” | 1 Peter 1: 7

Trials of sickness, disease, and even death cannot produce faith or take it away; rather they manifest it, prove it, and glorify the God who gave and sustained it.

~ Pastor Darvin Pruitt

Click here to listen to the message “Cleansed But Not Healed”

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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: 6 May, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a

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This Is The Lord’s Doing

”Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up for ever.” | Psalm 28: 9

“Feed” here means rule.

Every believer will come to understand how desperately we need our Lord to not only save us and bless us, but also to rule over us.

~ Old Writer

Click here to listen to the message “This Is The Lord’s Doing”

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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: 6 May, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a

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That Is The Problem

“Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.” | Romans 16: 25-27

A believer related a story to me about a discussion he had with another man (a very religious man) concerning the doctrine of election.

When the man disagreed with the doctrine of election, the believer told him to search the scriptures of which the man replied, “I don’t need to search the scriptures.”

I replied, “That is his problem.”

People believe what they want to believe regardless of what the word of God teaches.

Most try to make the word of God fit what they believe instead of believing what it says.

The only warrant and foundation for all that we believe is the word of God.

~ Pastor John Chapman

Click here to listen to the message “Christ Is Enough”

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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: 16 May, 2021 | Previous post date: 13 July, 2021

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God’s Dealings With Sinners

”Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;” | Titus 2: 12

In vain do we claim to be saved if the world still rules our heart.

Divine grace not only delivers from the wrath to come, but even now effectually “teaches” its recipients to deny “all ungodliness and worldly lust, that we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world.”

Our Lord says, “Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.”

That is, to turn away from all that stands in competition (for our affections) with the Lord Jesus, he cannot become a Christian.

~ Pastor Scott Richardson

Click here to listen to the message “God’s Dealings With Sinners”

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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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Don’t Believe It, He’s Not There

”And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.” | 1 Samuel 2: 1

The twenty-forth Chapter of Matthew has been the source of much speculation by men trying to predict the time of the Lord’s return.

The tragic irony is that most of the discussion and debate has been by the very ones our Lord was warning us to avoid.

Right in the middle of this glorious prophecy is a description of the “false Christ’s” and “false prophets”.

“Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.” (Matthew 24: 26)

Here is the standard of measure we can use to try the spirits.

All false gospels declare Christ to be either in the desert or in the secret chambers.

Don’t believe it.

He will not be found in the desert of law keeping, the arid landscape of ceremony, or the dry lifeless soil of free-will.

Nor will He be found in the secret chambers of higher knowledge, deeper life, or an “anointed” charismatic experience.

No, when our Lord returns it will be just like when He comes to one of His elect in salvation.

“For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” (Matthew 24: 27)

He comes suddenly, sovereignly, and surely.

Look for Him in His free, sovereign, simple gospel of accomplished substitution and full satisfaction.

That is the only place He will be found, and He will be found there.

~ Pastor Greg Elmquist

Click here to listen to the message “Rejoice in The Lord”

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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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Saving Faith

”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

When we have the mind of Christ, we see God in everything, we see Christ as everything, and we see ourselves as nothing.

~ Pastor John Chapman

Click here to listen to the message “Saving Faith”

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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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The Preacher’s Call Or God’s Call?

”And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” | John 5: 37-40

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; that the great majority of those who “come forward” usually “go back” into indifference and worldliness; that the Scriptures present BAPTISM as our public confession of Christ, not “shaking the preacher’s hand;” 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 need mercy?

Tell God you need mercy, not me!

Do you believe the Lord Jesus Christ is the only Redeemer, 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 Savior, your High Priest and Mediator?

Is the old man crucified with Christ and buried, and are you 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 in you personally!

~ Pastor Scott Richardson

Click here to listen to the message “Why Men Won’t Come to Christ for Life”

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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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Behold, What Manner of Love

”Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.” | 1 John 3: 1

There is no greater misery than sin exposed.

“But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend. Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away. Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” (Isaiah 41: 8-10)

“For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.” (Isaiah 41: 13-14)

There is no greater joy than forgiveness revealed.

Click here to listen to the message “Behold, What Manner of Love”

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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 April, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a