Atlantic Gospel Hour

Following the life of Abraham, we are presented with a picture of the life of every believer.  We see great mountain top experiences characterized by tremendous faith and courage.  But right next to these, we see dark valleys characterized by doubt and fear.  But throughout, God reveals Himself to us through these dark times.
In Genesis 22, we see the climax of Abraham's walk with the Lord.   Called to an impossible task, we see Abraham respond in obedient faith.  But more that Abraham's tremendous faith, no other Old Testament story gives such clear glimpse into the heart of God.  Just as Abraham was called to offer his own son, our Heavenly Father offered up His own Son, to bear the burden of our sin.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson.  May the Lord bless you through the teaching of His Word.

From her very beginning, the church has faced persecution in various forms and through various means.  In our modern times, the church in China meets in secret.  Elsewhere, in opposition to government demands to stop meeting during COVID, some pastors have been jailed, with freedom offered if they agree to stop preaching.
In Acts we read about the earliest persecution against the church.  Fresh from being arrested for proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Peter and John are released with orders to stop speaking in the name of this Jesus.  But rather than sink into despair, Peter and John returned to the church, turning instead to the Lord in prayer.
The message for the church today is the same.  In times of persecution, we find comfort, together with the church, calling upon the Lord in prayer.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson.  May the Lord bless you and comfort you through His Word.

Naaman is described as the captain of the army of the king of Assyria in Israel.  He was respected and victorious, and a leper.
Leprosy in Scripture is often a picture of sin.  Join us as we look at Naaman and consider the lessons from this terrible disease and what it teaches us about the character and impact of sin.
But this story also includes a  young slave girl, captured during an Assyrian raid into Israel and put into service of Naaman's wife.  Consider the impact of this unnamed girl who pleaded with her mistress on behalf of Naaman, seeking his benefit.  Like this young girl, we have the opportunity to impact those around us with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Thank you for listening to today's message.  May the Lord bless you through the teaching of His Word.

Whenever and wherever the Gospel is proclaimed, God's people face the potential for opposition.  Some opposition is in the form of verbal and societal ostracism.  In others, this opposition takes on a form threatening the very lives of the believer.
After healing a man lame from birth, Peter preaches the Gospel to the crowd present.  His message, however, was interrupted by the Jewish authorities as they arrested not only Peter and James, but the recipient of this miraculous sign.
In studying Peter's and John's response to this opposition we find a model for how we can respond to such opposition; a response that is centered upon the Gospel message that resulted in his arrest in the first place.
Thank you for listening to today's message.  May you be blessed through the teaching of God's Word.

In many ways the life of Abraham is a picture of the life of faith of a believer in Jesus Christ.  The Lord called Abraham to follow Him.  And as long as He kept his eyes on the Lord, he prospered in his walk.  But in those times he took his eyes off the Lord, the Lord called out to Abraham to draw him back.
It has been 13 years since the birth of Ishmael.  Abram is now 99 years old; Sarai 89.  And the Lord comes to Abram to confirm His covenant.  He changes the name of Abram to Abraham, 'Father of a multitude,' and Sarai to Sarah, a constant reminder of the Lord's promise for an heir and a land.  In addition to a new name, he promises a son, to be born within the year; a son to be named Isaac, meaning 'Laughter,' a reminder that both Abraham and Sarah laughed at impossible promise, along with the joy this child brought to such an old couple.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson.  May the Lord bless you through the teaching of God's Word.

Following explosive growth, the early church very quickly experienced persecution.  This would have come as no surprise to the Apostles, as the Lord Himself warned them that the world would hate them because it hated Him first.  This same resistance to the early church continues today, as the people of God will always face some type of opposition and persecution.
In Acts 4, following the miraculous healing of the lame man in the temple thousands were added to the church.  Jealous of such response, the Jewish leaders arrested, not only Peter and John, but the man that was healed.  Given that persecution is inevitable for the people of God, Peter's response becomes a model for how to respond to persecution.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson.  May the Lord bless you through the teaching of God's Word.
 

As Peter and John went to the temple to pray, they had an encounter with a man lame from birth.  Looking for alms, Peter instead gave him something of infinitely greater value; healing his infirmity and offering to him eternal life; all through the power of Christ.
Seeing this miracle, the people marveled at what happened.  Peter immediately drew the attention of the crowd to the person of Jesus Christ; the Messiah promised to them through Moses and the prophets.  But rather than accept Him, they instead handed Him over to be crucified.  They had rejected the Son of God.  This was the bad news.
But Peter also delivered to them the Good News.  Although they had acted in ignorance, they were responsible for their deeds.  The good news for the sinner is that God's grace is not closed off to you.  Therefore, repent and return to the Lord.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson.  May you be blessed through the teaching of God's Word.

People prepare a will in order to identify how to handle possessions at the time of passing.  A testament is a statement of beliefs; a credo; a statement of what is of utmost importance.
In his epistle to the church in Asia Minor, Peter spells out what is most important.  He reminds the church what they have in Jesus Christ.
As you listen to today's lesson, may the Lord bless you at the teaching of His Word.
Thank you for listening.

Throughout Scripture we see God using ordinary people, the relatively unknown characters of history, to work for His purposes.  Exodus tells of Hur, the husband of Miriam, Moses' brother-in-law.  He only appears in two places in Exodus, with little known about his life.  But these little known characters, like Hur, provide us with lessons in our own faith walk.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson.  May God richly bless you through His Word.

Throughout Scripture, God has used miraculous signs and wonders to confirm His Word.  In Egypt, God confirmed His promises to the children of Israel.  In the wilderness, He continued to confirm His Word through signs and wonders.  Jesus said of His own works that they confirm who He is.
When Peter and John went to the temple to pray, they met a man lame from birth at the Beautiful Gate.  The miracle that gave this man his legs amazed the onlookers in the temple.  Peter, seizing upon their amazement, points to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob who glorified His Servant, Jesus Christ.  It was this same Servant whom the Jewish leaders disavowed and asked for a murderer to be released instead (Acts 3:14).  But more amazing than giving a lame man working legs, Jesus gives those who believe in Him eternal life.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson. May God bless you through His Word.