by Paul Apple | May 3, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: REMEMBERING THE ENCOURAGING PROPHETIC WORDS OF CHRIST MAKES PERSECUTION MORE PALATABLEI. (:18-21) PERSECUTION (HATRED) SHOULD BE NO SURPRISE FROM A PREDICTABLE WORLDA. (:18) Don’t Imagine Your Persecution to be Unique — Persecution Follows a...
by Paul Apple | May 3, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: FRUIT BEARING RESULTS FROM ABIDING IN CHRISTINTRODUCTION: Remember the Context:Disciples have left the upper room and are on the way to Gethsemane (14:31);Final training of the disciples and preparation for departure of Christ;Judas (that false professor of...
by Paul Apple | May 3, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: DESPITE HIS IMMINENT DEPARTURE, CHRIST PROMISES ONGOING REVELATION / ILLUMINATION TO THOSE WHO DEMONSTRATE THEIR LOVE BY OBEDIENCEINTRODUCTION:Problem the disciples faced: – If Christ was the one to reveal God the Father to them . . . – and...
by Paul Apple | May 3, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: OUR HEARTS NEED THE REASSURANCE THAT OUR FAITH IN CHRIST SECURELY CONNECTS US TO GOD THE FATHER(:14) INTRODUCTION: FAITH IN CHRIST = FAITH IN GOD THE FATHER = ANTIDOTE FOR ANXIETY AND FEAR “Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.”...
by Paul Apple | May 2, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: AGAPE LOVE IS THE CHRISTIAN STANDARD FOR DISCIPLESHIP LOYALTY AND THE REVEALING BENCHMARK FOR FAITHLESS BETRAYALINTRODUCTION:What is the greatest commandment? – Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength – Love your neighbor as...
by Paul Apple | May 2, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: MOTIVATED BY LOVE, BELIEVERS NEED TO HUMBLE THEMSELVES AS SERVANTS AFTER THE PATTERN OF CHRIST AND DO THEIR PART TO SEEK THE ONGOING SANCTIFICATION OF ONE ANOTHERTasker: I would suggest that verse 1 should be separated from the incident which immediately...
by Paul Apple | May 2, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: THE REVELATION OF THE FATHER VIA THE LIGHT OF HIS SON CANNOT BE RECEIVED BY EYES THAT ARE BLINDED AND HEARTS THAT ARE HARDENEDINTRODUCTION: The rejection by the Jewish nation of their promised Messiah is coming to a head. Despite pockets of belief, the vast...
by Paul Apple | May 2, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: ONLY THE SACRIFICIAL DEATH OF THE SON OF MAN CAN PRODUCE LIFE FOR ALL MEN WHO BELIEVE(:20-23) INTRODUCTION: THE HOUR HAS COME FOR THE GLORIFYING OF THE SON OF MANDeath of Messiah = major problem for Jews; outside the realm of their expectationAccess to...
by Paul Apple | May 2, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: WELCOMING CHRIST AS KING CAN BE A SHALLOW LIP SERVICE SPECTACLE WITH MINIMAL UNDERSTANDING AND ZERO COMMITMENTINTRODUCTION: Good Christmas message: look at all the hoopla surrounding Christmas. The world recognizes the connection to the coming of Christ into...
by Paul Apple | May 2, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: COSTLY DEMONSTRATIONS OF GENUINE DEVOTION TO CHRIST CAN TAKE PRIORITY OVER ONGOING RESPONSIBILITIES OF CHARITABLE GIVINGI. (:1-3) SWEET DEVOTION – ESSENCE OF TRUE WORSHIPA. (:1) The Description of the Setting – Connection Between Death and Resurrection 1....
by Paul Apple | May 2, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: THE REDEMPTIVE SACRIFICE OF CHRIST ON BEHALF OF HIS PEOPLE IS PLANNED OUT IN PROPHETIC IRONY BY HIS CHIEF ENEMIES(:45-46) INTRODUCTION: TWO REACTIONS – BELIEF VS. BETRAYALA. (:45) Belief “Many therefore of the Jews, who had come to Mary and beheld what He...
by Paul Apple | May 2, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: RESURRECTION (THE ULTIMATE SIGN MIRACLE) DEMONSTRATES BOTH THE GLORY OF GOD AND THE VALUE JESUS PLACES ON FAITHINTRODUCTION:Stedman: For me, the hardest problem I have to handle as a Christian is what to do when God does not do what I have been taught to...
by Paul Apple | May 1, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: THE GOOD WORKS OF CHRIST SUBSTANTIATE HIS CLAIM TO DEITY(:22-23) INTRODUCTION: OCCASION / SETTING A. (:22) Feast of Dedication “At that time the Feast of the Dedication took place at Jerusalem.” The Jews were celebrating a political victory and looking for...
by Paul Apple | May 1, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: ONLY THE GOOD SHEPHERD LAYS DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS SHEEPINTRODUCTION: Context is division between the Pharisees and religious leaders who only have their own interests in mind (protecting their positions of authority and wielding influence over the people)...
by Paul Apple | May 1, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: OPENING THE EYES OF THE BLIND CAN ONLY BE A WORK OF GODI. (:1-12) THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD OPENS THE PHYSICAL EYES OF THE BLIND BEGGERA. (:1-5) The Darker the Situation, the Greater the Opportunity for the Light to Make an Impact 1. (:1-2) Hopeless and...
by Paul Apple | May 1, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: PRETENDER DISCIPLES QUICKLY TURN HOSTILE WHEN CHALLENGED REGARDING THEIR BONDAGE TO SIN AND REGARDING THEIR DISHONORING OF CHRISTINTRODUCTION:Debate over what group of people is being addressed here. Some commentators want to make an artificial distinction...
by Paul Apple | May 1, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: DESPITE REPEATED REVELATION, THE IDENTITY OF JESUS REMAINS AN ENIGMA TO THOSE BLINDED BY SININTRODUCTION: How should our witness be impacted by those who simply don’t get the message? Do we experience frustration when we try to explain Who Jesus is and are...
by Paul Apple | May 1, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: WHEN IT COMES TO THE VERACITY OF THE CLAIMS OF CHRIST THERE IS NO HIGHER COURT OF APPEAL THAN THE GODHEADINTRODUCTION: Background of testimony in court;How do you establish the truthfulness of the testimony?How do you establish the credibility of the...
by Paul Apple | May 1, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: JESUS WILL NEVER ENDORSE A SPIRIT OF HYPOCRITICAL CONDEMNATIONINTRODUCTION: Our status as sinners does not allow us to pass condemnation on other individuals, despite their obvious sins.What is our motivation in passing judgment on others? – to elevate...
by Paul Apple | May 1, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: THE UNIQUE AND LOFTY CLAIMS OF CHRIST STIR UP DIVISION AND BIGOTED OPPOSITIONINTRODUCTION: GATORADE theme from commercials: Is It In You?I. (:37-39) (UNIQUE AND LOFTY CLAIMS OF CHRIST):FAITH IN CHRIST UNLEASHES THE ABUNDANT AND FULFILLING MINISTRY OF THE...
