Atlantic Gospel Chapel Messages
Episodes
Sunday Oct 23, 2022
Alex Kremer 10-16-2022 // Woe is Me! Isaiah 6:1-8
Sunday Oct 23, 2022
Sunday Oct 23, 2022
"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.
Sunday Oct 16, 2022
Sunday Oct 16, 2022
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.
Sunday Sep 11, 2022
Sunday Sep 11, 2022
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.
Sunday Sep 11, 2022
Alex Kremer 09-04-2022 // It is Written; Matthew 4:1-11
Sunday Sep 11, 2022
Sunday Sep 11, 2022
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.
Sunday Sep 11, 2022
Alex Kremer 08-28-2022 // Acts 1:36-41 - Irreconcilable Differences
Sunday Sep 11, 2022
Sunday Sep 11, 2022
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.
Sunday Sep 11, 2022
Alex Kremer 08-07-2022 // Acts 8:25-40; Preaching Christ from Scripture
Sunday Sep 11, 2022
Sunday Sep 11, 2022
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.
Monday Sep 05, 2022
Monday Sep 05, 2022
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.
Sunday Jul 17, 2022
Alex Kremer 07-17-2022 // Get Ready; Company’s Coming! Exodus 19:1-20:20
Sunday Jul 17, 2022
Sunday Jul 17, 2022
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.
Sunday Jul 10, 2022
Alex Kremer07-10-2022 // What Does God Have to Say About Abortion?
Sunday Jul 10, 2022
Sunday Jul 10, 2022
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.
Sunday Jun 26, 2022
Alex Kremer 06-19-2022 // Acts 14:8-28; We Are Just Men
Sunday Jun 26, 2022
Sunday Jun 26, 2022
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.