Sovereign Grace Baptist Church

Free Grace Media

Of Princeton, New Jersey

 

AuthorClay Curtis
TitleWeekly Bulletin 9-16-2018
Bible TextEphesians 6:9
Date15-Sep-2018
Article Type Bulletin
PDF Format pdf
Word Format doc
 

September 16, 2018

SOVEREIGN GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH

 

MEETING LOCATION

251 Green Lane

Ewing, NJ, 08368

Clay Curtis, pastor

Telephone: 615-513-4464

Clay@FreeGraceMedia.com

 

MAILING ADDRESS:

7 Birch Street

Pennington, NJ, 08538

 

Schedule of Services

Sunday 10: 15 AM Bible Class

Sunday 11:00 AM Morning Service

Thursday 7: 30 PM Midweek Service

 

Services Broadcast Live @ www.FreeGraceMedia.com/live

 

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NURSERY

We have a nursery equipped with a digital flat screen television broadcasting all services live, for children four and under.  

All articles by the pastor unless otherwise noted.

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SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE WEBSITE: The videos are now listed as individual sermons, as well as full servicesclick here.

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SUNDAY’S READING IN PROVERBS

Proverbs 12: 3: A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.

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PUT IN TRUST WITH THE GOSPEL

1 Thessalonians 2:4: But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even  so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

     What a privilege to preach the unsearchable riches of the Lord Jesus Christ. God called preachers understand that they are “allowed of God” and “put in trust with the gospel.” To think that God would trust me with the preaching of His glorious gospel is so humbling and at the same time with it carries a tremendous load of responsibility. God has “allowed me” to preach the Gospel of His redeeming grace in Christ. God has “put me in trust with the message of Christ and Him crucified.” I surely don’t take it lightly.      

     “But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak;
not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.” God gets all the glory in the preaching of Christ and in the saving of sinners. We are not allowed of God to preach tickling things to itching ears, like man’s free will decision and works of man’s so-called righteousness. Those things are pleasing to men! We preach the things that are pleasing to God, the things which trieth our hearts.

    
Beloved, you too have been allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel. Are you telling others about His free and sovereign grace in Christ? It is your responsibility to do so. God has put you in trust with the task. May God enable us to be faithful to Him!  Pastor David Eddmenson

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A FRUIT BEARING GIFT 

Philippians 4: 18: But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.

The brethren at Philippi thought warmly and considerately of Paul. Paul was in chains in Caesar’s household for preaching the gospel of Christ his Lord. And being thoughtful they recognized Paul would benefit from their gift. Little could they have imagined that they’d receive the greater gift in return. For when their messenger, Epaphroditus came back to them he brought this letter filled with the sweet odor of Christ.

      Have you been thinking of giving or doing something for a sister or brother? But you’ve since put it off or talked yourself out of it? You just never know how the Lord may use it to touch the heart of his child. If they are provoked to give God thanks for his display of kindness toward them, is it not worth the small sacrifice we’ve made? Do it quietly without telling others. Do it for them without seeking or expecting anything in return. Do it cheerfully and prayerfully and not for reward.

      Have a ready heart to serve your gracious God and his people. The Lord will undoubtedly bless you more in turning you from self while instead, thinking of others. Remember the letter to the Philippians. It certainly blessed that giving church more than the few earthly goods they parted with in giving them to Paul. Our Lord did say “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). And look how it has blessed the church for nearly two thousand years since. It has truly redounded to the glory of God (2 Corinthians 4:15).

Our Lord Jesus gave us the most precious gift when he shed his blood for our sins under the just wrath of holy God. He put off his glory with the Father to fulfill all righteousness for his people. He bore our sins and bear them away forever. In him we died and in him we now live. Behold what a sacrifice he made to bring us to glory! “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

Giving often requires a sacrifice. But what is that sacrifice compared to what your Savior did for you? If you labor to hold onto your possessions, your possessions will perish with you and do no good for your brethren. Sacrifice does require one to deny oneself, and to prefer another before you. It’s in our Savior’s work where we see most clearly how denying oneself for others brings forth abundant fruit unto God. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal” (John 12:24-25).

Our Savior’s death brought forth abundant fruit in bringing many sons and daughters unto God. Your gift won’t accomplish what his death and sacrifice accomplished. But it testifies to the continuing power of his resurrection and the fruit he bears in his children (Philippians 1:11).  Pastor Eric Lutter

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MY GRACE

Matthew 26: 42: O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.

Christ asked this three times. God did not remove the cup. But God sent an angel from heaven which strengthened him.  So now when we are like Paul, praying three times for God to remove our thorn in the flesh, Christ, having fully experienced both the weakness of our flesh and the sufficiency of God’s grace, speaks into our hearts, “My grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” 

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YOUR MASTER IS IN HEAVEN

Ephesians 6: 9: And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.


Believers who are bosses should be the best boss any employee can have.  The reason is because Christ Jesus your Master is in heaven.  

 

     First, Christ our Master says to every earthly master, “ye masters, do the same things unto them.” (Eph 6: 9) Give your employees what is just and equal. Christ gave us mercy because it was just to do so by him establishing the law on our behalf.  All his people are equal in him: in righteousness and holiness.  Brethren, we have a good Master!  He says give those under your rule that which is just and equal.

 

     Secondly, Christ says to us, “forbear threatening.”  Far too often managers rule their employees with hardness. Christ rules his people with gentleness, kindness and moderation.  The word here means that Christ “loosens the yoke; makes it light and easy.”   When we were the servants of sin, we were under a heavy yoke of bondage under the curse of the law.  But Christ our Master came and delivered his people from that heavy yoke and has given us the light and easy yoke of faith and love.  Therefore, brethren, let us not be guilty of professing to be under the light yoke of grace then yoke others with the heavy law of Moses.  Let’s not be children of grace in the Lord’s house but Pharaohs’ taskmasters in the workplace!

 

     Lastly, Christ says remember, “your Master also is in heaven, neither is there respect of persons with him.” (Eph 6: 9) Remember, our Lord did not choose his people because of anything in us but by his free and sovereign grace.   And Christ pays no attention to face, place, or race.  The rich found outside of Christ shall be condemned the same as the poor.  He looks on the heart.  Christ teaches both his servants and his masters to do all “as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.” (Eph 6: 6)