by Paul Apple | Feb 19, 2021 | Christian
BIG IDEA: EMBRACE SUFFERING AS THE WILL OF GOD TO ACCOMPLISH HIS SOVEREIGN PURPOSESINTRODUCTION:The scope of suffering addressed here does not include suffering for doing wrong; divine discipline for sin; etc. – even though all suffering is connected to some extent...
by Paul Apple | Oct 2, 2020 | Christian
Accompaniments of Truth Psalm 85:10 Lovingkindness and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.Exodus 34:6 Then the LORD passed by in front of him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger,...
by Paul Apple | Jul 13, 2020 | Book Reviews, Christian
My wife and I recently bought this book to read to our young grandchildren. It is such a simple concept that is so memorably illustrated. Without any heavy preaching, you can relate to the message that God is always good even when we don’t understand some of the hard...
by Paul Apple | Apr 4, 2020 | Christian
I would highly recommend the recent movie I STILL BELIEVE – chronicling the faith journey of Christian musician Jeremy Camp’s romance with his first wife, Melissa, who ended up dying of cancer shortly after their honeymoon. It is definitely a tearjerker and holds your...
by Paul Apple | Apr 1, 2020 | Christian, Health, Top Ten Lists
Here is some helpful insight from The Gospel Coalition: “Billions across the world have watched with dread as COVID-19 continues to spread—infecting hundreds of thousands and greatly disrupting the lives of most of the world’s population. Much has already been lost,...
by Paul Apple | Mar 11, 2020 | Christian
[Originally posted June 8, 2005]Some people like to debate whether “we are sinners because we sin” or whether “we sin because we are sinners by nature.” The Bible is clear on this subject. Although God created Adam and Eve without sin, once they chose to disobey God’s...
by Paul Apple | Mar 11, 2020 | Christian
[Originally posted August 8, 2005]“Separation” is one of those theological principles that has fallen out of favor in today’s inclusive-oriented culture. Advocates of separation are immediately branded as narrow-minded and intolerant and divisive and out of touch with...
by Paul Apple | Mar 11, 2020 | Christian
[Originally posted August 28, 2005]There is a reason the Apostle Paul warned the Colossians not to mess around with “philosophy and empty deception” (Colossians 2:8). The most effective preachers historically have been those who “put the cookies on the lower shelf” —...
by Paul Apple | Mar 11, 2020 | Christian
Many people disparage the use of any outside commentaries – claiming that the preacher should develop his messages on his knees with nothing but an open Bible and fervent prayer for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. While I believe that such a posture is the necessary...
by Paul Apple | Mar 11, 2020 | Bible-OT, Christian, Life
[Originally posted May 6, 2008]The Singles group at Hope Bible Church met Tuesday night and compiled this quick study on the Model of Genuine Friendship patterned after the relationship between David and Jonathan. Before poring over the relevant texts in 1 Samuel and...
by Paul Apple | Mar 10, 2020 | Christian, Life
[First posted November 15,2008]Founder and Director — Christian Athletic AssociationAs a long time board member of the Christian Athletic Association, I just wanted to blog this tribute to Nic. I had the distinct privilege of being able to share some of my...
by Paul Apple | Mar 10, 2020 | Bible-OT, Christian
Just as water is essential for our physical life, Jeremiah points to the Lord as the Essential Source of our Spiritual Life. The prophet contrasts trusting the Lord with the folly of turning away from the Lord or putting any confidence in the flesh: “Cursed is the man...
by Paul Apple | Mar 10, 2020 | Christian
Probably this simply memory device has been helpful in the prayer lives of many. We tend to become unbalanced in rushing right to the throne of grace for answers to our every need. We need to spend time focusing on the other important elements of prayer. Here is my...
by Paul Apple | Mar 10, 2020 | Bible-OT, Christian
[Originally posted April 11, 2018]I have the privilege of attending the Together For the Gospel (T4G) Bible Conference in Louisville this week. The theme is “Distinct From the World.”Our fallen world has never been friendly to God’s way and God’s will. For some of us,...
by Paul Apple | Mar 10, 2020 | Bible-OT, Christian
Abigail hastens to intercept David and his band of warriors who are on their way to avenge the shameful conduct of her foolish husband Nabal who had rejected the overtures of David’s ten messengers. They deserved to be well received by Nabal but instead were rudely...
by Paul Apple | Mar 10, 2020 | Bible-OT, Christian
When God goes up against His enemies, there are no buzzer beaters, no close calls, no tight skirmishes. He utterly vanquishes those who oppose Him. We need to confess our lack of strength and trust in the All Powerful One to wage war on our behalf and deliver us from...
by Paul Apple | Mar 10, 2020 | Bible-OT, Christian
[Originally posted June 9, 2018]“For who has despised the day of small things?”“If you have faith the size of a mustard seed . . .” As Freedom Church in Baltimore prepares to launch its new Windsor Mill location on the West side of Baltimore (the former Temple Baptist...
by Paul Apple | Mar 10, 2020 | Bible-OT, Christian
What types of troubles have you been experiencing lately? We know that believers are not immune to the troubles of this world. In addition to the inevitable persecution because of our association with Jesus Christ, there are the normal types of trials and hardships...
by Paul Apple | Mar 10, 2020 | Bible-OT, Christian
“For the redemption of his soul is costly” I am reminded of the old TV commercial campaign for Mastercard centered around the “Priceless” theme.Do you remember the very first “Priceless” commercial in 1997? A dad takes his son to a baseball game and pays for a hot dog...
by Paul Apple | Mar 10, 2020 | Bible-NT, Christian
Believers in the local church come from different backgrounds and have different personal convictions and different perspectives towards a variety of non-moral issues. The context of Romans 14 has been summarized by Dr. John MacArthur as follows: The weak Jewish...
