Covenant Mercies

”Then said Ziba unto the king, According to all that my lord the king hath commanded his servant, so shall thy servant do. As for Mephibosheth, said the king, he shall eat at my table, as one of the king’s sons.” | 2 Samuel 9: 11

Faith is necessary for salvation.

But we do not look to our faith to save us; rather, in faith, we look to Christ.

Repentance is necessary for salvation.

But we do not look to our repentance to save us; rather, in repentance, we turn to Christ.

There are graces, which God works in us as He saves us. But these graces are never to be the object of our trust, confidence or hopeful gaze.

All the graces God gives us in salvation are to be used to look to, turn to, appreciate, and lay hold of Christ, who is our Salvation!

~ Pastor Joe Terrell

Click here to listen to the message “Covenant Mercies”

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

The Sufficiency Of Christ

”Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore. From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD’S name is to be praised. The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens. Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high.” | Psalm 113: 2-5

Men often make this statement — “nobody is perfect” – in a feeble attempt to justify themselves before God.

Of course, nobody (among the sons of Adam) is perfect.

Truth is, men who say such a thing have no idea how far from perfection they really are.

The problem is, perfection is exactly what God demands. He can settle for nothing less.

Which is why He sent His only begotten Son into this world.

The Lord Jesus Christ is God’s perfect man, and He is man’s perfect God.

The God-Man.

The sinners substitute.

The sovereign, successful, surety of His people.

Yes, Someone is perfect.

Without Him standing in our stead, God’s holy justice will demand our eternal damnation.

“Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace” (Psalm 37: 37)

~ Pastor Greg Elmquist

Click here to listen to the message “The Sufficiency of 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.

Zebulon Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 13 March, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

A Joyful Heart

”A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.” | Proverbs 17: 22

If we knew how needy we are, we would not neglect to pray.

If we knew how vile we are, we would not fail to thank Him for His mercy.

If we knew how glorious He is, we would not cease to praise Him.

If we knew how soon we will be with Him, we would not be discouraged.

~ Pastor Chris Cunningham

Click here to listen to the message “A Joyful Heart”

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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 February, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a

Let Us Come Boldly

“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!” | Isaiah 52: 7

Oh, how God’s people rest in His absolute sovereignty over all things concerning them.

That is their good news.

That is their peace.

That is their hope of salvation.

No matter how much their sin has abounded, it will never be able to reign over His mercy and grace that He has mightily supplied in the death of His Son!

Every soul that the Father sovereignly chose, the Son sovereignly redeemed, and the Spirit has sovereignly called will through the ages of eternity cry, “Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth!”

~ Pastor Gabe Stalnaker

Click here to listen to the message “Let Us Come Boldly”

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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: 17 May, 2020 | Previous post date: n/a

Worship

”Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” | Hebrews 10: 23-25

It is the duty of all believers to meet together for worship, praise, study, and fellowship.

1). Because of God, who has appointed worship, Who approves of it, Who is glorified in it, and Who should be worshipped.

2). Because of Ourselves, we need to “draw nigh to God,” to “seek His face,” to praise, pray, and be refreshed and comforted – with other believers.

3). Because of Others — our families, friends, and neighbors who may, by our example and encouragement, be brought to seek the Lord.

But worship is not only a duty and commandment, worship is a blessed privilege.

David wrote, “Blessed is the man whom Thou choosest and causest to approach unto Thee, that he may dwell in Thy courts.”

We are blessed to have the desire to worship God and hear His word.

We are blessed to have the freedom to go to the place of worship.

We are blessed to have a family of believers with whom to meet and worship.

We are blessed to have elders and preachers called of God to preach to us and teach us the word.

We are blessed to have the physical strength to go to the house of the Lord and worship.

“Blessed INDEED is the man whom Thou choosest and causest to approach unto Thee.”

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Ceremonies Cease When Christ is Revealed”

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

I Think Myself Happy

”I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews:” | Acts 26: 2

When the apostle Paul stood before king Agrippa he had been in prison for two years. (Acts 24: 27)

The Lord now opens the door for Paul to declare the gospel unto both Festus the governor and Agrippa the king and he does so by first declaring that he was a happy man. Paul was saying that he was abundantly blessed of God. That is the reason even though in bondage he was rejoicing in the Lord. He writes to the Philippians from prison in Rome and says, “Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say, rejoice” (Philippians 4: 4)

That is the exact case of every believer.

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16: 33)

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” (Ephesians 1: 3-7)

Consider what David says in the Psalms about those who are blessed of God:

“Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.” (Psalm 32: 1-2)

“O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.” (Psalm 34: 8)

“Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee.” (Psalm 65: 4)

“Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.” (Psalm 84: 5)

Even though we live in this body of sin and in the bondage of death and are plagued by many trials, heartaches and much grief, we should always consider our case to be the same as Paul: “I think myself happy.”

Believers are abundantly blessed in Christ above all people of the earth and have every reason to rejoice in the Lord Jesus Christ and be of good cheer.

~ Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “To This Poor Man Will The Lord Look”

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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: 7 November, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a

Grace Is Not Offered But Given

”That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.” | Ephesians 1: 10-12

Anytime a preacher presents the grace of God as an offer on God’s part to anybody who is willing to receive it, he has not preached grace as the Bible does.

The Bible does not say, “But God, who is rich in mercy for His great love where with He loved us, even when we were dead in sins has offered us His grace”…it says God hath “quickened us together with Christ, by grace are ye saved.”

Grace is not offered; grace is given!

And when grace is given, it always saves and is always received!

We do not have a choice as to whether or not we will accept God’s offer of grace.

Grace saves!

Grace is not something we use to aid in our salvation – Grace saves us!

~ Pastor Todd Nibert

Click here to listen to the message “What Is Meant By The Grace Of God?”

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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: 8 December, 2019 | Previous post date: n/a

Out Of The Heart Are The Issues Of Life

”Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” | Proverbs 4: 23

Life begins when the heart starts beating. Life ends when the heart stops.

So it is with spiritual life.

“A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.” (Ezekiel 36: 26) Spiritual (eternal) life begins when God takes away the stony heart, the heart that is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked, and gives “a new heart”. There is no life without heart.

The heart is the real man.

The heart is the seat of affections, convictions, desires and feelings. Real faith comes from the heart, for “With the HEART man believeth unto righteousness.” Real faith is not simply mental but is a heart love. There can be a pretended faith, a mere spoken faith, a mere intellectual belief in facts and doctrines without real heart love for God, Christ, the brethren and holiness. Doctrine only in the head will produce an unfeeling, unloving, uncaring and unemotional man. The love of God shed abroad in the heart will produce a man of many emotions. Love for God, Christ, the Truth, holiness, the brethren; is rooted and comes from the heart.

There is no life without heart.

There is no faith without heart.

Faith is founded on the Word of God and that faith has feelings.

Though we are not saved by feelings, yet no one is saved who does not have them. Feelings come from the heart. Feelings are the reaction of the heart being touched by the Word, the Spirit of God. Show me a man who does not feel his sinfulness, who does not feel a need for Christ, who does not feel joyful upon hearing the gospel, who does not feel deeply thankful and grateful for all his blessings, who does not feel sadness, pain, joy, happiness, gladness, relief, fear and all other emotions at some time upon hearing the gospel . . . the Word of Life . . and I will show you a man WHO HATH NOT LIFE.

Show me someone who never mourns, weeps nor laughs upon hearing the life giving sound, and I will show you someone who is dead. Open up a grave; laugh, cry, shout at the man and you will get no reaction. The man is dead; he has no feelings.

Laugh, cry and shout to the living and they will respond. Show me a woman who is neither cold nor hot upon hearing the gospel, and I will show you a woman whom God will spue out of His mouth. Show me a person who does not reveal a heartfelt love, a first love for Christ, His gospel, His people, and I will show you someone who loves the world and has missed Christ.

Show me a man who claims to preach the gospel, who does not go forth with weeping, bearing the precious seed, and I will show you a man who is a hireling, a pretender, who will bring in no sheaves. “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” (Psalm 126: 5-6)

Though we should not look to these feelings, trust these feelings, or seek assurance from them, (for they come and go) yet there is joy and assurance to be had, when the Word of Life is indeed a SAVOUR OF LIFE to us — “But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.” (Galatians 6: 4)

Savour is taste.

Savour is smell.

Savour is enjoyment.

And when the Spirit bears witness with our spirit, He makes the Word very savoury to us. He makes Christ very savoury to us, He makes the tabernacle (His church) very amiable to us, He makes the brethren to be loved by us.

Whenever the Holy Spirit was present in the early church there was fire, fear, repentance, faith, feelings of conviction, love, joy, peace, and so much more. (Acts 2) He is called Spirit for that is what He is and that is the realm he operates in.

The heart is the spirit of a man.

When the Spirit of God moves on someone, they are moved! “By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.” (Hebrews 11: 7)

When God gives life to a dead man, he is alive unto God and a new man!

When God saves someone, it is a glorious and obvious thing! A new (like natural) birth… crying, laughing, living, new born babe in Christ… a miracle of God’s grace and power; a wonderful thing; an obvious thing; an inward and outward work of God to the praise of His glory.

~ Pastor Paul Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Marks of a Believer”

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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: 20 March, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

I Shall Be Satisfied

“Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places. He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain; he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries. | Psalm 135: 6-7

Those who have been saved are those who are “being saved.”

“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1: 18)

“Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2: 12-13)

Those who have learned of Christ are those who “are learning” of Him.

“It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.” (John 6: 45)

“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” (Matthew 11: 29)

Those who know the Lord are those who “desire to know Him.”

“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;” (Philippians 3: 7-10)

Those who have seen the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ are those who continue to cry, “Lord, I beseech Thee, show me Thy glory.” (Exodus 33: 18)

These are the people who by the grace of God can say, “As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness” (Psalm 17: 15)

~ Pastor Maurice Montgomery

Click here to listen to the message “Let God?”

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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: 24 May, 2020 | Previous post date: 14 April, 2021

Let Us Not Be Discouraged!

”God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.” | Psalm 46: 1-5

We preach the gospel of God’s sovereign, free grace in Christ Jesus the Lord; that salvation is in Christ alone, by grace alone, through faith alone, according to the word alone.

For the most part, the message is rejected, but do not be discouraged, it has ever been so!

Elijah thought he was the only one left who believed God; Isaiah wrote, “Who hath believed our report and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?”

When the Lord Himself preached in His hometown of Nazareth, the people marveled at His gracious words when He spoke of the blessings, but when He spoke of sovereign mercy, they tried to kill Him!

The Apostle Paul was accused of being a pestilent fellow, a mover of sedition, the ringleader of a sect and was imprisoned for preaching the gospel. But remember, it is written; “the word of God is not bound,” “my word shall not fail” and “this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.”

~ Pastor Charles Pennington

Click here to listen to the message “It Shall Be Well With The Righteous”

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