Atlantic Gospel Chapel Messages: Recent Episodes
Atlantic Gospel Chapel
What does it mean to truly recognize the voice of Jesus? In today's lesson, the speaker uses a simple story about answering a phone call from his sister to introduce one of the most beloved passages in Scripture: John 10 and Jesus' declaration, “I am the Good Shepherd.” Drawing from the healing of the man born blind in John 9 and the resistance of the Pharisees, We explore the contrast between those who hear Christ’s voice and follow Him and those who refuse to recognize Him despite clear evidence of His identity.
Through a careful walk through John 10, listeners are challenged to consider whether they merely admire the moral teachings of Christianity or have come to know Jesus personally as the Lamb of God and the Shepherd of His sheep. The message highlights Christ’s saving work at Calvary, His continuing care and intercession for believers, and the assurance that His sheep are known by name, protected in His hand, and called to enjoy a living relationship with Him.
Thank you for listening to today's teaching. We pray you know the voice of the Shepherd, and are encouraged to walk with Him.
Below is a list of the Scripture passages referenced during today's teaching:
John 9, John 10:1-33, John 10:27-30, Acts 16:13-15, John 17, Romans 8:26, John 1:29
What happens when God asks someone to believe the impossible? This week's lesson explores the shocking announcement of Jesus' birth to a humble young woman from an insignificant town and reveals what it teaches us about the character of God. While the world encourages us to trust in positive thinking, Scripture calls us to something far greater: faith in a God who does what human beings cannot. From the virgin conception of Christ to the salvation of sinners, the Bible is a story of God accomplishing the impossible through His power, not ours. [2026-08-02...ke 1.26-38 | Word]
Tracing God's promises from the Old Testament to their fulfillment in Jesus Christ, this lesson highlights the miraculous truth that the eternal Son of God entered human history to redeem His people. Mary's response, "Let it be done to me according to your word," becomes a model for every believer facing uncertainty, weakness, or seemingly impossible circumstances. When God makes a promise, His people can trust Him completely, because nothing is impossible with God.
Thank you for listening to this week's teaching. We pray you are encouraged through God's faithfulness to His promises.
Below is a list of the Scripture referenced in today's teaching:
Luke 1:26-38, Isaiah 9:1-2, John 1:46, Isaiah 53:2, Genesis 6:8, Ephesians 2:8-9, Matthew 1:21, John 1:1-14, John 1:15, John 5:18, Hebrews 1:3, 2 Samuel 7:12-16, Isaiah 9:6-7, Daniel 7:13-14, Genesis 1:2, Ezekiel 37:14, Hebrews 9:14, Romans 1:4, Psalm 91:4, Psalm 140:7, Genesis 18:14, Job 42:2, Jeremiah 13:23, Matthew 19:24-26, Revelation 11:15
In this concluding installment of Answering Mormons, today's teaching examines two of the most important questions in any religious discussion: Who is God? and How is a person saved? Drawing from both Mormon sources and the Bible, the preacher contrasts key Mormon teachings about God, Jesus Christ, and salvation with historic Christian doctrine. Particular attention is given to Mormon concepts of exaltation, works-based righteousness, and the claim that salvation comes only after a person has done all they can do.
Beyond doctrinal comparison, this message equips Christians to engage Mormon friends and missionaries with both truth and compassion. Rather than merely identifying theological differences, this lesson emphasizes the importance of clearly presenting the biblical gospel of salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone. Listeners will come away better prepared to understand Mormon beliefs, evaluate them in light of Scripture, and confidently share the hope of the gospel with those who hold a different view of God and salvation.
Thank you for listening to today's teaching. We pray you are strengthened and encouraged in lovingly sharing your faith with those outside the Christian community.
Below is a list of Scripture passages referenced in today's lesson:
Jude 3, 2 Corinthians 11:3-4, Isaiah 40:25-26, 1 Corinthians 15:40-42, Jeremiah 17:9, Proverbs 14:12, Proverbs 28:26, Isaiah 64:6, Romans 3:10-18, Romans 6:23, Hebrews 9:27, Galatians 1:8-9, 2 Corinthians 11:14-15, Romans 5:6-9, Ephesians 1:3, Hebrews 10:14, Numbers 23:19, Deuteronomy 6:4, 1 Samuel 2:2, Hebrews 13:8, Hebrews 6:18, Ephesians 2:8-9, Jude 17-25
In this second installment of Answering Mormons, today's lesson continues a biblical examination of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the claims upon which Mormonism is built. Beginning with the central role of Joseph Smith, the discussion explores how Scripture calls believers to test prophets, revelations, and religious movements. Using passages from both the Old and New Testaments, this message evaluates Joseph Smith's claims as a translator, his prophecies, and his assertion of additional revelation beyond the Bible.
The episode also addresses some of the most significant theological differences between biblical Christianity and Mormonism, including the nature of God, the authority of Scripture, and the concept of ongoing prophetic revelation. While critically examining Mormon teachings, the message emphasizes the Christian responsibility to engage Mormons with compassion, biblical truth, and the hope of the gospel, recognizing every conversation as an opportunity to point people to the saving work of Jesus Christ.
Thank you for listening to today's teaching. We pray you are encouraged through the teaching of God's Word and to be strengthened to recognize false teaching through the fervent study of Scripture.
Below is a list of Scripture passages referenced in today's teaching:
Jude 3, 2 Corinthians 11:3-4, Proverbs 30:5-6, Psalm 147:19-20, Romans 3:1-2, John 4:22, Hebrews 1:1-2, Deuteronomy 18:21-22, Deuteronomy 13:1-4, Acts 17:11, Genesis 1, John 1:1, Acts 9, Jude 17-23
Today's lesson begins a practical and biblically grounded examination of Mormonism (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) and how Christians can thoughtfully engage with Mormon missionaries and teachings. Prompted by a recent personal encounter with LDS missionaries, the preacher explores the biblical call to "contend earnestly for the faith" and explains why understanding the claims of Mormonism is an important aspect of Christian discipleship and evangelism.
The discussion focuses on the foundational role of Joseph Smith within Mormon theology, examining his claimed visions, the origins of the Book of Mormon, and the biblical standard for testing those who claim prophetic authority. Throughout the message, listeners are encouraged not merely to identify doctrinal differences, but to be prepared to lovingly and confidently share the gospel with those who may sincerely believe they have found the truth while embracing a different understanding of God, Christ, and salvation.
Thank you for listening to today's teaching. We pray you will be encouraged to contend earnestly for the faith.
Below is a list of Scripture passages referenced in today's lesson:
Jude 3-4; 22-23, 1 Peter 3:15, Galatians 1:8-9, Ezekiel 3:18-19, 1 Corinthians 14:29, Acts 17:10-11, John 5:31-39, Matthew 16:18, James 1:5-6, John 21:20-23, Deuteronomy 19:15
This past fourth of July marked 250 years of our nation's history. Celebrations around the freedoms enjoyed as citizens of the United States of America abound. Along with these celebrations, however, there is an on going debate around our freedoms; intensified by the fact that 2026 is an election year. Democrat and Republican candidates alike use language such as, "Democracy is on the ballot," or, "Our freedoms are at stake;" with each side accusing the other of trying to take away our freedoms. All the debate around freedom begs the question, "What is freedom?"
In this week's lesson, presented on July 5, 2026, we contrast the academic and cultural ideas around freedom with what Scripture defines as freedom. As we do so, we will look at this topic under three headings:
- What freedom is not
- What freedom is
- The source of freedom.
Thank you for listening to today's teaching. We pray that you will be blessed and encouraged as we consider what God's Word teaches about freedom.
Drive past any auto body shop and you'll see two versions of the same car: the mangled wreck and the restored beauty. Grant Nelson uses that picture to ask a question that hits closer to home than we'd like: what's the spiritual condition of your life, and what do people actually see when they look at you? In this message rooted in Acts 3, Romans 5, and Ephesians 2, you'll follow the lame beggar at the Beautiful Gate who went from begging to believing, and from broken to leaping for joy, all through the name of Jesus. You'll discover why Jesus doesn't just patch over our sin with spiritual Bondo but rebuilds us completely, why even tribulations serve God's purpose, and how the two simple words "but God" change everything. If you feel dinged up, stuck in your past, or beyond repair, this study points you to the cross, where shame loses and grace wins.
After 400 years of silence, God speaks again, and it happens to a faithful old priest who had long since given up on one of his deepest prayers. In this message from Luke 1:5–25, Alex Kremer walks through the angel Gabriel's announcement to Zechariah that he and Elizabeth, both far past childbearing age, will have a son named John, the forerunner of the Messiah. Along the way, you'll wrestle with our modern skepticism toward the supernatural, discover why Zechariah's "prove it" response brought God's discipline, and find real comfort in a God who hears prayers we've stopped praying. If you've ever wondered whether God still sees you, still keeps His promises, or answers in His own timing rather than yours, this study offers grounded hope. Learn how God works providentially behind the scenes, why repentance restores both vertical and horizontal relationships, and how to hold fast to God's promises when your circumstances seem to contradict them.
What if your ordinary Monday morning mattered as much to God as your Sunday worship? In this message from Colossians 3:22–4:1, Mike Eells dismantles the false wall between the "sacred" and the "secular," showing that all of life is worship when Christ is preeminent. Drawing on the reality show "Undercover Boss," he reframes daily work and service around one transforming truth: we labor for an audience of One who always sees, even when no one else does. You'll discover how the gospel redefines your motives, frees you from people-pleasing and resentment toward difficult bosses, and anchors your work in an unshakable eternal inheritance. Whether you're managing a team, raising kids, volunteering, or grinding through an unrewarding job, this sermon offers a liberating perspective: your faithful, unnoticed work is never wasted because the ultimate Boss rewards what's done for Him. Christianity isn't just for Sundays. It's for Mondays too.
Have you ever done everything right and still felt completely forgotten by God? Zechariah and Elizabeth lived blamelessly before the Lord, yet carried the deep ache of unanswered prayer for decades. In this message from Luke 1:5-17, Alex Kremer opens the Gospel of Luke against the backdrop of 400 years of divine silence and the brutal reign of Herod the Great. You'll discover why God so often prepares His greatest works of salvation in seasons of profound darkness, and what the righteous waiting of one ordinary priest reveals about trusting God's perfect timing in your own life. If you're walking through disappointment, barrenness of any kind, or the silence of unanswered prayer, this episode points you to the unshakable hope that God remembers His promises. The same God who broke His silence through John the Baptist has not forgotten you.
Today's lesson offers a sweeping, “helicopter-view” of the book of 2 Timothy by placing it within the life and ministry of the Apostle Paul and the early church. From the relative freedom of his first Roman imprisonment to the harsh conditions of his final confinement under Nero, Paul’s circumstances frame the urgency and weight of this letter. Written to Timothy—his trusted companion and spiritual son—this epistle serves not only as a personal encouragement but also as a charge to the broader church, particularly the believers in Ephesus who knew Paul well and had firsthand experience with both faithful teaching and rising false doctrine.
At its core, 2 Timothy is Paul’s final exhortation to remain steadfast in the gospel amid hardship, opposition, and spiritual decline. He urges Timothy to guard the truth, endure suffering with courage, and faithfully pass on sound teaching to future generations. Against the backdrop of increasing persecution and internal corruption within the church, Paul emphasizes the enduring power of Scripture, the necessity of perseverance, and the hope of eternal reward. Though written in a time of great difficulty, this letter resounds with confidence in God’s faithfulness and calls believers of every generation to stand firm, proclaim the Word, and finish the race well.
Thank you for listening to this week's teaching. We pray, that as we consider the life of Paul, you will be encouraged by God's faithfulness to His people.
In this closing passage of 2 Timothy, the Apostle Paul writes from a Roman prison as he awaits execution, offering a deeply personal glimpse into his final days. Surrounded not by crowds but by absence and memory, Paul reflects on the people who shaped his ministry—some who remained faithful, like Luke and Mark, and others who fell away, like Demas. Through these relationships, we see both the encouragement of Christian fellowship and the sobering reality of spiritual failure. Even in isolation, Paul’s longing for companionship highlights the importance of faithful friendships in the life of a believer.
Yet above all, this passage reveals Paul’s unshakable confidence in the presence and faithfulness of God. Though abandoned by many at his trial, Paul declares that the Lord stood with him, strengthened him, and will ultimately bring him safely into His heavenly kingdom. His closing words are not bitter, but full of grace, forgiveness, and hope. This final section reminds us that while people may fail, Christ never does—and His presence is the believer’s ultimate comfort in both life and death.
Thank you for listening to today's teaching from God's Word. It is our prayer that you will be encouraged through the unchangeable and unshakeable presence and faithfulness of God in our lives, just as He was with Paul.
In this week's lesson centered on 2 Timothy 4:6–8, the Apostle Paul reflects on his life, ministry, and imminent death with remarkable peace and confidence. Rather than viewing his death as defeat, Paul describes it as being “poured out like a drink offering”—a joyful and willing sacrifice to God. He sees his departure not as an end, but as a transition into the presence of Christ. Looking back, Paul declares that he has fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith, offering a powerful testimony of perseverance and faithful obedience in the midst of hardship and spiritual warfare.
Looking forward, Paul expresses unwavering hope in the future reward awaiting him: the crown of righteousness given by the Lord. This promise is not reserved for Paul alone, but for all who long for Christ’s appearing. God's Word, delivered through the Apostle Paul, challenges believers to evaluate their own lives—how they are serving God in the present, running the race set before them, and preparing for eternity. Ultimately, it calls Christians to live with the same confidence, knowing that through Christ, death has lost its sting and eternal life awaits.
Thank you for listening to today's teaching. We pray that just as Paul evaluated his own life that we can say, "I have finished the race set before me." And rest in the assurance that even in difficult times, there awaits a future reward for all those who long for Christ's appearing.
Drawing from the Apostle Paul’s final charge to Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:1–5, this week's lesson presents a solemn and urgent call for believers to remain steadfast in their God-given mission. Just as a soldier is commissioned in the presence of witnesses, Timothy is commanded to carry out his ministry before God and Christ, who will judge all. The core responsibility is clear: preach the Word faithfully, regardless of circumstances, audience response, or personal cost. Whether in favorable or difficult seasons, the task of proclaiming truth must not waver.
In Paul's instruction to Timothy, he also warns of a coming time when people will reject sound doctrine, preferring teachings that align with their own desires. In light of this reality, believers are exhorted to remain sober-minded, endure hardship, and faithfully fulfill their ministry. The call extends beyond Timothy to all followers of Christ—to proclaim the gospel, apply Scripture with wisdom and patience, and stand firm in truth until the end, trusting that God’s Word will accomplish His purposes.
Thank you for listening to today's teaching. We pray you are encouraged through the ministry of God's Word to preach the Word, no matter the circumstance.
For many, the book of Leviticus is a tedious read, filled with the required sacrifices and the ceremonial requirements of the priesthood. There is little seen in Leviticus that has much to do with the modern Christian believer.
But we must remember that above all, the Law of God, often referred to as the Mosaic Law, is a reflection of the character and nature of God. And among the books of the Law, Leviticus stands out as being especially focused upon the holiness of God, and therefore the requirement of holiness among His people who would be in His presence. A central passage in Leviticus is found in Leviticus 19:2, the the Lord commanding Moses, “Speak to all the congregation of the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘You shall be holy, for I, Yahweh your God, am holy.’”
In today's teaching, we look at one of the final chapters in Leviticus, as the Lord prepares His people for inhabiting the Land. It is a final call, as it were, for the people to live holy lives, not to receive redemption, but because they have been redeemed. And in it, we draw three lessons for the believer today:
- The blessing of obedience
- The curse of disobedience
- The faithfulness of the Lord to His promises
Thank you for listening to today's teaching. We pray you will be encouraged as we consider the faithfulness of a Holy, righteous and just God to His promises; for in His faithfulness, we see His grace, mercy and forgiveness on full display.
"You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart." It's a great hymn - but is that really the best answer we can give? The subjective experience of knowing Jesus is real and it matters. But when doubts creep in, when someone pushes back on your faith, or when a long-time believer quietly wonders if any of this is actually true, you need more than feelings. You need evidence. Stefan Johnson walks through the hard, historical case for the resurrection of Jesus Christ - from Thomas physically touching the nail marks, to the disciples watching Jesus chew and swallow a piece of broiled fish, to Paul's bold claim that over 500 eyewitnesses were still alive and available to interview. The burial, the sealed tomb, the Roman guards, the eyewitness testimony recorded in Acts 2 through 5 - it all adds up. Christianity is not a blind leap. The resurrection happened, and the evidence is stronger than you might think.
If 12 men couldn't keep the Watergate cover-up going for three weeks, how did 12 apostles maintain a "lie" about the resurrection for 40 years while being beaten, tortured, and killed? They couldn't—unless it actually happened. This Easter message from Atlantic Gospel Chapel's leadership team traces Jesus' post-resurrection appearances through four Gospel accounts. Grant Nelson opens at the empty tomb, where Roman soldiers passed out cold at the sight of an angel, and women became the first witnesses of history's greatest event. Doug Schorle walks the road to Emmaus, where two disciples' hearts burned as Jesus opened the Scriptures. Ned Brown meets us at the Sea of Tiberius, where Jesus restored Peter with a piercing question: "Do you love me?" And Alex Kremer presents the historical evidence from 1 Corinthians 15—over 500 eyewitnesses, hostile testimony from Jewish leaders, and a converted persecutor named Paul. The resurrection isn't just alive in our hearts. Jesus is actually, bodily, historically alive. And that changes everything.
This teaching from 2 Timothy 3:14–17 centers on the absolute authority, reliability, and sufficiency of Scripture. The message opens with a vivid illustration: if we begin tearing out parts of the Bible we find inconvenient or unbelievable, “really we don’t have anything.” From there, the lesson emphasizes Paul’s charge to Timothy to continue in the sacred writings—writings he had known since childhood—because these Scriptures are “able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” The speaker explains that all Scripture, both Old and New Testament, is “God‑breathed,” meaning it comes directly from the mouth of God and therefore carries His authority, truthfulness, and reliability.
The teaching then explores what Scripture does: it teaches, reproves, corrects, and trains believers in righteousness so that the “man of God may be equipped… for every good work.” Scripture shapes both how Christians think and how they live, forming doctrine, exposing error, correcting conduct, and cultivating godly habits. The message concludes with a pastoral appeal—echoing a quote from Charles Spurgeon—that believers must become true “people of the Book,” personally grounded in the Word so their faith does not depend on teachers who may come and go, but on the unchanging voice of God in Scripture.
Thank you for listening to today's teaching. We pray the church may truly be "people of the Book," not just in knowing the Word of God, but in letting it shape our attitudes and our actions, that Jesus Christ might be honored through His people.
Today's teaching references the following Scripture passages:
Primary Text: 2 Timothy 3:14-17
Additional References: Colossians 4:16, 1 Thessalonians 5:27, Galatians 1:11–12, 1 Corinthians 2:12–13, 2 Corinthians 2:17, 1 Corinthians 14:37, 2 Thessalonians 2:15, Deuteronomy 25:4, Luke 10:7, 2 Peter 3:15–16, 2 Peter 1:20–21, Romans 3:4, Acts 17:11, Romans 12:2, 1 Corinthians 2:14–16, Exodus 23:4–5 (referenced conceptually through examples), Leviticus 19:17–18
This teaching reflects on the emotional burdens people carry—worry, shame, disappointment, hopelessness—and the way past failures can weigh down the heart. Drawing from real‑life observations and Scripture, the message encourages listeners to “let the past be past” and turn fully to Jesus, the One described as both the great physician and the universal specialist who heals physical, emotional, and spiritual wounds. Through stories such as the repentant woman who “wet His feet with her tears” and the man freed from a legion of demons, the lesson highlights that no one is beyond hope and that Christ meets people exactly where they are.
The teaching emphasizes that Jesus came not to condemn but to rescue, offering forgiveness, rest, and a firm foundation for life’s storms. Believers are urged to release guilt, embrace the new life Christ provides, and share with others “the great things God has done.” With reminders that God removes our sins “as far as the east is from the west” and calls His people to press forward rather than dwell on the past, the message invites listeners to live with visible hope, renewed purpose, and the peace that comes from trusting in Christ.
Thank you for listening to today's teaching. We pray that as you consider the living hope available in the person and work of Jesus Christ, through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, that you will be encouraged and strengthened to live in light of the glorious Gospel.
Scripture passages referenced in this message include the following:
Luke 5:31–32, Matthew 11:28–30, Luke 4:16–21, Luke 6:46–49, Luke 7:22, Luke 7:36–50, Luke 8:26–39, Luke 10:25–28, Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, Acts 16:31, John 3:16–17, 1 Peter 4:3, 1 John 1:9, Luke 19:39–40, Luke 20:17, Luke 23:1–5, Luke 23:39–43, Psalm 103:12, Romans 8:1–2, 2 Corinthians 5:17–21, Hebrews 10:17, Isaiah 43:18, Isaiah 43:25, Philippians 3:12–14
In this teaching, the familiar story of Luke 15 is approached from a fresh and deeply introspective angle. Rather than focusing solely on the prodigal as a picture of the unbeliever, the lesson invites believers to see themselves in both sons—the wandering child who drifts toward self‑indulgence and the dutiful elder who quietly nurtures resentment. The message challenges listeners to confront the subtle lies they tell themselves about independence, entitlement, repentance, and the reluctance to embrace the Father’s grace. As the teaching reflects, “when he came to himself” becomes not just a moment in the parable but a call for honest self‑evaluation in the Christian life.
This episode explores how the Father’s compassion, joy, and readiness to restore reveal a divine generosity that believers often resist. The teaching presses into the tension between wanting to be like Jesus and resisting the cost of such transformation, echoing the confession that “there’s a part of me that wants that… and a part of me that doesn’t.” Through this lens, the parable becomes a mirror—inviting listeners to examine their own hearts, their responses to grace, and their willingness to rejoice when others return home.
In today's teaching from 2 Timothy 3:12–17, we explore the enduring power and purpose of Scripture in the life of every believer. Drawing from Paul’s encouragement to Timothy, the message highlights how God has spoken through His Word from the beginning, how the sacred writings make us “wise unto salvation,” and why believers must continue steadfastly in what they have learned—even amid persecution and cultural decline. With vivid reminders of the influence of godly parents, the sufficiency of Scripture, and the centrality of Christ throughout the whole Bible, this lesson calls listeners to delight in God’s Word, abide in its truth, and walk faithfully in a world that often opposes righteousness.
One of the driving philosophies of marketing is the idea, "Build a better mousetrap and the world will beat a path to your door." The constant push is for something new. And for existing products, it is marketed as, "New and improved." In some cases, the new is an improvement. But history is filled with goods and services hyped as the next best thing, only to fail miserably.
In our passage today, we continue our examination of the Apostle John's first letter to the church in which he provides a defense against false teachers already infiltrating the church during the first century. Our examination began with the nature of Jesus Christ as fully human and fully divine. We then continued by the standing of the believer in Christ as evidenced by our obedience to Christ and walking as He walked. Now we consider the evidence of a true walk with Christ through our love for our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Throughout John's letter, his main concern seems to be with the false teachings of the Gnostics who, among other things, were constantly in search of, and promoting, new knowledge. But John exhorts his readers that the commandment he brings is not a new commandment, but an old commandment, which they have known from the beginning of their faith experience. But he also presents the commandment as a new commandment in the person of Christ. Finally, we consider how we can walk in the command to love one another.
Thank you for listening to today's teaching. We pray you will be encouraged through the teaching of God's Word and what it means to walk in Christ.
Your children are watching everything you do. They soak it up like a sponge – and then they imitate it. But here's the thing: it's not just children. Other believers are watching too. After warning Timothy about the godless people who will infiltrate the church in the last days, Paul pivots with a striking contrast: "But you..." Timothy was different. He had followed Paul's teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, and perseverance. This message from 2 Timothy 3:10-12 unpacks each of these qualities and asks two penetrating questions: What examples are you looking to for your own walk with God? And what kind of example are you setting for others? You'll discover what to look for in a teacher beyond personality and storytelling, how to evaluate whether you're actually living according to your purpose, and why perseverance through suffering is one of the most powerful testimonies you can offer. If you want your faith to outlast you, this message shows you how.
Today's teaching explores Paul’s warning in 2 Timothy 3 about the rise of deceptive, ungodly influences within the church and the purpose God accomplishes through them. Drawing from Scripture and real‑world examples, we will see how false teachers often appear outwardly religious while undermining the truth, preying especially on those weighed down by sin or lacking discernment. Paul's teaching explains why God allows such challenges—not to abandon His people, but to test, refine, and strengthen the church, magnify His grace, and ultimately display Christ’s triumph over evil. By examining the tactics, targets, and inevitable downfall of these corrupt influences, believers are urged to cling to God’s Word, pursue holiness, and remain steadfast in the truth as they navigate the “difficult times” of the last days.
Thank you for listening to today's teaching. We pray that as we consider this timely topic that you will be encouraged to live in light of, and in response to, the wonderful truth of the Gospel.
In today's teaching from John 6, we explore what it truly means to believe in Jesus—not merely as a one‑time act of salvation, but as a continual posture of trust throughout the Christian life. Using the feeding of the 5,000, Peter’s faltering steps on the water, and the crowd’s desire to make Jesus king, today's lesson highlights how easily people follow Christ when life is comfortable, yet struggle when circumstances turn difficult. Through biblical examples like Abraham, Moses, Joseph, Peter, and Job, we see that God repeatedly calls His people to trust Him even when His purposes are unclear. With personal stories and a vivid two‑chair illustration, believers are urged to embrace a daily, practical faith that responds to Jesus’ quiet assurance: “You can trust Me on this.
When you hear "the last days," what comes to mind? Zombies? Nuclear war? The mark of the beast? Here's something that might surprise you: according to Scripture, the last days began 2,000 years ago with the coming of Christ—and we're living in them right now. But the danger Paul warns Timothy about in 2 Timothy 3 isn't an alien invasion or global catastrophe. It's something far closer to home: wicked people who have infiltrated the church itself. This message unpacks Paul's devastating list of vices—from lovers of self to lovers of pleasure—and reveals why these traits are so dangerous precisely because they hide behind a "form of godliness." You'll discover why the greatest threat to your faith isn't external persecution but internal corruption, how false teachers use religion to satisfy their own lusts, and what Paul means when he says to "avoid such people." If you want to be prepared for these times, this is where to start.
In this episode, we explore one of the most vital yet often overlooked aspects of the Christian faith—the Holy Spirit. As the promised Comforter and Helper, the Spirit of Truth reminds us of Jesus’ teachings, convicts us of sin, and guides us into a life of peace and purpose. From the words of Christ in John 14 to the powerful events of Pentecost, we’ll uncover how the Holy Spirit empowers believers, renews hearts, and equips us to share the gospel boldly. Join us as we reflect on the incredible gift of God’s presence within us and the hope it brings for today and eternity. Thank you for listening to today's teaching. We pray that as we consider the Person and ministry of the Holy Spirit that you will be encouraged and comforted through His presence in the hearts, minds, and lives of all believers.
In today's teaching, drawn from 2 Timothy 2:20–26, the Apostle Paul uses the vivid metaphor of household vessels to explore the nature of honorable and dishonorable service within the church. Through practical examples and scriptural reflection, we are challenged to consider what kind of vessel we are—whether set aside for noble purposes or destined for disposal. Paul highlights the necessity of personal cleansing from sin, the active pursuit of righteousness, faith, love, and peace, and the avoidance of quarrels and foolish speculations. Ultimately, it underscores that while believers are called to prepare themselves for every good work, it is God’s sovereign grace that brings true transformation and usefulness in His service. Thank you for listening to today's lesson. We pray you will be encouraged through the teaching of God's Word, prepared to live lives in light of God's sovereign grace toward us in Jesus Christ.
A recent social media post made the statement, “One can sin 24 hours a day 7 days a week, but if that person is a Christian, they are still 100% assured of going to heaven." The responses were swift and came down primarily in one of two camps. One camp suggested that Christians cannot sin, based upon passages such as 1 John 3:6, "No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or has come to know Him." The other camp suggests that if a Christian continues in sin, they are at risk of losing their salvation, drawing on Hebrews 10:26-27, “For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries."
In today's lesson we explore how the Apostle John would respond to such a claim and the responses to this claim. What we find is the Christian life is a walk, rooted in a fellowship with God through Jesus Christ, which has its basis in the person and work of Jesus Christ. As we consider the Scriptural teaching we find that such claims, while technically true, are inconsistent with a life surrendered to Christ. But we also find security rooted not in our behavior, but in the completed work of the Cross of Calvary.
Thank you for listening to today's teaching. We pray you will be blessed through the teaching of God's Word and will be encouraged to walk according to the Gospel of Grace.
Merry Christmas! It is again that time of year when much of the world pauses in celebration of Christmas. But what does Christmas really mean to those who call upon the name of Jesus Christ.
In today's lesson, the Atlantic Gospel Chapel leadership team shares various thoughts on Christmas. These include:
- The reason for the birth of Christ
- The believer's "hope chest"
- The Scriptural basis for the beloved Christmas hymn, "Joy to the World"
Thank you for listening to today's teaching. It is our prayer that as we contemplate the birth of our Lord and Savior that you will be blessed through what God's word says about "the Word become flesh."
What defines a faithful life? Paul’s emotional farewell to the Ephesian elders in Acts 20 offers a stirring portrait of integrity, perseverance, and purpose. Drawing from both Acts 20 and key passages in Ephesians, Ned Brown explores the character of Paul’s ministry—marked by humility, hardship, and an unshakable commitment to proclaiming the Gospel.
This sermon invites every believer to examine their own walk with Christ. Are we shepherding others with love and vigilance? Are we staying alert to spiritual dangers? Are we guarding the truth with the same urgency Paul did?
If you’ve ever wondered what it looks like to finish the race well—to leave a lasting spiritual impact—this message will both challenge and encourage you. You'll walk away with a clearer understanding of what Gospel-driven leadership looks like and how to apply it in your daily life, whether you're in full-time ministry or simply striving to live with Gospel-centered purpose.
Are you aware of the enemy that wages war within your own heart? In this powerful message from Galatians 5:16–21, Alex Kremer exposes the intense spiritual conflict between the flesh and the Spirit. Paul doesn’t sugarcoat it—the sinful nature is real, active, and destructive. But he also gives us the hope and clarity we need to overcome.
This sermon unpacks what it means to "walk by the Spirit" and why doing so is the only path to true freedom and transformation. You’ll gain a clear understanding of the spiritual battle every believer faces and the daily choices that either draw us closer to Christ—or pull us away.
Whether you're feeling stuck in sin or seeking deeper spiritual discipline, this message is a call to awareness, action, and alignment with God’s power through His Spirit.
Listen in and be equipped to walk with purpose, not passivity.
Is your freedom in Christ building others up—or tearing them down?
In Galatians 5:13–15, Paul delivers a sharp reminder: Christian liberty isn't a license for selfish living, but a calling to love. Pastor Alex Kremer unpacks this passage with clarity and conviction, exposing the subtle ways we misuse our freedom—often to serve ourselves rather than others.
This message will challenge how you view freedom and relationships within the church body. Are you walking in love, or are you unknowingly "biting and devouring" those around you? Gain a clearer understanding of true liberty: not as self-centered independence, but as Spirit-led service rooted in love.
If you've struggled with tension in community, legalism vs. grace, or the balance between personal freedom and corporate responsibility, this sermon offers insight and correction straight from the Word.
What’s stopping you from running well? In Galatians 5:7–12, Paul confronts a church detoured by false teachers, urging them to return to the true Gospel of grace. In this sermon, Alex Kremer unpacks what it means to be hindered in our walk with Christ—by others, by religion, or even by our own doubts. Through Paul’s passionate rebuke, we’re reminded of the urgency to stay rooted in Gospel truth, discerning voices that seek to pull us away. If you’ve ever struggled with spiritual confusion or felt your progress in faith has stalled, this message offers clarity, correction, and encouragement. Discover how to identify what’s hindering your growth—and how to step back into the race God has called you to run.
Is your work just a job—or a calling from God?
In this Labor Day message, Grant Nelson dives into the heart of what the Bible says about labor, drawing from Luke 10 and other Scripture to reveal a powerful truth: your daily work has eternal significance when done for the Lord. Jesus’ words, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few,” challenge us to view our roles—whether in the workplace, the home, or ministry—as part of God’s greater mission.
This message unpacks how Christians are not called to idleness or mere paycheck-chasing, but to meaningful, Kingdom-minded labor. You’ll walk away with a renewed perspective on the purpose behind your 9-to-5, a biblical framework for work-life balance, and a deeper motivation to honor God with your efforts.
Whether you’re a business owner, student, parent, or employee, this sermon will reshape how you see labor—and remind you who you’re ultimately working for.
What are the visible signs that your faith is alive? In Colossians 3:12–17, the Apostle Paul doesn’t just describe what Christians should believe—he lays out what it should look like. Compassion. Kindness. Humility. Patience. Forgiveness. Love. These aren't optional traits; they are the natural overflow of a life transformed by Christ. In this message, Doug Schorle challenges listeners to examine their spiritual "vital signs" and consider whether their daily lives reflect the heart of Jesus.
This message offers more than encouragement—it offers a spiritual diagnostic. If you've been wondering whether your walk with God has gone stale, or you're ready to grow in visible, everyday holiness, this sermon will guide you back to the source of transformation: Christ in you. Learn how to embody the character of Christ in every relationship, every decision, and every moment.
What is being formed in you right now? Is it the world, your desires—or Christ Himself?
In this stirring message from Alex Kremer, we explore Paul’s heartfelt plea in Galatians 4:19: “I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you.”
This isn’t a surface-level call to believe but a deep, urgent appeal to be transformed. Alex unpacks what it means to move beyond knowing about Jesus to truly being shaped by Him. You'll hear the difference between outward religiosity and inward formation—and why Paul was willing to endure suffering for the spiritual maturity of others.
If you’ve been feeling stuck, stagnant, or unsure of what growth in Christ should actually look like, this message offers clarity, conviction, and comfort.
You’ll walk away challenged—but encouraged—to pursue a faith that not only believes but becomes.
What do you really believe—and does it matter? In this message, speaker Ned Brown walks us through Scripture to unpack the true nature of belief in Jesus Christ. Far more than mental agreement or emotional experience, genuine belief transforms your identity, secures your eternity, and changes how you live today.
Drawing from various Bible passages, this sermon contrasts cultural misunderstandings of “faith” with the powerful, saving belief the gospel calls us to. Whether you’re struggling with doubt, stuck in religion, or curious about what faith in Jesus really looks like, this message offers clarity, encouragement, and challenge.
If you’ve ever wondered whether your belief is real—or if it’s enough—this sermon will guide you to the truth. Stop wandering in uncertainty and discover the assurance that only the gospel brings.
What are you really relying on—God’s grace or your own goodness? Galatians delivers one of the clearest, boldest defenses of the true gospel: that salvation comes by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
In this message, Alex Kremer ties together the heart of Paul’s letter to the Galatians, highlighting the freedom believers have in Christ and the danger of drifting back into legalism. Whether Paul is correcting false teachers, confronting hypocrisy, or clarifying the promise to Abraham, his message is unwavering: You are not saved by works—you are saved to walk in freedom.
This sermon reminds listeners that the gospel isn’t just a starting point—it’s the foundation for all of life. If you’ve ever struggled with performance-based faith, guilt, or spiritual exhaustion, this message will re-center your heart on the sufficiency of Christ and the joy of living in grace.
Don’t settle for a distorted gospel. Discover again what it means to live as a Spirit-led, cross-centered follower of Jesus.
What defines you—your past, your performance, or your position in Christ?
In this compelling message from Galatians 4, Alex Kremer walks through the powerful truth that believers are no longer slaves, but sons and daughters of the living God. Paul reminds us that God sent His Son to redeem us, and then sent His Spirit to confirm our adoption. This sermon cuts through performance-based religion and reorients us to our identity: not just saved, but embraced as heirs with Christ.
If you're stuck in striving, shame, or spiritual insecurity, this teaching offers clarity and freedom. Understand the relational depth of the Gospel and the unshakable position we hold as God’s children.
Are you living in freedom—or just trying to earn it?
Many people believe that salvation must be maintained by rule-following or spiritual performance. In this compelling message, Alex Kremer unpacks Paul’s continued confrontation with legalism and the radical freedom found in the gospel of grace. Drawing from the heart of Galatians, the sermon highlights the danger of adding anything to Christ’s finished work and reminds us that our identity is not in what we do but in what Christ has done.
Whether you're weighed down by religious expectations or searching for assurance of your standing before God, this message will realign your heart with the true, liberating message of the gospel.
Experience the freedom of sonship, not slavery.
What keeps you silent when you know you should speak up for your faith? In 2 Timothy 1, Paul writes from prison to a young and timid Timothy, urging him to fan into flame the gift of God—and to not be ashamed of the gospel.
In this message, Grant Nelson explores how Paul equips Timothy to face fear, endure suffering, and stand boldly for Christ. This isn’t just ancient encouragement—it’s a timely charge for every believer tempted to shrink back in a culture that’s increasingly hostile to biblical truth.
You’ll discover what it looks like to rely on the Spirit of power, love, and self-control—and why guarding the gospel isn’t just a calling for pastors or missionaries, but for every follower of Jesus.
If you’ve ever struggled with spiritual intimidation, fear of rejection, or feeling unequipped to speak truth, this sermon will strengthen your resolve and refocus your purpose. Christ has called us, saved us, and empowered us. It's time to step forward.
What if your entire identity changed in a moment?
Galatians 3:23–29 presents a dramatic shift from being bound under the law to being set free through faith in Jesus Christ. In this sermon, Alex Kremer walks through the Apostle Paul’s powerful declaration that we are no longer slaves, but sons—and heirs—of God.
This isn’t just a theological upgrade. It’s a complete transformation of your relationship with God and your fellow believers. You’ll discover how faith replaces law, how baptism unites us with Christ, and how spiritual adoption grants us a new identity that transcends race, class, and gender.
Whether you’re wrestling with legalism, struggling to feel accepted, or just wondering what it really means to be a child of God—this message will bring clarity, hope, and a challenge to walk in the freedom Christ has secured.
You're not just forgiven—you belong.
Who are you, really? The world tells you to look inward or backward to define yourself—your past, your preferences, your performance. But Scripture calls us to look upward.
In Colossians 3:1–17, Paul reminds believers that their identity is no longer rooted in the old self, but in Christ who is seated at the right hand of God. In this message, Doug Schorle unpacks what it means to “set your mind on things above” and live in the reality that your life is hidden with Christ in God.
You’ll hear what it means to put off sin, put on Christlike virtues, and let the peace of Christ rule in your heart. This sermon challenges listeners to stop striving for significance in the world and start walking in the new self—one that reflects Christ in everyday speech, relationships, and purpose.
If you’re weary from trying to “find yourself,” this message will anchor you in the identity that never shifts: who you are in Jesus.
How close is salvation? Closer than you think. In Romans 10, the apostle Paul strips away confusion and brings it all into focus: “If you confess with your mouth… and believe in your heart… you will be saved.”
In this message, Ned Brown walks through one of the clearest and most powerful explanations of the gospel in all of Scripture. Romans 10 teaches that salvation is not about religious performance, ancestry, or law-keeping—it’s about believing the truth and calling on the name of the Lord.
This sermon brings both clarity and urgency. You'll learn what it really means to be saved, why the message must be shared, and how God uses ordinary people—like you—to bring His word to the world.
If you’ve ever wondered how to explain the gospel to someone else, or questioned if you’re “good enough” for God, this message will point you to the simplicity, accessibility, and power of faith in Christ.
Are You Trying to Finish by Works What God Started by Faith? What if trying harder is actually pulling you further from God? In Galatians 3, Paul calls out the Galatian believers with a bold question: “Who has bewitched you?” They had begun with faith—but were now trying to perfect themselves by works.
In this sermon, Alex Kremer unpacks Paul’s passionate defense of salvation by faith alone. Drawing from Abraham’s story, the giving of the Law, and the promise fulfilled in Christ, Paul reminds the church that righteousness has never come through rule-keeping. It’s always been about belief.
This message brings powerful clarity for anyone stuck in legalism, spiritual burnout, or the false belief that you have to earn what God already gave. You'll gain a deeper understanding of how faith connects us to the promises of God, frees us from the curse of the Law, and anchors us in the sufficiency of Christ.
If you've ever wondered whether you're “doing enough,” this sermon offers the freeing truth: Christ is enough—start to finish.
Are you living in grace—or just giving it lip service? Galatians 2 reminds us that the gospel is always under threat, not just from the outside world, but from within the church itself.
In this message, Alex Kremer revisits Paul’s confrontation with Peter and the ongoing battle to keep the gospel unpolluted by performance, tradition, or people-pleasing. This isn't about a theological disagreement—it’s about eternal stakes.
Paul’s declaration, “I have been crucified with Christ...” isn’t just a doctrinal truth—it’s a call to live a radically new life, fully rooted in grace and free from the slavery of self-righteousness.
This sermon will help you see the subtle ways we drift from gospel freedom—and give you practical clarity for standing firm in Christ. Whether you’re prone to performance-based faith or fearful of standing alone for truth, you’ll walk away with renewed courage to live fully in the grace that saves.
When everything crumbles—what’s left to say? Lamentations 5 is the final cry of a shattered people, and yet it pulses with one enduring hope: “Restore us to yourself, O Lord.”
In this message, Stefan Johnson brings us through the closing chapter of Lamentations, where the poet turns from documenting devastation to pleading with God for mercy and restoration. This final lament is raw, honest, and desperate—but it’s also deeply reverent. It doesn’t demand answers; it seeks the presence of the One who holds them.
This sermon will help you see that biblical lament isn’t about losing faith—it’s about bringing your deepest pain into the light of God's presence. If you’ve ever struggled with how to pray through suffering, or wondered where God is when life feels hopeless, this message will guide you into honest, humble dependence on the Lord.
You’ll walk away reminded that even in the silence, God invites His people to cry out—and that restoration begins with return.
What happens when even leaders go astray? In Galatians 2, we witness a powerful moment when Paul publicly confronts Peter—not over politics or preference, but over the very heart of the gospel.
In this sermon, Alex Kremer walks us through Paul’s defense of justification by faith alone and his refusal to compromise under pressure. Whether it was preserving gospel clarity before church leadership or rebuking hypocrisy in Antioch, Paul shows that the truth of the gospel must never be diluted—even by those we admire.
This message will challenge your understanding of grace, identity, and Christian living. Are you trying to earn what God has already freely given? Are you living by faith in the Son of God—or by your own strength and performance?
You'll walk away with a renewed grasp of what it means to be crucified with Christ and truly alive through Him. This isn’t just theological—it’s deeply personal. And it’s the gospel worth defending.
If your world shook apart tonight—what would be left standing? In Acts 16:25–34, a violent earthquake opens prison doors, but the real miracle is spiritual: a hardened jailer is transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ.
In this sermon, Ned Brown brings us into the dramatic moment when Paul and Silas, beaten and bound, respond not with complaints—but with praise. Their unwavering faith becomes the catalyst for one man’s eternal rescue. The jailer’s desperate cry, “What must I do to be saved?”, is met with the timeless truth: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.”
This message is more than a story—it's an invitation. Whether you’re searching for answers, battling guilt, or uncertain about your salvation, this sermon clearly lays out the gospel and the urgency of responding to it.
You’ll walk away with a deeper understanding of salvation by grace through faith—and the assurance that no one is beyond the reach of God’s mercy.
If God is loving, why does He allow suffering so severe? Lamentations 4 confronts this question head-on. Through the poet’s vivid imagery of Jerusalem’s destruction, we see the tragic consequences of a people who turned away from their God—and a God who could no longer withhold judgment.
In this sermon, Stefan Johnson guides us through the sobering realities of God’s justice. But rather than leave us in despair, Lamentations 4 opens a deeper understanding: God's punishment is not random or cruel—it is righteous, measured, and ultimately redemptive.
This message brings clarity to the character of God and offers a warning we dare not ignore. If you’ve ever questioned why judgment comes—or struggled with the idea of a holy God executing wrath—this message helps bridge the gap between holiness and hope.
The problem of evil and suffering in the world is one of the key issues in our modern age, especially as the world struggles to reconcile this with the concept of a loving God. In light of the recent murder of Charlie Kirk, this question becomes even more relevant. Kirk, known primarily as a conservative commentator was, more importantly, a faithful servant of Jesus Christ who boldly proclaimed the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
In today's message, we will explore how we, as Christians, can respond to such evil. Our goal will be to develop a Heaven's-eye view of evil and suffering in the world.
Thank you for listening. We pray you will be blessed as we seek to apply all of Scripture to our daily lives.
What happens when the gospel gets twisted? In Galatians 1:6–10, Paul doesn’t hold back—he expresses deep shock that the Galatian believers are turning to a different gospel, which is really no gospel at all.
In this message, Alex Kremer unpacks Paul’s bold confrontation and reminds us why the gospel of grace cannot be rebranded, revised, or reworked to fit cultural preferences. Paul’s words cut through the noise with urgency: any distortion of Christ’s finished work is dangerous, deceptive, and damning.
This sermon helps you identify modern-day “gospel distortions” and gives you the clarity and courage to stand firm in the true gospel. You’ll walk away with a renewed confidence in God’s Word and a sobering understanding of the stakes when truth is compromised.
If you’ve ever wondered whether sound doctrine really matters—or struggled with the tension between pleasing God and pleasing people—this message will challenge and encourage you in your walk with Christ.
What does Easter mean—not just historically, but personally? In this special Resurrection Sunday message, the Atlantic Gospel Chapel Leadership Team shares a series of gospel-centered reflections on salvation, the cross, and the empty tomb.
Through Scripture, personal insight, and pastoral wisdom, this collaborative message points to the heart of Christianity: that while we were sinners, Christ died for us—and rose again, offering eternal life to all who believe.
This episode moves beyond tradition and dives deep into the soul-stirring truth of the gospel. Whether you’re wrestling with guilt, searching for peace, or longing for hope, the message of Easter is for you.
You’ll walk away with a clearer understanding of why the resurrection matters, what it means to be saved by grace through faith, and how you can experience new life in Christ today.
Let this be more than a holiday—it’s an invitation to receive the greatest gift ever offered.
What’s the big deal about a few opening verses? When the Holy Spirit inspires every word, even an introduction is packed with gospel power.
In this sermon, Alex Kremer walks us through the first five verses of Galatians, showing that Paul’s greeting is far more than a formality—it’s a theological declaration. Right from the start, Paul defends his apostleship, centers on the resurrected Christ, and defines the true gospel in just a few lines.
This message highlights why it matters who sends the message, what the message says, and who it’s ultimately for. You’ll see how Paul’s urgent tone and clarity set the stage for a letter aimed at preserving the purity of the gospel in the face of distortion.
If you've ever glossed over book introductions, this sermon will change that. You'll gain a deeper appreciation for how every word of Scripture points us back to God’s grace, Christ’s authority, and the unchanging truth of salvation by faith.
What is the most important question a person can ask? The apostle Paul makes it clear in Galatians: How can a man be right with God? In this opening sermon on Paul’s letter to the Galatians, Alex Kremer lays the foundation for understanding the heart of the gospel—justification by faith alone.
Far from being an abstract theological debate, this truth addresses the deepest need of every human heart. Are we made right with God through our own effort, rule-keeping, or moral performance? Or is it entirely by God’s grace, received through faith in Christ? Galatians delivers a bold and freeing answer that exposes the futility of self-reliance and highlights the sufficiency of Christ’s finished work on the cross.
If you’ve ever wrestled with guilt, doubt, or the weight of trying to earn God’s favor, this message will point you to the liberating truth of the gospel. Discover the only way to true righteousness—and the joy that comes with it.
Have you ever felt distant from God, unsure if you truly belong to Him? In Colossians 1:21–2:3, the apostle Paul reminds us that though we were once alienated and hostile in mind, Christ has now reconciled us through His death and resurrection. In this sermon, Doug Schorle unpacks what it means to be made alive in Christ, firmly rooted in the gospel, and encouraged in heart as part of His body, the church.
This message will challenge you to examine where you place your confidence—whether in your own strength, in traditions, or in Christ alone. You’ll discover the assurance of being presented holy and blameless before God, the joy of understanding the “mystery hidden for ages” now revealed, and the strength that comes from being knit together in love. If you long for deeper assurance in your walk with Christ, this passage offers hope, stability, and encouragement for your faith.
To put it plainly, the world is in trouble and it is clear that Satan is at work. It seems that everywhere we turn in our modern society, we see immorality, gender bending, homosexuality, blasphemy, murder, abortion, lawlessness, thievery, and the list goes on. As believers it can be easy to become discouraged as we ask ourselves, "Why doesn't the world follow God's law?".
But where there's a mess, there's a message. In today's lesson, we turn to scripture to see what the Word of God has to say about our current situation. And as we do, we will draw out things which should encourage and strengthen the believer in the face of such evil circumstances.
We will consider questions such as:
- Who's world is this?
- What is God's response to the evil of this world?
- How should the Christian respond to such evil?
- What encouragement is there for us?
We thank you for listening to today's teaching. We pray, that as we continue in this world, that you will be encouraged by the Word of God.
In our previous lesson, we began to look at the lies of the world which have trained the church regarding abortion, rather than the truth of the Word of God.
As we considered this evil which is at the forefront of our society, we examined some of the lies we didn't realize we believed. The big lies include:
- That which is conceived in the mother's womb is not a baby.
- The rights extended to us do not extend to the unborn.
In part 2 of this series, we consider the third lie, that a mother has the right to murder the child in her womb without consequences.
Again, it is our desire that we be led by the Word of God regarding the topic of abortion, a topic which has great power to divide not only political groups, but the body of Christ, as well.
We thank you for listening to today's teaching. We pray that we as a body of believers will be led together by the Word of God in all matters, and that His Word would guide us in this topic, as well.
One of the greatest tragedies facing our world today is the horror of abortion. This topic alone divides people not only politically, but it is a topic that divides the church as well. As a church, we must look to the Word of God to determine what the Lord has to say about this blight on our society.
Sadly, many of us have been discipled by the world instead of the Word of God. The result is that, many churches during the Holocaust who sang louder to drown out the cries of the Jews carried by their churches on their way to the Nazi death camps, so the church today has grown complacent when it comes to the topic of abortion.
Some of the lies we will consider in today's lesson are:
- The church should not speak on political issues.
- It is not the job of the government to interfere in the choice a woman makes regarding her body
- We can't legislate morality
- The church should not be involved in anything political.
Finally, we begin to look at three big lies regarding abortion, covering the first two today.
- That which is conceived in the mother's womb is not a baby
- The rights extended to a child outside the womb do not extend to a child in the womb
We thank you for listening to today's teaching. We know this is a difficult topic for the church in today's world. We therefore pray, that as a body of believers, we will all turn to the Word of God to determine the proper perspective on this topic.
For the believer in Jesus Christ, our focus is on knowing Jesus. In Revelation 19, following the destruction of Babylon in chapter 18, heaven swells with praise for the Lord and His righteous judgments. We then are brought into the marriage supper of the Lamb, where the bride of Christ, the church, is arrayed in fine linen; thus giving us a splendid view of our future glory with the Bridegroom, our Savior, Jesus Christ.
However, the marriage supper of the Lamb is followed by the image of Jesus on a white horse, His white robes dipped in blood. Here, Jesus is the conquering king who judges and makes war. The blood on His robe is the blood of His enemies; while the "armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, follow Him on white horses." (Revelation 19:14, NKJV).
Here in Revelation 19, we are presented with a different picture of Jesus, one which the world does not like. For here, we see Jesus as judge, executing righteous judgment on a sinful and rebellious world. But for those who have placed their trust in Jesus Christ, this is a Jesus we will never know. For we know that our sin has already been judged through the death of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. If you are a believer listening to today's teaching, we pray you will be encouraged through the Word of God. If you do not know the Lord Jesus as Savior, it is our fervent prayer that you consider the warnings contained in today's teaching, and know there is a way to escape the coming judgment of a holy, righteous and just God. For this same God is also one of mercy and grace, forgiving sin through the death of His Son.
As we come to the close of the book of Acts, we may be tempted to think that this is the end of the story. Instead, we find that it is, in fact, a beginning. Often referred to as, "The Acts of the Apostles," Luke opened his book addressing Theophilus, to whom he wrote the Gospel of Luke, stating in Acts 1:1 and 2, "The first account, O Theophilus, I composed, about all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when He was taken up to heave, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen..."
The Book of Acts, then, is the continuing story of Jesus and what He continues to do, by the Holy Spirit. through His disciples. So, when Paul arrives in Rome, he first seeks out the Jews, to whom he explained to them, "by solemnly bearing witness about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, from both the Law of Moses and from the Prophets..." (Acts 28:23). And while some of the Jews believed, still many others rejected. It was this rejection through which the door of the Gospel was opened to the Gentiles.
And today, this story, which began in a manger over 2,000 years ago, continues to spread throughout the world; a story which we who have trusted in Christ are privileged to play a part.
Thank you for listening to today's teaching. We pray that as you consider your part in the Gospel story, that you would be strengthened and encouraged by the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ. If you are uncertain of your part in this story, we pray, above all, that you may personally know the person of Jesus Christ and to trust in the finished work of the cross through which Jesus bore the curse for all our sin.
In his letter to the church in Colossae, Paul is writing to a church that is worthy of much praise. In the opening verses of his letter, he praises God for their faith and love toward the saints. He then offers prayers for them that they would continue to grow and to be strengthened.
But he also writes to a church which has been infected with various false teachings including Gnosticism and legalism. And as he moves on from his prayer for this church, he presents what is ultimately the solution to these issues confronting this church; the person and work of the Lord Jesus.
In our passage today, we encounter some of the highest Christological praise in all of Scripture as Paul presents the work and the person of Jesus Christ to this church.
As we examine our passage this morning, we will draw out three aspects of our Redeemer:
- The Redeemer's Work
- The Redeemer's Person
- The Redeemer's Qualifications
Thank you for listening to today's teaching. We pray that as we focus on the person and work of Jesus Christ, like Paul, you will be drawn with us to offer up praise and adoration for the beauty of who Jesus is, and for His wonderful work of redemption.
As the book of Acts nears its close, we find Paul finally arriving in Rome. It has been a long journey fraught with many trials and dangers. As the last chapter of Acts opens, we find Paul shipwrecked on the island of Malta.
To the surprise of some Christians, the pagan inhabitants of this island showed Paul and his companions extraordinary kindness. This brings us to one lesson from this passage, the pagans are also created in the image of God and therefore they are capable of showing love and kindness to others.
But this kindness does not translate into righteousness. And indeed, the events that unfold on this small island provide Paul with another opportunity to share the Gospel with whomever he encounters.
And when he finally arrives in Rome, he is again shown kindness by people he never met. But in this case, these strangers are of the same faith as Paul and therefore brothers in Christ.
As we explore this passage we will draw several lessons:
- Paul was set apart by the Lord as the apostle to the Gentiles, and nothing would keep him from doing his job.
- Even in the most remote places we find people made in the image of God and therefore they are candidates for the Gospel.
- We see Christians as people showing hospitality, especially among those who are of the household of faith.
- Finally, we see the faithfulness of God in accomplishing His purposes in this world.
Thank you for listening to today's teaching. We pray you will be blessed through the teaching of God's Word.
Most of us are familiar with the various storms of life, such as the loss of loved ones, or changes in employment or income, difficulties with relationships, etc.. In the midst of these various trials, we can find ourselves struggling to see God's purposes in allowing this situation into our lives.
The book of Acts a three part story which parallels the Lord's call to His disciples to carry the Gospel to Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and finally to the ends of the earth. The last portion follows Paul's journey to Rome, beginning all the way back in chapter 19. The Lord's message to Paul is, "you must stand before Caesar."
But in today's passage from Acts 27, when Paul boards a ship to head to Rome, he is caught in a tremendous storm which threatens both ship, crew and cargo. But in the midst of this, Paul emerges as a calm leader, to whom eventually even the centurion charged with accompanying Paul defers.
What is it that allowed Paul to face this literal storm with such confidence and peace. In today's lesson, we will learn three things:
- This is an historic event witnessed by Luke.
- We see the Godly leadership and character of Paul
- No matter the storms in our life, we must remember that this is God's story. This does not mean that He will calm every storm. But it does mean that God's purposes will be accomplished.
Thank you for listening to today's teaching. We pray you will be encouraged through the teaching of God's Word.
In this special message, the leadership of Atlantic Gospel Chapel come together to bring a message about Christmas. In this message we consider:
- Who is Jesus?
- What do the prophets say about Jesus?
- The birth of Jesus
- Why does Christmas matter?
Thank you for listening to today's teaching. We pray you will be blessed through the teaching of God's Word, and as we consider the wonderful truth of Immanuel, God with us.
We all have our own stories from our lives. And if we're honest, we will admit that we frequently repeat the same stories; even to the point where others can fill in forgotten details. But there is one story that is the most important thing about us. And that is the story of what God has done in our own live.
One hymn writer put it this way,
I love to tell the story, 'Tis pleasant to repeat
What seems, each time I tell it, More wonderfully sweet.
I love to tell the story, For some have never heard
The message of salvation From God's own holy Word.
When Paul stood before the governor, Felix, he recounted his story. And now, after two years of imprisonment, Paul stands before Festus, the new governor, along with Herod Agrippa. And Paul again has opportunity to share his story. And we find this is something Paul is eager to do. For in telling the story of his own conversion, along with the reasons for his various trials, he is able to point his listeners to the wonderful Gospel of Jesus Christ and the purposes of God.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. We pray you will be encouraged through the teaching of God's Holy Word, and be emboldened to share your story of God's work in your life. If you do not have that story, we pray you will come to know the Person and work of Jesus Christ through faith in Him.
In 1982, Emmaus Bible College student, Steve Linscott, was convicted for the 1980 murder of his neighbor. He came to light as a suspect when he provided details of a dream to authorities in which a young woman was violently murdered; details which paralleled the crime scene. The problem, Steve Linscott was innocent. Sentenced to 40 years, DNA evidence exonerated him ten years later. During his time, he questioned God's purposes for allowing this to happen. And while most of us are not likely to experience this same type of injustice, we are acutely aware of circumstances in our own lives which may cause us to question God's purposes.
As we return to our study in Acts, we catch up with Paul, who has spent two years imprisoned in Caesarea awaiting trial. When he is finally given an audience with the new governor, Festus, he must defend himself against the false charges brought against him by the Jewish authorities.
As we examine our passage, we will see that Paul's two year imprisonment is not outside the purposes of God. And if that is true for Paul, it is true for us as well.
Thank you for listening to today's teaching. We pray you will be encouraged through the teaching of God's Holy Word.
While holidays are generally joyous occasions, for many they become times of sadness; a reminder of loved ones no longer with us. This sadness can become more pronounced if loved ones pass around the holiday. Aside from the loss of loved ones, many of us experience other forms of distress; from health issues, to financial troubles including loss of job, to relationship issues, etc. In fact, someone once said, the moment you received Jesus Christ as your Savior, you had a target on your back. Our enemy, Satan, delights in bringing suffering to God's people.
What hope is there for the believer? What does Scripture say about these times of suffering?
In today's teaching, we examine one of the most comforting verses in Scripture, Romans 8:28, which reads, "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." (NASB).
The questions we will consider as we meditate on this verse are:
- What are all things?
- How can we be certain these are working to our good?
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. We pray you will find encouragement and comfort through the teaching of God's Word.
As children we remember being excited about the first snow of the season. The first snow meant winter was here, and with winter comes Christmas. We also remember how time seemed to slow down as we anticipated the coming day.
Likewise, any mother knows the anticipation of bringing a child into the world. And with this anticipation comes a season of suffering as she experiences the pains of child birth. But when the child finally arrives, many speak of forgetting the pain once the child is in her arms.
In Romans 8:18-30, Paul writes, "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us," (Romans 8:18, LSB). He then begins to speak of groaning associated with the eager anticipation of the glory to be revealed in us. We find this groaning coming from three sources:
- Creation groans
- We, ourselves, groan
- The Holy Spirit groans
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. We pray you will be blessed and encouraged through the teaching of God's holy Word.
As Paul opens his letter to the church in Colossae, he begins by offering praise and thanksgiving for this local body of believers. He writes, "We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven..." (Colossians 1:3-5a, LSB). Their faith and love for the saints flow from the hope laid up for them in heaven.
What does hope mean to the Christian? Do we understand hope in the wishful sense, as in, "I hope it doesn't rain tomorrow"? Or is there something deeper?
As we consider our passage today, we will discover that the hope of which the Scriptures speak is at the very core of our being as believers in Jesus Christ.
Thank you for listening to today's teaching. We pray you will be blessed and encouraged through the teaching of God's Holy Word.
In January, 1973, a man in the Dominican Republic volunteered to be crucified as a sacrifice for world peace. With a goal of remaining on the cross, his efforts were cut short due to an infection he developed in his right foot. Following this event, one headline read, "Crucifixion for World Peace Falls Short."
Continuing our look at peace with God, we look again at Paul's letter to the church in Rome in Romans 5:1, "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." As we do so, we will consider three questions:
- How is it that the sacrifice of Jesus truly gives us peace with God?
- What are the blessings associated with peace with God?
- How do we live in light of this peace with have with God?
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. We pray first, that you know peace with God. Second, we pray you will be blessed through the teaching from God's Holy Word.
Scripture is clear that the natural state of mankind is at enmity with God. Simply put, we are enemies. And yet, Scripture also says that we can have peace with God. How is this possible?
Can we have peace with God by living a good life, free from sin? Can we have peace with God through church, either through our church affiliation, attendance or following the right ceremony? Or can we have peace with God through obedience to all that he has commanded?
Join us as we examine Paul's answer to finding peace with God in Romans 5:1-2, and discover a peace that is not dependent upon our merits, but rather is dependent upon the merits of another, Jesus Christ.
We thank you for listening to today's lesson. We pray you will be blessed through the teaching of God's Holy Word.
In 1 Samuel 15, the Lord instructs King Saul to utterly destroy the Amalekites, "for what he did to Israel, how he ambushed him on the way when he came up from Egypt." (1 Samuel 15:2 NKJV). This included destroying all people and all livestock. When Samuel joined Saul following the victory, the king boasted of his faithfulness to do all that the Lord had commanded. But as Samuel approached the camp, he asked, "What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?" (1 Samuel 15:14 NKJV).
Clearly Saul had not fully obeyed the Lord's command. This begs the question, was Saul a believer? Will Saul be in heaven? This leads to an even greater question, can a person be a believer in Jesus Christ and yet disobey the Lord?
Join us for today's lesson as we examine this question. We further examine the questions,
- How does one become a Christian?
- What role does obedience play in the life of a believer?
- What impact does disobedience have on the believer?
- What security is there for the believer?
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. We pray that as we examine these questions together that you will also be encouraged in your walk with the Lord, imperfect though it may be, because we have a sure and certain hope in Jesus Christ.
The message of the Gospel is like the check engine light on our car. Many ignore it, but the consequences can be catastrophic. The Gospel message calls us out for our sin. To ignore the message of the Gospel has eternal consequences. Through this message, the believer is called to be a peacemaker. But this does not mean we compromise on the truth for the sake of peace. For this reason, the world does not always respond to the Gospel message in a peaceable manner.
As we continue in our study of Acts, we find Paul appearing before the governor, Felix, to answer the charges brought by his accusers. Among these is the charge that Paul, and the sect of which he is the ringleader, is a pest; literally a pestilence, a cancer which threatens to contaminate the nation with heresy and blasphemy. They charge him with desecrating the temple, supposing that Paul brought a gentile into the temple.
In today's lesson we draw four lessons from Paul's responses to the charges and his accusers.
- We don't need to worry about the charges against us. Don't compromise the truth, but trust God.
- We are only messengers; the message is from God. And the message offends.
- Recognize that God is working and act accordingly.
- Be prepared to speak the Truth, even in difficult circumstances.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. We pray you will be blessed through the teaching of God's Holy Word.
The modern world, if it considers God's existence, likes to emphasize God as love. But it must be recognized that God's wrath and judgment are just a crucial. And while we are in the day of grace, we must recognize that God still hates sin and that He does not, and will not, simply sweep sin under the rug.
In Lamentations, the prophet is forced to deal with God's wrath poured out on the nation of Judah, specifically as it applied to the fall of Jerusalem at the hands of the Babylonian empire. And while we often view our circumstances from an emotional vantage point, like Jeremiah we need to take the theological view, God's view, on what is happening. Like Jeremiah, our hope is in the steadfast love of the Lord; a love which never ceases. But at the same time, we must come to terms with the fact that God's love is connected to discipline. He always seeks our ultimate good, which includes repentance, restoration and a changed life.
We thank you for listening to today's lesson. We pray that as we consider today's passage, we will be encouraged that we can trust and praise God in all circumstances.
A Christian woman was frequently heard praying for her food by her atheistic neighbor. He frequently taunted her for her foolish trust in, and devotion to, a God who didn't exist. When she ran out of groceries, she again turned in prayer to the Lord for help and thanking Him for how He would work. Again overhearing this, the neighbor went out and bought the groceries, determined to expose her faith as foolish. Upon delivering the groceries to her doorstep, he knocked and hid in the bushes. As expected, when the woman saw the groceries she praised God for His goodness to her. Leaping out of the bushes, he exclaimed, "You foolish woman! God didn't buy these, I did!" Hearing this, the woman praised even louder. "I trusted God would provide groceries, but I didn't know He was going to make the devil pay for them!"
We often go about our lives completely unaware of the ways in which God is working in our lives. What we attribute to mere coincidence, the perfect culmination of a series of circumstances which play out for our benefit. But we are surprised when we learn that God often uses unconventional means to accomplish His divine purposes. This includes using evil people and systems for His own glory.
In today's lesson, we see a plot on the part of forty Jews, in league with the Sanhedrin, to kill Paul, even taking an oath to eat nothing until Paul had been killed. But upon hearing of this plot, the Roman authorities step in to protect Paul. And while God is little mentioned directly in this passage, we see His fingerprints all over the events that transpire.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. We pray that as we consider God's sovereign will played out in our lives, we would be encouraged by His love and care for His children.
As Paul returned to Jerusalem, he faced charges from Jews of heresy, of teaching things contrary to Moses and the Law. This charge led to threats of flogging. For those who would hold to salvation by grace through faith, we may face the same kind of accusations the the culture.
As Paul addressed the crowd, he assured them that the Gospel he preached was not contrary to the law, but instead fulfilled the Law. His response included three parts:
- Paul was where the crowd was in belief
- Paul was called by God
- Why Paul was called.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. We pray you will be blessed and encouraged through the teaching of God's Word.
Throughout Jesus' ministry he frequently encountered people with questions. In some cases, these questions were intended to trap Jesus in a logical or theological error. In other cases, however, people came with genuine interest seeking genuine answers. In today's passage we see both.
Regardless of the intent, God ensured these questions were recorded in Scripture for our benefit. These questions sometimes challenge us, and in the Lord's response we find the answers to the questions we have.
We thank you for listening to today's lesson. We pray you will be blessed and encouraged through the teaching of God's Word.
A post on Facebook once cited a study which suggested that, on average, we swallow four spiders per year in our sleep. People shared the related posts and the story spread. The problem was, the supposed study was, itself, was part of a study to see how quickly information can spread on the internet. What we do see through these types of interactions is how quickly lies spread; but they also highlight our propensity to not just tell lies, but to believe them.
When Paul was in Jerusalem, Jews from Asia spread lies about him to their countrymen, asserting Paul had even brought Greeks, filthy Gentiles, into the temple. Naturally, the Jews in Jerusalem were all too willing to believe these falsehoods, throwing the city into an uproar with Paul's life in danger.
Despite these blatant lies about Paul, we see his overarching desire to preach the Gospel to the very crowd seeking his life. In examining Paul's response to such hostility, we can get a glimpse into our own attitude toward the enemies of the cross. Is our attitude one of love, seeking the salvation of the lost? Or are we more prone to strike back.
Than you for listening to today's lesson. We pray you will be blessed and encouraged through the teaching of God's Word.
One of the most common terms used to describe the salvation experience is to be "born again." As Christians, we commonly refer to ourselves as, "born again believers." However, even within Christendom, this idea of being born again as a requirement to enter into God's kingdom is frequently a point of contention. For those outside the church, it becomes a point of ridicule and disdain; connected with accusations of being too narrow-minded.
But how much do we truly understand being "born again?" How does one become born again? When Nicodemus came to Jesus by night, this leader of the Jews struggled with this very statement from Jesus, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:3 (LSB).
Thank you for listening to today's message. If you are unsure about your standing before God, we pray this will help you to understand what it means to be born again and why it is necessary for coming into the presence of a Holy God. We pray you will be encouraged through this teaching from God's Word.
Throughout Paul's second letter to the church in Thessalonica, we have drawn lessons regarding God's righteous judgment. We considered His righteous judgment toward those who believe in Jesus Christ and toward those who reject Jesus as savior. We considered His righteous judgment regarding the end times in the final condemnation of Satan and those who deny Jesus, as well as in the final consummation of the believer into eternal rest with the Lord.
Now, in 2 Thessalonians 3, we consider God's righteous judgment within the body of believers. From this study, we will draw three lessons:
- The Lord's attitude toward the body
- The believer's attitude toward the body
- God’s righteous judgment toward the believer who disregards the body
We thank you for listening to today's lesson and pray you will be blessed and encouraged through the teaching of God's Holy Word.
One of the battle cries of the reformation was salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. The corollary to this is that we are no longer under law but under grace.
But is there a proper relationship between the believer and the law. And if so, what is it. We remember that Jesus, Himself, proclaimed, "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law of the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill." (Matthew 5:17, LSB)
Join us for today's lesson as we catch up with Paul returning to Jerusalem following his third missionary journey. He arrived facing charges from Jewish Christians that Paul was teaching the Gentiles to put away the Law of Moses. Paul's response to this group of believers serves as a valuable tool to inform our relationship to the Law.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. We pray you will be blessed and encouraged through the teaching of God's Holy Word.
When Valentine's Day rolls around, we are deluged with messages of love. Notes between husbands and wives extol their love for one another. A suitor sends roses to demonstrate his love for his beloved or betrothed. Even school children share cards with each other in honor of the day. But how sad would it be if a wife left a card for her husband only to have it ignored? Or if a woman sang of her love to her love with no response?
In many ways, God leaves love notes for us, in creation, in each other, in the pages of Scripture, and above all, in His Son. But how closely do we pay attention to the love of God poured out toward undeserving sinners?
Join us for today's lesson as we explore what Scripture says about the nature of love, our love for God and His inexhaustible love toward us.
Thank you for listening. We pray you will be blessed and encouraged through the teaching of God's Holy Word.
Imagine living in a world without light. Light is used in so many different ways within our world making life without light nearly impossible to navigate. We use light for communication; think traffic lights, airport landing strips, or the warning lights on the dashboard to alert us to issues with our vehicles. Light is used to reveal or highlight defects, such as inspecting dents in a car. Imagine a surgeon operating without the proper surgical lighting. And of course, light helps us to see in dark places, such as the headlights used to illumine the roadways at night, or flashlights or candles in a room without power.
Scripture speaks of another light, the True Light which, "coming into the world enlightens everyone" (John 1:9 LSB). If life without physical life is nearly impossible, life without the Light of the world is holds eternal consequences.
Join us for today's lesson as we examine what the Scripture has to say about Jesus Christ as the Light of the world and the implications for us.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. We pray you will be blessed and encouraged through the teaching of God's Holy Word.
As Paul prepared to go to Jerusalem, a journey which was sure to mean persecution and even arrest, he continues to do what is most characteristic for him; he seeks to encourage and build up the body of believers in the churches he visited.
Before his return to Jerusalem, Paul met with the Ephesian elders:
- Speaking of what was during his time with those believers
- Warning about what is coming
- Encouraging with what will be helpful
In speaking this way to these elders, Paul speaks as one shepherd to another; serving in selflessness and through strong connection with this church with whom he spent considerable time.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. We pray you will be blessed and encouraged through the teaching of God's Word.
We continue our series in the Atlantic Gospel Chapel Statement of Faith. This morning, we consider the fourth article of our Statement of Faith:
"We Believe – the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ, and during this age, to convict those without Christ as their Savoir of their sin and regenerate the believing sinner. He also indwells, guides, instructs, and empowers the believer for godly living and service."
In this lesson, we consider both the Person and the work of the Holy Spirit. Who is He? How does the Holy Spirit communicate with the believer? What is the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer?
We thank you for listening to today's lesson. We invite you to examine our statement of faith online at, https://atlanticgospelchapel.com/statement-of-faith/.
May God bless you through the teaching of His Holy Word.
Many of us remember a time as children when the preview of the latest Star Wars movie installment aired on television. The trailers left us with the eager anticipation of the promised event. We often wished the date would come much sooner than the actual date.
In today's lesson, we take a look ahead at what is to come. In last week's lesson, we considered the first part of the third article of our statement of faith, "We Believe – Jesus Christ is true God and true man, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He died on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins. Further, He arose bodily from the dead..."
This morning, we consider the second part of this article, "He ascended into heaven, where at the right hand of God the Father, He is now the Head of the church and intercedes for all believers. In the future, He will take the Church – both the dead and living believers – to be with Himself. Later, He will come to Earth to establish His Kingdom."
We thank you for listening to today's lesson. We invite you to check out our statement of faith online at, https://atlanticgospelchapel.com/statement-of-faith/.
May the Lord bless you through the teaching of His Word.
Today's lesson represents part one of two considering the third point of the Atlantic Gospel Chapel Statement of Faith.
We Believe – Jesus Christ is true God and true man, having been conceived of theHoly Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He died on the cross as a sacrifice for oursins. Further, He arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven, where at theright hand of God the Father, He is now the Head of the church and intercedes for allbelievers. In the future, He will take the Church – both the dead and living believers – tobe with Himself. Later, He will come to Earth to establish His Kingdom.
What does it mean that Jesus is True God and True man? Why is this such a critical point in the Christian faith.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May you be blessed through the teaching of God's Holy Word. Again, we invite you to check out our statement of faith at https://atlanticgospelchapel.com/statement-of-faith/.
In today's lesson, we finish our look at that portion of the Atlantic Gospel Chapel's Statement of Faith dealing with the ordinances of the church.
We Believe – for the believer, the Lord’s Supper and water baptism by immersion areordinances to be observed by the church during this present age. They are, however,not to be regarded as a means of salvation. Like 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-27;Matthew 28:19; Ephesians 2:8-9.
Last week, we focused upon the Lord's Supper in the life of the church. Today, we examine the role of baptism in the life of the believer.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May you be blessed through the teaching of God's Holy Word. And again, we invite you to examine our Statement of Faith at https://atlanticgospelchapel.com/statement-of-faith/.
In today's lesson, we continue our look at the Atlantic Gospel Chapel Statement of Faith. Today, we begin a look at the two ordinances of the church, the Lord's Supper and Baptism.
From our Statement of Faith, "We Believe – for the believer, the Lord’s Supper and water baptism by immersion are ordinances to be observed by the church during this present age. They are, however, not to be regarded as a means of salvation." Like 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-27; Matthew 28:19; Ephesians 2:8-9. In today's lesson, we consider the Lord's Supper and why it is important in the life of the church and the life of the believer.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May you be blessed through the teaching of God's Holy Word. We also invite you to examine our full statement of faith on our website at, https://atlanticgospelchapel.com/statement-of-faith/.
We continue our look at the doctrine of the Trinity. We examine more Scriptural evidence for this central doctrine of the church. We consider the development of the doctrine within the church, which has its beginnings in the teachings of the Apostles and carried into the first and second centuries by those who studied with them. We also consider errors associated with the Trinity.
Thank you for listening to this lesson. We invite you to visit our website and check out the Statement of Faith of the Atlantic Gospel Chapel at https://atlanticgospelchapel.com/statement-of-faith/
In today's message, we continue through the Atlantic Gospel Chapel Statement of Faith. "We Believe – there is one God, Creator of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14." Today we examine the doctrine of the Trinity and consider the implications for the believer today.
Thank you for listening to today's message. May you be blessed through the teaching of God's Holy Word.
We invite you to examine our Statement of Faith by visiting our website at https://atlanticgospelchapel.com/statement-of-faith/.
We continue our look into the first article of the Atlantic Gospel Chapel Statement of Faith. Here we take a further look into the Bible itself to gain a deeper understanding into how we received the Bible in its current form. How was it determined which books were the Word of God and which were not.
We invite you to read our Statement of Faith in its entirety at https://atlanticgospelchapel.com/statement-of-faith/.
Thank you for listening to this lesson. May you be blessed through the teaching of God's Holy Word.
In today's lesson, we begin a series on the Atlantic Gospel Chapel Statement of Faith. Each week, a member of the leadership team will expound upon each of the articles in our Statement of Faith.
Today, we examine the first article, We Believe – the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, to be the inspired Word of God; without error in the original writings; the complete revelation of His will for the salvation of men; and the Divine and final authority for all Christian faith and life. 2 Timothy 3:16,17.
You can read our Statement of Faith in its entirety at https://atlanticgospelchapel.com/statement-of-faith/.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May you be blessed through the teaching of God's Holy Word.
A recent video posted online asked the question, "Why do we celebrate Christmas?" Then answers seem to reflect the modern, American culture as regards the Christmas season. We celebrate because there are presents. We celebrate time with family and friends. But only one of the responses shown indicated a Biblical understanding of Christmas as the time we remember and celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
But what does this truly mean? As believers, do we really dig into the depths around the wonder and glory and truth of Christmas? As one put it, "Jesus had the birthday but we got the gift." In today's lesson, preached on Christmas morning, 2022, the Atlantic Gospel Chapel leadership team examines four aspects of the Incarnation:
- The Pre-Incarnate Christ
- The Old Testament prophecies which foretold the birth of Jesus
- The Event of the birth of Jesus
- What this all means for us
Thank you for listening to this special message. May you be blessed as, together, we consider the awe and wonder of Immanuel, God with us.
As we continue in Acts 17, we find Paul in Athens addressing the men of the Areopagus to answer questions aroused by his preaching in the market place. And just as we are today, we find that the people of Athens in Paul's day were very religious by nature. But in our sin we worship things that are not God, who is the only One deserving of our worship.
As Paul presents his case before the council, he presents God as the creator of all things. He presents God as the self-existent One who does not depend upon anyone or anything for His existence, but instead gives to all life, breath and all things.
Thank you for listening to today's message. And as we consider the God who is, my you be blessed by the teaching of God's Holy Word.
As we enter into the Christmas season, our thoughts often go to all things Christmas. The trees and decorations, the lights and presents. Sunday School programs rehearse the Christmas story, and we return to passages such as Matthew 1, or Luke 2. But what we don't often associate with Christmas is the story of creation.
When John opened his Gospel in John 1, he wrote, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.” Later in John 1:14, he wrote, "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us..." The Second Person of the Trinity, the One who created the universe, became a man. This is the story of Christmas.
So, as we look back to Genesis 1 at the story of creation, may we get a glimpse at eternal character and nature of God. And may this cause us to stop and wonder, as David did, “When I see Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have established; What is man that You remember him, and the son of man that You care for him?” (Psalm 8:3-4 NASB)
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May you be blessed as we consider who God is and what He has done for us through His Son.
In our modern world, the idea that life should be ordered on Scriptural principles is often seen as a silly notion. Belief in God is seen as quaint; but to believe that God's Word should play a part in public life is seen as dangerous. And to insist on belief in the Bible is to de-legitimize other religious beliefs and is therefore a bigoted view. The COEXIST bumper stickers, on which each letter is formed from a symbol representing a different major religion, is the mantra of the day.
When Paul entered Athens, we read in Acts 17:6, "his spirit was being provoked within him as he was observing the city full of idols." In other words, Paul ran right into a culture not that different than our own modern culture. He observed a very religious culture with objects of worship abounding. And to make sure their bases were covered, they even included an altar to an unknown god. And when Paul began to speak to the crowds in the Athenian market place, he received the same response Christians receive today, "What would this idle babbler wish to say?"
As we look at Paul's response to the culture of his day, what lessons can we draw to help us respond to the culture of today?
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May you be blessed through the teaching of God's Holy Word.
As a city in the ancient world, Corinth could be compared to Las Vegas of today. A port city, and an important city within the Roman Empire, this city was a mecca of idolatry and moral corruption. To find a church in this city was, in many ways, a miracle in itself.
Sadly, the church in Corinth was a church with many problems, not the least of which were the divisions which existed. What lessons can we gain from this church and Paul's handling of the issues which plagued this local body of believers?
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May you be blessed through the teaching of God's Holy Word.
Thanksgiving is something that should mark our whole life. How often do we thank God for our existence or His many blessings in our lives? Or how often do we thank God for our jobs or our fellow believers? The list of things for which we should be thankful becomes a rather lengthy one.
In today's lesson, we conduct a survey of what Scripture has to say on the topic of giving thanks.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May you be blessed as we consider who God is and what He has done. And may our hearts, minds, and lives pour out in giving thanks to God.
In his play, "The Crucible," Arthur Miller made this comment, "Maybe all one can do is hope to end up with the right regrets." It is easy for us to cast stones at many of the characters of Scripture. And perhaps one of the characters attracting the most condemnation of believers is Lot, the nephew of Abraham.
Most of what we know about Lot comes from the account in Genesis, beginning in chapter 12, where we find Lot joining his uncle as Abram leaves his land following the Lord's call. And from the Scofield notes, we would conclude that Lot ended his life in a completely back-slidden state.
But the most important things we know about Lot comes from 2 Peter 2:4-9, in which we read that Scripture counted Lot as a righteous man whose heart was tormented by the wickedness of Sodom where he dwelt.
As we consider the character of Lot, what applications can we make to the life of the believer today? What encouragement, as well as warnings, can we draw from this man's life?
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May you be blessed through the teaching of God's Holy Word.
Most of us have likely heard messages such as, "Five Things That Prove the Resurrection of Jesus." In tonight's lesson, however, we turn this on its head. Rather than looking at the evidence for the resurrection, we consider, "Six Things the Resurrection of Jesus Proves." While there are more than these items, we focus on the following things which the resurrection prove:
- The truth of the Old Testament Scripture
- All authority in heaven and earth belong to Jesus
- Jesus will return to judge
- Salvation
- God's wrath is satisfied
- Death is not the end
Thank you for listening. May you be encouraged by the Word of God and the truth and power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
There are those today who act as if Christians should not quote Scripture. One reason is the fear that people will find us silly. Another reason being that Scripture no longer has the power to convict.
But what does the Word of God say? In today's lesson we continue with Paul and Silas and Timothy into Thessalonica. Having been driven from Philippi, Acts records how they next came to this city, where Paul spent three Sabbaths in the synagogue, reasoning with them from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ. The result is many believed; both Jew and Gentile.
The Jewish leaders in Thessalonica, jealous of the response to the Gospel, stirred up the city to drive out Paul and his companions. Those who knew the Word of God best, rejected the very Scripture they claimed to uphold.
Exiled, Paul and his companions next come to Berea and again enter the synagogue of the Jews. By contrast, the Jews in Berea are described as, "more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica." For when they heard the Gospel preached from the Scriptures, rather than reject it, they, "received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily whether these things were so."
The truth is, Scripture always draws a response. And in a world where the Word of God is rejected, the believer always runs the risk of seeming silly. But we must also remember that the Word of God is powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May you be blessed through the teaching of God's Holy Word.
Life is full of questions. Most of the questions are trivial in nature; what cereal should I have for breakfast? Other questions, while they may have more depth, we treat them as trivial; such as, "Who are you doing?" to which most of us answer, "Fine," even if we are not. Some questions are life changing, "Will you marry me?" to which the answer may change the trajectory of our lives. And still others are life or death questions, "What is your blood type?" which if answered incorrectly may result in death.
But there is one question which has eternal consequences, "What must I do to be saved?" In today's lesson we continue our study in Acts 16 in which a Philippian jailer is faced with that question. How would you answer the question?
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May you be blessed through the teaching of God's Holy Word.
Lamentations is one of the least preached books. And to be honest, it is a depressing book. Lamentations deals with the Lord's treatment of Judah, specifically, Jerusalem, for her continued rebellion to Himself and His laws. And following an 18 month siege of the city by Babylon, Jerusalem is devastated beyond belief.
But the lessons of Lamentations are just as relevant for us today as they were during the time the events of this book took place. First, we must come to grips that our sin deserves judgment, and the position in which Jerusalem finds itself is the direct judgment of God. But we also see that God is righteous in His judgments and we learn what happens when God's people cry out in repentance.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May you be blessed and encouraged through the teaching of God's Word.
Lamentations is one of the least preached books. And to be honest, it is a depressing book. Lamentations deals with the Lord's treatment of Judah, specifically, Jerusalem, for her continued rebellion to Himself and His laws. And following an 18 month siege of the city by Babylon, Jerusalem is devastated beyond belief.
But the lessons of Lamentations are just as relevant for us today as they were during the time the events of this book took place. First, we must come to grips that our sin deserves judgment, and the position in which Jerusalem finds itself is the direct judgment of God. But we also see that God is righteous in His judgments and we learn what happens when God's people cry out in repentance.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May you be blessed and encouraged through the teaching of God's Word.
Lamentations is one of the least preached books. And to be honest, it is a depressing book. Lamentations deals with the Lord's treatment of Judah, specifically, Jerusalem, for her continued rebellion to Himself and His laws. And following an 18 month siege of the city by Babylon, Jerusalem is devastated beyond belief.
But the lessons of Lamentations are just as relevant for us today as they were during the time the events of this book took place. First, we must come to grips that our sin deserves judgment, and the position in which Jerusalem finds itself is the direct judgment of God. But we also see that God is righteous in His judgments and we learn what happens when God's people cry out in repentance.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May you be blessed and encouraged through the teaching of God's Word.
Lamentations is one of the least preached books. And to be honest, it is a depressing book. Lamentations deals with the Lord's treatment of Judah, specifically, Jerusalem, for her continued rebellion to Himself and His laws. And following an 18 month siege of the city by Babylon, Jerusalem is devastated beyond belief.
But the lessons of Lamentations are just as relevant for us today as they were during the time the events of this book took place. First, we must come to grips that our sin deserves judgment, and the position in which Jerusalem finds itself is the direct judgment of God. But we also see that God is righteous in His judgments and we learn what happens when God's people cry out in repentance.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May you be blessed and encouraged through the teaching of God's Word.
"In the year of King Uzziah's death..." King Uzziah strengthened the nation both politically and religiously, seeking after the Lord God. King Uzziah reigned for 52 years in Jerusalem, so when he died, this time of relative peace and stability came to a crashing stop. What would become of the nation? Uncertainty gripped the nation as well as God's prophet, Isaiah.
In the midst of this uncertain time, Isaiah goes to the temple in Jerusalem, where he is given a vision of the Lord on His throne with the train of His robe filling the temple. It is a magnificent vision to behold with seraphim calling out to one another, "Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts."
But then a thought grips this prophet. This prophet whom God called to pronounce judgments, woes, upon the nations and the religious leaders for their rebellious hearts, how stood before a Holy God and he realizes that he is just as deserving of God's judgment as these wicked nations.
Join us for this lesson as we explore man's place before a Holy and Righteous God, and the Lord's reaction to and provision for our sin.
Thank you for listening. May you be richly blessed through the teaching of God's Holy Word.
"In the year of King Uzziah's death..." King Uzziah strengthened the nation both politically and religiously, seeking after the Lord God. King Uzziah reigned for 52 years in Jerusalem, so when he died, this time of relative peace and stability came to a crashing stop. What would become of the nation? Uncertainty gripped the nation as well as God's prophet, Isaiah.
In the midst of this uncertain time, Isaiah goes to the temple in Jerusalem, where he is given a vision of the Lord on His throne with the train of His robe filling the temple. It is a magnificent vision to behold with seraphim calling out to one another, "Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts."
But then a thought grips this prophet. This prophet whom God called to pronounce judgments, woes, upon the nations and the religious leaders for their rebellious hearts, how stood before a Holy God and he realizes that he is just as deserving of God's judgment as these wicked nations.
Join us for this lesson as we explore man's place before a Holy and Righteous God, and the Lord's reaction to and provision for our sin.
Thank you for listening. May you be richly blessed through the teaching of God's Holy Word.
During the Jerusalem Council recorded in Acts 15, the early church affirmed that salvation did not depend upon adherence to the Mosaic Law, but solely upon accepting, by faith, the grace shown to all through the atoning work of Christ on the cross. Anything else only served to add burden to believers.
Following this Council, Paul set out to revisit the churches established during his first missionary journey in order to encourage and strengthen these churches. He also planned to enter into Asia to bring the Good News of this Gospel message to more people.
It is here, in Acts 16, where Paul first encounters Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who believed the Gospel, and a Greek man. A young man of high character, Paul brought Timothy along on the journey; finding in him a kindred spirit for the work of the Gospel. But despite Paul's intentions, the Holy Spirit had other plans, closing doors to bring Paul into the European continent.
In today's passage, we see the importance of close bonds with those of like faith, of passing down the Gospel to future generations and the wisdom in setting aside our own preferences and liberties for the sake of the Gospel. We learn that God is the ultimate missions director, closing doors we sought to open while opening doors we may have never considered. And finally, we learn that it is God who changes the heart. And while our words are not what brings salvation, the Holy Spirit honors us with using us to reach the lost.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May you be encouraged and blessed through the teaching of God's Holy Word.
During the Jerusalem Council recorded in Acts 15, the early church affirmed that salvation did not depend upon adherence to the Mosaic Law, but solely upon accepting, by faith, the grace shown to all through the atoning work of Christ on the cross. Anything else only served to add burden to believers.
Following this Council, Paul set out to revisit the churches established during his first missionary journey in order to encourage and strengthen these churches. He also planned to enter into Asia to bring the Good News of this Gospel message to more people.
It is here, in Acts 16, where Paul first encounters Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who believed the Gospel, and a Greek man. A young man of high character, Paul brought Timothy along on the journey; finding in him a kindred spirit for the work of the Gospel. But despite Paul's intentions, the Holy Spirit had other plans, closing doors to bring Paul into the European continent.
In today's passage, we see the importance of close bonds with those of like faith, of passing down the Gospel to future generations and the wisdom in setting aside our own preferences and liberties for the sake of the Gospel. We learn that God is the ultimate missions director, closing doors we sought to open while opening doors we may have never considered. And finally, we learn that it is God who changes the heart. And while our words are not what brings salvation, the Holy Spirit honors us with using us to reach the lost.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May you be encouraged and blessed through the teaching of God's Holy Word.
As Paul closes out his first letter to the church in Thessalonica, he does so by encouraging to live lives in light of the Gospel and in the hope of the soon return of the Lord Jesus. This hope is the certain expectation based upon the faithfulness of who God is and what He has done for us in His Son, Jesus Christ.
Join us for today's lesson as we explore living life in light of the Gospel, drawing four lessons from today's passage.
- The Corporate Life of the Believer
- The Individual Life of the Believer
- The Dynamic Life of the Believer
- The Power to live the Life of a Believer
Thank you for listening to today's message. May the Word of God richly bless you.
As Paul closes out his first letter to the church in Thessalonica, he does so by encouraging to live lives in light of the Gospel and in the hope of the soon return of the Lord Jesus. This hope is the certain expectation based upon the faithfulness of who God is and what He has done for us in His Son, Jesus Christ.
Join us for today's lesson as we explore living life in light of the Gospel, drawing four lessons from today's passage.
- The Corporate Life of the Believer
- The Individual Life of the Believer
- The Dynamic Life of the Believer
- The Power to live the Life of a Believer
Thank you for listening to today's message. May the Word of God richly bless you.
Today's lesson is the second and last lesson on Romans 8:28-30, sometimes referred to as the Golden Chain of Redemption with each of its five links holding us to Jesus Christ.
In the first part of this series, we considered the first two links of this Golden Chain:
- Foreknown
- Predestined
That is, that those whom He foreknew he has predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son.
In part two, we consider the remaining three links:
- Called
- Justified
- Glorified
This "Golden Chain of Redemption" encourages us with the truth that our salvation is not dependent upon us, nor is our security dependent upon us. Rather, it is God who is the One who save and ensures that our salvation is brought to its full completion.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May you be richly blessed as we consider God's intimate knowledge of us, His creation and His purpose to conform the believer in Jesus into the image of His Son.
When we look at the Bible as a whole, we can think of it as a great symphony of a rescue story, of how God saved a people to Himself. All of the Bible is about who God is, what He has done and what He is going to do. This rescue story is a story of which we are a part. But we must also remember that we are not the center of this story; rather we are the ones requiring rescue.
Today's passage has been referred to as the Golden Chain of Redemption, with each of its links holding us to Christ. It is the central theme of the rescue story of Scripture and fixes our gaze upon the subject of this story...God the Father working through God, the Son, Jesus Christ.
In part one, we will consider the first two of the five "links" which make up this Golden Chain:
- Foreknew
- Predestined
- Called
- Justified
- Glorified
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May you be richly blessed as we consider God's intimate knowledge of us, His creation and His purpose to conform the believer in Jesus into the image of His Son.
Immediately following His baptism by John, the Gospels record that the Spirit led, or better drove, Jesus into the wilderness for forty days. We know little of that time other than he fasted those many days alone; a time which echoes the forty years Israel spent in the wilderness following their exodus from Egypt. In a sense, Jesus fulfilled in the wilderness what Israel could not.
It was at the end of these forty days that the Devil came to Jesus in order to tempt Jesus. At each of these temptations, Jesus' response was the Word of God, "It is written..." In the end, Satan failed in his attempt to keep Jesus from going to the cross. It was this temptation which led the writer of Hebrews to conclude, "For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all thing as we are, yet without sin." (Hebrews 4:15 NASB)
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May you be blessed and encouraged by our Great High Priest who is solely qualified to take our place in judgment.
Those of us who have been on a flight through a storm know the anxiety this produces. The turbulent, bumpy ride of this sort would make anyone nervous. But then, as the pilot flies the plane above the storm we find peace. The sun, previously hidden from the storm, still shines brightly and beautifully above the storm. It can be like that for us in turmoil when all we see is the storm...but the sun is still there even when we cannot see it.
This is also true for us spiritually. We had no hope, but what we find is that the Son has always been there, so that now, through the obedience of the One, many will be made righteous. Jesus made the way for us to be reconciled to God. Now, if we will receive that gift, we have a glorious and abundant future in heaven awaiting us; a place, as it were, above the clouds of this earth and all the trials and temptations that bring us so much turmoil.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May you be blessed through the teaching of God's Holy Word.
When we read about the heroes of Scripture we do not see heroes larger than life who can do no wrong. Instead, we see people like us used mightily by God to do extraordinary things. But what Scripture does not do is gloss over the imperfections of its heroes. Instead, we see imperfect characters, warts and all. Life is messy and we as human beings are messy people. Scripture shows that God's people are still messy people and that there are still fights and differences between us.
Paul and Barnabas were close companions who took the Gospel beyond the region of Palestine into Asia Minor, planting many churches. When the issue of the role of circumcision in salvation, Paul and Barnabas confronted this false teaching together. But when Paul approached Barnabas about a second missionary journey, a great difference arose between these two close friends regarding the inclusion of John Mark in the journey. In the end, this disagreement proved irreconcilable, and the two parted ways.
We will see from today's lesson that God works even in these circumstances. We also see the importance of discipleship in Christian ministry; it's not just about winning converts to the faith.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May you be blessed and encouraged through the teaching of God's Holy Word.
Psalm 73:1, "Truly God is good to Israel, to such as are pure in heart." As Asaph wrote Psalm 73, he opened reminding himself of God's promises to Israel. But, as he looked around, he saw something which seemed to contradict God's certain promises; for it appeared the wicked prospered rather than the righteous. This observation nearly caused this man, a worship leader within the church, to stumble; that is until he entered the Sanctuary of God.
Upon entering the God's Sanctuary, he sees first who God is. And perceiving God's person, he then understands the ultimate end of the wicked.
Just like Asaph, we may be tempted to look around and wonder, why do I keep working so hard to please the Lord? What good does it do when the wicked have it better than me? May today's lesson be a comfort and encouragement to us as we consider the person and character of God.
Thank you for listening.
Following the spread of the Gospel in Jerusalem and Judea, we read in Acts how the Gospel came to the Samaritans through Philip. This follows the Lord's instructions to His disciples in Acts 1, to take the Gospel to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the ends of the world. Therefore, following the introduction of the Gospel into Samaria, an angel of the Lord instructs Philip to a desert road from Jerusalem to Gaza.
As Philip obey's the Lord's guidance, he has a "chance" encounter with an Ethiopian eunuch in which Philip finds him deep in the study of Isaiah 53. Invited into the chariot, "Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him."
From this passage, we learn three important truths:
- There are no chance meetings
- The importance of preaching Christ from Scripture
- The right response to what Christ has done
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May God richly bless you and encourage you in the work of the Gospel from His Holy Word.
One of the themes throughout Paul's first letter to the church in Thessalonica is the imminent return of Jesus Christ. As he continues this letter, he takes time to answer some concerns of the believers there. Of great concern was the fate of loved ones in Christ who had died. When Jesus returns, which they fervently believed would be at any time, what will happen to those who have died? Will they share in the blessings of eternal life with Jesus?
Paul's answer to this question was likely a great comfort to the believers there, just as it is a great comfort to believers today. There is good reason why this passage, particularly 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 is often read at funerals, because if we are honest with ourselves, we are concerned about the fate of our loved ones in Christ who have passed.
As we study this passage, we will focus on three main points:
- The Certain Hope for the believer
- The Certain Judgment for the world
- The Certain Foundation of the believer
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. We pray you are blessed through the teaching of God's Holy Word.
It may be hard to fathom, but even in the first century, mere decades after the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ, teaching which was not in line with Scripture or the Apostles' teaching began to creep into the church. The earliest of these challenges to the church focused upon the issue of circumcision; for certain men from Judea, Pharisees who had believed, began to teach, 'Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved" (Acts 15:1 NASB). At the core of this teaching was the addition of works to faith to ensure salvation. However, this teaching was clearly at odds with the Scriptural teaching of salvation alone by grace alone through faith alone.
This teaching represented the first great challenge to this still young church. So much so, that Paul and Barnabas, "had great dissension and debate with" these teachers. The Jerusalem Council convened to determine the response to this question. It is a question which goes to the very heart of the Gospel message, "What is necessary for salvation?"
From today's passage we draw three key points when it comes to false teaching in general and this false teaching in particular:
- How false teaching is confronted?
- Why is this false teaching so deadly?
- What is the basis by which judgment is made regarding this false teaching?
Thank you for listening to today's message. We pray that this teaching from God's Holy Word will encourage you in your own faith.
Scripture is clear that there is a coming day when the trumpet shall sound and those who are in Christ, the dead first, then those who remain, will be caught up in the air and so we shall be with Him for all eternity (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). The question becomes, then, are you ready for when the trumpet sounds? Where will you spend eternity?
In today's lesson we explore the question put forth by the writer of Hebrews, "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?" (Hebrews 2:3, KJV). What awaits the one who rejects the free gift of salvation secured by the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ?
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. It is our prayer that you would be blessed through the teaching of God's Holy Word. More importantly, if you do not know the Lord Jesus as Savior, it is our fervent prayer that you would understand the implications of today's lesson, "How shall we escape?"
Most of us likely remember those times growing up when our parent's announced that company was coming. Be it grandma and grandpa, or friends of the family or coworkers, this announcement was soon followed by several days to prepare the home for the anticipated visitors. Floors would be swept and mopped, furniture was dusted and we even had to make sure our rooms were cleaned.
In Exodus 19, the children of Israel find themselves in a similar position. They are only a few days removed from their exodus from Egypt. They have witness the wonders of the Lord as He judged Egypt and their gods, now bringing them to the foot of Mount Sinai. And the command is clear, "consecrate yourselves." For they also anticipated the arrival of the God of the Universe. This very same God whom they witnessed in the plagues poured out upon Egypt. This very same God who parted the Red Sea and provided water from the rock. And this divine appointment with the creator of the universe bears infinitely more consequences than the arrival of family or friends.
We learn two key principles from Israel's encounter with the Lord at Mount Sinai. First, we must be ready to meet the Lord. Second, we learn that no one can come into the presence of Yahweh uninvited. To do so brings judgment from the Lord. This is why, when the Lord spoke from the mountain, their response was, "Moses, you talk to us. But don't let the Lord speak to us any more or we will perish."
And just like the children of Israel, we find ourselves in similar straits. To approach God on our own merit brings judgment and wrath. So how can we approach such a holy God? How do we apply today's reading and lesson to our lives today?
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. We pray you will be blessed through the teaching of God's Holy Word.
The recent decision handed down by the United States Supreme Court striking down Roe versus Wade has resulted in much discussion and controversy within our nation. As Christians we are bound by the Word of God. As we consider the topic of abortion, as Christians we must begin by asking, what does God have to say about this subject? Our understanding of this cannot come from our preferred political party; from either side. Rather we must think about this a people who are bound to the word of God.
But isn't this topic a political discussion? On the one hand, this is a political discussion, but the political discussion is down stream from the religious discussion. The problem is that the political discussion is trying to answer religious questions by contemplating whether or not to follow what the Word of God says on this topic.
This is a difficult discussion; but it is a discussion from which we as Christians cannot and must not avoid.
Thank you for listening to today's message on this very timely topic. May you be blessed through the teaching of God's Holy Word.
"It's a free country!" is a refrain many of us has heard here in the United States of America. This response often comes when someone's speech or actions are challenged. The implication, of course, being that as a free country, we are free to say and do whatever we please. The problem, however, comes in the fact that independence cannot really be freedom from all law or my freedom will endanger the freedom of others within the community.
As the nation prepares to celebrate its independence, how do we as Christians view our freedom and independence. From what and to what have we been freed? And how can we claim independence when Paul, and other writers of scripture, assert that we are now slaves to righteousness?
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May you be blessed through the teaching of God's Word as we consider the freedom we have in Christ.
Peter spent roughly three years with Jesus, during the Lord's earthly ministry. He witnessed unimaginable signs and wonders. He witnessed the Lord walking on water. He was there when the Lord raised the dead and when He healed the blind and lame. But as the Lord reached His darkest hour, praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, Peter couldn't keep his eyes open for even an hour. And as the Lord was arrested, Peter fled; even denying to have known Jesus at all, despite his boasts, "even if all are made to stumble, yet I will not be;" (Mark 14:29 KJV), and again, "If I have to die with You, I will not deny You!" (Mark 14:31 KJV). These were his confident assertions when the Lord warned all the disciples that they would desert Him, and Peter would deny Him.
One question that comes to mind is, how can someone who spent so much time with the Lord Jesus find themselves in a place so far from Him? In today's lesson, we consider five steps which resulted in Peter calling down curses upon himself and swearing he never knew the Lord. And as we consider these steps we are reminded that we are also prone to follow the same path as Peter.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May you be blessed through the teaching of God's Holy Word.
Following Paul's preaching in Pisidian Antioch, the Jews plotted to stone Paul and Barnabas. Learning of this plot, they fled for the cities of Lycaonia; Lystra and Derbe, where they continued to preach the Gospel.
In Lystra, they encountered a man lame from birth. Through faith in Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit, Paul was enabled to heal this man. The response was misplaced credit for this miracle; attributing this healing to the work of their gods and assuming Paul and Barnabas to be Hermes and Zeus visiting their city, even going so far as to prepare sacrifices to Paul and Barnabas.
Aghast, Paul and Barnabas rush to stop this idolatry. Beginning with the fact that they are just men, Paul makes great effort to preach the Gospel, beginning with the foundation of general revelation which points to the One True God, who is the creator and Lord of All.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May you be blessed through the teaching of God's Holy Word.
Wherever the Gospel is preached there is a response to it. In some cases, the response is overwhelmingly positive. Sometimes, the response is violent opposition. And other times, the response is indifference. But in each of these cases, God is still accomplishing His purposes through His Word; as we are reminded in Isaiah 55:10-11, "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth and making it bear and sprout, and furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; so will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it."
As we continue our study of the book of Acts, we pick up with Paul and Barnabas in Pisidian Antioch, where Paul has preached the Gospel. The response is what we would expect; some overwhelmingly accept the good news, others are violently opposed to the message of the Gospel, and still others are indifferent. But regardless of the response, we are called to preach the Word.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May you be richly blessed through the teaching of God's Holy Word.
As Jesus approached the time of His crucifixion, He spent time to prepare His disciples for what was to come. In John 15, He introduces His disciples to a level of relational intimacy with God through Jesus Christ. Using imagery with which they were likely familiar, Jesus relates the Christian life to the vine and the vine dresser.
In today's lesson, we get a glimpse at the True Vine and see how the vine dresser cares for us in order to bring about increased fruit in the life of the believer.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May you be blessed through the teaching of God's Holy Word.
Picking up in Acts 13:16, Paul gets into the meat of the Gospel. As we saw last time, Paul preaches nothing new, but the same Gospel which the other apostles have preached all along. And this Gospel is not rooted in any new information or in human invention; rather it is rooted in the Scriptures. So as Paul preaches to the Jews and the God fearing Gentiles in the synagogue, he brings them to the Scriptures. Rehearsing their own history, Paul recalls that Jesus is the fulfillment of the magnificent promises made to their forefathers centuries prior; the fulfillment of the promises made to David.
He reminds them of John the Baptist, of whom this group must have heard the stories coming out of Israel. John, the prophet who came after 400 years of silence, pointed to the one who would come, "the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie." John pointed to Jesus, but when Jesus did come, the rulers recognized "neither Him nor the utterances of the prophets which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled these by condemning Him" without cause. But God raised Him from the dead, after which He appeared to many.
This is the Gospel Paul preached. It is the Gospel to which the prophets pointed centuries before. And it is the same Gospel which has been preached for nearly two millennia. And so as we consider this same Gospel, may we be emboldened to preach the Gospel, turning to Scripture as the basis and foundation for our teaching.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May you be blessed through the teaching of God's Holy Word.
As we pick up with Paul in Pisidian Antioch during his first missionary journey, we find Paul doing exactly what he has been doing since the time of his conversion; he is preaching the gospel. As became his practice, in each city he visited, he went to the Jews first in the synagogue. In fact, it was the fact that he was already doing the work of an evangelist and missionary which allowed him to be set apart by the Holy Spirit for this journey to take the Gospel to the Gentiles in Asia.
Now in Pisidian Antioch, he again preaches the Gospel. And as he does so, his method becomes a model for us to follow, for we see that in his preaching, Paul:
- Preaches nothing new; his message is the same message he, and the other apostles have preached.
- Paul appeals to Scripture, the Old Testament, throughout his sermon, and not to human opinion or philosophies
- He ends his message with a call to faith, as well as a warning for those who will not believe.
We also see, that just as Paul was called to preach the Gospel, we are called to the same mission. Therefore, let us preach the Gospel.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May the Lord bless you through the teaching of His Holy Word.
The book of Acts follows God's set plan for His church. As the Lord commissioned the Apostles, they were to take the Gospel from Jerusalem into Judea, Samaria, and finally to the remotest parts of the earth. In other word's, God's plan was that the church would be a global religion; not just the religion of Israel.
Acts records how, at the Holy Spirit's leading, the church expanded from Jerusalem into the countryside of Judea, eventually reaching into Samaria. And now the focus of Acts changes from Jerusalem as the center of the the church to Antioch as the base camp for the expansion of the Gospel into Asia Minor. The Gospel had reached the continental divide as it prepares to leave the region of Palestine and reach into the remotest parts of the earth.
In today's lesson, we see how the Holy Spirit set aside Saul, now referred to as Paul, along with Barnabas for the work of bringing the Gospel to the gentiles. We learn principles associated with God calling workers for ministry. We see how the enemy seeks to resist the work of the Gospel. But we also see how God works in wonderful ways, greater than we can imagine, to bring people to salvation.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May you be blessed through the teaching of God's Word.
Today's culture has reduced motherhood to one who is a "birthing person." In other words, the role of the mother is a purely physical one. But this view of motherhood diminishes the Biblical view of motherhood, which endows the mother with both value and importance in the work of the Gospel.
In today's lesson, we survey the many roles a mother plays and discover a mother is so much more than the modern view of motherhood. From comforter and protector, to planner and referee, mothers work in ways which shape the family and therefore have tremendous opportunity to impact the world for the Gospel.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May you be blessed through the teaching of God's Word.
Throughout Paul's letter, he has overflowed with praise for this young church. He has been impressed by their faith in the face of persecution. Despite their young status, this church already distinguished itself as an example of faith and love to the churches in Macedonia and Achaia, that is, Greece.
But now Paul moves on to so-called practical matters. Answering questions as well as addressing issues within the church, Paul starts by noting their faithful walk with God, encouraging them to excel still more. And Paul starts in an area which has the potential to deeply influence the church, both then and today; the area of sexual immorality. This is a topic which affects us today, drawing away both young and old from a faithful walk with the Lord.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May the Lord bless you through the teaching His Holy Word.
For those with children, especially thinking of fathers, there is nothing sweeter to the ear than to hear your young child call to you, "Daddy!" We remember the days when, after a long day of work, we walk into the door to excited exclamations, "Daddy's home!!" and often to the relief of a weary mother. An ideal picture for us might be sitting at the breakfast table, coffee in hand, and have your child come in and say, "Good morning, Daddy!"
But as we get older, most of us stop calling our father, daddy; opting instead for the simple Dad, or Father. Why is that? And why do we not approach our heavenly Father in the same way, opening our prayers with, "Good morning, Daddy." Many of us cannot imagine this, as it sounds too irreverent. And certainly, we must approach the Lord with awe and reverence, recognizing His holiness and power. But is there a place for this kind of intimate language, approaching our Heavenly Father as Daddy.
In the New Testament, various passages, for example, Romans 8:15, point to the fact that we have "received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, 'Abba! Father'". Most of us recognize, "Abba" as being the Aramaic equivalent of "Daddy". And what we find, in a survey of just a few New Testament passages, is that approaching God as Daddy:
- Reminds us of how we can relate to God the Father
- How God the Father relates to His Children
- The position we have as His Children through Christ
- Jesus' own position before His Father
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May you be blessed through the teaching of God's Holy Word.
For those with children, especially thinking of fathers, there is nothing sweeter to the ear than to hear your young child call to you, "Daddy!" We remember the days when, after a long day of work, we walk into the door to excited exclamations, "Daddy's home!!" and often to the relief of a weary mother. An ideal picture for us might be sitting at the breakfast table, coffee in hand, and have your child come in and say, "Good morning, Daddy!"
But as we get older, most of us stop calling our father, daddy; opting instead for the simple Dad, or Father. Why is that? And why do we not approach our heavenly Father in the same way, opening our prayers with, "Good morning, Daddy." Many of us cannot imagine this, as it sounds too irreverent. And certainly, we must approach the Lord with awe and reverence, recognizing His holiness and power. But is there a place for this kind of intimate language, approaching our Heavenly Father as Daddy.
In the New Testament, various passages, for example, Romans 8:15, point to the fact that we have "received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, 'Abba! Father'". Most of us recognize, "Abba" as being the Aramaic equivalent of "Daddy". And what we find, in a survey of just a few New Testament passages, is that approaching God as Daddy:
- Reminds us of how we can relate to God the Father
- How God the Father relates to His Children
- The position we have as His Children through Christ
- Jesus' own position before His Father
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May you be blessed through the teaching of God's Holy Word.
Happy Easter and thank you for listening to today's lesson.
In today's lesson, the leadership of Atlantic Gospel Chapel share the pulpit to consider Easter considering four factors:
- Who is Jesus?
- Why does the life of Jesus matter?
- Why did Jesus have to die?
- What does the resurrection accomplish?
We pray you will be blessed through the teaching of God's Holy Word.
Most of us have experienced loss of one sort or another. This includes the loss of money and possessions, the loss of position or job, or even the loss of friendships and the loss of loved ones. For many, these times of loss, times of suffering, become a true struggle as we try to reconcile the concept of a loving God with the reality of suffering.
During these times, many questions arise. If God is all powerful, all knowing and all loving, why does he not intervene to prevent suffering? How can a loving God allow suffering to exist in the world? Does God even care?
These are real questions which which we must wrestle. Fortunately, Scripture has much to say regarding suffering. As we consider the themes around the central verse of today's lesson, Romans 8:28, "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." (NASB), we find that God is indeed working through suffering to accomplish His purposes. We find there is comfort in a sovereign God. Further, there is great comfort in Jesus' promise to His disciples in Matthew 28:16-20, that all authority is given to Him and that He is present with us always, even to the end of the age.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May you be blessed through the teaching of God's Holy Word.
Many of us grew up on stories told in books and movies in which we imagined what it might be like to live in that world. The world of George Lucas in a galaxy far, far away, where we imagine what it might be like to be a Jedi knight, or perhaps a smuggler. Or perhaps it was the world of J.R.R. Tolkien, where we imagine ourselves in Middle Earth, joining the fellowship to destroy the one ring of power in the fires of Mount Doom. Who would we be in these stories? What would be our purpose?
While these are the things of fanciful imaginations, there is a story in which we have a part and a purpose. This is God's story, set in the world He created, and we are its characters. Today's lesson is the second part in our look at "Living in Light of the Risen Lord," in which we discover we are part of God's continuing story of the Gospel. And we not only have a part to play, but also a purpose.
What is our purpose? As the Lord met with His eleven remaining disciples in Galilee, He instructed them to go. Go and make disciples of all nations. But what does it mean to be a disciple? And does this apply to us today?
Thank you for listening to today's message. May you be blessed and encouraged through the teaching of God's Holy Word.
Most of us have lost loved ones. These losses often have a lasting impact upon our own lives. But suppose, for a moment, that one of those lost loved ones returned from the dead; what impact would that have on our lives.
The truth is, there is One who has died and rose again. Jesus suffered the death of the cross, but rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures. So the question really is, what impact does that have on our lives. How do we live knowing that Jesus has risen from the dead. Fortunately, God has given us the answer.
Sometime in the 40 days between His resurrection and His ascension into heaven, Jesus called His disciples together in Galilee, where, as our passage notes, His disciples worshiped Him. But it also notes that many had doubts; doubt in the midst of faith. But again, the Lord provides the comfort.
In what is often referred to as, "The Great Commission," Jesus comforts his disciples, and us, through four "All" Statements:
- All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
- Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit
- Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you
- And lo, I am with you always (literally, all the days), even to the end of the age.
Today's lesson looks at this first statement. Jesus is the authority in all areas of life. How does this truth comfort us, and how doe it impact how we live in light of the risen Lord?
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May you be blessed through the teaching of God's Holy Word.
The old Sunday School song reminded us as children, "O be careful, little eyes what you see," and "O be careful, little ears what you hear," and again, "O be careful, little feet where you go." The exhortation and implied question is, do the things to which we expose ourselves, together with our walk, align with what we claim is in our hearts? Or has been said, do you walk the talk?
But the song also urges, "O be careful, little tongues what you say." Scripture has much to say about our language. And just like our walk, the question for the believer is, do you talk the talk? This is not about speaking in a Christian lingo. Rather, it is understanding, as Jesus instructed His disciples, "You are the salt of the earth." Does our walk reflect our faith? Does our talk reflect our faith? These are important questions for the Christian.
In today's lesson, we look at several passages that speak to the importance of our language, as we live out our lives not only before men, but before a Holy and righteous God.
Thank you for listening to today's message. May the Lord bless you through the teaching of His Holy Word.
Mankind shares a single destiny. At some point, unless the Lord returns, every one of us will die. Death is the just penalty of a Holy God for our sin (Genesis 2:61-17; Romans 6:23). But while we all share a common destiny, we do not all share the same destination. The truth of Scripture is that our existence does not end at death. Rather, we will continue to exist in the presence of God in His glory, or we will exist separated from Him in Hell.
In today's lesson, we are introduced to two characters. One simply known as "Rich man," the other is given a name, "Lazarus." Both die, joined together in that single destiny. But while the poor man is found after his death in the bosom of Abraham, that is heaven, the rich man finds himself in the agony of Hades; that is, Hell.
From our passage, we will draw five lessons:
- All die and share the same destiny, but there are different destinations
- The nature of Hell
- The eternity of Hell
- God's Word provides the means of escape from Hell
- If we don't accept what God says in the Scriptures, we won't listen to anything else.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May you be blessed and encouraged through the teaching of God's Word.
False religions tend to have one thing in common, they will elevate the teaching and traditions of men to the same level of Scripture. In today's lesson, the Pharisees take on Jesus for the fact that His disciples eat without washing their hands.
This is not an issue of cleanliness for the Pharisees; they are not concerned that they are eating with dirty hands. Rather, the concern of the Pharisees is spiritual defilement, equating external cleansing with spiritual purity. Taking the purity laws, the religious leaders expanded them with their traditions, treating them as if Moses himself had handed them down. Promoting themselves as the protectors and teachers of God's Law, the Pharisees instead prohibit the people from following the true Law of God.
Following a scathing rebuke which drew upon Isaiah, Jesus condemns the practices of the Pharisees, reminding them, along with His disciples, that defilement does not come from the outside in. Nothing we take in can defile us. Rather, defilement is a matter of the heart; coming from within. The heart of the matter, then, is the human heart, which is filled with evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murder, adulteries, etc.
If the problem is our heart, is there a solution? Is there any hope for us?
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May you be blessed through the teaching of God's Holy Word and learn the hope for the defiled heart.
As Paul continues his letter to the church in Thessalonica, he calls to mind the sufferings this young church endured at the hands of their own countrymen, just as the churches in Judea suffered at the hands of their Jewish kinsmen. Because of such suffering, Paul feared this young church might fall away. This deep concern caused him to send Timothy from Athens into Thessalonica to see how they fared. And the news coming from this church couldn't give Paul any more joy. Rather than faltering, this church was vibrant and thriving; an example to the churches in Greece.
Paul, in his letter, also answers his critics. In today's lesson we see what appears to be a charge that he was insincere in regards to his concern for this church. Paul's response gives us three lessons for the believer today:
- The Destiny of the Believer
- The Duty of the Believer
- And the Hope of the Believer
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May you be encouraged through the teaching of God's Word.
Throughout the book of Acts, we have seen growth of the church, which is then met by persecution. And as the persecution grew, the church also grew. When Stephen was martyred with Saul's approval, the church spread throughout Judea and into the surrounding areas. With Saul's conversion, this persecution eased up a bit.
But then Herod Agrippa comes onto the scene. Acts 12 opens with the arrest and execution of James, the brother of John; the firs apostle to be martyred. Seeing how this pleased the Jews, Herod has Peter arrested, with the intention of executing him also. This was a change from persecution at the hands of the Jewish authorities, to now persecution coming from the secular authorities.
And as persecution came, where do we find the church? We find the church on its knees. And as we explore today's passage, we draw some important lessons:
- The importance and power of prayer
- God sometimes answers prayer in ways we don't expect
- God protects and preserves his people and brings judgment against those who would do them harm.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May you be blessed through the teaching of God's word.
When we come to the Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13, the general question that comes to mind is, which of the soils represent the believer and which represent those who have not trusted Jesus for salvation. The first soil is the pathway onto which the seed falls. As Jesus explained to His disciples, this is the one who hears the Word but does not understand it and Satan comes and takes it away. This points to the unbeliever.
On the other end of the spectrum is the fourth soil, the good, prepared, fertile soil which yields a crop a hundredfold, sixty-fold and thirty-fold. This is the one who hears the Word, understands it and produces abundant fruit.
But in the middle are two other soils which have been the subject of much debate. The second soil is the rocky ground, the person who receives the Word with joy, but has no root in himself and the troubles and trials of life cause him to quickly fall away. Likewise, the third is the seed which falls among the thorns, and the worries of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke out the Word and he can bear little fruit.
How do we understand these two soils, and how can we, as believers, apply this to our own lives?
Thank you for listening to today's message. May you be blessed through the teaching of God's Word.
In Acts 10, we see Peter do something which no "good" Jewish person would do--he entered the home of a gentile, namely Cornelius, a Roman Centurion described as, "a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, and gave many alms to the Jewish people and prayed to God continually" (Acts 10:2 NASB).
In response to a vision from the Lord, Cornelius called for Peter to come. At the same time, Peter had his own vision and command from the Lord, "Behold, three men are looking for you...get up...and accompany them without misgivings, for I have sent them Myself." Acts 10:19-20).
In this, Peter learned three lessons that are still true today:
- No one is outside the reach of God
- God is near to all who will draw near to Him
- We are all level at the foot of the Cross
The question for us today is, are there Cornelius's in our lives to whom the Lord may be calling us to preach the Gospel? Do we think of anyone as beyond the reach of God's saving grace? And how do we approach these people with the Gospel?
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May you be blessed through the teaching of God's Word.
The Christian life is a call to a daily walk. We recognize that Satan is ever ready to trip up the believer. We must therefore take care to occupy ourselves with prayer, the study of God's Word, fellowship with fellow believers, and to walk in obedience to Him daily. The problem, however, is without intending it to happen, we find ourselves in a rut. We pray, when we think of it. We read Scripture as if it were any other book, a novel or text book. We never really get excited about what the Christian life is all about.
It is, therefore, important that we get excited about the Christian life. But how do we foster this excitement? Today's lesson suggests two means; first to really study God's Word, and second, to consider our future as one of God's beloved children.
In considering the future, we conduct a survey of the book of Revelation, taking a bird's eye view of the last book of the Bible while also looking at key passages that should get us excited about what the future holds for the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May you be blessed through the teaching of God's Holy Word.
What were some of the challenges facing the early church in the first century? Does the church today face these same dangers?
Jude opens his letter to the church identifying himself, not as the half-brother of Jesus, but as a bond servant of Jesus. He notes his intention to write regarding "our common salvation;" an encouragement which rejoiced in the implications of the finished work of the cross. Instead, he felt the need, "to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith" (Jude 3). He wrote exhorting this church to fight for the faith. But what does it mean to contend for the faith; and why is this warning necessary?
In today's lesson we learn that, just as happens today, "certain men have crept in unnoticed...who turn the grace of our God into lewdness" (Jude 4). These false teachers threatened the young church and the believers needed to be ready. In studying this letter we find much in common between the culture and society of the first century, and our own.
Thank you for listening. May you be encouraged by the Word of God to stand firm and contend for the faith and to earnestly fight for the Gospel of Jesus Christ; that the Son of God came into this world to take our place in judgment, bearing the penalty for our sin upon Himself so that we can enter into the Lord's presence.
Christmas is among the favorite holidays of most people. It is a time for families to gather; a time for giving gifts and time away from work. But Christmas is so much more. In this week's lesson, we examine four aspects of the Incarnation; that time when God the Son, as the second Person of the Trinity, took upon Himself flesh, coming to earth as that babe in a lowly manger. We look at:
- The Preincarnate Christ, examining His divine nature
- The foretelling of the Incarnation in Scripture
- The birth of Christ as recorded in the Gospels
- And the reason for the Incarnation, the fact that the manger led to a cross
We pray you enjoy this special message from the leadership at Atlantic Gospel Chapel, and that you are blessed through dwelling upon Immanuel, God with us.
Thank you for listening.
Before the Lord Jesus ascended into heaven, He left His apostles with this charge, beginning with Jerusalem, carry the Gospel message from Jerusalem, then to Judea, to Samaria, and finally the ends of the world. In the first several chapters of Acts, we witnessed the Gospel exploding in Jerusalem and expanding into Judea. In Acts 8, using Philip, the Holy Spirit carried the message into Samaria. And now we see that the Lord has set His sights on the whole world; demonstrating that His Gospel plan encompasses all nations.
Here in Acts 10, we are introduced to Cornelius, a God-fearing centurion of whom the Jews spoke favorably. This Gentile devoted himself to the things of the Lord, acting on the revelation he had to reject the polytheistic paganism of the Roman Empire to accept the God of Israel. Yet, he had no knowledge of Jesus. But we see the Lord preparing the heart of this Gentile to receive the Gospel.
At the same time we see Peter. A believer on the Lord Jesus, yet still a devout Jew who would not defile himself by associating with a Gentile. Despite this, God's sovereign plan is to use Peter to bring the Gospel to Cornelius. But before he can, the Lord mus prepare Peter's heart to see God's plan of salvation, not only for the Jew, but for the whole world.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May the Lord bless you through the teaching of His Holy Word.
In Paul's first letter to the church in Thessalonica, he pours out his love and thankfulness for this local body which, despite fierce opposition, grew and thrived and prospered. In 1 Thessalonians 2, we see Paul defending his ministry against his critics, who appeared to accuse him of deceitfulness, immorality and hypocrisy. But Paul always returns to the Gospel.
But what is it about the Gospel message that allows Paul to withstand these attacks? And how well do we understand the power of the Gospel for our own lives?
In today's lesson, we learn how the Gospel is not just good news. The original readers of Paul's letter would have understood this term to be the good news of a history changing event that impacted everybody's situation and to which people need to respond. In the Gospel of Jesus Christ not only impacted history, but eternity, as well.
Is this how we view the Gospel? Does the Gospel impact us as the life changing, eternity altering event it truly is? And if so, how does this change our lives?
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May God bless you through the teaching of His Word.
In the narrative of the book of Acts, we have seen explosive growth of the church. In a very short period of time, the church expanded from Jerusalem into the the region of Judea and into Samaria. Within three years of Saul arriving in Damascus, the church there was a growing and vibrant church.
Now the narrative returns briefly to Peter. In this short passage we see two accounts of Peter performing miraculous works resulting in many people believing in Jesus. But in both cases, Peter acknowledges that he is not the one performing the work, but Jesus Christ. In all cases, Peter gave all glory to His Lord and Savior, his focus being on spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and ministering to the needs of believers wherever he went, obeying the call of his Lord to, "feed my sheep."
Thank you for listening to this week's lesson. May you be blessed through the teaching of God's Word.
When Saul set out from Jerusalem to Damascus, his intention was to break the church in that region; to arrest and bring back Christians to Jerusalem. But then he encountered the risen Christ, and everything changed. Rather than persecuting the church, he went into the synagogue proclaiming Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
One amazing aspect, is rather than fearing Saul, the church in Damascus welcomed Saul into their midst, protecting him when a plot against his life by the Jews was discovered.
As we explore this aspect of Saul's life, may you be blessed through the teaching of Gods' Word, and see that when God changes our heart, He changes our purpose and and our family.
Thank you for listening.
The fourth Thursday in November, is set aside in the United States for giving thanks. In his Thanksgiving proclamation, George Washington pointed the hearts and minds of the new nation to the One greater than all to whom we owe gratitude.
As believers in Jesus Christ, we have much for which to be thankful. This year, we pause to consider the Who, What, When, Where, Why and How of Thanksgiving.
Thank your listening to this weeks lesson. May you be blessed through the teaching of God's Word.
As we return to the book of Acts, we pick up again with Saul's conversion. In today's lesson, we learn that the risen Christ not only reached out to Saul on the road to Damascus for the purpose of saving Saul; but He also called Saul for a purpose, "to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel," Acts 9:15b (NASB).
As we again consider Saul's conversion, we learn important lessons that apply to us today
- Saul is proof that God can save anyone
- Saul is proof of the truth of our faith
- Jesus is ultimately the only one who can bring true change to a person
- As believers, we are God's chosen instrument to bring the Gospel to the world.
Thank you for listening to today's teaching. May God bless you through the teaching of His Word.
In John 9, when Jesus healed the man born blind, the response from the Jewish leaders was rejection and division. It is in this setting that the Lord taught those gathered around Him that He is the Good Shepherd. But instead of recognizing Him as the Good Shepherd, they again rejected His teaching, asserting He had a demon.
In today's teaching, we consider this teaching regarding the Good Shepherd. Of great importance is the statement from our Lord, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." (John 10:27 NKJV). The question for us is, do we know the voice of our Shepherd? How can we learn to distinguish His voice? And what does it mean for us when He says, "I lay down My life for the sheep."?
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May you be blessed through the teaching of God's Word.
Hebrews 1:1-2, "God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world." While many argue that God remains virtually silent, Scripture teaches something entirely different.
First we see that God speaks to us through His creation. Psalm 19:1 tells us, "The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands." In Romans 1:20, Paul wrote, "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made..."
But God has also revealed Himself to us through His Word, a word which alive and active and sharper than any two-edged sword. In this week's lesson, we examine the Scripture considering:
- The Divine Origins of Scripture
- The Sufficiency of Scripture
- The Clarity of Scripture
- The Ultimate Authority of Scripture
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May you be blessed as we consider the fact that we serve a God who so desires a relationship with us that He has revealed Himself to us through His Word, and through His final word, Jesus Christ.
Jesus asked His disciples two questions. The first, "Who do men say that I am?" The answers, of course, ranged from Moses or one of the prophets, or Elijah. This is a question that is still relevant today. And the answers are just as varied. Many will say that Jesus was just a good man; and only a man. Others say He was a good teacher, or a good example; but again, just a man.
Then the Lord turned it personal for His disciples with a second question, "But who do you say I am?" This is really is the most important question of all time, the answer to which has eternal consequences.
Continuing our look at the Trinity, today's lesson is a second look at the person of Jesus Christ. In the first session we examined what Scripture has to say about the humanity of Jesus. In this session, we dig into what the Bible has to say about the deity of Jesus. And Scripture has much to say on the topic.
Drawing on both Old Testament writing and their New Testament fulfillment, we see that Scripture ascribes to Jesus attributes that are rightly only ascribed to God. These include an eternal nature, power over creation, including power over demons, physical infirmities, and the power over death itself. We also see that Jesus is clearly shown to be equal with God, even sharing the name of God Himself, Yahweh.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May the Word of the Lord bless you as we consider together the person of Jesus Christ and the implications for His deity for us.
The book of Acts records for us the rise of the church in Thessalonica. Seeking to spread the Word of the Lord in Asia Minor during his second missionary journey, the Holy Spirit made other plans, guiding Paul and Silas, along with Timothy, into Greece. In Greece, after preaching in Philippi and travelling through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to the capital city of the Macedonian province, Thessalonica.
In Acts 17, we read how, over three Sabbaths in the Jewish synagogue, Paul reasoned with them from the Scriptures, "explaining and giving evidence that the Chris had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, 'This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ.'" (Acts 17:3 NASB). The result is that many believed, both of the Jews and the God fearing Greeks. Filled with jealousy, the Jews stirred up the city, effectively driving Paul and his companions away from Thessalonica.
Given these circumstances, Paul sent Timothy from Athens back to Thessalonica to see how the church fared and to encourage them. His greatest fear was that the "tempter might have tempted you, and our labor would be in vain." (1 Thessalonians 3:5b NASB). But when Timothy returned, the news gave great joy to Paul. For instead of returning to the former ways of idolatry, the church in Thessalonica stood firm in their faith, becoming an example to the other churches in all of Greece, as well as spreading the Word of God wherever they went.
The result of this report was the letters from Paul to the church of the Thessalonians. A letter in which Paul, like a concerned father, pours out his heart to this body of believers; expressing both his deep love and concern for, was well as his great joy in, this local church.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May you be encouraged through Paul's letter to the church in Thessalonica.
There is no question among the modern world view that Jesus is human. Most will acknowledge His historical existence, but relegate Him to the position of a good teacher, or a prophet. Others say He was just another prophet. Still other false religions claim He is one among other gods. Of these, none acknowledge the reality of His divine nature as the Second person of the Trinity.
However, in the earliest history of the church, there was no question regarding Jesus divine nature. The debate actually centered around His humanity. Did God actually take upon Himself human flesh?
In today's lesson, we examine Scripture, beginning with the Old Testament to see the fact that Jesus came in human flesh and the implications for us today.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May you be blessed through the teaching of God's Holy Word.
The Holy Spirit is often referred to as the quiet member of the Trinity. But is this really an accurate description of the Holy Spirit? For example, through our recent studies into the book of Acts, we see the Holy Spirit at work on every page. 2 Peter 1:21 tells us that "no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God" (NASB). Indeed, all of Scripture can be seen as the voice of the Holy Spirit.
Join us this week as we survey what Scripture says regarding the Holy Spirit. We will look consider
- The triune nature of God
- The Personality of the Holy Spirit
- The Deity of the Holy Spirit
- The Work of the Holy Spirit
- Our responsibility before the Holy Spirit.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May you be blessed as together we examine this key doctrine of the church.
In some ways, the book of Ruth is an unlikely book. Elimelech, an Israelite, leaves Israel during a famine occurring during the time of the Judges. Of all places he settles his wife, Naomi, and their two sons in the land of Moab. Violating God's Law, Mahlon and Chilion take for themselves Moabite wives. Then tragedy strikes. Elimelech, Mahlon and Chilion all die, leaving Naomi alone in a foreign land; a Godless land.
She returns to Israel. Orpah, one of her daughters-in-law leaves at Naomi's urging. But Ruth gave an unlikely response, wherever you go, I will go; your people will be my people and your God my God. She must have seen something in Naomi's life, along with her words, to convince her that the Moabite gods were no gods at all.
Join us for this week's lesson from the book of Ruth to see how God's mercy and grace transform the individual into a person He can use for His purposes and glory.
Thank you for listening. May you be blessed through the teaching of God's Word.
Every conversion story is unique. But we find that we are more drawn to the more "exciting" stories; those stories where a person goes from prisoner to pastor. What we forget is that each and every conversion story is a miracle.
Scripture gives us an honest portrayal of the natural state of man, full of evil, murder, strife (Romans), dead in our trespasses and sins, children of wrath (Ephesians).
But God... The amazing grace of God begins with, "But God being rich in mercy and the love with which He loved us. But God made us alive together with Christ. But God saved us by grace through faith. But God, through His Son, has transferred us from the domain of darkness into the light of His glorious Son.
This is what Saul of Tarsus experienced. Saul, zealous for the Law and the traditions of Israel who believed he was on God's side as he persecuted the church in Jerusalem, even going as far as Damascus to arrest Christians. But then the risen Christ met him on the road to Damascus, and his life would never be the same.
Following the explosion of the Gospel into Samaria, the Lord sends Philip from Samaria to a "chance" encounter on a desert road from Jerusalem to Gaza. There he came across the entourage of an Ethiopian eunuch, "a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of her treasure;" and who had come to Jerusalem to worship.
In the ancient Mediterranean world, Ethiopia, now modern day Sudan, was considered the southern most reaches of the earth. And here is a wealthy court official, a proselyte to Judaism, returning from a 1,200 to 1,800 mile pilgrimage to Jerusalem. And as Philip is instructed to approach his chariot, it becomes apparent that he is reading from Isaiah, the prophet, specifically in Isaiah 53, regarding the suffering servant. We read that beginning with this scripture, Philip preached Jesus to him.
In today's lesson, we see there are no chance encounters with God. The Lord places us on specific paths at specific times to interact with the people He wants us to encounter. The question is, do we take full advantage of those opportunities in order to faithfully proclaim the Gospel?
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May you be encouraged to share the Gospel wherever you are, and which whomever you meet. And may you be blessed through the teaching of God's Word.
Matthew records that following Jesus's baptism and His temptation in the wilderness, He settled in Capernaum and "began to preach and say, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'". In the following chapters, we are presented by the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5 thru 7, followed by signs and wonders; healing the sick, healing the leper, driving out demons, raising the dead, etc. The pattern we see is preaching and teaching, truth, followed by signs and wonders which serve to authenticate His teaching.
It should not surprise us, then, that when Jesus summoned the twelve, that He sent them to the lost sheep of Israel, preaching, "the kingdom of heaven is at hand." This was to be accompanied by signs and wonders; in other words, truth accompanied by signs and wonders.
In today's lesson we see how this pattern can be a model for the church in proclaiming the Gospel and bringing the compassion of Christ to bear on a hurting world.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May you be blessed through the teaching of God's Word.
It has been said that History is His Story. This acknowledges that God is a God of history and works all things to His purposes. Even in tragic events, such as the death of Jesus Christ and His saints, as seen in the stoning of Stephen, God continues to work.
In today's lesson, we see Saul ravaging the church, opening the great persecution of the church in Jerusalem and causing the church to flee. But even in this we see God's hand, because the church, once confined largely to Jerusalem and Judea, now spread to Samaria. This fulfills Christ's purpose for His followers to preach the Gospel in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the ends of the earth.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May you be blessed through the teaching of God's Word.
It has been said that the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church. Throughout history, it is clear that martyrdom often results in major change. The stoning of Stephen at the hands of the Sanhedrin opened the persecution of the church in Jerusalem. But it also scattered the believers to remote areas, resulting in the church spreading throughout the regions around Israel.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May you be blessed through the teaching of God's Word.
How much is enough? It is reported that when JD Rockefeller was asked that question, his answer was, "Just a little bit more." A recent poll indicated that most Americans believe that same sentiment; indicating that if they could have about twice as much as they currently have then they would be happy. The problem is, it's never enough.
In 1 Timothy, the Apostle Paul addresses the false teachers who see godliness as a means of material gain. Paul, however, contrasts this with godliness with contentment. He points to the fact that real contentment that can weather the trials of life is only found in the person of Jesus Christ.
In today's lesson, we will learn Paul's description of depraved discontentment, a different perspective on contentment, and the dangers of desiring earthly treasure.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May you be blessed through the teaching of God's Word.
We all inherit different things from our parents. Some of these we accept with pride, while others we would just as soon forget.
In Jesus' day, the Jewish people inherited the Law from their forefathers, as well as the Temple. But they also inherited the rebellious nature of their forefathers. And like us all, they inherited the sin nature of Adam.
In Acts. we see Stephen dragged into the Temple before the Sanhedrin; charged with blasphemy against Moses and the Temple. As he make his closing arguments, he handed down the final verdict against his prosecutors - you are just like your fathers.
Stephen again takes them back to the days of Moses, when the hearts of their fathers returned to Egypt. Regarding the Temple, he puts it into the proper perspective. If the highest heaven cannot contain the living God, then neither can this Temple. But the elders of Israel placed it on a pedestal on which it was never meant to stand and corrupted their worship.
As you listen to today's lesson, may you be encouraged by the reminder that the God of the universe meets with His people wherever they are.
Thank you for listening. May you be blessed through the teaching of God's Word.
The children of Israel in the wilderness stands as a lesson for the believers. We see examples of great faith, followed by examples of great failures.
As they crossed the Red Sea, we see the children of Israel both trusting and obeying the Lord.
But later, as they approached the border of the promised land, twelve spies returned from surveying the land. The land was good, they reported, but filled with strong people, fortified cities and giants. But two of the spies, Joshua and Caleb, urged the people to enter the land, trusting the Lord to fight the battles for them. But rather than trust, the people rejected the Lord and Moses, His servant.
What lessons to these examples hold for us?
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May the Lord bless you through the teaching of His Word.
The Apostle Peter is in his last days before being martyred for his faith. He penned his letter to the church in Asia in order to remind them to remember the teaching of scripture as handed down by both the prophets and the apostles. But he also wrote to warn them regarding the scoffers that would come; those who mock the coming of the Lord, willfully forgetting that God both created the world and judged it with the flood of Noah's day.
In answering these mockers, Peter again reminds them of who God is and of his character.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May you be blessed through the teaching of God's Word.
As Acts 6 closed, we saw Stephen, "full of grace and power...performing great wonders and signs among the people." Those from among the Jews who argued with him were "unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking" (Acts 6:8, 10). The Jewish leaders therefore brought Stephen before the Sanhedrin, bringing against him false charges that he spoke against the temple and against Moses, His servant.
In the opening portion of Acts 7, we see Stephen begin to make his defense. First, we see him address those present as his brothers and fathers. While his accusers treated him with no respect, Stephen responded with respect, establishing common through the worship of the same God. But in his defense, he also gave an indictment of those accusing him. His indictment focused on three themes:
- God, and therefore the people of God, are not restricted to a certain location, such as a land or temple.
- Israel has a history of rejecting the prophets and deliverers sent by God
- God's vindication of His servants.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May you be blessed through the teaching of God's Word.