by Paul Apple | Oct 18, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: AS WE STEP OUT IN FAITH THE POWERFUL SALVATION OF THE LORD GLORIFIES HIS NAMEINTRODUCTION:The crossing of the Red Sea is one of those classic bible stories that is foundational for the Christian faith. God directs His people into desperate circumstances...
by Paul Apple | Oct 12, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: DESPERATE SITUATIONS CALL FOR FAITH INSTEAD OF FEAR IN LIGHT OF GOD’S CONTROL AND HIS DESIRE TO GLORIFY HIS NAMEINTRODUCTION:God is not bashful about leading His people into seemingly impossible situations. In this text we find the Israelites, no sooner than...
by Paul Apple | Oct 11, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: DIVINE GUIDANCE USES PERPLEXING AND CHALLENGING PATHS TO BOTH PROTECT AND PREPARE US FOR WHAT LIES AHEADINTRODUCTION:Illustration: I love the spooky Halloween oriented commercial where you have the four terrified victims trying to determine what route to...
by Paul Apple | Oct 10, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: SYMBOLIC ACTS OF COMMEMORATION HELP GOD’S PEOPLE APPRECIATE THEIR DELIVERANCE AND REDEMPTIONINTRODUCTION:Having explained the Passover, Moses now goes into more detail about 2 observances that will help God’s people remember, celebrate and perpetuate God’s...
by Paul Apple | Oct 8, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE CITIZENS OF GOD’S KINGDOM (WHICH IS OPEN TO ALL WHO WILL BELIEVE) MUST CELEBRATE GOD’S FAITHFULNESS ACCORDING TO HIS INSTRUCTIONSINTRODUCTION:God showed His remarkable faithfulness to His promise to His servant Abram regarding His elect people, “Know for...
by Paul Apple | Oct 5, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PASSOVER AND THE FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD SPEAKS TO US TODAYINTRODUCTION:These critical Old Testament events and feasts are foundational for our understanding of what God has accomplished for New Testament saints through the...
by Paul Apple | Oct 3, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: ONLY THE PERSONAL APPLICATION OF THE BLOOD OF THE PASSOVER LAMB BRINGS DELIVERANCE FROM BONDAGE AND DESTRUCTIONINTRODUCTION:Suspense has been building as we have worked our way through the nine plagues. The natural expectation would be that the author would...
by Paul Apple | Oct 1, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: HARDENED HEARTS FAIL TO RESPOND TO THE WONDERS OF GOD –- EXPERIENCING DEFEAT AND HUMILIATION INSTEAD OF VICTORY AND JOY- EXPERIENCING DEATH AND DEVASTATION INSTEAD OF LIFE AND PROTECTIONINTRODUCTION:The events recorded in Exodus detailing God’s dealings with...
by Paul Apple | Sep 30, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE PLAGUES DEMONSTRATE GOD’S SOVEREIGN POWER IN MAKING MAN ACCOUNTABLE TO HIM FOR OBEDIENCE TO HIS DEMANDSINTRODUCTION:Man likes to imagine that he is in control of his own life. He can do what he pleases without any outside accountability or repercussions....
by Paul Apple | Sep 28, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE SOVEREIGN GOD PROVIDES SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO CONFIRM HIS MISSION OF REDEMPTION AND TO JUSTIFY HIS JUDGMENT AGAINST STUBBORN REBELLIONINTRODUCTION:Stubborn rebellion is not a wise course of action to pursue against the demands of a sovereign God. God’s...
by Paul Apple | Sep 26, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: BECAUSE GOD IS SOVEREIGN AND SUFFICIENT, OBEDIENCE TO GOD’S CALL IS THE ONLY OPTION THAT MAKES SENSEINTRODUCTION:Like Moses, we can easily be overwhelmed with a sense of our own inadequacy. But God is unwavering in His commitment to His kingdom agenda. He...
by Paul Apple | Sep 25, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: ADDITIONAL COVENANT ASSURANCES SUPPORT THE RENEWED COMMISSION TO FORTIFY THE LEADERSHIP OF MOSES AND AARONINTRODUCTION:Sometimes you just have to revert back to the old axiom: “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again!” The Lord knew that Moses and...
by Paul Apple | Sep 22, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: DESPITE OPPOSITION AND FRUSTRATION, THE SERVANT OF GOD MUST CONTINUE TO LOOK TO THE LORD FOR ULTIMATE SUCCESSINTRODUCTION:When the divine mission is clear and the commitment has been made to boldly step out in faith and obey, the expectation is that God will...
by Paul Apple | Sep 20, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: FINAL PREPARATION FOR SUCCESSFULLY FULFILLING GOD’S MISSION FOR YOUR LIFE INVOLVES:- COMMITMENT TO OBEY- CONFIDENCE IN GOD’S LOVE- CONSECRATION (INCLUDING NECESSARY REPENTANCE)- COLLABORATION (WITH OTHER LEADERS AND WITH GOD’S PEOPLE)INTRODUCTION:Moses has...
by Paul Apple | Sep 19, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: PERSISTENT HESITATION AND OBJECTIONS REGARDING OBEYING GOD’S CALL (DESPITE DIVINE ASSURANCES) END UP ANGERING GODINTRODUCTION:Our life as a believer should be all about pleasing our Lord Jesus Christ. But if you want to learn how to anger God, this account...
by Paul Apple | Sep 18, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE FULL WEIGHT OF GOD’S AUTHORITY STANDS BEHIND THE DIVINE CALL TO MOSESINTRODUCTION:It is significant that before issuing the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus points to His all-encompassing authority as the motivation to take courage and tackle...
by Paul Apple | Sep 14, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: GOD’S DRAMATIC CALL TO MOSES DETAILS HIS COMMITMENT TO DELIVER FLOWING OUT OF HIS COMPASSION FOR ISRAEL’S BONDAGEINTRODUCTION:The burning bush theophany ranks right up there as one of the greatest attention-grabbers of all time. No surprise that Moses...
by Paul Apple | Sep 13, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: DEVELOPING LEADERS FIRST EXPERIENCE FLESHLY FAILURE BEFORE LEARNING TO SUBMIT TO GOD’S TIMETABLE AND TRUST IN GOD’S EMPOWERMENT –3 KEY LESSONS FOR LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENTINTRODUCTION:Before God’s people even cry out for a deliverer, the sovereign plan...
by Paul Apple | Sep 11, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD PROTECTED MOSES AFTER HIS BIRTH, PLUCKED HIM FROM THE NILE AND PREPARED HIM FOR HIS FUTURE LEADERSHIP ROLEINTRODUCTION:The Providence of God dominates the events surrounding the birth and protection of the baby Moses. Significant...
by Paul Apple | Sep 10, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE BACKDROP FOR DIVINE DELIVERANCE AND THE FULFILMENT OF COVENANT PROMISES SHOWCASES GOD’S BLESSING AND PROTECTION DESPITE SATAN’S EFFORTS TO THWART GOD’S PURPOSESINTRODUCTION:Four hundred years is a long time for God’s people to be experiencing dark days...
