by Paul Apple | Apr 4, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: PROVIDENCE LEADS US TO VICTORY OVER OUR ENEMIES AND GIVES US CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION AS WE MEMORIALIZE GOD’S FAITHFULNESSINTRODUCTION:All power and authority comes ultimately from God. When He providentially raises up His servants and grants victory over the...
by Paul Apple | Apr 1, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD TRANSFORMS DESPERATION INTO DELIGHT IN SURPRISING WAYSINTRODUCTION:The personal deliverance of Esther and Mordecai was certainly significant. But the larger issue remains = the fate of the Jewish people as a whole. God’s promises about...
by Paul Apple | Mar 31, 2021 | Uncategorized
BIG IDEA: THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD LEVERAGES DIVINE APPOINTMENTS, PROTECTS GOD’S PEOPLE AND DESTROYS GOD’S FOESINTRODUCTION:The pattern of reversals continues in this next banquet narrative. Once again the dynamic interaction of the sovereignty of God and human...
by Paul Apple | Mar 29, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: GOD DEMONSTRATES HIS SOVEREIGN CONTROL EVEN WHEN THE WICKED IMAGINE THAT THEY ARE IN CONTROLINTRODUCTION:What a reversal of fortunes! Haman starts out this chapter rejoicing in his recent promotion and looking forward to the extermination of the hated Jews....
by Paul Apple | Mar 29, 2021 | Sports
How could this have happened? After looking like a championship caliber team against Alabama, the Terps were reduced to a pedestrian performance by a sixth ranked Texas Longhorns group of over-achievers. The talent was definitely on the side of the Terps. But the...
by Paul Apple | Mar 29, 2021 | Sports, Top Ten Lists
10. Every time a player who is older than 24 starts to show consistent productivity, they trade him away for future prospects. That is painful for the fans — but seems like a proven strategy for teams in our rebuilding stage.9. They operate with the lowest payroll in...
by Paul Apple | Mar 26, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD PREPARES THE WAY FOR A REVERSAL OF FORTUNESINTRODUCTION:It is one thing to know the right thing that God wants you to do. It’s quite another thing to boldly step out in faith and do it. Here we see Esther breaking out of her passive...
by Paul Apple | Mar 25, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: PROVIDENCE POSITIONS YOU TO LEVERAGE YOUR GOD-GIVEN CALLING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR GOD’S PEOPLEINTRODUCTION:There are watershed moments in every person’s life where you are faced with critical decisions regarding fulfilling your God-given calling. Esther...
by Paul Apple | Mar 22, 2021 | Life, Pet Peeves
It started with the closing of Dan-Dee restaurant. My family lived for a time in Frederick MD and I came to love the country style meals with the relish dish and the fritters. But it catered to an older clientele and eventually was shut down. Haussner’s in downtown...
by Paul Apple | Mar 22, 2021 | Pet Peeves, Sports
The role of baseball announcer used to be sacred — the seat would be occupied by a legendary figure for decades. Kids growing up with their loyalty to their favorite team would find the familiar voice of the radio broadcaster both comforting and inspiring — a true...
by Paul Apple | Mar 10, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: SATAN’S GOAL IS NOTHING LESS THAN THE EXTERMINATION OF GOD’S PEOPLEINTRODUCTION:The age-old conflict between the seed of the serpent and the seed of the woman is manifested here in the anti-Semitism of the Agagite Haman. Satan is acting behind the scenes in...
by Paul Apple | Mar 8, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD SOVEREIGNLY WORKS BEHIND THE SCENES DESPITE THE OSTENTATIOUS EXCESSES OF PAGAN DESPOTS AND THE CULTURAL ASSIMILATION OF GOD’S PEOPLEINTRODUCTION:When it seems like God is absent; when it seems like God is silent; when it seems like God...
by Paul Apple | Mar 2, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: IMPRESSIVE DISPLAYS OF SECULAR OPULENCE AND DOMINION EXPOSED AS IMPOTENT AND FUTILE AS GOD’S PROVIDENCE WORKS OUT HIS OWN KINGDOM AGENDAINTRODUCTION:Who really is in control on the world stage and in our own lives and destiny? This satirical treatment of the...
by Paul Apple | Feb 28, 2021 | Bible-NT
SUBMISSION IN THE HOME BIG IDEA:SUBMISSION OF WIVES TO HUSBANDSINTRODUCTION:Looking at 2 paragraphs–instructions to wives (especially those with unbelieving husbands) and balancing instructions to husbands; equal responsibility but not equal time devoted to...
by Paul Apple | Feb 23, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE BLESSED PRESENCE OF GOD’S PROTECTION, FAVOR AND PEACE MEET ALL OF THE NEEDS OF THE BELIEVING COMMUNITYINTRODUCTION:Here is the classic OT benediction passage. I can remember as a child my pastor frequently closing sermons with this text. It has such a...
by Paul Apple | Feb 22, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: OCCUPYING HOLY LAND REQUIRES EXTREME EXTERMINATION OF THREATS TO COVENANT WORSHIPINTRODUCTION:These final marching orders issued by God to His elect nation Israel through His chosen leader Moses show that God doesn’t mess around when it comes to spiritual...
by Paul Apple | Feb 20, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: COMPROMISE WITH GOD’S REVEALED AGENDA LEADS TO A QUAGMIRE OF COMPLEXITYINTRODUCTION:Obedience is the simplest course of action. When we start to compromise and introduce our own wisdom as if we have devised a better plan than God, it opens the door to...
by Paul Apple | Feb 19, 2021 | Christian
BIG IDEA: EMBRACE SUFFERING AS THE WILL OF GOD TO ACCOMPLISH HIS SOVEREIGN PURPOSESINTRODUCTION:The scope of suffering addressed here does not include suffering for doing wrong; divine discipline for sin; etc. – even though all suffering is connected to some extent...
by Paul Apple | Feb 4, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE SEVERITY OF GOD’S VENGEANCE EXPOSES THE FALLACY OF ATTACKING THOSE WHO ARE UNDER HIS PROVIDENTIAL PROTECTION AND PROMISED BLESSINGINTRODUCTION:Balaam thought he had figured out a way around God’s prohibition of cursing the Israelites so that he could...
by Paul Apple | Feb 2, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: LEADERSHIP TRANSITIONS MUST BE BASED IN DIVINE SELECTION, MUST FUNCTION ACCORDING TO THE POWER AND AUTHORITY OF THE SPIRIT, AND MUST ISSUE IN PASTORAL GUIDANCE AND CAREINTRODUCTION:In verses 12-14 Moses had just been reminded by the Lord of his exclusion...
