Doug Schorle

When Paul wrote to the church in Thessalonica, he was writing at a time roughly 25 years from the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ.  These first century believers were certain the Lord would return in their lifetime.
But to a church facing intense persecution, when some proclaimed that the day of the Lord had already come, this led to confusion and concern.  Had they missed the return of the Lord?  Why were they not then in the Lord's presence?  And what about all the evil and suffering still going on in the world.
In today's lesson, we continue our examination of Paul's second letter to the Thessalonians; continuing the theme of God's righteous judgment, this time as it pertains to the end times.  In doing so, we will draw out three lessons:
How we view the timing of the Lord's return
Future judgment of the lawless on the day of the Lord’s return
The future hope of the believer at the Lord’s return
Thank you for listening to today's lesson.  We pray you will be blessed and encouraged through the teaching of God's Word.

When Paul arrived in Thessalonica on his second missionary journey, he spent three Sabbaths in the synagogue, reasoning with the Jews and God-fearers from the Scriptures, "explaining and setting before them that the Chris had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, 'This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is that Christ.'" (Acts 17:3).  The response from the Jewish authorities in the city was to start a riot, ultimately resulting in Paul and his companions being driven from the city, leaving a young church vulnerable to intense persecutions from both Jew and Gentile sources.
But despite these circumstances, the church flourished and grew in their faith, living out the Gospel to the extent that the churches in Greece boasted of their love for the saints.  And so it is that Paul wrote his second letter to this young church to encourage them in the face of continuing persecution by drawing their attention to God's righteous judgment:
For the persecuted believer
Toward the persecutor
The basis for this judgment
Thank you for listening to today's lesson.  We pray you will be blessed and encouraged by the Word of God.

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/.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.