by Paul Apple | May 17, 2023 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: WE ARE ALL HEADED FOR DEATH SO BE PREPARED TO FACE GOD INTRODUCTION: This is going to be a short Scripture reflection but hopefully memorable – I just want to focus on one verse from the Ecclesiastes 7:2 — “It is better to go to a house of...
by Paul Apple | Apr 1, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THIS LIFE HAS MEANING WHEN WE RISE ABOVE THE FUTILITY OF MAN’S WISDOM TO EMBRACE GOD’S WISDOM =FEAR GOD AND OBEY HIM BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE BECAUSE WE ALL WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLEINTRODUCTION:Our culture: Getting older; living longer, more healthcare and elder...
by Paul Apple | Apr 1, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: BY OPPORTUNISTIC FAITH AND JOYFUL CONTENTMENT WE CAN LIVE BOTH A PRODUCTIVE AND ENJOYABLE LIFEINTRODUCTION:We need balance in our lives. Some people concentrate so much on being productive and achieving something … they seem to have no enjoyment of life....
by Paul Apple | Apr 1, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: FOLLY ON THE PART OF RULERS PUTS A NATION IN JEOPARDY AND REQUIRES A RESPONSE OF WISDOM – YET WISDOM IS PRECARIOUS AT BEST INTRODUCTION: Most people would find no structure in these proverbs – similar to chap. 7 – Those that try to group the verses in some...
by Paul Apple | Apr 1, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE ENJOYMENT OF THIS LIFE DOES NOT COME FROM FIGURING OUT LIFE’S DEEP ENIGMASINTRODUCTION:[What’s your favorite parable in the Scriptures?]Despite the repetition of common themes in this Book of Ecclesiastes, I find one aspect to be especially puzzling – to...
by Paul Apple | Apr 1, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: EVEN THOSE WHO APPEAR TO HAVE GRABBED HOLD OF THE GOOD LIFE STRUGGLE WITH NO ENJOYMENT, NO SATISFACTION AND NO ANSWERS TO LIFE’S ULTIMATE QUESTIONS(:1) INTRODUCTION: CONSISTENCY OF THE GLOOMY PERSPECTIVE “There is an evil which I have seen under the sun and...
by Paul Apple | Apr 1, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE 5 ROTTEN STEPS ON THE WORLD’S LADDER OF SUCCESSINTRODUCTION:Remember the theme from last week – chap.3 – Review:I. (:1-8) DIVINE CONTROL — DIVINE APPOINTMENT DETERMINES THE SEASONS OF LIFE AND THE EVENTS THAT TAKE PLACEII. (:9-15) DIVINE...
by Paul Apple | Apr 1, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE INSCRUTABLE NATURE OF ETERNITY WILL FRUSTRATE MAN’S EFFORTS TO FIGURE THINGS OUT – JUST SUBMIT AND TAKE THINGS AS THEY COMEI. (:1-8) DIVINE CONTROL — DIVINE APPOINTMENT DETERMINES THE SEASONS OF LIFE AND THE EVENTS THAT TAKE PLACEA. (:1) God’s...
by Paul Apple | Apr 1, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: A LIFE OF PURSUING WISDOM OR ACCOMPLISHMENT ONLY ACCUMULATES A LEGACY OF FUTILITY INTRODUCTION:You spend your life pursuing the highest levels of education; getting degree after degree – seeking the respect of your academic peers – What does that get...
by Paul Apple | Apr 1, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: INVESTIGATION UNDER THE SUN REVEALS THE FUTILITY OF PLEASURE, POSSESSIONS AND PRIDE CONTEXT:Transition from seeking meaning in Intellectualism and EducationHe has already acknowledged that education is a grind = much grief(rushed through this last week – but...
by Paul Apple | Apr 1, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE EXPERIENCE AND PERSPECTIVE OF SOLOMON TESTIFY TO THE EMPTINESS OF LIFE AND THE LACK OF ANY SATISFYING ANSWERS TO THE HUMAN CYCLE OF FUTILITYThe world claims to be searching for answers. What is the meaning of life? How can I find fulfillment and...
