Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

Is Our Message Offensive?

“I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be. And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased. I would they were even cut off which trouble you.” | Galatians 5: 10-12

Paul called his message “the offence of the cross.” Again and again he warned that the true gospel of God’s grace and glory would meet with great opposition from the religious world and the natural world. “The preaching of the cross is foolishness.” “The natural man receiveth not the things of God.”

Our Lord said, “Marvel not if the world hate you.” He also said in John 16, “They will cast you out of organized religion, and whosover killeth you will think that he serves God in doing so.”

If what we preach is NOT offensive to the religionist and to the worldling, then it is NOT THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST.

I repeat, it is not the gospel!

1). GOD’S ABSOLUTE SOVEREIGNTY in creation, providence, and redemption offends man’s claim to a freewill!

“But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.” (Luke 19: 14)

2). The preaching of TOTAL DEPRAVITY and INABILITY offends man’s dignity and claim to personal righteousness.

“We be not born of fornication”, that is, “we be not (they say) born in sin.”

“We may not be perfect, but we are not totally corrupt in God’s sight.”

3). The gospel of Christ comes by REVELATION and this offends man’s natural wisdom.

The college professor knows as much about the mysteries of grace as the farmhand, which is nothing apart from the Spirit of God.

4). EFFECTUAL REDEMPTION through the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ, our substitute and sin-offering, offends man’s pride.

Men would have God do all that He wants to do or can do; but, there must be a work left for the sinner to perform, that we might share somewhat in the glory.

5). The LORDSHIP OF JESUS CHRIST offends man’s desire for recognition here and the hereafter.

“Grant, Lord, that we may sit at Thy right and left hand.”

“Let us have a system of rewards to distinguish us in some way from the beggar.”

We have established our social levels here and choose to continue them in heaven.

~ Pastor Henry T. Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “What Is Your Response To The Gospel?” (38:55 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.

Zebulon Grace Church Bulletin Article date: July 22, 2018 | Previous post date: 11 August, 2021 | Pikeville, Kentucky

Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

The Miracle Of God’s Irresistible Grace

”And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service? That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD’S passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped.” | Exodus 12: 26-27

Reader!

If you are a parent, learn from hence how to encourage your little ones to seek information concerning the great things of God.

If they ask you what is meant by the Christian Passover (I mean the service of the Lord’s Supper) Oh! tell them that it commemorates his precious sufferings and death, by whose stripes we are healed.

“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” (1 Peter 2: 24)

Tell them of the distinguishing mercies of God in Christ, that while we merited death as much as any Egyptian, the Lord passed by and saved us when Egypt was destroyed.

“He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.” (Psalm 57: 3)

And do, my brother, if you can, tell your children also, how in numberless instances, both in providence and in grace, the Lord hath passed over you and your house, and not suffered the destroying angel to come in, while you have seen many on the right hand and on the left, swept away in sudden destruction.

“Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:” (Romans 3: 24)

Oh how sweet is the contemplation of distinguishing mercy!

~ Robert Hawker

Click here to listen to the message “The Miracle of Grace” (36:17 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: 3 March, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Ewing, New Jersey

Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

Three Men On A Cross

”And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.” | Luke 23: 33

By nature and practice, I am that justly condemned criminal that spoke in rage against the innocent Son of God.

By grace, I am the other vile and wicked man on the other side which God granted eyes to see Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and was promised to be with Him in paradise that very day.

By substitution, I am now a perfect, sinless son of God who is completely righteous, wholly holy and absolutely sinless through Him who loved me and gave Himself for me while dying in my place.

What a picture of the believer is found in all three men that hung on a cross at Mount Calvary.

~ Pastor David Eddmenson

Click here to listen to the message “Saved From Sin” (26:59 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.

Hurricane Road Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 29 November, 2020 | Previous post date: n/a | Cattletsburg, Kentucky

Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

Shall

”That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” | 1 Corinthians 1: 31

What do believers glory in when they glory in the Lord?

They glory in His holiness.

“And Moses went up into the mount, and a cloud covered the mount. And the glory of the LORD abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud. And the sight of the glory of the LORD was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel.” (Exodus 24: 15-17)

They glory in His grace.

“And Aaron lifted up his hand toward the people, and blessed them, and came down from offering of the sin offering, and the burnt offering, and peace offerings. And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the people.” (Leviticus 9: 22,23)

And they glory in His mercy.

“Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house. And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD’S house. And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.” (2 Chronicles 7: 1-3)

What is the greatest display of the glory of the Lord’s holiness, grace, and mercy that the world has ever seen, and could ever know?

The Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross of calvary!

“But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” (Galatians 6: 14)

Holiness demanded a sacrifice for sin.

Grace provided one, and Mercy poured the Blood of that sacrifice all over the sinners that God chose to save!

~ Pastor Gabe Stalnaker

Click here to listen to the message “Shall” (27:05 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 July, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a

Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

If You Love Me

”Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.” | Matthew 27: 41, 42

Such is the blindness of natural man that when he attempts to speak of spiritual things, even the most intelligent among them become fools.

The intelligentsia of Jewish religion had long hated Christ.

They had often gone to where he was teaching to ply him with questions in an attempt to tricking Him into saying something they could use against Him.

In so doing they doubtless heard much of His teaching.

Yet, now they say, “Come down from the cross and we will believe you.”

Their taunt is utterly absurd.

If He comes down from the cross, they will have no reason to believe Him; He will have made Himself a liar.

Did He not say, “… the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many,” and, “The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men: And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again”?

If He had come down from the cross, he would have proven Himself a liar and undermined any reason for anyone to believe Him.

But there is a more serious issue.

If Christ were to have come down from the cross, there would have been no value in believing Him. Faith would not have brought salvation.

Had Christ not fulfilled this death-work, believing Him would leave believers in their condemned state.

Their sins would not have been paid for, leaving them in a state of guilt, and God will by no means clear the guilty.

Anyone who does not see the cross-work of the Lord Jesus as the linchpin of the whole scheme of grace does not understand the scheme of grace.

The whole of it rests upon “Christ and Him crucified!”

~ Pastor Joe Terrell

Click here to listen to the message “If You Love Me” (51:32 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: 29 November, 2020 | Previous post date: n/a | Cattletsburg, Kentucky

Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

What Do You Think Of The Cross?

”He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.” | 2 Kings 18: 4

I am confident that the religious, superstitious Israelites were horrified when King Hezekiah destroyed their sacred symbol (which they worshipped, the serpent of brass Moses had made) calling it “a (worthless) piece of brass.”

Hezekiah declared it to be of no value in the worship of God, but rather a hindrance to the worship.

I can understand a person’s interest in that brazen serpent.

It would be extremely interesting to see it.

It would be interesting to see the rod of Moses, the tables of the law, the tabernacle, the ark of the covenant, and the cross on which our Lord died!

But interesting is all that these things can be certainly not inspirational, nor edifying, nor of any spiritual value, nor of any consequence where our relationship with God is concerned.

These are but types, pictures, and things which the Lord used to point our faith, hope, and trust to CHRIST JESUS!

In the knowledge, love, and worship of God, “CHRIST IS ALL!”

Hezekiah shocked Israel when he called Moses’ serpent “A PIECE OF BRASS.”

We may shock religion today by calling the cross on which Christ died “A PIECE OF WOOD,” or the tomb in which He laid, “A HOLE IN THE GROUND,” or the winding sheet in which He was wrapped, “A PIECE OF CLOTH;” but, having served their purpose, that’s all that they are.

And to make them of any spiritual significance is to be in danger of idolatry!

Idolatry is a subtle tool of Satan and must be avoided.

“God is a spirit, and they that worship Him MUST worship Him in spirit and truth.”

True believers have no superstitions regarding days, hallowed places on earth, religious relics, symbols, signs, nor ancestors.

Christ is our sabbath, our altar, our prophet, priest, and king.

To Him and only to Him we come, bow, believe and worship.

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “What Do You Think of the Cross” (32:25 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.

Zebulon Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 25 February, 2007 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

Great And Mighty Themes

”For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” | 1 Corinthians 1: 22-24

That which should be preached the most often is, I’m afraid, the least often preached and that is the cross of Christ.

Bishop J.C. Ryle, one of the great, old preachers of many years ago and one of the great writers said this: “The cross of Christ is the strength of the preacher. I for one would not be without the cross of Christ. I’d feel like a soldier without his weapons.”

I’d feel like an artist without a pencil.

I’d feel like a pilot without a compass.

I’d feel like a carpenter without his tools.

-Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Great And Mighty Themes” (57:57 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: 17 June, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a

Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

No More Curse

“Why dost thou strive against Him? For He giveth not account of any of His matters” | Job 33: 13

Years ago when asked by my children for a reason about a decision I had made concerning them my answer was often, “because I said so!”

I had my reasons and that was enough.

Truthfully I had their best at heart and my decision was for their good and therefore I owed them no further explanation.

When it comes to the Lord’s dealings with us, Scripture reveals that: “He doeth according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay His hand, or say into Him, what doest Thou?” (Daniel 4: 35)

He owes no explanation to His creatures.

He is the Potter and we are the clay.

If we’re called upon to suffer at the merciful hand of chastisement, He has promised that He’ll never leave nor forsake us.

Rest assured, the path that He has chosen for His elect is according to absolute wisdom and as He told the apostle Paul, when Paul besought the Lord thrice to remove a thorn in the flesh, “My grace is sufficient for thee.”

~ Pastor Marvin Stalnaker

Click here to listen to the message “No More Curse”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 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: 15 April, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a

Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

Holy Ground

”Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.” | Psalm 32: 11

I have been reading a history of the year 1776 in the American Colonies.

After the British had left Boston, George Washington expected they were heading for New York. Therefore, Washington moved a contingent of the Colonial Army there in order to defend the city. One gentleman, Lieutenant Isaac Bangs, sought as much information about the city as he could discover. In order to investigate the seedier side of New York City, Bangs went to a place called the Holy Ground.

It was a foul slum in which every debauchery imaginable could be indulged. It was called “The Holy Ground” because a great deal of it was owned by the local church. It was commented that, “If there was trouble after dark in New York, it was nearly always in the Holy Ground… Less than a week after the continental army moved into the city, all hell erupted in the Holy Ground.”

My first thought was, “Isn’t that the way it always is with things that man calls holy.”

I have yet to know of a church where “holiness” was the primary focus that such holiness did not just prove a thin veneer over all manner of evil. Let a church lay claim to a place and call it holy; it will not be long until the place will be known for great wickedness.

Once again it is proven that the things which are highly esteemed among men are an abomination to God.

The Bible calls some things holy.

God is Holy. “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty. The whole earth is filled with His glory.” He is set apart from all His creation as the one God over all.

Jesus Christ is Holy: “So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.”

“You are the Holy One of God.”

He is set apart from the rest of humanity as the only one essentially born of God and having a Divine nature and the one chosen of God to save His people.

And God’s church is Holy.

Her members are called “saints” which is from the same Greek word as “holy.”

The church, herself, has not designated herself to be holy: “Holy” is what God has called her.

She recognizes that the term “holy” does not describe some virtuous character about her but signifies that she has been chosen, redeemed and called by God; set apart from the reprobate, condemned and dead world. She has been set apart by God, to God and for God. She is no better than the rest of the world, just greatly privileged.

In these holy things, there is goodness, purity, and decency.

~ Pastor Joe Terrell

Click here to listen to the message “Rejoice Ye Righteous”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 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.

FreeGraceRadio.com Bulletin Article date: 7 January, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Danville, Kentuky

Posted on by Sovereign Grace Bulletin Articles

A Soul’s Cry Who Needs Christ

”And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.” | Ruth 1: 16-17

That wrath, that great wrath, that fierce wrath, that pure wrath, that infinite wrath, that matchless wrath of an angry God, that was so terribly impressed upon the soul of Christ, quickly spent His natural strength, and turned his moisture into the drought of summer.

”For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.” (Psalm 32: 4)

Yet all this wrath He patiently underwent, that sinners might be saved, and that ‘He might bring many sons unto glory,’

”For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.” (Hebrews 2: 10)

Oh wonder of love!

~ Thomas Brooks

Click here to listen to the message “A Soul’s Cry Who Needs Christ”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 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 March, 2022 | Previous post date: n/a