May 6, 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
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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 services—click here.
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SUNDAY’S READING IN PROVERBS
Proverbs 11: 14: Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the
multitude of counsellors there is safety.
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"That ye may know how that the Lord doth put a difference between
the Egyptians and Israel."—Exod. xi. 7.
Who shall mark down all the
properties of distinguishing grace? What a vast difference doth grace make, in
this life, between him that serveth God, and him that serveth him not! And what
an everlasting difference will be made in the life which is to come. My soul,
make this thought the subject of thine unceasing meditation. Thou canst not
walk the street, nor go to public worship, nor watch the Lord's dealings in all
the vast and numberless dispensations going on in life, in the wide world of
providence and grace, but what everything speaks, in the language of the
morning portion, of the difference there is still put between the Egyptians and
Israel. Everything proclaims it, every event confirms it. And do not overlook
the great point of all—it is the Lord that doth all this. "Who maketh thee to differ from
another?" Oh for grace to be always on the watch-tower to mark this,
and for grace to acknowledge it! Precious Jesus, thou art the Source, the
Fountain, the Author, the Finisher, of all. "Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How
unsearchable are thy judgments, and thy ways past finding out." Robert
Hawker (1753–1827)
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“There may be some who hold
unconditional reprobation. I stand not here as their defender—let them defend
themselves as best they can. I hold God’s election, but I testify just as
clearly that if any man is lost he is lost for sin…I stand not in this pulpit,
nor in any other, to lay the damnation of any man anywhere but upon himself. If
he is lost, damnation is all of man, but, if he is saved, still salvation is
all of God.” Charles Spurgeon (From Exposition
of the Doctrines of Grace, Sermon #385)
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BELIEVERS REPRESENT THE LORD
Several years ago I applied for a
home improvement loan at a local bank. I did not deal with the president of
the bank or an officer of the bank but with one of the employees. This
particular employee was quite rude and unkind to me causing me to cancel my
account at that bank and move to another. The only contact I had with the bank
was with this very poor representative but it was enough to discourage me from
going there again.
You and I represent our Lord, the gospel of the Lord Jesus, and the
church of the first-born. The only contact some people have with the church and
kingdom of God is through us. What kind of impression do we leave on them?
What idea of Christianity do we convey to them?
I wonder if they do not sometimes walk away offended, disappointed, and
resolved not to inquire any further into our faith or listen to our message. I
realize that we are frail creatures, subject to all of the limitations of the
flesh, but we need to set a watch on our lips, control our tempers, and put
forth a special effort to adorn the gospel of His grace. If we endure
persecution for the gospel's sake, well and good, but not if we bring it on
ourselves by our own faults!
Pastor Henry Mahan
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A WORD TO BELIEVING WIVES AND UNBELIEVING HUSBANDS
1 Peter 3: 1: Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own
husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won
by the conversation of the wives; 2: While they behold your chaste conversation
coupled with fear. 3: Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning
of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 4:
But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not
corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in
the sight of God of great price.
If you are a wife who the Lord has
saved after marrying an unbelieving husband then this is God’s word for you. So
long as he does not prevent you from worshipping Christ or abandon you, which
includes physical abuse, then be in subjection to him. Show him your reverence
and obedience to Christ your Husband by your meek and quiet spirit toward him.
It may be that the Lord will use you to win him to come with you to hear the
gospel preached.
If you are an unbelieving husband married to a wife who rests in Christ
will you let me tell you what she wants from you above everything else? She wants you to simply come hear the
preaching of the gospel that glorifies Christ alone. She does not want you to
make a false profession. She wants you to look into scriptures with her to see
that this gospel is the very word of God. She wants you, by God’s grace, to
know the comfort only Christ can give when he makes his child know that their
warfare is accomplished. She wants your marriage to be made sweeter with true
meaning by you both having an interest in the triumphant Lord Jesus
Christ. I know this because it is what
every believer wants for those they love.
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A LOVING HUSBAND
It is easy to
submit to someone who loves you sacrificially. For a man to insist that his
wife submit to his authority without earning her respect by putting her needs
before his own can only cause resentment. The Lord proved His love for His wife
by giving Himself for her. He always speaks kindly to her. He is always tender
and patient with her. He reminds her constantly how precious she is to Him. She
in return, delights in submission to His loving authority. “Husbands love your wives even as Christ also loved the church and gave
Himself for it.” Eph. 5:22-33. Pastor
Greg Elmquist
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AS THE CHURCH IS SUBJECT UNTO CHRIST
Ephesians 5: 22: Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as
unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head
of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24: Therefore as the church
is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands
in every thing.
There is a false church, a false
bride, with whom this order is upside down.
Her husband can only exercise his will and save her if she lets him have
his way. That bride is an unruly woman who usurps authority over her husband.
She is not a keeper of her husband’s house because she arranges her house
around the children, preaching what the people want to hear, rather than
arranging the house around her husband. Anyone with spiritual discernment can
see how unbecoming this bride is to her husband.
It is not so with the true church. The true bride is subject unto Christ
her Husband in everything because she depends upon him for everything. Constrained by his everlasting love, she
submits to her Husband to redeem her from the curse of the law, to provide her
with life and righteousness and holiness. In awe of his Wisdom, she submits to
him for direction throughout her life. Knowing his power and grace, she submits
to her Husband to protect her and provide for her in all things in this world
and the world to come. Taken by his
faithfulness, she submits to her Husband to at last “present her to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle,
or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” She shows her love and submission to her
Husband by keeping herself a chaste virgin through the preaching of the gospel.
She keeps his house, arranging everything around him alone as she teaches his
children how great their Father is, that they are to obey him and give him the
glory due his holy name as they wait for his return. Everyone with spiritual
discernment sees the beauty of this bride by her submission and love and
adoration of Christ her Husband.
Therefore, it is to this true bride and her submission to Christ her
Husband and Savior that the wife is exhorted to look to learn submission to her
own earthly husband. “For the husband is the head of the wife,
even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their
own husbands in every thing.” (Eph 5: 24)