by Paul Apple | Jun 2, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT (SIGHT – the type of understanding that leads to Obedience) DEPENDS NOT ON GREATER REVELATION (LIGHT) BUT ON THE RIGHT HEART CONDITIONINTRODUCTION: — the heart of the passage — v.28 “Blessed are those who hear...
by Paul Apple | Jun 2, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: DOMINION OVER THE REALM OF SATAN REQUIRES THE SUPERIOR POWER OF JESUS CHRIST THAT TRANSFORMS THOSE WHO HEAR AND OBEY HIMINTRODUCTION:As opposition to Jesus intensifies, the arguments posed by the Jewish religious leaders become more irrational and...
by Paul Apple | Jun 1, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: AS WE PERSIST IN PRAYING AS JESUS TAUGHT US WE SHOULD HAVE THE EXPECTATION OF RECEIVING ANSWERS FROM OUR HEAVENLY FATHERINTRODUCTION:The disciples had the privilege of witnessing the prayer life of Jesus as He communed with the Father. They also saw how John...
by Paul Apple | May 30, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: COMMUNION WITH GOD MUST TAKE PRIORITY OVER SPIRITUAL SERVICEINTRODUCTION:This is a critical passage for women – especially mothers – who are consumed with so many necessary everyday activities that it can be difficult to maintain their communion with God....
by Paul Apple | May 29, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: GOD’S STANDARD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS CONVICTS US ALL OF OUR INABILITY TO MERIT SALVATION BY GOOD WORKSINTRODUCTION:Jesus is concerned with exposing self-righteousness and the inability to fully love God and our neighbor as the law requires. There is no...
by Paul Apple | May 29, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: MINISTRY SUCCESS GOVERNED BY SOVEREIGN GRACE BRINGS THE KINGDOM OF GOD NEAR TO THE LOST ALONG WITH THE CONDEMNATION ASSOCIATED WITH REJECTIONINTRODUCTION:In previous contexts we have seen the failures of some of Jesus’ disciples highlighted as He found it...
by Paul Apple | May 28, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: MAINTAIN A SINGULAR FOCUS (WITHOUT DISTRACTIONS AND COMPETING PRIORITIES) ON SEEKING CONVERSIONS AND FOLLOWING JESUSINTRODUCTION:This section involves a major transition point in the gospel of Luke.Geldenhuys: From iv. 14 to ix. 50 Luke was mainly engaged in...
by Paul Apple | May 26, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: JESUS ADDRESSES WRONG PERSPECTIVES ON THE PART OF HIS APOSTLES WITH A SERIES OF 4 CORRECTIONSINTRODUCTION:Mountain top spiritual experiences – such as the Transfiguration – are often juxtaposed next to the valleys of spiritual failure and correction. Here we...
by Paul Apple | May 25, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: THE TRANSFIGURATION PROVIDES VISUAL AND AUDIBLE TESTIMONY TO BOTH THE IDENTITY OF JESUS AND THE NECESSITY OF HIS REDEMPTIVE MISSIONINTRODUCTION:Our studies in Luke have concentrated on the Identity and Mission of Jesus as the Promised Messiah. But as both of...
by Paul Apple | May 25, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: THE CALL TO CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP DEMANDS A COMPLETE REORIENTATION OF ONE’S LIFEINTRODUCTION:There are many false views of Christian discipleship. One camp promotes the concept of Easy Believism where the demands of discipleship are reserved for those...
by Paul Apple | May 23, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: JESUS CHALLENGES EVERYONE TO KNOW HIS TRUE IDENTITY AND TO RESPOND TO HIS REDEMPTIVE MISSIONINTRODUCTION:At this stage in the training of the twelve, it is time for their final exam. There is really only one question that matters – but it matters to the...
by Paul Apple | May 22, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: THE ALL-SUFFICIENT KING EQUIPS INADEQUATE DISCIPLES FOR EFFECTIVE MINISTRYINTRODUCTION:On the job training can be so much more valuable than just classroom training. Jesus is the master at equipping men for ministry. These events occur at the halfway mark of...
by Paul Apple | May 21, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: WHATEVER THE CRISIS, FAITH IN THE PERSON AND POWER AND AUTHORITY OF JESUS IS THE ANSWERINTRODUCTION:Maybe you are facing some crisis in life today. Maybe you know someone who is under intense pressure. These 4 quick stories presented in a row by Luke are...
by Paul Apple | May 20, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: BE CAREFUL HOW YOU LISTEN AND RESPOND TO THE WORD OF GODINTRODUCTION:How does this parable relate to the parable of the soils we just covered?This parable seems to tie directly to the parable of the soils just above.Deals with our response to God’s...
by Paul Apple | May 20, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: RESPONSE TO THE GOSPEL DEPENDS ON YOUR HEART CONDITION — UNDERSTANDING EVANGELISM STARTS WITH UNDERSTANDING THE FOUR DIFFERENT TYPES OF HEART RESPONSES TO THE SOWING OF THE GOSPELINTRODUCTION:This passage is not about the sower – who is not expressly...
by Paul Apple | May 19, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: FORGIVEN SINNERS DISPLAY EXTRAVAGANT LOVE THAT THE SELF-RIGHTEOUS REJECTINTRODUCTION:How should we respond to our Savior in light of the extraordinary forgiveness we have received solely by His grace? The more we understand our sinfulness, the deeper should...
by Paul Apple | May 18, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: THE MIRACLES PERFORMED BY JESUS:- CONFIRM HIS IDENTITY AS PROMISED MESSIAH- CALM THE DOUBTS OF COMMENDED DICIPLES (LIKE JOHN THE BAPTIST)- CALL OUT THE DUPLICITY OF HIS UNREASONABLE CRITICSINTRODUCTION:Don’t underestimate the value of the miracles performed...
by Paul Apple | May 17, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: NO HEARTACHE IS TOO HOPELESS FOR THE COMPASSIONATE GRACE OF JESUS — WHO ALONE HAS THE POWER OVER EVEN DEATHINTRODUCTION:J. C. Ryle: Let us never forget this great truth. The world around us is full of sorrow. Sickness, and pain, and infirmity, and...
by Paul Apple | May 16, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: THE GREAT FAITH OF THE HUMBLE GENTILE CENTURION FOCUSED ON THE POWER AND AUTHORITY OF JESUS TO JUST SPEAK THE SAVING WORDINTRODUCTION:When we come to Jesus as little children in humility and complete dependence, we see the simplicity of trusting Him to...
by Paul Apple | May 15, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: SPIRITUAL SECURITY COMES FROM OBEYING THE WORD OF THE LORDINTRODUCTION:This is one of the simplest lessons the Lord Jesus ever taught His disciples. It is a familiar story to any child from their Sunday School days. The interpretation is straightforward. The...
