A True Gift Is Freely Given

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

John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” If a person has been truly given a gift, then that person does not owe anything for receiving the gift.

A gift is not bought, a gift is not earned – a true gift is freely given.

Thank God, when He gave the precious gift of His Son to be the Redeemer of life for His sinful people, He did not give that glorious gift only to sinners from the nation of Israel, He gave that wonderful gift to sinners all over this world! Not every sinner in the world, but sinners that He chose in Christ out of the world. And with the gift of Him comes every spiritual blessing that heaven has to offer in Him – life, forgiveness, perfection, holiness, love, peace… and that list could go on forever.

In the gift of Christ, the child receives a Father, the bride receives a Husband, the lonely receives a Friend, the outcast receives a welcome acceptance, the poor receive an inheritance, the guilty receive a spotless record of innocence… and THAT list could go on forever.

Have you and I received the gift of Christ? If so, it will be evidenced in this way: we will totally believe in and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. We will cast our all on Him. He will be ALL of our hope before God. His righteousness will be ALL of our worth, and His blood will be ALL of our redemption and forgiveness for our sin. We will see His work for salvation to be ALL, and our work for salvation to be NOTHING before God!

If God has revealed that truth to us and in us, if God has revealed Christ as being ALL to us, then we have received His unspeakable gift, and we can give thanks to Him forever! Because in Christ, we will not perish.

In the gift of Him, we have eternal life!

O how thankful that makes us want to be!

~ Pastor Gabe Stalnaker

Click here to listen to the message “The King Who Keeps His Sheep”

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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, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a

Only One Ark

“I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.” | Psalm 40: 1-4

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 saviours, only one Saviour!

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 “We Love God’s Salvation”

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

He Never Changes

“HE NEVER CHANGES” | Hebrews 13: 8

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”

I am so thankful that as I grow older and things change, inside and out, that there is One who never changes.

  1. His love never changes with time, for He loved me with an everlasting love that knows no change.
  2. His power never changes. He is just as able to keep me from falling today as when I first began.
  3. His Word never changes: “God is not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent: hath He said, and shall He not do it? Or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good?” (Numbers 23: 19) Has He not magnified His Word above His Name?
  4. His election of me shall never change. He will never cast off those whom He has chosen, for they will never do anything that He did not know about and has not already taken care of.
  5. The power of His blood shall never change. It still cleanses from all sin. No matter how deep the stain has gone, His blood washes it away.
  6. His Sacrifice will never change, it will never lose its effectiveness because it is always fresh in the midst of the Throne of God: “And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain…” (Revelation 5: 6)

We have a living sacrifice standing in the midst of the Throne of God.

When we rise out of our beds in the morning and go through our changes, just remember that there is One who remains the same yesterday, today and forever: The Rock Christ Jesus.

~ Pastor John Chapman

Click here to listen to the message “A Message For The Needy”

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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: 20 September, 2020 | Previous post date: 13 March, 2021

Getting What I Deserve

”And he (Moses) said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. And he (The Lord) said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.” | Exodus 33: 18,19

Mercy is, “not getting what we truly do deserve”.

Grace is, “getting what we truly don’t deserve”.

God showed mercy to us when He gave Christ what we deserved.

And God showed grace to us when He gave us what Christ deserved.

Christ received our sin, and we received His reward.

Christ received our rejection, and we received His acceptance.

Christ received our death, and we received His life.

If God ever gives us the eyes of faith to see that, He will have shown us His glory!

~ Pastor Gabe Stalnaker

Click here to listen to the message “God’s Sovereign Right”

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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: 23 February, 2020 | Previous post date: n/a

Restraining Grace

”A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven” | John 3: 27

The only thing that makes a difference between the breaking out of one man’s sin over another is the restraining grace of God.

You know that if the Lord did not restrain you, there would be no limit to the depths of sin you could fall.

You fear being left to yourself and plead for the Lord to keep you.

You know that you have nothing except that which was given to you from heaven.

You cannot find any reason to be puffed up against another.

The more you grow in His grace and the knowledge of Christ, the less confidence you have in the flesh.

As it is written, he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 1: 30-31)

~ Pastor Greg Elmquist

Click here to listen to the message “Christ and His Church”

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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 December, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a

Contenders Or Pretenders?

”Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” | Jude 1: 3

Those who are not earnestly contending “for the faith” (the gospel of God’s sovereign and free grace in Christ) are only mere pretenders in a false refuge of lies. (Isaiah 28: 15; Matthew 7: 21-23)

Those who are earnestly and eagerly contending “for the faith” are those that are not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. (Romans 1: 16-17)

Those who fervently contend “for the faith” are those who publicly preach it, (Acts 5: 42; Philippians 1: 27) faithfully support it, (Corinithians 9: 7) zealously identify themselves where the gospel is preached, (Hebrews 10: 25) ardently pray for God’s blessing upon it, (2 Thessalonians 3: 1) dogmatically defend it against all opposition, (Galatians 5: 1-5; Philippians 1: 17; 1 Timothy 6: 3-5) and assertively insist that there is but one gospel. (Galatians 1: 6-10; Ephesians 4: 4-6)

Now the question for us is this, are we genuine and legitimate contenders or wretched and desolate pretenders?

~ Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “We Love God’s Salvation”

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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.

FreeGraceRadio.com Bulletin Article date: 14 October, 2007 | Previous post date: n/a | Danville, Kentuky

The Salvation Of A Malefactor

”And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself. And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.” | Luke 23: 35-38

An old timer wrote: “My friend, you may think to live very well without Christ, but death will be unbearable without Him. You are confident and secure at present, but death will destroy your confidence. Your tree is fair and strong now; but when the wind comes, if your root is not in the Rock of Ages, down your tree must come forever. You may think these worldly pleasures and ways of flesh are so good; but when your years increase any you reach the bottom of this poisoned bowl, they will be as bitter as wormwood; and worse that gall shall be the daintiest of your drinks.”

When I read this, I gave thanks to our Lord for delivering us from “THIS BODY OF DEATH through our Lord Jesus Christ,” and old age and death are no longer to be feared but DESIRED; that death is no longer the LOSS of life and joy, but the GAIN of eternal life and glory.

While we mourn the temporary absence of our dear loved ones whom the Lord has been pleased to take to glory, we do not sorrow as those who have no hope; for we know, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His people,” (Psalm 116: 15) and leaving this world and going to be with Christ is the GREATEST BLESSING of all the blessings!

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “The Salvation of a Malefactor”

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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: 26 December, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

Salvation Is Of The Lord

“But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD.” | Psalm 37: 39

We have all heard of putting the cart before the horse.

That summarizes man’s religion.

It inverts the divine order.

It makes forgiveness the end rather than the beginning of salvation.

Man’s religion says you must believe before you can have life, rather than you believe because you live.

It says God will if you will, rather than God will and you shall.

It makes man the deciding factor rather than God. Anything that has man as the deciding factor is doomed for failure.

Thank God, “Salvation is of the Lord.”

~ Pastor Todd Nibert

Click here to listen to the message “What Does It Mean To Come To 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 September, 2020 | Previous post date: 9 March, 2021

Is Anything Too Hard For The Lord?

”And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also? And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?” | Genesis 18: 10-13

As Sarah laughed and Abraham doubted the promise of God to them and for them, this was His answer. “Is anything too hard for the Lord?”

This shows at least two things concerning our Great and Wonderful Redeemer and ourselves:

1) What a rebuke to our unbelieving and sinful flesh. When we doubt the promises and grace of God we surely need to be reminded; ‘is anything too hard for the (our) Lord?’

2) What a testimony to the longsuffering and goodness of the Father to the likes of us, for He gives us what we do not deserve which is His mercy. But with tenderness and compassion He reminds His covenant people; ‘is anything too hard for me?’

Let this simple but straight forward phrase of infinite and caring grace cause us to seek Him, love Him and worship Him evermore: “Is anything too hard for the Lord?”

~ Pastor Drew Dietz

Click here to listen to the message “Is Anything Too Hard For 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.

FreeGraceRadio.com Bulletin Article date: 14 October, 2007 | Previous post date: n/a | Danville, Kentuky

True Conversion

”Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit. Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.” | Psalm 143: 7-8

When the Word of GOD converts a man, it takes away from him his despair, but it does not take away from him his repentance and sorrow for sin.

True conversion gives a man full pardon from all sin, but does not make him presumptuous. He continually is “coming to Christ.”

True conversion gives a man perfect rest, but does not stop his growth in grace, works of faith and labor of love.

True conversion gives a man security and assurance in Christ, but does not allow him to leave off being watchful. “Keep thine heart, for out of it are the issues of life.”

True conversion gives a man strength and righteousness, but it never lets him boast nor have any confidence in the flesh.

True conversion makes Christian duties, service, worship, and study to be a joy and a pleasure, never burden- some nor grievous, and certainly never considered as a way to find favor with GOD.

True conversion brings a man to live FOR GOD. He does what he does for the glory of GOD. True conversion brings a man to live WITH GOD. He seeks and desires blessed communion with the Redeemer.

The most treasured times are those hours of sweet fellowship with Him and His people.

~ Pastor Paul Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Hear My Prayer, O 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.

Central Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 26 December, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia