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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)

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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: 13 August, 2017 | Previous post date: 21 August, 2021 | Rocky Mount, Virginia

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There Is Only One Way!

”There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” | Proverbs 14: 12

There is only one way that leads to eternal life – God’s way; and God’s way is Jesus Christ.

God provided only one way for sinners to be covered from wrath and redeemed from destruction, and that way is through Christ being made to be the substitute for His people and the sacrifice for their sin.

Anything that we sinners add to that is not God’s way.

Anything that we sinners take away from that is not God’s way.

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14: 6)

God’s way is Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ ALONE!

~ Pastor Gabe Stalnaker

Click here to listen to the message “One Man” (27:09 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: 11 February, 2024 | Previous post date: n/a

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Too Many Things To Choose From

“Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.” | Isaiah 42: 1-4

Have you ever made a phone call and a voice comes on and says push one or two or four, then when you push that number it starts all over again?

How frustrating.

In every part of life there are too many things to choose from, in going to a restaurant, in choosing a car, what kind of computer should I get, on and on it goes.

But there is one thing in which there are no options:

SALVATION from sin and condemnation.

“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)

God in His Holy Word has made it plain and straightforward; ‘This is my beloved Son, hear Him.’

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14: 6)

God says there is ONE WAY to come unto Him.

“These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.” (John 17: 1-2)

God says there is One who has the power to give eternal life.

“What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,” (Romans 9: 22-23)

God says there is One who has the power to make God the Father known.

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

God says there is One in whom a sinner can be accepted.

“The LORD hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen.” (Psalm 98: 2)

The Holy Scriptures tell us there is One Righteousness;

“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)

The Holy Scriptures tell us there is Onee Savior of sinners,

“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” (1 Timothy 2: 5)

The Holy Scriptures tell us there is One Mediator between God and men, ‘The man Christ Jesus’.

“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” (Psalm 119: 156)

The Holy Scriptures tell us there is One who has the power to give life and quicken whom He will.

“Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;” (Hebrews 1: 2)

God says there is One whom He appointed heir.

“For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (2 Peter 1: 17)

God says there is One by whom He will be addressed.

“But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.” (1 Corinthians 8: 6)

God says there is One by whom He will address sinners, One – JUST ONE.

God will give no man any wiggle room here, freewill won’t do, works won’t do, merit has no place, and law keeping won’t be accepted.

The Lord God said it this way, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life: but the wrath of God abideth on him.” (John 3: 36)

I am so thankful that God the Father brought me to the place where there was no way out from under the guilt and condemnation of my sin and revealed the ONE WAY in which He would accept and make me righteous.

That Way is through and by the Lord Jesus Christ.

~ Pastor Donnie Bell

Click here to listen to the message “How Sinners Come To Christ” (40:23 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: 9 September, 2021

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A Strange Message!

”And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.” | Exodus 33: 19

The message of the Bible (Christ and him crucified) may be unfamiliar to the ears of those who do not hear Christ preached consistently, and do not study for themselves, and take someone’s word for the truth.

The religion of multitudes is superficial, to say the least.

When most people hear the true message of the Gospel their response is, “What in the world is he saying, I have never heard anything like that!”

Without taking the time to inquire and study and seek God to see if these things be true, they usually become angry and offended and judge it not to be so.

I feel that I can speak freely concerning this because I was once there myself!

The heart of false religion is focused upon self.

The theme of a false Gospel is:

God loves everyone.

Christ died for everyone.

Salvation is up to me.

The glory of God, the effectual work of Christ, the depravity of the human heart, and the sovereign grace of God is a strange message to those that are strangers to the truth.

The great concern of the flesh is health and prosperity here, and heaven and hell hereafter.

The great concern of the Christian message is the glory of God – here and hereafter!

If it were not for the programs, recognitions, theatrics, entertainment, pastors telling stories and dealing with moral issues, and telling people how good they are and begging for money, most church services could be cancelled.

Contemporary religion’s purpose is to make their message and methods palatable to fallen creatures at the expense of the glory of God and truth.

The message of the Gospel is as old as God himself and has never changed and never will.

May God in grace and mercy reveal to this generation his sovereign glory in Jesus Christ our Lord!

~ Pastor Tommy Robbins

Click here to listen to the message “Christ – Our ARK”

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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: 11 May, 2014 | Previous post date: n/a | Rocky Mount, Virginia

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The Strait Gate And The Narrow Way

“And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the LORD hath blessed.” | Genesis 27: 27

There is, without a doubt, no clearer picture or type of the blessing of God Almighty to an unworthy rebel than the blessing of Jacob by his father Isaac.

Jacob had exhibited the true nature of a wretched sinner. In Jacob’s mind, the only way he could get his father’s blessing was to impersonate his brother Esau. Lying with every breath, Jacob attempted to convince his father that he was someone else. Not until Isaac smelled the coat of Esau did he bestow the blessing. The smell of his first born satisfied the aging Isaac.

And just as the smell of Esau’s coat that covered Jacob ushered in the blessing to the younger son… Christ’s royal robe of righteousness, imputed to everyone that believeth in Christ, is the smell of satisfaction, obedience, and truthfulness to God the Father.

In ourselves, we are but “Jacobs,” deceivers, liars and supplanters.

But robed in the glorious robe of Christ’s imputed righteousness… we are accepted and blessed in the Beloved.

Apart from Him, there is no hope, no life, and no blessing from the just and Holy God.

~ Pastor Marvin Stalnaker

Click here to listen to the message “The Strait Gate And Narrow Way”

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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: 2 February, 2020 | Previous post date: 14 May, 2021

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God Performs The Salvation Of Sinners

“Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” | Luke 13: 24

God’s grace is not an offer, but an operation.

It is not a passion in God desiring the salvation of sinners, but the operation of God performing the salvation of sinners.

~ Pastor Don Fortner

Click here to listen to the message “The Strait Gate”

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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.

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This Man Recieveth Sinners, And Eateth With Them

“Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them” | Luke 15: 1-2

While the self-righteous Pharisees and scribes withdrew from the Lord Jesus Christ and then harshly criticized Him, many publicans and sinners drew near to hear Him.

What a blessing from the Lord to have a willingness to draw near to Him “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6: 44) and then to have ears to actually hear a word from Him. “Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.” (Acts 10: 33)

His words are words of life. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” (John 5: 24)

His words are words of salvation. “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) | “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4: 12)

The worst thing the Pharisees and scribes said of the Lord, “This man recieveth sinners, and eateth with them;” is the best thing any sinner could hear.

It is not sin that keeps a man from hearing the good news of the gospel of Christ, it is his presumed righteousness he is going about to establish by his religious deeds. “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” (Romans 10: 1-4)

No man will ever come to Christ while he is resting in the deeds of the law for salvation. “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” (Romans 3: 19-20)

It is only by the almighty power of His sovereign grace that will effectually quicken us and make us alive in Christ that will cause us to draw near to Him, to hear Him and to believe Him. “For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.” (John 5: 21) | “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;” (Ephesians 2: 1) | “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.” (1 John 5: 1)

This Man receives sinners! “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,” (2 Timothy 1: 9)

What a miracle of amazing and sovereign grace.

~ Pastor Tom Harding

Click here to listen to the message “Who Makes A Sinner To Differ?”

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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: 18 April, 2021 | Previous post date: 25 April, 2021

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Spirit of Judgment and Burning

”In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel. And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem: When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning.” | Isaiah 4: 2-4

How does Christ provide for his bride?

When there is no comliness in him for the carnal eye, how does he make the church fruitful to behold him as excellent and comely? “For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.” (Isaiah 53: 2-4)

It is by creating a new spirit within every chosen, redeemed sinner so that we behold all that Christ is and that he has done.

First, this spirit is called the spirit of judgment because it has to do with the law of God written on the newly created heart. The law of God commands righteous judgment. For example:

“Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.” (Leviticus 19: 15)

“Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in meteyard, in weight, or in measure.” (Leviticus 19: 35)

Yet, in our sin, without him giving us this spirit of judgment we think it is righteousness to take Christ’s name and attempt to provide our own life and righteousness. “And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach. (Isaiah 4: 1)

Therefore, this filth must be washed from the daughters of Zion. This polluted blood must be purged from Jerusalem, both at the cross and in the heart.

The Lord declares through Isaiah a great calamity, a stripping away of every false way and of all those things men looked to for their provision. We have seen prophesied here that by Christ’s work the land shall be left desolate and barren. And so when Christ sends forth the Holy Spirit, in power and grace he makes the personal land of the sinner desolate and barren.

We behold that when on the cross he cried out, “It is finished!” the veil in the temple rent into two pieces from top to bottom, declaring that Christ has satisfied God’s broken law in the place of his Bride. Christ has fulfilled the righteousness of God’s holy law on behalf of particular sinners. As Paul said to the Colossians: “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. (Colossians 2: 14-15)

There is now, no provision to be found in the “rudiments of the earth” — that is, in touch not, taste not, handle not – let us behold that the thought of providing any aspect of our standing with God is eating our own bread and clothing ourselves in our own raiment, it is the unrighteous judgment of looking to this barren land of our flesh for provisions. But the spirit of judgment is created within us when the Lord writes his law on the heart, then as the Psalmist said: “The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.” (Psalm 25: 9)

Christ is that Way.

Secondly, the spirit of burning has to do with the newly created zeal which the Spirit gives for Christ. When the Lord shall have stripped his people so that their land is barren, when he shall have washed away the filth and the corruption of blood, he gives them not only the spirit of judgment written on their hearts but also the spirit of burning or zeal for Christ and in that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel.

“In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel. And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem:” (Isaiah 4: 2-3)

Once the Lord has begun this work he never allows his bride to turn back to the barren land of the flesh and the corruption of this world. That is what the rest of the chapter declares.

“And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence. And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.” (Isaiah 4: 5-6)

Once the spirit of judgment and burning has been created within, the Lord promises Christ the Cloud and flame of Fire which guided Israel in the wilderness.

He promises Christ shall guide every dwelling place – each individual saint in whom he dwells.

Also, he promises to guide her assemblies – every place where he has raised up a pastor after his own heart.

Yes, upon all his people THE GLORY OF CHRIST JESUS – shall be a defense.

He is our Tabernacle for a shadow from the heat; Christ is our Refuge.

What a blessing to his bride made up of every individual saint when Christ makes himself excellent and glorious before our eyes.

~ Pastor Clay Curtis

Click here to listen to the message “The True Vine & The Husbandman”

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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: 12 October, 2008 | Previous post date: n/a | Ewing, New Jersey

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That Door Is Closed

”He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.” | Psalm 103: 10-13

If I had died as a child, I would be assured of a place in glory; but, that door is closed.

I am an adult. If I had been holy in birth and perfect in life, I would reign with Christ; but, I was born in sin and even my righteousnesses are filthy rags, so that door is closed.

What shall I do?

Is there no door open to such as I?

Yes, there is ONE!

Christ said, “I am the door, by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out and find pasture.” (John 10: 9)

Am I such a fool that I will turn from that one, God-given door, and perish?

God forbid!

~ Pastor Henry T. Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “Bless the Lord, Oh My Soul”

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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: 19 December, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a | Pikeville, Kentucky

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The Only Way

”Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David.” | Matthew 22: 42

How can a sinner approach God?

How can a son of Adam come before God, be accepted and be forgiven?

Only in the way which God has decreed – NO OTHER WAY!

This is not being too narrow nor radical, for the Scriptures declare this truth over and over. “There is none other name…”; “Other foundation can no man lay…”; “No man cometh to the Father but by me.”; “He that believeth not shall be damned.” (John 14: 6; Acts 4: 12; 1 Corinthians 3: 11)

Instead of insisting on another way, let us rejoice in His underserved mercy which provided THE WAY!

God has, in grace and mercy, purposed to show mercy to sinners in the only way consistent with His justice, truth, and love – the obedience and sacrifice of His only begotten Son. (Romans 3: 19-26)

~ Pastor Henry Mahan

Click here to listen to the message “What Think Ye 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.

Kingsport Sovereign Grace Church Bulletin Article date: 5 December, 2021 | Previous post date: n/a