Atlantic Gospel Chapel Messages

In his play, "The Crucible," Arthur Miller made this comment, "Maybe all one can do is hope to end up with the right regrets."  It is easy for us to cast stones at many of the characters of Scripture.  And perhaps one of the characters attracting the most condemnation of believers is Lot, the nephew of Abraham.
Most of what we know about Lot comes from the account in Genesis, beginning in chapter 12, where we find Lot joining his uncle as Abram leaves his land following the Lord's call.  And from the Scofield notes, we would conclude that Lot ended his life in a completely back-slidden state.
But the most important things we know about Lot comes from 2 Peter 2:4-9, in which we read that Scripture counted Lot as a righteous man whose heart was tormented by the wickedness of Sodom where he dwelt.
As we consider the character of Lot, what applications can we make to the life of the believer today?  What encouragement, as well as warnings, can we draw from this man's life?
Thank you for listening to today's lesson.  May you be blessed through the teaching of God's Holy Word.

Most of us have likely heard messages such as, "Five Things That Prove the Resurrection of Jesus."  In tonight's lesson, however, we turn this on its head.  Rather than looking at the evidence for the resurrection, we consider, "Six Things the Resurrection of Jesus Proves."  While there are more than these items, we focus on the following things which the resurrection prove:
The truth of the Old Testament Scripture
All authority in heaven and earth belong to Jesus
Jesus will return to judge
Salvation
God's wrath is satisfied
Death is not the end
Thank you for listening.  May you be encouraged by the Word of God and the truth and power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

There are those today who act as if Christians should not quote Scripture.  One reason is the fear that people will find us silly.  Another reason being that Scripture no longer has the power to convict.
But what does the Word of God say?  In today's lesson we continue with Paul and Silas and Timothy into Thessalonica.  Having been driven from Philippi, Acts records how they next came to this city, where Paul spent three Sabbaths in the synagogue, reasoning with them from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.  The result is many believed; both Jew and Gentile.
The Jewish leaders in Thessalonica, jealous of the response to the Gospel, stirred up the city to drive out Paul and his companions.  Those who knew the Word of God best, rejected the very Scripture they claimed to uphold.
Exiled, Paul and his companions next come to Berea and again enter the synagogue of the Jews.  By contrast, the Jews in Berea are described as, "more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica."  For when they heard the Gospel preached from the Scriptures, rather than reject it, they, "received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily whether these things were so."
The truth is, Scripture always draws a response.  And in a world where the Word of God is rejected, the believer always runs the risk of seeming silly.  But we must also remember that the Word of God is powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword.
Thank you for listening to today's lesson.  May you be blessed through the teaching of God's Holy Word.

Life is full of questions.  Most of the questions are trivial in nature; what cereal should I have for breakfast?  Other questions, while they may have more depth, we treat them as trivial; such as, "Who are you doing?" to which most of us answer, "Fine," even if we are not.  Some questions are life changing, "Will you marry me?" to which the answer may change the trajectory of our lives.  And still others are life or death questions, "What is your blood type?" which if answered incorrectly may result in death.
But there is one question which has eternal consequences, "What must I do to be saved?"  In today's lesson we continue our study in Acts 16 in which a Philippian jailer is faced with that question.  How would you answer the question?
Thank you for listening to today's lesson.  May you be blessed through the teaching of God's Holy Word.

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.

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.

"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.

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.

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.

Today's lesson is the second and last lesson on Romans 8:28-30, sometimes referred to as the Golden Chain of Redemption with each of its five links holding us to Jesus Christ.  
In the first part of this series, we considered the first two links of this Golden Chain:
Foreknown
Predestined
That is, that those whom He foreknew he has predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son.
In part two, we consider the remaining three links:
Called
Justified
Glorified
This "Golden Chain of Redemption" encourages us with the truth that our salvation is not dependent upon us, nor is our security dependent upon us.  Rather, it is God who is the One who save and ensures that our salvation is brought to its full completion.
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.