Sovereign Grace Baptist Church

Free Grace Media

Of Princeton, New Jersey

 

AuthorClay Curtis
TitleWeekly Bulletin 3-4-2018
Bible TextEphesians 5:11-16
Date03-Mar-2018
Article Type Bulletin
PDF Format pdf
Word Format doc
 

March 4, 2018

SOVEREIGN GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH

 

MEETING LOCATION

251 Green Lane

Ewing, NJ, 08368

Clay Curtis, pastor

Telephone: 615-513-4464

 

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 11: 2: When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.

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REPROVE RATHER THAN FELLOWSHIP

 

Ephesians 5: 11: And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. 12: For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. 13: But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. 14: Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. 15: See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16: Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

 

This word is to us whose salvation is of the Lord.  We may think that by joining friends to hear their preacher preach lies or by joining them in some other work of darkness, we can show them what a good friend we are and eventually we will be able to bear witness to them of Christ.  But if we join them in darkness, it says we approve of their darkness. Darkness does not reprove darkness. “All things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.”

 

     Therefore, God says have no fellowship with them in darkness “but rather reprove them.” Instead of joining them, “come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord.” (2 Cor 6: 17)  When we were lost the best thing believing friends could do for us was bring us to hear the gospel of Christ the Light. It is through the gospel that Christ said, “Awake thou that sleepest, arise from the dead” and gave us Light! By this means we ceased glorying in our flesh and we began glorying only in the Lord. By this means our faith stood by the power of God rather than the wisdom of men. (1 Cor 1: 17-2: 5)

 

     Brethren, God our Father chose us, Christ redeemed us, and the Spirit gave us life making us children of Light. Let us walk as children of Light—“not as fools, but wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”  Use the time we have with urgency, inviting friends and loved ones to come hear the gospel of Christ.  This is the Light by which God begins and continues to reprove our darkness and give all his people Light.

 

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“As Far as the East is from the West”

If there were some precise point of distance from the East to the West, it must follow that there is some place where our sins may be found (Psalm 103:12), they are not really taken away, they may yet be found by God and charged to us, Christ is a failure, redemption is a hoax, and the gospel we preach is a delusion.

 

     Rejoice, O my soul, rejoice!  There is no place where my sins are found. The Lord Jesus Christ purged them, removed them, took them all away. Children of God, rejoice! Your Savior’s precious blood washed away our sins. Jehovah has cast them behind his back. He who knows all things and forgets nothing has forgotten them forever. And in that great day when he searches the books, they shall not be found (Jeremiah 50:20).  Pastor Don Fortner

                                                                                                          

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SALVATION IN SPITE OF

No one can be saved by anything they do or don’t do.  The scriptures make that as clear as the sun in the sky. “By the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight.” (Romans 3:20)  No one can be righteous and deserve salvation. “There is none righteous, no not one.” (Romans 3:10)  So if a sinner will be saved it must be in spite of himself not because of anything he has done.  That is exactly how God saves sinners: in spite of everything about us.  “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.    Pastor Frank Tate

                                                    

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“WHAT THINK YE OF CHRIST?”

Do you know him as the Sovereign Creator who designed this whole universe as it pleased him, asking no one’s advice or counsel? Do you know him as the God-man who died on the cross to save his chosen people? Do you know the Gospel of Jesus Christ, made effectual by his saving power, as that which delivered you from such a state of spiritual deadness that you were unable to contribute anything to the miracle of the new birth? Do you know Jesus Christ as your risen Lord, seated on his sovereign throne of power in heaven, doing what pleases him, asking no one’s permission, or allowing anyone to question him for what he does? If your answer to those questions is not a God-honoring, “Yes,” you do not know Jesus Christ Who is the power of God and the wisdom of God!  Pastor Gene Harmon

 

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There is no greater proof of the natural man’s hatred of Christ and the Gospel than his prideful attempt to promote his own personal righteousness as a means of salvation. Pastor David Eddmenson

                                        

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It is more profitable and enjoyable to love than to hate, to forgive than to hold a grudge, to smile than to quarrel, to behave kindly than to act ugly. The way of the transgressor is hard, not the way of the believer.                             Pastor Henry Mahan

 

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THE MARK OF DISCIPLESHIP 
     

 “By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if you have love one to another” (John 13:35)

     This is the new commandment. “A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another: as I have loved you, that ye also love one another” (John 13:34). Yes, we are to love God! Yes, we are to love His Truth! But then the Lord gives the evidence that can be seen, that will show us to be His disciples, it is our love to one another…the love that is longsuffering and kind…the love that is not envious, boastful, or conceited…the love that is not rude, self-seeking, easily offended, and keeps no records of wrongs. A love that covers in silence, is not suspicious, hopes the best, and endures all things…a love that is never reduced to inactivity (I Cor. 13:4-8). Isn’t it beautiful that the Lord has given this as the mark of discipleship? Truly this is the more excellent way that is the greatest of these. May we make love to one another our aim!  Pastor Todd Nibert

                                                                                                                                

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LET US DO GOOD UNTO ALL

 

Galatians 6: 9: And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 10: As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

When we first began posting bulletins and articles on our website someone gave me good advice.  They said once you start, stay with it and do not stop.  That is what is said here regarding our doing good to all men, especially brethren.  Stay with it and do not stop!  I have to admit at times I wonder if there is any point to continue making the bulletin or posting it on our website. Once that thought comes it usually is accompanied with a number of other reasons to cease.  Then I think of the one or two weary sinners that might be comforted by something posted and I press on. Let us do the same when it comes to helping one another in the cause of Christ our Redeemer. There are a million reasons to faint if we focus on those things.  But “he that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.” (Ecc 11: 4) 

     Instead, think on God’s promise, “he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting...for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”  When I plant a garden, the hardest thing is waiting between the time I sow the first seed and when I reap that first bushel of fresh peas or that first ripe tomato.  Waiting for the harvest is the hardest part when it comes to sowing to the Spirit.  But it is through “faith and patience” that we “inherit the promises.” (Heb 6:12) Until then, knowing how satisfied God is with Christ’s well-doing toward us on the cross and knowing how faithful and sovereign our great God is to do well toward us for his sake, “In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.” (Ecc 11