Sovereign Grace Baptist Church

Free Grace Media

Of Princeton, New Jersey

 

AuthorClay Curtis
TitleWeekly Bulletin 3-31-2019
Bible Text2 John 1:9-11
Date30-Mar-2019
Article Type Bulletin
PDF Format pdf
Word Format doc
Audio HI-FI Listen: Hereby We Know We Love (32 kbps)  /  [go to notes]
Audio CD Quality Listen: Hereby We Know We Love (128 kbps)  /  [go to notes]
 

March 31, 2019

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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Proverbs 13: 2: A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence.  Christ said, “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.” (Lu 6:45) The man God has given a new heart speaks out of the abundance of his new heart ministering good fruit to those who hear him.  But while he speaks the truth, ministering grace and comfort to others, he also eats that good fruit himself.  Yet, the transgressor, whose pleasure is violence toward others, shall eat the same violence himself.  On the day of Judgment the Lord Jesus said, “By thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned” (Mt 12: 37).  A believer who speaks for Christ against himself, confessing that all his hope of justification and acceptance with God is Christ’s righteousness freely imputed to him through faith, shall eat the fruit of his mouth when God declares him justified according to his own words.  But the transgressor who speaks against Christ for himself, boasting that he does not need Christ but is saved by his own works, shall eat the violence of his own mouth when God declares him condemned according to his own words.

 

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As a pastor I would be greatly discouraged at times when I see professing believers forsake assembling together with God’s people were it not for God’s word that assures me that God puts his own love for Christ into the new hearts of his people making us love God and our brethren by believing on Christ Jesus our Lord.   It is only by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ that we love our brethren who are born of God.  Only by God’s preserving grace making us persevere in faith in Christ do we continue assembling with our brethren, entrusting our brethren to Christ to make them stand, and forgiving one another for Christ’s sake even as God has forgiven us for his sake.   

 

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Those who hate the election of God seem to think that those who love it are proud and puffed up because God chose them.  There is nothing that will humble a believing sinner more than the glorious truth that they were chosen of God, “neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth.” (Romans 9:11) Their humility is magnified further when they see that all their sin is against God and that they can do no good at all, but ONLY evil in God’s sight! (Psalm 51:4) No, you will find no proud sinner in heaven’s glory! There you will discover only broken, thankful, redeemed wretches, conformed perfectly to the image of God’s Son, grateful and humbled that He chose them in Christ before the foundation of the world. (Ephesians 1:4)                 Pastor David Eddmenson

 

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EVERYTHING OFFENSIVE

 

2 John 1: 9: Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God.  He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 10: If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 11: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

 

I read an invitation to a conference that some church leader sent to me which read, “At this conference there will be nothing preached or done that is controversial or offensive.”  In other words, the gospel will not be preached.  God keeping us, everything we preach from this pulpit will be offensive.  We will not try to be offensive.  But declaring sinners ruined by the fall so that none can save himself is offensive to proud sinners.  Declaring the necessity of redemption by Christ who redeemed his particular people alone offends the self-righteous.  Declaring the necessity of regeneration by the Holy Spirit by which sinners are effectually called to faith is offensive to the will-worshipper.  But if we would love our brethren, even strangers (among whom may be Christ’s lost sheep), we must declare salvation by the will and work of God who saves whom he will, apart from our works.  Many think it is love to receive and unite with those who preach and believe false doctrine.  They say don’t tell them that God first loved his people and only his people or that God first chose his people and only his people; don’t tell them Christ is the Wisdom, Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption of his people so that none can glory save in Christ alone.  But those who say such things have not experienced the “hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces” or else they would know that God saves through the gospel (Jere 23:29-32).  Does the Holy Spirit teach us to receive liars?  “If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.”  That is not being mean, it is being truthful.  But if we receive eternity bound sinners as brethren who believe lies, it is pure hatred!  To love is to remain faithful to Christ, as we speak the doctrine of Christ in truth and love, declaring that sinners are saved by Christ’s works and not our own!

 

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THE PURPOSE AND USE OF OUR INTERNET BROADCAST

 

Our live internet broadcast is, first, for our elderly members (some who come from as far as 2 hours away) whose infirmities prevent them from assembling as often as they would.  Also, it is for our members who live so far away that it is impossible to get here after work for the midweek service.  Of course, it is also for our members who are too sick to be here.  In each of these cases, I encourage you to join us via the live broadcast, as opposed to choosing a prerecorded sermon (see below).  The rest of the time, the prerecorded sermons are to be a supplement but never a substitute for being here. 

 

    Secondly, our live internet broadcast is for those living where God has not raised up a local church within a day’s driving distance.  I encourage you to join us consistently each service the same as you would if you lived near enough to assemble in person.  In this case, it is better to join us via the live broadcast rather than choosing a prerecorded sermon.  When we chose a prerecorded sermon, we tend to pick what we want to hear.  The live broadcast is better because then you get to hear the message the Lord has given for that service for that hour.  Also, by joining us consistently via our live broadcast you get to go verse by verse through the books of the Bible that we are going through each week.  Since nothing is as good as assembling together with brethren in person, if there is a church near enough for you to attend over a long weekend, I encourage you to do so as often as possible.  You will get the added benefit of fellowship with brethren.  Also, I encourage you to attend one or more of the annual weekend conferences held by our sister churches in various parts of the country.  For a schedule of some of the upcoming conferences, check our website www.FreeGraceMedia.com or check the “Events” section on our sermon audio website.     

 

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BELIEVERS WITHOUT A LOCAL CHURCH

 

Almost weekly, I receive letters from believers who God gave faith after they had already established a home far from where the gospel is preached.  They always tell me how grateful they are that you provide the broadcast online.  But though they are grateful to have it, they hunger to assemble with brethren to hear Christ preached in person.  It is amazing that God uses them to remind us to be thankful for this gift God has given us and to never take for granted assembling each time the gospel is preached.

     Someone might ask, “Why don’t they just move?” That is easier said than done.  Some have lived in their hometowns their whole lives.  Families, occupations, and responsibilities are roots that run deep.  When any believer does as Abraham when he left Ur and went out, not knowing where he went, it is by God graciously giving them faith and moving them.  All our obstacles are no obstacles at all to God.  But they are to us.  Throughout his word, when God’s child moves it is by God strengthening faith within them, enabling them to loosen every tender tie so they go where God has established his gospel.  By experience, I bear witness that when God gives faith, God opens the way and makes every provision for his child.  When I moved my family from Tennessee to New Jersey my income decreased over half and my cost of living tripled.  It was only by God strengthening faith in me to look to him alone that I was able to move.  Then it was as easy as packing a moving truck and impossible not to.  And the Lord has provided.  But until God strengthens our faith, sanctifying himself in our hearts far above the obstacles, it is impossible for us to pack the first box.

     Therefore, the best thing we can do for our brethren in that situation is ask God to do with them as he will.  When it is God’s will to move us, he usually gives us a heart so that it is impossible for us not to.  We always have our doubting flesh.  But God convinces our hearts that he will open the way and provide.  Even when we encounter difficulties, God keeps our heart stayed on him.  But if we do not know what God would have us to do, the best thing is to do nothing.  It is so in any decision.   

     To my brethren who are without a church, continue faithfully assembling with us online each time we meet via the live broadcast.  And if the Lord gives you a heart to move where the gospel is preached, as you encounter difficulties (which you are sure to encounter), do not loose heart, but remember, “God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency  in all things, may abound to every good work.” (2 Cor 9: 8)