by Paul Apple | Jul 18, 2023 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: STEWARDSHIP OF GOD’S GIFTS DEMANDS ACCOUNTABILITY — MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE CHRIST INTRODUCTION: Grant Osborne: The connection of this parable to the others is the delay of the master’s return, but the emphasis here is on the...
by Paul Apple | Jul 17, 2023 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: ONLY GENUINE TRIBULATION SAINTS IN POSSESSION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL BE PREPARED FOR THE RETURN OF JESUS (DESPITE UNKNOWN DELAY) INTRODUCTION: Grant Osborne: This is the next in the set of parables that center on readiness for the Lord’s return. All have...
by Paul Apple | Jul 16, 2023 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: THE FAITHFUL SLAVE FEEDS THE HOUSEHOLD WHILE AWAITING THE RETURN OF THE MASTER INTRODUCTION: These exhortations to spiritual vigilance and alertness and faithful stewardship in anticipation of the return of Christ have application not only to the time of the...
by Paul Apple | Jul 14, 2023 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: SPIRITUAL VIGILANCE NEEDED SINCE THE EXACT TIMING OF CHRIST’S RETURN IN JUDGMENT IS UNKNOWN INTRODUCTION: Grant Osborne: This begins the next major section of the Olivet Discourse, the parables on watchfulness (24:36 – 25:30). This passage provides the...
by Paul Apple | Jul 14, 2023 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: THERE IS A CLOSE TEMPORAL RELATIONSHIP TO END TIME SIGNS AND THE RETURN OF CHRIST TO ESTABLISH HIS KINGDOM ON EARTH INTRODUCTION: Grant Osborne: Jesus has finished responding to the disciples’ question of v. 3 and now is giving the implications of the whole...
by Paul Apple | Jul 13, 2023 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: CHRIST RETURNS IN POWER AND GREAT GLORY INTRODUCTION: Charles Swindoll: Teaching concerning the return of Christ never fails to create mixed feelings. For those who are ready for it, there’s a mixture of comfort, relief, and eager expectation. For those not...
by Paul Apple | Jul 13, 2023 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION TRIGGERS THE GREAT TRIBULATION EVENTS LEADING TO THE SPECTACULAR RETURN OF CHRIST INTRODUCTION: Remember the timeline of the Pre-Wrath Rapture position: Daniel’s 70th week (a 7 year period) which will conclude this age...
by Paul Apple | Jun 28, 2023 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: JUDGMENT ON THE JERUSALEM TEMPLE DOESN’T SIGNAL THE END OF THE AGE INTRODUCTION: John MacArthur: Now, you understand that the whole of the Olivet Discourse is future. Now, that is not to say that some of the things that will happen then don’t happen...
by Paul Apple | Jun 26, 2023 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: TEMPLE MAGNIFICENCE WOULD SOON BE REDUCED TO TEMPLE RUBBLE INTRODUCTION: Grant Osborne: Impending judgment has been the dominant theme since the symbolic actions of the cleansing of the temple and cursing of the fig tree in 21:12–22. This theme culminates in...
by Paul Apple | Jun 24, 2023 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: SORROW OVER JERUSALEM’S DESERVED JUDGMENT CANNOT CANCEL THE EXECUTION OF THAT JUDGMENT (DESPITE THE HOPE OF ESCHATOLOGICAL RESTORATION) INTRODUCTION: Craig Blomberg: The harsh tone of vv. 1-36 lessens dramatically. Verses 37-39 disclose Jesus’ profound...
by Paul Apple | Jun 24, 2023 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: HYPOCRITICAL RELIGIOUS LEADERS DESERVE SEVERE DENUNCIATION FOR THEIR IMPACT OF DESTRUCTIVE CORRUPTION INTRODUCTION: Donald Hagner: The seven woes that make up the centerpiece of the denunciation of the scribes and Pharisees are constructed by Matthew for...
by Paul Apple | Jun 22, 2023 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: HYPOCRITICAL RELIGIOUS LEADERS ELEVATE SELF AND SEEK NOTEREITY INTRODUCTION: Grant Osborne: The issue as to whether ch. 23 belongs to the previous or following section has already been discussed. . . it was decided that this chapter serves as a transition,...
by Paul Apple | Jun 13, 2023 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: THE SON OF DAVID MUST ALSO BE ACKNOWLEDGED AS THE AUTHORITATIVE SON OF GOD INTRODUCTION: The greatest question each individual must answer is “Who is Jesus Christ and how will you respond to His authority in your life?” The secularists and the humanists and...
by Paul Apple | Jun 12, 2023 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: JESUS PROVES HIS AUTHORITY BY DEFINING LOVE AS THE HEART OF SPIRITUAL ETHICS – BOTH IN RELATION TO GOD AND MAN INTRODUCTION: Charles Swindoll: Some questions are asked to make us think . . . not to be answered. In fact, some of life’s best questions are...
by Paul Apple | Jun 9, 2023 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: THE DOCTRINE OF THE RESURRECTION CAN BE DEFENDED BY UNDERSTANDING BOTH GOD’S WORD AND GOD’S POWER INTRODUCTION: The issue at stake in this controversy with the Sadducess is the doctrine of the resurrection. The hypothetical case study of how to handle...
by Paul Apple | Jun 8, 2023 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: BEGIN WITH YOUR PRIMARY OBLIGATION TO SUBMIT TO GOD AND YOU WILL HAVE NO STRUGGLE SUBMITTING TO CIVIL GOVERNMENT INTRODUCTION: Grant Osborne: Matthew now returns to the controversies that are the core of this section. The three parables have established the...
by Paul Apple | Jun 7, 2023 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: CONTEMPT FOR KINGDOM INVITATION AND KINGDOM REQUIREMENTS RESULTS IN FATAL CONSEQUENCES INTRODUCTION: Definition of Contempt: a feeling that someone or something is not worthy of any respect or approval; lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense...
by Paul Apple | Jun 6, 2023 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: THE WICKEDNESS OF ISRAEL’S RULERS IN REJECTING GOD’S PROPHETS AND EVENTUALLY HIS OWN SON HAS CAUSED A RADICAL SHIFT AWAY FROM A KINGDOM FOCUS ON THE NATION OF ISRAEL INTRODUCTION: This parable must be interpreted from the perspective of the Apostle Paul’s...
by Paul Apple | Jun 4, 2023 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: ACTIONS MEAN MORE THAN MERE WORDS – GOOD INTENTIONS CANNOT BE SUBSTITUTED FOR GENUINE REPENTANCE AND THE OBEDIENCE OF FAITH INTRODUCTION: Grant Osborne: This is a parable about rejection and unbelief, a reluctance and yet a final willingness to do the...
by Paul Apple | Jun 3, 2023 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: HARD HEARTS THAT REFUSE TO SUBMIT TO THE LEGITIMATE AUTHORITY OF JESUS CANNOT OBJECTIVELY JUDGE HIS CLAIMS INTRODUCTION: Warren Wiersbe: This series of three parables grew out of the demand of the chief priests and elders for Jesus to explain what authority...
