Atlantic Gospel Chapel Messages
Episodes
Friday Oct 27, 2023
Stefan Johnson - 10-08-2023 // Hope in Him; Lamentations 3
Friday Oct 27, 2023
Friday Oct 27, 2023
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.
Tuesday Aug 29, 2023
Stefan Johnson - 04-30-2023 // God Doesn’t Cry Wolf; Lamentations 2
Tuesday Aug 29, 2023
Tuesday Aug 29, 2023
Most of us are familiar with the fable of the boy who cried, "Wolf!" The phrase, "Crying Wolf," is understood as a call of warning for a danger that simply isn't present.
In both the ancient world of Israel, as well as in our own day, we often treat warnings from Scripture regarding God's coming judgment as crying wolf. Peter speaks of the scoffers that will come in the last days saying, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." (2 Peter 3:4, LSB).
But the teaching of Scripture is clear...God is faithful in ALL His promises, both the bless and to judge. So in Lamentations, as the prophet sees Jerusalem destroyed, he recognizes the hand of the Lord in executing His judgments upon a rebellious people. But this promise also leads us to the greater judgment for sin carried out upon the very Son of God, who took upon Himself our sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Thank you for listening to today's teaching. We pray you will be convicted, blessed and encouraged by the teaching of God's Holy Word.
Sunday Oct 23, 2022
Stefan Johnson 10-23-2022 // Lamentations 1, The God Who Judges
Sunday Oct 23, 2022
Sunday Oct 23, 2022
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.
Sunday Oct 23, 2022
Stefan Johnson 10-23-2022 // Lamentations 1, The God Who Judges
Sunday Oct 23, 2022
Sunday Oct 23, 2022
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.
Sunday Apr 24, 2022
Stefan Johnson 04-24-2022 // Good Morning, Daddy!
Sunday Apr 24, 2022
Sunday Apr 24, 2022
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.
Sunday Apr 24, 2022
Stefan Johnson 04-24-2022 // Good Morning, Daddy!
Sunday Apr 24, 2022
Sunday Apr 24, 2022
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.
Sunday Dec 05, 2021
Sunday Dec 05, 2021
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.
Sunday Jun 13, 2021
Stefan Johnson 06-06-21 // This is Not Our Home
Sunday Jun 13, 2021
Sunday Jun 13, 2021
There are great blessings to living on the world God created; and God is pleased to have us enjoy the simple things of this world. But many, including evangelical Christians, get caught up in many other things. In particular, the events of 2020 saw many believers distracted by Covid and the politics of a controversial election.
One thing we must remember is that, for the believer, this is not our home. We are called to have an eye on what is coming up ahead. In today's lesson, we consider God's call for us to be heavenly-minded believers.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May God bless you through the teaching of God's Word.
Sunday May 03, 2020
Stefan Johnson 05-03-20 // Christian Observations on COVID-19
Sunday May 03, 2020
Sunday May 03, 2020
As some states and localities begin to open up following the peak in COVID-19 infections, the world seeks for answers. In today's lesson, we consider how we can look upon this time from a Christian, Biblical perspective.
We will see:
The unity and importance of the local church
That personal relationships are important
Physical touch is necessary
The Sovereignty of God
May you be blessed as you listen to today's lesson.
Sunday Dec 15, 2019