by Paul Apple | Apr 5, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: FAITH IN THE ROCK OF AGES IS FORTIFIED BY VALUABLE LESSONS FROM GOD’S RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENTSINTRODUCTION: A Mighty Fortress is our GodA mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:For still our...
by Paul Apple | Apr 3, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: IN THE DAY OF RECKONING, SELF-ABSORBED ISRAEL WILL BE ABASED AND QUAKING BEFORE THE MAJESTIC PRESENCE OF THE EXALTED LORDINTRODUCTION:“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:31) Just how fearful is it? Imagine the most...
by Paul Apple | Mar 7, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: CULTURE MAY DEVELOP IN WAYS THAT SEEM IMPRESSIVE, BUT THE ONLY HOPE FOR DEPRAVED MANKIND LIES IN CALLING ON THE NAME OF THE LORDINTRODUCTION:Keeping the title the same for 3 weeks: SIN MAKES A MESS . . . BUT GOD MAKES A WAYNot because my creative juices have...
by Paul Apple | Jun 30, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: TOTAL VICTORY CANNOT COME BY TRUSTING THE ARM OF THE FLESH OR EVEN BY PARTIALY OBEYING GOD’S REVEALED WORDINTRODUCTION:Further confirmation of Elisha’s new role as the chief prophet of God comes from his interaction with the kings of Israel and Judah in...
by Paul Apple | Jun 4, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: RELIGIOUS HYPOCRISY FOCUSES ON EXTERNAL FORMALISM AT THE EXPENSE OF INTERNAL RIGHTEOUSNESSINTRODUCTION:Jesus reserved his sharpest criticism for the hypocrisy of the Jewish religious leaders of His day. He was not only concerned that their emphasis on...
by Paul Apple | May 1, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: JESUS DEMONSTRATES HIS SUPREMACY OVER LEGALISM AND HIS EQUALITY WITH GOD THE FATHER(THE AUTHORITY OF CHRIST — AS EQUAL WITH THE FATHER — AND THE MOTIVATION OF MERCY TAKE PRECEDENCE OVER A LEGALISTIC SPIRIT)INTRODUCTION:1) List important strategic...
by Paul Apple | Apr 19, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: 4 FORMS OF IMPROPER WORSHIP EXPOSED AND CONDEMNED –RELIGIOUS PRACTICES WITHOUT INWARD RIGHTEOUSNESS (REFLECTED IN OUTWARD ACTIONS) CANNOT SAVEINTRODUCTION:There have been some great Reformation preachers down thru the ages – men of God who had their pulse on...
by Paul Apple | Apr 18, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: FORSAKING THE LIFE-GIVING FOUNTAIN OF THE ONE TRUE GOD FOR BROKEN CISTERNS MAKES ABSOLUTELY NO SENSEINTRODUCTION:There is no nation in the ancient world that had it so good as the nation of Israel; yet no nation was so foolish in turning away from the...
by Paul Apple | Apr 15, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: HARD HEARTS CLOSE THEIR EARS TO GOD’S COMMANDS AND SUBSTITUTE RELIGIOUS RITUAL FOR LOVING OBEDIENCEINTRODUCTION: In the parable of the soils in the New Testament (Mark 4:20), Christ taught that there is only one type of heart that is truly good and fertile –...
by Paul Apple | Apr 3, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE CARCASS OF HYPOCRITICAL RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY STINKS TO HIGH HEAVENINTRODUCTION:We know that God seeks worshippers – but only those who worship Him in spirit and in truth. He rejects the worship of religious hypocrites – despite their multiplied religious...
by Paul Apple | Mar 14, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: KNOWLEDGE PLUS SINCERITY ISN’T ENOUGH TO GET YOU INTO THE KINGDOM OF GODINTRODUCTION:I am sure you have heard the expression: “Close never counts except in horseshoes.” We have all played the game of horseshoes at one time or another. We understand that the...
by Paul Apple | Apr 29, 2024 | Bible-OT
(:1-2) INTRODUCTION – WISE SPEECH A. (:1) Soft vs. Harsh Words “A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.” Paul Koptak: The Bible has many examples; Nabal’s inhospitality and Abigail’s appeal is probably the most famous (1 Sam. 25:1–35)....
by Paul Apple | Apr 3, 2023 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: DISCIPLESHIP INVOLVES CONFESSION, CONFLICT, COST BUT ALSO REWARD INTRODUCTION: Grant Osborne: Jesus finalizes his Mission Discourse by demanding fearless confession in the midst of conflict. As such it acts as a concluding summary of the themes in the rest...
by Paul Apple | Mar 25, 2023 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: THE MISSION OF MAKING DISCIPLES REQUIRES CONSORTING WITH SINNERS WITH HEART OF COMPASSION INTRODUCTION: Grant Osborne: The first discipleship segment centered on the radical demands of Jesus (8:18–22). This one centers on the reality and meaning of that new...
by Paul Apple | Feb 23, 2023 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: THE COMING OF THE KING OF THE JEWS PROMPTS EITHER ADORATION AND WORSHIP OR FEAR AND OPPOSITION INTRODUCTION: Leon Morris: Matthew may well have included this story to bring out the truth that Jesus is Lord of all peoples; since this is so, it was appropriate...
by Paul Apple | Jan 16, 2023 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: CONSIDERATION OF COVENANT HISTORY SHOULD PROMPT RENEWAL OF COVENANT COMMITMENT INTRODUCTION: Trent Butler: Josh 24 completes the book by giving the theological definition of the people of God. “The preceding account of God’s saving acts and election of...
by Paul Apple | Oct 3, 2022 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE RECOVERY OF THE WORD OF GOD MOTIVATES REFORMATION INTRODUCTION: Iain Duguid: Josiah is another example of faithfulness expressed in temple worship cleansed of idolatry and performed in accordance with the laws of Moses and the prescriptions of David...
by Paul Apple | Sep 22, 2022 | Bible-OT
(Chap. 27) REIGN OF RIGHTEOUS JOTHAM – A GOOD KING BUT STILL CORRUPT PEOPLE BIG IDEA:DESPITE THE POSITIVE REIGN OF JOTHAM AND DIVINE BLESSING OF BUILDING PROJECTS AND INTERNATIONAL SUCCESS, THE PEOPLE FAIL TO REFORMINTRODUCTION:Raymond Dillard: This wholly positive...
