by Paul Apple | Apr 18, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE FAITHFUL PROPHET DRAWS COURAGE FROM HIS DIVINE CALLING TO COMMUNICATE ALL THAT GOD HAS REVEALEDINTRODUCTION:This is our introduction to the “Weeping Prophet.” Jeremiah will reflect an unusual depth of emotion as he laments the sins of Judah and God’s...
by Paul Apple | Apr 18, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE LORD’S UNCHANGING DOMINION AND PROMISE OF ULTIMATE RESTORATION SHOULD GIVE HOPE EVEN IN THE MIDST OF DESOLATION AS WE CONTINUE TO APPEAL TO HIS MERCYINTRODUCTION:Deliverance and restoration have not yet arrived. The prophet continues to be burdened with...
by Paul Apple | Apr 18, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE ANGER OF THE LORD HAS PUNISHED HIS PEOPLE BECAUSE OF THEIR SIN – TRANSFORMING THEIR FORMER GLORY INTO DEVASTATION – AND THIS WRATH WILL FALL UPON THEIR GLOATING ENEMIES AS WELLINTRODUCTION:God is always justified and righteous in His judgments. Here we...
by Paul Apple | Apr 18, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE JOURNEY FROM DESPAIR TO HOPE HINGES ON THE CHARACTER OF GOD – HIS LOVINGKINDNESS, COMPASSION AND FAITHFULNESSINTRODUCTION: Everyone faces situations of suffering, grief, and trial. It is important to remember that this context in Lamentations arises from...
by Paul Apple | Apr 18, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE DAY OF THE LORD’S ANGER CONSUMES JERUSALEM WITH TOTAL DESTRUCTIONINTRODUCTION: This chapter should be a wake-up call to those who minimize or overlook the extent and severity of God’s wrath. Sin must be taken seriously. If God would so fiercely...
by Paul Apple | Apr 18, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: JERUSALEM LIES DEVASTATED WITH NO ONE TO COMFORTThis is one of the darkest chapters in all of Scripture. You can find a few glimmers of hope – but for the most part this is a picture of sorrows without comfort. The repeated refrain says it all: “There is no...
by Paul Apple | Apr 18, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: 3 STARK CONTRASTS BETWEEN SPIRITUAL GRIEF AND SPIRITUAL JOYINTRODUCTION: This passage should remind us of the riches we enjoy in union with our Lord Jesus Christ. The heart of the OT prophet was broken as he surveyed the landscape of the devastated former...
by Paul Apple | Apr 15, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: GOD WILL REMOVE THE BLURRING OF THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKEDI. (3:16-17) THE CURE FOR PRIDEFUL DISILLUSIONMENT IS THE FEAR OF THE LORDA. The Response of the People – Repentance, Renewed Obedience, and Worship 1. Rooted in the Fear of...
by Paul Apple | Apr 15, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: GOD REBUKES THE SELF RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE FOR DENYING THE VALUE OF OBEYING AND SERVING GODINTRODUCTION:I. (:13-14) SELF RIGHTEOUSNESS LEADS TO DISILLUSIONMENTA. (:13a) Arrogant Tone Easily Detected by the Lord “’Your words have been arrogant against Me,’ says...
by Paul Apple | Apr 15, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: GOD REBUKES THE SELF RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE FOR ROBBING HIM OF HIS DUE TITHES AND OFFERINGSI. (:7-9) PERSISTENCE IN ROBBING GOD INVOKES GOD’S JUDGMENTA. Repentance Remains the Only Cure for Transgression 1. History of Transgression “From the days of your fathers...
by Paul Apple | Apr 15, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: GOD PROMISES TO DEMONSTRATE HIS JUSTICE AND PURIFY HIS PEOPLE WHEN HE SENDS HIS SPECIAL MESSENGER OF THE COVENANT TO ESTABLISH RIGHTEOUS WORSHIPINTRODUCTION:“That’s not fair” = one of the first cries to come out of children’s faulty reasoning.I. (2:17)...
by Paul Apple | Apr 15, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE LORD REBUKES THE SELF RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE FOR PROFANING THE SACRED COVENANT OF MARRIAGEINTRODUCTION:Series of self righteous questions continues as the people wonder why God is not looking with favor on their sacrifices. They continue to go through the...
by Paul Apple | Apr 15, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE LORD REBUKES THE SELF RIGHTEOUS PRIESTS FOR OFFERING SUB-STANDARD WORSHIPINTRODUCTION:In the church we are all priests … what is the application to us?What is the standard today? “Worship God in Spirit and in Truth”How do we violate that? – mere...
by Paul Apple | Apr 15, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE LORD’S COMPASSION GIVES HOPE AND SOFTENS THE BLOW OF HIS REBUKE OF THE PROUD CRIES OF THE SELF RIGHTEOUS(:1) INTRODUCTION TO BOOK:A. Authoritative Content and Source “The oracle of the word of the Lord”Literally: “the burden” – woe is the prophet who...
by Paul Apple | Apr 15, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE PROMISED MESSIAH WILL RETURN AS THE TRIUMPHANT WARRIOR-KING TO DEFEAT ISRAEL’S ENEMIES AND USHER IN THE MILLENNIAL KINGDOMINTRODUCTION:Just as God fulfilled His detailed promises very literally regarding the first coming of the promised Messiah, the...
by Paul Apple | Apr 15, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE REJECTION OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD LEADS TO A REFINING PROCESS WHERE THE REMNANT OF ISRAEL IS EVENTUALLY CLEANSED AND RESTORED TO ITS LOYAL COVENANT RELATIONSHIPINTRODUCTION:What does the future hold for the nation of Israel? Many Christians believe that God...
by Paul Apple | Apr 15, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE DAY OF THE LORD WILL BRING SUPERNATURAL DESTRUCTION TO ISRAEL’S ATTACKERS AND DIVINELY INITIATED REPENTANCE TO ALL THE JEWS WHO NOW RECOGNIZE THEIR MESSIAHINTRODUCTION:“In that day” (12:3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11) is the emphasized time reference for this...
by Paul Apple | Apr 15, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: GOD’S JUDGMENT ALWAYS ACCOMPANIES THE REJECTION OF HIS WORTHY SHEPHERD AND ALLEGIANCE TOWARDS UNGODLY FALSE SUBSTITUTESINTRODUCTION:Before opening the window to give us a glimpse of Israel’s promising future, Zechariah shows the utter folly of the nation and...
by Paul Apple | Apr 15, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE COMPASSIONATE GOD WILL ULTIMATELY STRENGTHEN HIS REGATHERED REMNANT LED BY THE MESSIAH TO TREAD DOWN THEIR ENEMIES AND BE FIRMLY ESTABLISHED IN THE PROMISED LANDINTRODUCTION:Often people look for blessing and strength in all of the wrong places. False...
by Paul Apple | Apr 15, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: GOD’S PEOPLE SHOULD REJOICE IN ANTICIPATION OF THEIR COMING KING WHO WILL VANQUISH ALL ENEMIES AND ESTABLISH PEACE AND PROSPERITYINTRODUCTION: Chapter 9 begins the final section of the prophecy of Zechariah which consists of two oracles introduced by the...
