December 4, 2016
SOVEREIGN GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH
LOCATION
Rocky Hill Firehouse, 2nd Floor
150 Washington Street
Rocky Hill, New Jersey, 08553
Clay Curtis, pastor
Telephone: 615-513-4464
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.
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All articles by the pastor unless otherwise noted.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
· If it is the will of our Lord we will have our first service in the new building next Sunday, December 11, beginning at 10:15 am.
· In case you are making plans for next month, services are scheduled as normal for Sunday, December 25th.
· Dec 9-11, Todds Road Grace Church will be hosting a Bible conference. You can view the services live online. Scheduled speakers are Don Bell, Bruce Crabtree, Chris Cunningham, David Eddmenson, Greg Elmquist, Don Fortner, Gabe Stalnaker, Marvin Stalnaker, and Frank Tate.
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SUNDAY’S READING IN PROVERBS
Proverbs 2: 1: My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; 2: So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; 3: Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; 4: If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; 5: Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. 6: For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. 7: He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. 8: He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints. 9: Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.
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The average person who gives money, gifts, or charity to others may think that this gift, whatever he gives, should be regarded as a loss, certainly not called assets, nor investments, nor gain. That is not so! Gifts, money, and alms given to others is no more loss than the seed planted by the farmer is loss. Anything given to others in the name of Christ, for the glory of our Lord, is not loss, but gain in every way. Our Lord said in Luke 6:38, “Give and it shall be given to you… For with the same measure that you give withal it shall be given to you.” This is saying that God uses the same container or measure for our gifts to us as we use for our gifts to others. The more generous the farmer is with his seed, the greater the harvest; and the more generous and loving and giving we are enabled to be, the greater the blessing. No! Giving is not a loss, but a great gain. A person may say, “I cannot afford to give.” If we have an understanding of the grace of God, we cannot afford not to give. Pastor Henry Mahan
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MEMBERS OF CHRIST’S BODY
“If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?” Are we to imagine there is one chosen child of God in his body for whom Christ shed his precious blood that Christ values less than another? Is there a member of our body that we value less? Remember, whatever our gift or place in Christ’s body, it is Christ who gives and withholds from the members of his body. (Eph 4: 7) Do we imagine that Christ would count one less when Christ is the one who withheld a gift from them? Of course not! (Is 42: 3) But each member serves a specific purpose at each specific time in the body of Christ. Each member—whether given a gift to minister or given a need to be ministered unto—are set in his body at all times by our all-wise God. Right now, whatever our condition whether we have ability or inability, gifts or lack thereof, needs or fullness, God placed us in his body that way. Let us not complain. Remember when Moses complained about his speech impediment? “And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?” (Ex 4: 11) So it is in Christ’s body.
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LOVE FOR OTHERS
Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. —Philippians 2:4
The failure of most preachers is not due to the fact that they do not have a pastor's head, voice, or energy; but because they do not have a pastor's heart! The failure of most church members and professing Christians to be a blessing to family, friends, and outsiders is not that they do not have the proper doctrine, the proper moral integrity, and enthusiasm for the truth; but because they don't have the proper attitude and love for others!
If you don't really love people (sinners and saints) they sense it; and not only will they not only love you they won't listen to you either! If you are not really concerned about the everyday problems and burdens of others they don't want to hear you talk about their spiritual problems! Most fundamental, separated, religionists whom I know are big head, big mouth, and small heart! They want to talk about “the things of the Lord”, but have little love or concern for the things of others. Don't blame all of your loneliness on the gospel; much of it is caused by your unlovely personality!
Pastor Henry Mahan
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There is no better way to exhort a fellow believer to “all lowliness and meekness” than to do so in a spirit of “lowliness and meekness.”
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NOW ARE WE THE SONS OF GOD
I John 3: 2 "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is."
Believers are now, even in this unglorified state, sons of the living God; and heirs of His grace. Representatively in our Savior we are redeemed, justified, sanctified, reconciled, and righteous. Being accepted in the beloved, we are seated with Him in the heavens. (see Ephesians 1: 3-6; Ephesians 2: 4-6) Outwardly and circumstantially it does not yet appear that way to men. Living moderate lives, subject to illness, aging, death, living as strangers and pilgrims, and stumbling along lives wilderness journey, we do not look like heirs of God.
Oh, but God be praised, we shall in that day. As we are ushered into our Fathers house and crowned with the crown of righteousness, life, and glory; we shall indeed appear as sons as we take our place with the firstborn Son, far above mortality, corruption, and condemnation. There shall we be presented in the perfection of himself: We are now the sons of God. Though it does not appear now; on that day it will be acknowledged by all and that to the glory of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Pastor Darvin Pruitt
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Emanuel Baptist Church in Merida, Mexico, where Missionary Cody Groover was pastor until the Lord called him home last week, requested that this letter be circulated to her sister churches in the USA and other parts of the world.
November 20, 2016
To our brethren in the United States and other parts of the world who have prayed for us during these sad but special moments.
We want to tell you that as a church we give thanks to our Lord for your lives and your prayers which have been heard and answered. Our Lord has strengthened us and is granting us great comfort.
We were greatly blessed by our Lord for giving us, by His grace and mercy, brother Cody Groover and it is a blessing to know that he is in glory with our Lord where there is an abundance of joy and delights by His side forever. And we continue to be blessed by the witness and strength of his family, that in many times, instead of us comforting them, they have comforted us.
We also say to pastor Walter and his wife Betty that we love them and want to hug them and express our love for them. It is so beautiful to watch how our Lord continues to use them, as God used him in the edification of our loving pastor and it was wonderful to be ministered unto by his grandson today. We love you brother [Walter] and we are always blessed when you minister to us with the Word.
We thank the church of our brother David for obeying God and sending Pastor Cody to bless us and our Yucatan. Brothers, to all who have prayed and sent offerings, out of love towards our Lord, the Lord is doing a great work and you have been, are, and will be a part of the work.
Iglesia Bautista Emanuel
Mérida, Yucatán, México