by Paul Apple | May 3, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: PROPHETIC INSIGHT INTO THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE BIRTH OF JESUS REVEALS HIS GLOBAL MESSIANIC AND REDEMPTIVE MISSIONINTRODUCTION:Surprisingly few details are given of the life of Jesus on earth before the beginning of His public ministry. Therefore, all of the...
by Paul Apple | May 3, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: THE HUMBLE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE BIRTH OF THE MESSIAH MAKE HIS MISSION OF BRINGING GLORY TO GOD AND PEACE TO MAN EVEN MORE ASTOUNDINGINTRODUCTION:You would think that a birth that had been heralded by the OT prophets for so many centuries would be more...
by Paul Apple | May 3, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: THE DIVINE VISITATION EVOKES AWE, AMAZEMENT AND HEARTFELT REJOICINGINTRODUCTION:The momentous intervention of God into human affairs (especially after such a long period of prophetic silence) should cause awe, amazement, and rejoicing. The events surrounding...
by Paul Apple | May 3, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: WE SHOULD REJOICE IN THE BLESSINGS THAT FLOW OUT OF THE CHARACTER OF GODINTRODUCTION:God’s actions flow out of His attributes. What He does is directly tied to Who He is. We need a passion to know God in a deeper, more intimate way. We need to focus more on...
by Paul Apple | May 3, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: THE ANGELIC ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE INCARNATION PROVIDES THE INITIAL DEFINITION FOR THE ROLE OF THE PROMISED MESSIAHINTRODUCTION:The birth of the Messiah was the subject of a number of prominent OT prophecies. Now the moment in history has arrived – “the...
by Paul Apple | May 3, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: UNEXPECTED DIVINE INTERVENTION SETS IN MOTION THE COMING OF JOHN THE BAPTIST TO POINT SINNERS TO THE MESSIAHINTRODUCTION:The role of a forerunner is to point people to the more important individual who will follow. Such was the mission ordained for John the...
by Paul Apple | May 3, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: THE RELIABLE HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE LIFE AND MINISTRY OF JESUS CONFIRMS THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH OF CHRISTIANITYINTRODUCTION:How do you know whether something is true or not? In our postmodern world that has become almost an irrelevant question. Everything is...
by Paul Apple | May 3, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: EACH UNDERSHEPHERD MUST PASSIONATELY AND PERSONALLY FOLLOW THE GREAT SHEPHERD AND CARE FOR THE SHEEP(:15A) INTRODUCTION “So when they had finished breakfast”Context: Peter has constantly been thrusting himself forward as the “most committed” and “most...
by Paul Apple | May 3, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: THE FINAL APPEARANCE OF THE RESURRECTED CHRIST REINFORCES THE NECESSITY FOR TOTAL DEPENDENCE UPON THE MASTER FOR SUPERNATURAL RESULTS(:1-2) INTRODUCTION: PERFECT SETTING FOR A FISHING EXPEDITIONA. (:1) Location of Manifestation “After these things Jesus...
by Paul Apple | May 3, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: JESUS’ SPECIAL SIGN MIRACLES POINT US TO FAITH IN HIM AS THE PROMISED MESSIAH, THE SON OF GOD — WHO ALONE CAN PROVIDE SPIRITUAL LIFEINTRODUCTION: Why did John write his gospel? What special emphasis did he have over the other gospel writers? Why...
by Paul Apple | May 3, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: THE RISEN LORD OFFERS US THE OPPORTUNITY TO BELIEVE BEFORE WE SEEINTRODUCTION: Not talking about blind faith here; look at all of the evidence that has been presented to the Deity and Lordship of Christ throughout the Gospel of John. Significant that Thomas...
by Paul Apple | May 3, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: THE EMPTY TOMB IS A POWERFUL WITNESS TO THE BODILY RESURRECTION OF CHRIST – ESPECIALLY WHEN INTERPRETED BY THE APPEARANCE OF CHRIST HIMSELF!(:1-2) INTRODUCTION: THE DISCOVERY OF THE EMPTY TOMB AT FIRST CAUSES CONFUSION AND PANIC TO THE SHOCKED...
by Paul Apple | May 3, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: PROPHETIC FULFILLMENT AND DEDICATED DEVOTION CONTINUES AS JESUS’ BODY IS PREPARED FOR BURIAL(:31) INTRODUCTION: URGENCY OF BURIAL “The Jews therefore, because it was the day of preparation, so that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath...
by Paul Apple | May 3, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS FULFILLED EVERY OT PROPHECY DOWN TO THE SMALLEST DETAIL AND DEMONSTRATED THE ABSOLUTE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD(:17-18) INTRODUCTION / SUMMARY: SUFFERING AND HUMILIATION A. (:17) The Final Suffering Steps on the Road to Golgotha (Via...
by Paul Apple | May 3, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: NEUTRALITY IS NOT AN OPTION WHEN IT COMES TO CHECKING OUT THE CLAIMS OF CHRIST AND PASSING JUDGMENTINTRODUCTION: Pilate wanted no part of this controversy. He was forced into a position of checking out the claims of Christ and the accusations of the Jews....
by Paul Apple | May 3, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: THE FRIGHTENED DISCIPLES HIDE AND DENY WHILE JESUS TESTIFIES OPENLY HE HAS NOTHING TO HIDE(:12-14) INTRODUCTION: THE IRONY IN THE ARREST OF JESUSA. (:12) Ironic Political-Religious Alliance “So the Roman cohort and the commander, and the officers of the...
by Paul Apple | May 3, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: THE GREAT MAJESTIC “I AM” VOLUNTARILY SURRENDERS TO THE POWERLESS ARRESTING PARTY GUIDED BY TRAITOROUS JUDASI. (:1-3) UNNECESSARY SEARCH AND SEIZURE TAKES PLACE IN A SECLUDED GARDEN WITH TRAITOROUS JUDAS GUIDING AN EXCESSIVE BUT POWERLESS FORCEA. (:1-2)...
by Paul Apple | May 3, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: FOR THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF MUTUAL DIVINE GLORIFICATION, JESUS PETITIONS THE FATHER FOR THE UNITY AND SECURITY OF THE ELECT (PARTICULARLY THE APOSTLES) WHILE THEY CARRY OUT THEIR MISSION IN AN UNFRIENDLY WORLDINTRODUCTION: The passage reads almost like contract...
by Paul Apple | May 3, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: SEEING JESUS BY FAITH CONNECTS US TO DIVINE LOVE, JOY AND PEACE(:16-18) INTRODUCTION: SEEING JESUS SHOULD BE OUR GREATEST CONCERNA. (:16) Cryptic Contrast 1. Soon You Won’t See Me “A little while, and you will no longer behold Me” This is a monumental...
by Paul Apple | May 3, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: THE HOLY SPIRIT EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATES GOD’S TRUTH ON A WIDER SCALE TO BOTH THE WORLD AND TO BELIEVERS(:7) INTRODUCTION: THE MINISTRY OF CHRIST WILL ACTUALLY BE EXPANDED IN HIS ABSENCE THROUGH THE MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT “But I tell you the truth, it...
