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God’s Election

“But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:” | 2 Thessalonians 2: 13

Knowing something of the wickedness of my own heart…

Knowing that I would have never come to the Christ of the scripture on my own…

Knowing that I would have chosen destruction, and loved darkness more than the salvation and light of life with Christ…

That makes God’s election to be the sweetest, kindest, most loving thing I have ever heard in my life.

~ Pastor Gabe Stalnaker

Click here to listen to the message “There Is Only One Hope For Us” (32:42 minutes)

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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: 26 January, 2020 | Previous post date: 26 December, 2022

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The Race That Is Set

”Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,” | Hebrews 12: 1

Everything about the believer’s race is set by God.

Our Lord determined before the foundation of the world those whom he would put in this race when he chose his people in Christ. The love of God for his people is as eternal as God is. It existed before time; it shall exist when time is no more. The everlasting love of God in Christ Jesus gives the believer great cause for patiently running this race.

Our God set the precise moment he would cross our path with the gospel. He determined the pastor he would raise up, gave him the heart to trust Christ, and the unction to preach his word in truth and in spirit. In that hour of love he made Christ our Wisdom.

We beheld something of the righteous skill with which Christ Jesus honored and magnified God’s law on our behalf.

We beheld his faithfulness and graciousness in satisfying justice on our behalf. In the light of Christ we heard the law condemn our sins and our sins were more than we could bear. But the Spirit revealed in our hearts that all our sins have been forever put away by Christ’s one offering.

In love and power Christ was made our Perfection, our Completion, our Righteousness, our All. When we behold God’s all-powerful hand in all providence which brought us to Christ in spite of us, the believer finds great comfort in knowing that the God who provided and is our Righteousness will continue to be our Strength to run this race.

Our God set every hurdle on this course which we must run and declares plainly to us that we must suffer much tribulation in this race. Yet, the God who set the course also reveals in us that he is the God who supplies the grace. That is what he teaches us as he carries us through every dark vale.

Our God set the length of our course. He has appointed the hour our race will end. By his grace we will find the finish line to be the most glorious hour of all the hours of our lives for then we shall enter into the presence of Christ our Redeemer.

What a joy to know that our race ends where it began, in Christ our Lord.

~ Pastor Clay Curtis

Click here to listen to the message “According to Promise” (41:21 minutes)

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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.

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church Bulletin Article date: 26 October, 2008 | Previous post date: 25 December, 2022 | Ewing, New Jersey

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Things That God Has Prepared

”But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” | 1 Corinthians 2: 9

Preaching that is most blessed to my heart is that which is declared from a man truly taught of God…

…one who proclaims only the glory of Christ, but sees himself as one who desperately needs to be taught…

…a man who prayerfully considers the Divine truth of God’s word and plainly proclaims it in such a way that the Lord Jesus receives all the honor, glory and praise and therein, needy sinners can hear and feast upon the Bread of Heaven Himself.

~ Pastor Marvin Stalnaker

Click here to listen to the message “Things That God Has Prepared” (28:45 minutes)

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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: 25 February, 2024 | Previous post date: n/a

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Cast All Your Care Upon Him

“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” | 1 Peter 5: 7

How great is our God whose hand paints every flower and shapes every leaf.

How great is our God who forms every bud on every tree and every infant in the womb.

How great is our God who feeds each crawling worm with a parent’s care and every insect that sleeps in the bosom of a flower.

How great is our God who opens the golden gates of day and draws the dusky curtains of the night.

How great is our God who measures every drop of rain, the whirling flakes of snow and the sands of man’s earthly life.

How great is our God who determines alike the fall of the sparrow and the fate of a kingdom.

How great is our God who so overrules the tide of human fortune that, whatever befalls a man, come joy or sorrow, the believer readily declares, “It is the Lord: let Him do what seemeth Him good.”

Cast all of your care upon the Lord Jesus Christ.

~ Thomas Guthrie

Click here to listen to the message “Cast All Your Care Upon Him” (31:39 minutes)

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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: 25 July, 2021 | Previous post date: 4 September, 2021

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The Desert Years

”And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage.” | Exodus 2: 23

It is striking how the holy truth of election was woven into the common speech of the early church.

When Paul greets the Thessalonians, he writes,” Knowing brethren beloved your ELECTION of God”. (1 Thessalonians 1: 4)

Peter begins his epistle with, “ELECT according to the foreknowledge of God;” and when he closes the same letter he says,” The church that is at Babylon, ELECTED together with you, saluteth you.”

John writes, “The elder unto the ELECT lady,” and closes the letter with, “The children of my ELECT sister greet thee.”

It was not at all awkward for election to come out even in these greetings and good-byes.

Why?

Because election was not merely a doctrine which they believed the Bible taught, but they worshipped the God of election.

Election tells us God is God!

and election tells us that salvation is all of grace.

This was doctrine that not only a few of the more mature believers believed, but it was woven into the ways and woof of the thinking of the early church.

It was the first thing Annanias told Paul about: “The God of our fathers hath chosen thee”. (Acts 22: 14)

Remember this; you cannot separate election and God Himself.

He is the God of election.

The early church knew this, and the church of the 20th century knows it also!

~ Pastor Todd Nibert

Click here to listen to the message “The Desert Years” (40:54 minutes)

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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: 25 February, 2007 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

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First Corinthians Two

”But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness. For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me? And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all. For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you. But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all.” | 2 Corinthians 2: 1-5

There is nothing more comforting to believers than God’s sovereignty over all things.

Under the most adverse circumstances, in the most severe trials, we believe that God has ordained our afflictions, that God overrules them, and that God will sanctify them for our good and His glory.

There is nothing for which we ought to contend more earnestly than the truth of God’s rule and reign over all things, all creatures, and all their actions.

The throne of God, His right to sit on that throne and to do with His own as He will, is what we believe and what we preach.

Let us be accused of over-emphasizing the majesty and power of the living God, but never let it be said that we underestimate His glory.

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “1 Corinthians 2”

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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: 6 May, 2018 | Previous post date: n/a

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Don’t Believe It, He’s Not There

”And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.” | 1 Samuel 2: 1

The twenty-forth Chapter of Matthew has been the source of much speculation by men trying to predict the time of the Lord’s return.

The tragic irony is that most of the discussion and debate has been by the very ones our Lord was warning us to avoid.

Right in the middle of this glorious prophecy is a description of the “false Christ’s” and “false prophets”.

“Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.” (Matthew 24: 26)

Here is the standard of measure we can use to try the spirits.

All false gospels declare Christ to be either in the desert or in the secret chambers.

Don’t believe it.

He will not be found in the desert of law keeping, the arid landscape of ceremony, or the dry lifeless soil of free-will.

Nor will He be found in the secret chambers of higher knowledge, deeper life, or an “anointed” charismatic experience.

No, when our Lord returns it will be just like when He comes to one of His elect in salvation.

“For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” (Matthew 24: 27)

He comes suddenly, sovereignly, and surely.

Look for Him in His free, sovereign, simple gospel of accomplished substitution and full satisfaction.

That is the only place He will be found, and He will be found there.

~ Pastor Greg Elmquist

Click here to listen to the message “Rejoice in The Lord”

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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: 14 January, 2007 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

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He Who Counts The Stars!

“He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names. Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.” | Psalm 147: 3-5

He who counts the stars and calls them by their names, is in no danger of forgetting His own children!

He knows your case as thoroughly as if you were the only creature He ever made, or the only saint He ever loved!

It is most important for us to learn, that the smallest trifles are as much arranged by the God of Providence, as the most startling events.

“Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” (Matthew 10: 29-30)

He who counts the stars — has also numbered the hairs of our heads.

Our lives and deaths are predestined — but so, also, are our sitting down and our rising up!

~ Charles Spurgeon

Click here to listen to the message “All His Paths Are Mercy & Truth”

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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: 13 June, 2021

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Unbelief And Its Consequences

“For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.” | Romans 1: 20-23

The carnal heart will always give itself the honor, glory, and praise… thinking that it is the source of accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as man’s personal Savior.

It will foolishly comfort itself in self-righteous pride believing that soon heaven shall be its final home.

But a regenerated sinner will say with a broken but thankful heart, “Salvation is of the Lord and therefore I am what I am by the grace of God.”

~ Pastor Marvin Stalnaker

Click here to listen to the message “When God Gives a Man Up”

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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: 23 August, 2020 | Previous post date: 30 May, 2021

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The Lord Hath Been Mindful Of Us

”And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.” | Acts 13: 39

I have often thought, how very gracious it was in God the Holy Ghost, in directing his servant Paul thus to teach the church.

The Lord well knew how many of his people of little faith are at times sharply exercised, by reason of the slenderness of this principle; so as sometimes from the temptations of the enemy, and their own misgiving hearts, to call in question whether they have the least measure of faith.

And what a relief to the souls of all such ought it to be, and no doubt hath frequently proved, when they are here told, and from an authority which cannot err, that all that believe; whether strong believers, or weak believers; whether babes in Christ, or fathers in God: all are alike justified from all things, by Christ.

And the reason is given.

It is by Him.

Yes! Christ’s Person and Christ’s blood and righteousness, are the sole causes of justification; and perfectly distinct from, and unconnected with, any other circumstance whatever.

It is indeed a very blessed thing, and calls for great thankfulness in the hearts of those, whom grace gives the power to enjoy it; when a child of God is strong in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

But it never should be forgotten, at the same time, that it is not our faith, but Christ’s salvation, which is the whole security of the Lords’ people, and the weakest believer, as well as the strongest, are alike safe in Christ Jesus.

“That I will break the Assyrian in my land, and upon my mountains tread him under foot: then shall his yoke depart from off them, and his burden depart from off their shoulders.” (Isaiah 14: 25)

In the Lord shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.

~ Robert Hawker

Click here to listen to the message “The Lord Hath Been Mindful Of Us”

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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.

Sovereign Grace Baptist Church Bulletin Article date: 9 November, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Ewing, New Jersey