Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

Power To Cross Our Path

And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.” | Acts 8: 26

In absolute power God moves his messenger and his vessel of mercy so that they meet right where God would have them meet.

There were two roads which Philip could have taken.

Yet, through the Spirit the Lord commanded Philip to go south on the road which went down from Jerusalem to Gaza.

This was the desert road.

The phrase “go toward the south” has an alternate meaning in the Greek which means “at midday.”

So in power the Holy Spirit of God, literally, moved his messenger to take the road least traveled, at the time of day when it was least likely to be traveled, to meet the most unlikely person, an Ethiopian eunuch.

The Lord’s elect may be wandering lost in the most remote places on this globe but the Lord who saves in power knows exactly where they are.

We may have to be led away from the religion of the day out onto old Gaza Road, as was the Ethiopian eunuch, but God is able.

God our Savior, the King of heaven and earth, shall bring the good news of his Son to each of his children in his time in his power.

~ Pastor Clay Curtis

Click here to listen to the message “Fire in the Wall” (45:59 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.

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church Bulletin Article date: 4 July, 2008 | Previous post date: 22 August, 2021 | Ewing, New Jersey

Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

Can These Bones Live?

”And this is the will of him that me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” | John 6: 40

Christ will never have finished his work upon believers till he has raised their bodies from the grave and glorified them like his own resurrection body.

He will never cease from the work which he has commenced on any one of his people till he has laid the top stone in the glorious perfections of heaven; and this truth is the joy of our hearts even now.

~ Charles Spurgeon

Click here to listen to the message “Can These Bones Live?” (23:51 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: 27 February, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a

Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

The Lord Is My Shepherd

”The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” | Psalm 23: 1-3

If God will be gracious to you, he will make Christ more than the Savior of sinners to your understanding. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” (Psalm 23: 4)

”Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.” (Psalm 23: 5)

He will make Christ the Savior of you the sinner. “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” (Psalm 23: 6)

~ Pastor Eric Lutter

Click here to listen to the message “The Lord Is My Shepherd” (40:02 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.

Hurricane Road Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 2 October, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a | Cattletsburg, Kentucky

Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

None Good But One

“Blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, set by the highway side begging.” | Mark 10: 46

All who the Lord shall save are like blind Bartimaeus.

What he was outwardly by nature is what he was inwardly by nature… blind, poor, and unable to work to provide life.

All he could do was sit and beg mercy from another.

We are so blind by nature that we cannot even see we need salvation.

When God gives us sight the first thing we behold is that our flesh profits nothing.

Only then will a sinner come to Christ empty and begging mercy.

~ Pastor Clay Curtis

Click here to listen to the message “The Confession of Dogs” (37:09 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: 11 February, 2018 | Previous post date: 17 May, 2022

Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

We Have An Altar

”Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein. We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.” | Hebrews 13: 9-10

The only ones to whom God gave directions concerning an altar were his peculiar people.

From the patriarchs throughout the old covenant dispensation the only people who had an altar were the people whom God choose to have it.

All who come to Christ the Altar are God’s elect, chosen by God.

By Divine choice, God’s mercy and grace gives the believer the right to come to Christ our Altar.

What is our Altar?

Our Altar is not the cross — the cross was an instrument of execution like an electric chair, or a needle for lethal injection, or a gun used by a firing squad or stones used throughout scripture – I would no more remember my Lord by such a misrepresentation than I would use a cancerous tumor to remember my grandfather who died of cancer.

Christ bore the fiery wrath of God but he consumed the fire of God’s wrath and his offering came up to God as a sweet savour ever to be remembered by the LORD of hosts.

Our Altar is not your heart – we must be sincere but only the blood of Christ makes us accepted with God, we do not trust our sincerity for acceptance but our sincerity rests in Christ in whom we are accepted.

We eat at this Altar, bringing not the leaven of our works, but trusting Christ our Sacrifice alone for our entire acceptance with God.

He is most holy – our sin offering and trespass offering.

Our Altar is not a piece of furniture in a church building – not the table on which the bread and wine are placed (table of remembrance not a table of sacrifice); not a place at the front of the church where preachers call men in order to profess Christ.

”All the males among the children of Aaron shall eat of it. It shall be a statute for ever in your generations concerning the offerings of the LORD made by fire: every one that toucheth them shall be holy.” (Leviticus 6: 18)

Those things are temporal, fleshy idols used to appeal to the carnal eye.

People who put any significant meaning on such material things are nothing less than idolators.

We have no such altar.

”Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?” (Matthew 23: 19)

Those who serve in such fleshly carnality have no right to eat at the believer’s altar.

The believer’s Altar is not a what, but a Who – our Altar is Christ.

”Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2: 5)

It was through the Altar that God said, in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee.

Christ is the Altar in whom God came unto us and blessed us.

We can only come to God through the Altar — through his Sacrifice – through our High Priest, through Christ.

Are you yet earthy, serving an earthly tabernacle, occupying your time in meats – observance of days, and seasons, and certain meats, and ceremonies?

Touch not, taste not, handle not?

We who worship God in spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh and we have an altar, Christ Jesus, which they have no right to eat that serve the tabernacle.

~ Pastor Clay Curtis

Click here to listen to the message “We Have an Altar” (29:23 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.

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church Bulletin Article date: 8 March, 2009 | Previous post date: n/a | Ewing, New Jersey

Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

Sin, Righteousness, Judgment

“I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found.” | Psalm 32: 5-6

The Holy Spirit convicts every sinner, for whom Christ died for of these three things.

Sin: Sin is what I am, not just the things I do or don’t do.

Sin is my nature, “I was born in sin and shapen in iniquity”.

“Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.” (Psalm 51: 5)

He gives to those whom He saves a right understanding of sin.

“Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.” (Psalm 51: 4)

Righteousness: First. I don’t have righteousness.

Second. Jesus Christ is all my righteousness; “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth.”

“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” (Romans 10: 4)

Christ’s obedience, even unto death is the righteousness of the saints.

“For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10: 12-13)

Judgment: I deserve the judgment of God’s wrath, that’s true.

The Holy Spirit takes every sinner whom He saves to the Cross and reveals to them God’s judgment on them in their Substitute, Jesus Christ and Him Crucified.

“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” (John 8: 36)

My judgment passed on Him and I am free.

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Romans 8: 1)

Therefore we conclude; “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

~ Pastor John Chapman

Click here to listen to the message “Unto The Praise Of His Glory” (43:09 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: 1 June, 2025 | Previous post date: n/a

Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

Sin And Forgiveness

”Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.” | 1 John 4: 9

We love to hear the gospel that tells us of sin forgiven, of being washed from our sin in His precious blood.

Sin is too familiar with us.

We have committed it, we are affected by it daily, and it is our daily trial.

Sin of our past, sin is our burden today, sin as it is, is our own affliction until we enter into our eternal rest.

”In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” (Ephesians 1: 7)

It is a battle we have entered into that is a war without and within… but, thank God His word says, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sin”.

How?

“According to the riches of his grace!”

Forgiveness of sin, what a joy, what greater news can a sinner hear?

God’s free grace gave us His son to redeem us by His own blood.

God’s free grace came and effectually applied that blood to our souls!

”Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 5: 20)

It was free grace that forgave us all our sin; “where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.”

~ Pastor Donnie Bell

Click here to listen to the message “Herein Is Love” (28:11 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: 27 February, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a

Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

Grace Be With You. Amen.

“The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.” | 2 Timothy 4: 22

If our hope lies in us, or in what we do, it is a delusion.

“Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees. But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled. Is not this thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness of thy ways?” (Job 4: 4-6)

If our hope lies in this church it is a lie.

“The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.” (Psalm 147: 11)

If our hope stands with one foot on the work of Christ and the other foot on our own merits, it will fail us.

“Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name. Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.” (Psalm 33: 20-22)

Hope in Christ is the only hope which can be acceptable to God.

“I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons. I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.” (Psalm 16: 7-9)

Our only hope of Heaven will be through Christ alone.

Here our hope begins, and here our hope ends.

~ Pastor Gabe Stalnaker

Click here to listen to the message “Grace Be With You. Amen” (22:29 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: 1 June, 2025 | Previous post date: n/a

Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

The Rule We Are Under

”For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.” | Galatians 5: 13-15

How did Noah get the animals in the ark?

He simply said, “Here is the ark.”

”Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” (Galatians 6: 1)

The LORD drew the animals into the ark, not Noah.

Noah simply displayed the ark.

This is the chief motive of the law of love written on the believer’s heart.

I know that Christ is in his throne; my heart is not to vainly attempt to do the work only Christ has the right and the power to perform.

I simply point them to Christ the Ark.

Christ will effectually work in our hearts to draw us in to him.

The law of Christ always remembers who is able to make us stand and who does not have that power.

”Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For every man shall bear his own burden. ” (Galatians 6: 2-5)

The direct, effectual rule of Christ who works in the heart he has made new is the rule the believer is under.

Before Christ came in power I was only flesh attempting to obey God and appear righteous before men with only the Ten Commandments as my rule.

I could not even hear what the law said of me.

”Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” (Galatians 6: 6-10)

Now I have something better than the flesh and the letter of of Ten Commandments.

I am one with Christ in spirit.

The Holy Spirit leads me in spirit and in truth.

I walk after the Spirit of Christ as a little child is led by a father who will not allow that child to turn out of the way they should go.

”For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.” (Romans 8: 20-22)

The law was not made for a righteous man.

Believers are perfectly righteous in Christ Jesus our Lord.

His correction, his establishing, his building-up comes through the preaching of his glorious person and work, not through the Law of Moses.

His power and grace is so sovereign and so effectual that either you are under his grace, righteous in him, led of him and rejoice to say Amen; or you are yet in your sins and under the law.

”Then answered one of the lawyers, and said unto him, Master, thus saying thou reproachest us also.” (Luke 11: 45)

The law of love makes us aware, and behaves thus in a manner consistent with the understanding that only Christ has the rightful power to chasten and correct.

We may, at times, have to rebuke and correct.

But the authority by which we do so is not in ourselves but the word of God.

The Authority who alone is able to work it effectually in the heart is Christ Jesus our Lord.

The best way to rebuke and chasten is by setting Christ before the erring brother or sister.

~ Pastor Clay Curtis

Click here to listen to the message “Establishing The Law” (48:54 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.

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church Bulletin Article date: 5 March, 2009 | Previous post date: n/a | Ewing, New Jersey

Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

Straight Gate, Wide Gate

“Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock.” | Matthew 7: 24

The Rock, of course, is Christ; the sand is self.

But the test, the mark, the evidence, the proof of the two builders and the two buildings is the hearing of Christ’s sayings and doing them, or the hearing of Christ’s saying and doing them not.

We may twist and wriggle under such a text, and try all manner of explanations to parry off its keen, cutting edge; we may fly to arguments and deductions drawn from the doctrines of grace to shelter ourselves from its heavy stroke, and seek to prove that the Lord was there preaching the law and not the gospel, and that we are saved by Christ’s blood and righteousness, and not by our own obedience or our good works, either before or after calling, all such tests and all such texts are inapplicable to our state as believers.

But after all our questionings and cavilings, our nice subtle arguments to quiet conscience and patch up a false peace, there the words of the Lord stand, and what is more, will stand forever, backed as they are by that solemn declaration from the same Lips of Eternal Truth: “Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 7: 19-21)

~ J.C. Philpot

Click here to listen to the message “Built Upon A Rock” (34:25 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: 13 August, 2017 | Previous post date: 21 August, 2021 | Rocky Mount, Virginia