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Straw Man

”Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” | 2 Thessalonians 2: 14

Election is not the cause of anybody going to hell, for election is unto salvation.

Neither is non-election responsible for the damnation of sinners.

Sin is the thing that sends men to hell, and all men are sinners by nature and practice; sinners altogether apart from election or non-election.

It does not follow that because election is unto salvation that non-election is unto damnation.

Sin is the damning element in human life; election harms nobody.

~ C.D. Cole

Click here to listen to the message “Christ our Righteousness”

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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

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Sheep Of Thy Pasture

“How long, LORD? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire? Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name. For they have devoured Jacob, and laid waste his dwelling place. O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low.” | Psalm 79: 5-8

Like the Israelites who were bitten by the fiery serpents, because of the judgment of God, were perishing, so all of us were perishing under the sentence of death because of sin.

But God graciously provided the remedy.

The serpent of brass, having the form of a serpent, but having no poison, was lifted up on a pole for all to see.

Everyone who looked upon it was healed.

Even so, Jesus Christ came in the likeness of sinful flesh, but had no sin.

He was lifted up by God upon the cross in the place of sinners.

And, behold, every sinner who looks upon Christ with a believing heart is healed!

~ Pastor Gabe Stalnaker

Click here to listen to the message “The Gospel In One Verse”

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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: 11 April, 2021 | Previous post date: 11 June, 2021

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The Blood Of Jesus Christ

”The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.” | 1 John 1: 7

Oh, what good news the gospel of Jesus Christ declares to sinners!

We are by birth and nature children of darkness, loving darkness rather than the Light of the truth. “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” (John 3: 19)

“That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:” (Ephesians 2: 12)

However, by the marvelous power of God through the gospel of Christ, “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) God has delivered us from the power of darkness into the kingdom of the Son of His love.

“Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:” (Colossians 1: 13)

That we should show forth the praises of Him Who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 4: 6)

“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:” (1 Peter 2: 9)

Furthermore, the gospel declares unto all that believe, that the precious blood atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.

“For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” (Hebrews 9: 26)

Not the blood of bulls and goats, not the ceremony and traditions of men, but the glorious blood offering of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, nothing less and nothing more, cleanses from all sin.

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,” (1 Peter 1: 18-20)

Original sin, actual sin, spiritual and natural sin, ALL sin forever!!

Oh, the glory of this perfect, full and finished salvation we are blessed to possess and enjoy through our victorious Lord.

“But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15: 57)

“Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

~ Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “Freewill or Free Grace?”

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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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The End Is Greater Than The Means

”For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” | Romans 5: 6-8

The ultimate end or goal of redemption is not the happiness, well-being, or even conversion of sinners, BUT THE GLORY OF GOD.

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

Man’s comfort and safety is not the supreme goal of God’s glorious gospel.

“That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.” (Ephesians 1: 12)

The supreme goal of our gospel is the glory of God, the establishment of His rule and reign over a kingdom of peace and righteousness, the exaltation and manifestation of His character, and the preeminence of His beloved Son.

“Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1: 14)

Our salvation will serve that purpose.

“Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2: 6-11)

Everything in covenant mercies, in salvation, and in God’s purpose for the sons of men (past, present, and future) turns upon the will of God in Christ. This makes CHRIST THE PRINCIPAL FIGURE in our gospel, our goals, and our glory. But, if you have salvation and God’s purpose waiting upon the freewill of the creature, then MAN is the principal figure in your landscape and will lead you to compromise divine truth in order to win man’s approval.

The attitude that we must get men converted at any cost and compromise usually winds up costing the very character and truth of God, which is a price too high to pay.

Conversions are never more important than truth.

Truth is always more important than results.

“Let God be true and every man a liar!”

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Free Grace”

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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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Salvation Is For Sinners

”The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.” | Matthew 11: 19

The Pharisees called our Lord, “The friend of sinners.”

They thought to brand Him with shame and hold His name up to ridicule; but what they thought to be shame is His chief glory. He is indeed, “the friend of sinners.”

Thank God He is!

This is what makes the gospel good news.

This is no sham gospel that we preach, but it is real salvation for real sinners. It is real grace for real guilt.

We preach no gospel of merit for moralists.

We preach good news of pardon and forgiveness for men who are nothing, have nothing, and can do nothing!

~ Pastor Henry T. Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Jesus – Friend of 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.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 22 April, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a

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Forsake All or Be Forsaken

”If any man come to me and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple… Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” | Luke 14: 26, 33

The Lord is not telling us to hate our families, for He gave commandment to love one another.

He is telling us that nothing and no one is to have preference over Him; that we are to love Him above all, and be willing to forsake all for Him.

This is the true love of God shed abroad in the hearts of all His true people. It is supernatural, born again love that the world does not have and cannot understand; accusing those who have it of not loving their families (hate).

When brother Groover was taking his family to the Mexican mission field, a few unsaved relatives accused him of not loving his family. So it will be with all who love the Lord supremely and forsake their flesh and blood to go where He is, where His gospel is; all who would rather be with God’s family than their own.

On the other hand, any man or woman who forsakes Christ; (and to “forsake the assembling of ourselves…” to forsake the gospel, is to forsake Christ) anyone who ignores Christ for any reason, should not think it unreasonable that He will someday ignore them.

One who forsakes Christ to further their career, should not think it unreasonable that He would forsake them for His own glory. One who is more interested in making money than hearing the gospel of the unsearchable riches of Christ, should not think God to be cruel when He takes everything away from them someday.

One who forsakes Christ for their family, should not think it wrong when he forsakes them in favor of His family.

One who forsakes the assembly of the church on earth, should not be surprised when Christ does not allow them into the assembly of the saints in Heaven.

One who is not interested in the worship and fellowship of Christ now, should not complain when He has no interest for them in the end.

One who is unmoved and unfeeling upon hearing the gospel of Christ’s unspeakable love, sufferings and sorrow, should not think Him hard when He is unmoved by their cries of misery at the judgment.

NO, NO!

It is not the Lord who is unreasonable, hard and uncaring, it is the unbeliever.

“Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;” (Proverbs 1: 24)

If you end up without Christ someday, do not blame Him, for He “called and you refused. He warned and you would not listen.

“Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.” (John 10: 25)

“I told you”, He said, “and ye believed not”.

~ Pastor Paul Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Praise Ye The Lord in the Congregation”

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

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Divine Paradoxes

“And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,” | Ephesians 6: 19

“Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.” (1 Corinthians 3: 18)

The wiser we get, the greater fools we become.

“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” (2 Corinthians 12: 9-10)

The stronger we grow, the weaker we are.

“As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.” (2 Corinthians 6: 10)

The more we possess, the less we have.

“And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?” (Luke 7: 42)

The more completely bankrupt, the more freely forgiven.

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

The more utterly lost, the more perfectly saved.

“Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18: 4)

And the more like a child, the greater in the kingdom of heaven.

Click here to listen to the message “See, Here Is Water”

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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: 11 April, 2021 | Previous post date: 9 June, 2021

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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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Reserved

”But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.” | Romans 11: 4

What is most amazing about this verse is not how many!

Although seven thousand men is no number to shake a stick at, that is not the important message our Lord is pleased to reveal here.

“I have reserved’ is the message to take away from this!

God’s sovereignty is declared above all things, he is the one who reserved those men, by keeping them from bowing their knees, or even praising the idol of Ba-al. “Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.” (1 Kings 19: 18)

If you changed that number to two, would it make a difference?

NO!

It has become a praise of men, to declare the number of souls they have won for the lord.

They say their numbers are the result of their preaching or witnessing, their so-called truth!

They declare they must be teaching the truth, look at the numbers.

But what saith the scriptures?

The word remnant means “a portion of” or “what’s left over of,” or in other words, the seven thousand men were but a small portion, compared to all that had bent their knee to Ba-al. “Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.” (Romans 11: 5)

“Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.” By GOD’S GRACE, there is a remnant he has reserved unto himself. “And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.” (Romans 11: 6)

Numbers are not the issue!

GOD’S GRACE IS!

~ Pastor John Reeves

Click here to listen to the message “Five Things I Could Not See”

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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: 3 April, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a

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Happy Fear

”Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.” | Philippians 4: 4

God’s people rejoice in the Lord always.

They rejoice that His grace is always sufficient, that His blood cleanses them from all sin, that by His imputed righteousness they are justified before the law, that His love for them never fails, that by His providence all things work together for their good, that His intercession for them before the Father is never ceasing and that their names, for His sake, are written in heaven.

~ Pastor Marvin Stalnaker

Click here to listen to the message “Happy Fear”

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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: 3 April, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a