Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

I Will Love Them Freely

”I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.” | Hosea 14: 4

Do you understand “freely’?”

This is the message of salvation in Christ Jesus our Redeemer. Love flows from heaven in this way.

If God did not love us “freely” then He would not love us at all.

We did not deserve His love, we did not purchase His love, and we did not even seek after His love.

What does “freely” mean?

We use it for that which is given without money and without price.

There is no bargaining in it.

A man gives “freely” when he gives hoping for nothing in return.

This is how God gave.

He said, “I will not accept their works in exchange for my love; I will not receive their love as recompense for mine; I will love them all unworthy and sinful though they be.”

Men give, but no man ever gives freely.

There is always some return or honor or recognition attached to men’s giving.

But God gives to those who can confer no honor and have no position to cause the giving.

They are destitute paupers with nothing in their pockets and no pockets to put anything in.

The Lord gives that which is unsought.

He does not give grace to those who seek it, because none ever seek grace until grace has already come.

Sovereign grace does not wait for man.

Religion says that man is running after God.

We say that man is running after all manner of sin and evil, and they do not seek God until His love comes upon them.

As the effect of God’s love, men begin to seek Him.

We do not entreat the Lord, because we hate Him.

His love comes “freely.”

Have you ever asked the sun to shine?

No, the sun shines its rays on the earth “freely.”

It comes on the blasphemer as well as the child of God.

It falls on the farm of the wicked as well as the righteous.

The rain falls upon the rock as well as upon the field.

Such is the grace of God.

It does not come because we ask it, much less because we deserve it.

His love is always first.

He does not love because Christ died, but Christ died because the Father loved.

It comes from His own infinite heart of goodness, simply because He chose to do so.

Thank God, He loves me FREELY. I can live with that.

~ Pastor Donnie Bell

Click here to listen to the message “God’s Judgement” (69:42 minutes)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ o ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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, 2024 | Previous post date: n/a

Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

What Is The Gospel?

“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; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;” | Titus 3: 5,6

Whatever a sinner harps on, that’s where his hope is.

If a sinner harps on: “Man’s Works! Man’s Works!” that’s where his hope is.

If a sinner harps on: “The Blood of Christ! The Blood of Christ!” that’s where his hope is.

~ Pastor Gabe Stalnaker

Click here to listen to the message “What Is The Gospel?” (27:37 minutes)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ o ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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: 12 August, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a

Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

Faith, A Gift Of God

”Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.” | Romans 4: 16-17

Before any sinner can or will come to Christ, he must be born again.

Faith is the result, not the cause of the new birth.

That faith by which we receive God’s salvation in Christ is the gift of God.

“Salvation is of the Lord,” in its entirety!

It is not of works at any time in a believer’s life, God will never be brought into debt by the works of any man, He will never owe a blessing, all is of grace.

Faith in Christ is as much the gift and work of God’s free grace as election, redemption, and regeneration.

“For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;” (Philippians 1: 29)

If you believe, it is because God has given you faith.

“And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,” (Ephesians 1: 19)

You “believe according to the working of his mighty power.”

Faith is not the work of the sinner’s imaginary “free will.”

Faith is the gift of God’s sovereign grace, the result of God’s operation upon the heart.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.”

~ Pastor Don Bell

Click here to listen to the message “Foundation’s of Faith” (38:42 minutes)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ o ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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: 22 June, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

A Heart Of Thanksgiving

”Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.” | Psalm 40: 5

I recently read that somewhere, years ago in New England, there was a day of fasting each month to mourn over the sins of the land.

At last, some public official suggested that, instead of the day of mourning each month, they should appoint a feast and thank God for the mercies and blessings which He had given.

I was deeply convicted and strongly impressed by this article.

Do we dwell on our troubles and trials so much that we forget to give thanks for our blessings?

Instead of counting our blessings, we exaggerate our misfortunes.

Instead of praising God for many friends, our minds dwell on two or three contentious persons who wish us evil.

Instead of talking about our years of good health, we discuss our hours of pain.

Instead of rejoicing in our obedient and loving children, we complain about our prodigals.

It is good to fast, mourn over sin, and to take our burdens to the Lord; but it is right to LEAVE THEM THERE!

“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine, but a broken spirit drieth the bones.” I plan to take this exhortation seriously and lift both my heart and voice to Him Who is the fountain of all mercies.

His mercies far outweigh His chastisements.

David said, “Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.” (Psalm 40: 5)

If I would declare and speak of them, they are “more than can be numbered”.

John Newton once wrote, “Lord, if I have not loved Thee before, let me begin today.”

Today is a good day to love Him, thank Him, and praise Him.

Let this be “The day of beginning again.”

~ Pastor Henry T. Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “O How Blessed We Are” (35:22 minutes)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ o ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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 July, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a

Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

Wisdom In Death

”LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am.” | Psalm 39: 4

When we, by God’s grace, are wise enough to face death, judgement, and eternity, things are seen in their proper light.

“Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity.” (Psalm 39: 5)

All these fine ideas of fame, fortune, and friends, and our so-called importance melts like frost in the sun.

“Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.” (Psalm 39: 6)

Death reveals the truth, blows away the chaff, shuts a man’s mouth, and opens the books!

“Deliver me from all my transgressions: make me not the reproach of the foolish. I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou didst it.” (Psalm 39: 8-9)

Death takes no notice of what I thought nor what others thought of me, but only of what God thinks.

“Oh, that I may win Christ and be found in him.”

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “David Deals With Death and Life” (29:01 minutes)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ o ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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: 17 April, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

Unto Him

“Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.” | Jude 24-25

This is the cry of every believing soul and the very heart of his worship of God.

It is the perfect salvation, by a perfect Savior, to a perfect God.

It is that a vile and wicked sinner is through the accomplished redemption of Christ made to stand faultless before the presence of a Holy God.

Having saved such wretches as we are, He now sits at the right hand of God to insure that we never again fall.

This is not only the heart of worship but the very heart of our faith.

He is able.

To top it all off Paul tells us that He performs this work with exceeding joy!

God help us never to lose sight of Him or forget what He has done, is doing, and yet shall do for us.

To Him be glory, majesty, dominion, and power both now and ever.

Amen.

~ Pastor Darvin Pruitt

Click here to listen to the message “Sovereignty And Unbelief” (29:00 minutes)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ o ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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 August, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a

Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

Then Sings My Soul!

“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

There is a beautiful song in our hymnal titled: “How Great Thou Art.”

The third verse of that song says, “And when I think that God, His Son not sparing, sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in – that on the cross, my burden gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sin… Then sings my soul!”

Once salvation is revealed to a child of God, from that moment forward the soul of that child sings the glory and greatness of the God who saved him or her.

“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)

The body may break, but the soul will never stop singing!

The heart may ache, but the soul will never stop singing!

Everything about the physical, mental, and emotional state of the child may be silenced under the overwhelming weight and oppression of sin, but knowing what the blood of Christ has done for sinners will cause the soul of that child to never stop singing, “My Savior God, to Thee; How great Thou art, How great Thou art!”

~ Pastor Gabe Stalnaker

Click here to listen to the message “It’s All Because of Him” (34:54 minutes)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ o ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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: 28 March, 2021 | Previous post date: 23 September, 2021

Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

When God Is Displeased With A People

”And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” | Luke 18: 7-8

When God is exceedingly displeased with a people, it is not necessary, in order to their punishment, that He should bury them alive by an earthquake, or destroy them by lightening.

If He only leaves them to themselves, withdraws His blessings from their counsels, and His restraint from their passions, their ruin follows of course, according to the necessary order and connection of causes and effects.

If God gives up a people to the way of their own hearts, they will, they must, perish!

When a general corruption of morals takes place, when private interest extinguishes all sense of public virtue, when a profligate and venal spirit has infected every rank and order of the state, when presumptuous security and dissipation increase as danger approaches, when, after repeated disappointments, contempt for God, and vain confidence in imagined resources of their own, grow bolder and stronger, then there is reason to fear that the sentence has already gone forth, and that the execution of it is at hand.

~ John Newton

Click here to listen to the message “God Shall Avenge His Elect” (34:08 minutes)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ o ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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: 1 June, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

Lord, What Will You Have Me To Do?

“And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.” | Acts 9: 6

“Lord, what will you have me to do?” This is Paul’s question on the road where he met the sovereign Christ.

It was not, what do I think is best for me?

Or what will afford me the most pleasure and comfort?

Or even what do other people do?

But “Lord, what will YOU have me to do?”

“I will love thee, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.” (Psalms 18: 1-2)

In every case enable me, by Thy grace, to do what is pleasing in Thy sight and that which will bring glory to Thy name.

Where we get in trouble is putting our wills and ways before His!

It is not I but Christ, His gospel, His church, His kingdom, His glory, which must be considered.

“In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3: 6)

When this is settled “I” will fall in the right place and though the way may not be easy; in the end it will be pleasant.

~ Pastor Henry T. Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Help, Lord!” (26:56 minutes)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ o ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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 August, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a

Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

Trust In The Lord

”O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.” | Psalm 84: 12

Trust in God implies total self-renunciation.

The moment that I trust in myself, I cease to trust in God.

The moment I take any portion of my confidence away from the Lord and put a grain of it in myself, that moment I take away all my trust in God.

My trust in God must be all or nothing.

It must be unreserved and complete, or else it is false and delusive.

Is not the Lord worthy to be trusted?

And if he is worthy to be trusted at all, is he not worthy to be trusted with all?

What real confidence could a man have in the wife of his bosom if he could trust her with one key, but not with all?

Is that full confidence?

So, if we can trust God for one thing and not for all, it shews that we have no real trust in him.

A man has no real trust in his wife who cannot give her all the keys.

A man has no real trust in God who cannot give him all his heart, and put everything into his hand; family, property, body, and soul.

The province and work of true faith is to put everything into the hands of God, keeping back no part of the price.

It is this secret reserve that God hates; there is hypocrisy on the very face of it.

Trust in God for nothing; or trust in him for all.

God will not take a divided heart.

Give him all, or none.

And is he not worthy of it?

Has he ever disappointed you whenever you have really put your trust in him?

But David saw how few there were that with all their hearts did trust in God.

This feeling seems to have made him say, “Blessed is the man,” that peculiar man, that rare individual, “that trusteth in thee!”

The blessing of God rests upon that happy, that highly-favoured man.

He is blessed for time and for eternity.

He has the blessing of God even now in his soul.

Oh! how rare it is for us to be in that sweet, blessed frame when we can put our trust wholly in God; trust him for life and death; trust him for all things, past, present, and to come.

Yet without a measure of this faith, there is no solid peace, no real and abiding rest.

And to this you must sooner or later come; for you cannot carry your own burdens without their breaking your back.

But when you can cast your burden on the Lord, then you will surely find sweet relief.

May we not, then, join heart and voice with David, “O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee?”

Such a one will never be disappointed.

The Lord will hear his prayer; the Lord will bless his soul; will be with him in life, support him in death, and take him to be with him in eternity.

~ J.C. Philpot

Click here to listen to the message “Grace & Truth By Jesus Christ” (35:16 minutes)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ o ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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: 17 April, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia