Atlantic Gospel Hour

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.