by Paul Apple | Mar 26, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: PRESSING TOWARD THE GOAL IS THE ONLY WAY TO RUN THE RACE OF CONFORMITY TO JESUS CHRIST INTRODUCTION: John Walvoord: On the one hand, discontent with one’s spiritual life can bring discouragement and unnecessary resignation to spiritual defeat. On the...
by Paul Apple | Mar 26, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: KNOWING CHRIST IN A TRANSFORMING WAY IS THE SUPREME GOAL WORTHY OF THE NECESSARY COST INTRODUCTION: Matt. 16:25-26 Manford George Gutzke: It is tomorrow that gives special meaning to what I do today. Whatever I do today, it is tomorrow when I am going to...
by Paul Apple | Mar 26, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: REJOICING IN CHRIST INVOLVES TURNING OUR BACK ON EVERYTHING THAT WOULD EXALT OUR FLESH INTRODUCTION: Charles Swindoll: Our world honors and rewards high achievement. Trophies, medals, plaques, and awards are given to those who stand out among the crowd....
by Paul Apple | Mar 26, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: TWO SERVANTHOOD EXAMPLES OF PARTNERSHIP IN THE GOSPEL INTRODUCTION: D. A. Carson: Emulate those who are interested in the well-being of others, not in their own. Be on the alert for Christians who really do exemplify this basic Christian attitude, this habit...
by Paul Apple | Mar 26, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: JOYFULLY PROGRESS IN HUMBLE SERVICE TO MAINTAIN A BLAMELESS TESTIMONY INTRODUCTION: The path of humble service — seeking the prosperity of others above our own personal interests — is not the path we would naturally choose. In fact we shrink...
by Paul Apple | Mar 26, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: THE PATTERN FOR BOTH HUMBLING OURSELVES AND BEING EXALTED BY GOD IS JESUS CHRIST INTRODUCTION: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time.” 1 Peter 5:6 Otherwise, if we try to exalt...
by Paul Apple | Mar 26, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: THE CHURCH COMMUNITY MUST PURSUE UNITY AND HUMILITY TO ENJOY FELLOWSHIP IN THE GOSPEL INTRODUCTION: Most valuable secrets involve something people long to know and try their hardest to discover. Unless someone carefully conceals such a secret it reproduces...
by Paul Apple | Mar 26, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST SHOULD INSPIRE SPIRITUAL UNITY AND SUPERNATURAL COURAGE AS WE STRIVE TOGETHER TO FURTHER THE GOSPEL (WHILE ACCEPTING THE INEVITABILITY OF PERSECUTION) INTRODUCTION: Grant Osborne: Having completed the news about his circumstances, Paul...
by Paul Apple | Mar 26, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: FOCUS ON EXALTING CHRIST AND YOU CAN COUNT ON SUPERNATURAL BOLDNESS IN FRUITFUL MINISTRY — ONE THAT WILL GLORIFY CHRIST AND EFFECTIVELY IMPACT OTHERS INTRODUCTION: Gordon Zerbe: Paul’s future joy is first based on his confidence that this [ordeal,...
by Paul Apple | Mar 26, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE GOSPEL CAN ACTUALLY BENEFIT FROM DIFFICULT PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES: BY SHOWING UNBELIEVERS THE REALITY OF OUR RELATIONSHIP TO CHRIST BY STRENGTHENING THE FAITH AND COURAGE OF BELIEVERS TO PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL BY STIMULATING INCREASED...
by Paul Apple | Mar 26, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: (AS WE LABOR TOGETHER UNTIL CHRIST RETURNS,) FELLOWSHIP IN THE GOSPEL SPARKS THREE RESPONSES: JOYFUL THANKSGIVING INTIMATE BONDS PURPOSEFUL PRAYER FOR SPIRITUAL MATURITY INTRODUCTION: Gordon Zerbe: You give me joy! Paul establishes a mood of affection...
by Paul Apple | Mar 24, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: THE BLESSING OF JUSTIFICATION COULD ONLY COME VIA GOD’S UNCHANGING PROMISES RATHER THAN BY THE LAW INTRODUCTION: George Brunk: There is one small problem in what Paul has been saying. He has been arguing that the Galatians, as Gentiles, have their...
by Paul Apple | Mar 24, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH PROVES THAT WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO LIVE BY FAITH — SINCE WE HAVE BEEN FREED FROM THE CURSE OF THE LAW INTRODUCTION: George Brunk: Clearly the key word in this paragraph is curse. As the antithesis of blessing, curse signals that...
by Paul Apple | Mar 24, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH PROVES THAT WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO LIVE BY FAITH INTRODUCTION: Ben Witherington: At Gal. 3:1 Paul begins the section of the letter where he will present his formal arguments to his converts so that they will not pursue a Judaizing...
by Paul Apple | Mar 24, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: PAUL’S AUTHORITY DEMONSTRATED IN REBUKING PETER’S ERROR — JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH LEAVES NO ROOM FOR HYPOCRISY OR LEGALISM INTRODUCTION: Kenneth Wuest: Here the argument for Paul’s apostolic independence has come to the highest level...
by Paul Apple | Mar 24, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: PAUL’S AUTHORITY RECOGNIZED — PAUL’S INDEPENDENT MESSAGE AND AUTHORITY WERE STILL VALIDATED BY THE LEADERS OF THE CHURCH IN JERUSALEM INTRODUCTION: Philip Ryken: So where does Galatians fit in the chronology of Acts? At first glance,...
by Paul Apple | Mar 24, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: PAUL’S AUTHORITY ESTABLISHED BY DIVINE REVELATION — PAUL’S PERSONAL TESTIMONY CONFIRMS THE DIVINE SOURCE OF HIS MESSAGE AND AUTHORITY INTRODUCTION: Philip Ryken: Before going any further, it will be helpful to have the outline of Galatians...
by Paul Apple | Mar 24, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: ANY PERVERSION OF THE GOSPEL OF THE GRACE OF CHRIST DESERVES GOD’S STRONGEST CONDEMNATION INTRODUCTION: George Brunk: In our section (1:6-10) Paul wastes no time in getting straight to the point. He indicates his state of mind, clarifies what is at...
by Paul Apple | Mar 24, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: LEGITIMATE DIVINE APOSTLESHIP PROMOTES THE ESSENCE OF THE TRUE GOSPEL = THE CRUCIFIXION AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST INTRODUCTION: Bruce Barton: The year was probably A.D. 49. Paul and Barnabas had just completed their first missionary journey (Acts 13:2...
by Paul Apple | Mar 15, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: OUR APPROACH TO THE REALITY OF THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST CANNOT BE ONE OF CASUAL WORSHIPDealing with the ending appended to many texts of the Gospel of Mark that I believe was not in the original text – vv. 9-20.- Deal with it up front since this will...
