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...
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)...
