by Paul Apple | Apr 17, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: GLORY TO GOD FOR HIS WISDOM IN UNITING JEWS AND GENTILES IN A STABLE FAITH THROUGH MAKING KNOWN THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST INTRODUCTION: Frank Thielman: Two theological themes dominate this final section of Paul’s letter. First, Paul speaks of the...
by Paul Apple | Apr 17, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: GUARD FUNDAMENTAL CHRISTIANITY AGAINST THE ATTACKS AND DECEPTION OF SELF-CENTERED TROUBLEMAKERS 4 SAFEGUARDS: INTRODUCTION: Frank Thielman: Paul concludes his long exposition and application of the gospel with a straightforward warning to the Roman...
by Paul Apple | Apr 17, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: FELLOWSHIP IN THE LORD BINDS BELIEVERS TOGETHER IN PRECIOUS RELATIONSHIPS AND SACRIFICIAL SERVICE INTRODUCTION: R. Kent Hughes: Think of the energy such “keeping in touch” involved! Imagine Paul on ship and in port beseeching travelers for information:...
by Paul Apple | Apr 17, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: THE CHURCH SHOULD COMMEND AND ASSIST FELLOW CHRISTIANS WHO ARE COMMITTED TO SERVING OTHERS INTRODUCTION: Frank Thielman: Before releasing his audience, he observed two epistolary customs. He commended the letter’s courier, and he urged his audience to greet...
by Paul Apple | Apr 17, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: SUCCESSFUL MINISTRY DEPENDS ON URGENT INTERCESSORY PRAYER INTRODUCTION: Thomas Schreiner: Paul summons the Romans to pray for the collection that is about to be delivered to Jerusalem and for his protection there. The acceptance of the collection would...
by Paul Apple | Apr 17, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: SPIRITUAL MINISTRY LAYS THE FOUNDATION FOR ONGOING MUTUAL FELLOWSHIP THAT RESPONDS TO MATERIAL NEEDS AND PROMOTES THE EXTENSION OF THE GOSPEL INTRODUCTION: Douglas Moo: Paul goes on to mention his next three destinations (in order of visit): Jerusalem (vv....
by Paul Apple | Apr 17, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: REFLECTING ON PAST MINISTRY SHOULD CAUSE US TO GIVE ALL CREDIT TO GOD INTRODUCTION: Frank Thielman: The next section (15:17–21) continues to describe the shape that God’s apostolic call has given to Paul’s ministry, but shifts from the present letter to...
by Paul Apple | Apr 17, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: BOLD GOSPEL MINISTRY MANDATED BY GOD’S GRACE SEEKS THE GROWING MATURITY OF THE SAINTS DESPITE CONFIDENT COMMENDATION INTRODUCTION: Frank Thielman: The argument of 15:14–33 unfolds in four steps. The “now” (δέ) with which 15:14 begins signals the start of a...
by Paul Apple | Apr 16, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: THE MINISTRY OF CHRIST BRINGS GLORY TO GOD BY UNITING JEWS AND GENTILES TOGETHER IN PRAISE AND HOPE INTRODUCTION: Thomas Schreiner: Throughout the letter the relationship between Jews and gentiles has been a major concern of Paul. Now he calls on both to...
by Paul Apple | Apr 16, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: THE STRONG AND THE WEAK GLORIFY GOD WHEN HELD TOGETHER BY UNSELFISHNESS AND DIVINE ENCOURAGEMENT INTRODUCTION: Frank Thielman: Main Idea — Both the strong and the weak believers in Rome should repay the debt of love they owe one another by agreeing to...
by Paul Apple | Apr 16, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: IN ISSUES OF PERSONAL CONVICTION, LOVE MUST TAKE PRECEDENCE OVER LIBERTY TO PROMOTE PEACE AND PREVENT STUMBLING BLOCKS INTRODUCTION: Frank Thielman: Paul has just explained in 14:1–12 that neither the weak nor the strong should “judge” one another, and now...
by Paul Apple | Apr 16, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: WE ARE TO SERVE GOD OUR ULTIMATE JUDGE BY ALLOWING FELLOW-BELIEVERS THE FREEDOM TO HOLD DIFFERING PERSONAL CONVICTIONS IN DISPUTABLE MATTERS INTRODUCTION Grant Osborne: Paul had already established the equality of Jewish and Gentile believers. In this...
by Paul Apple | Apr 16, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: WE ARE TO SERVE GOD BY LOVING ONE ANOTHER WHILE WE STILL HAVE OPPORTUNITY INTRODUCTION: Douglas Moo: While 13:8–10 connect in substance to 12:9–21, Paul cleverly plays on the notion of “debt” that he introduced in 13:7 to create a transition back into the...
by Paul Apple | Apr 16, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: WE ARE TO SERVE GOD BY SUBMITTING TO CIVIL GOVERNMENT WHICH USES ITS DELEGATED POWER TO PROMOTE GOOD AND RESTRAIN EVIL INTRODUCTION: Michael Bird: Government is a form of common grace instituted by God where God uses human rulers to provide justice, order,...
by Paul Apple | Apr 16, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA WE ARE TO SERVE GOD BY OVERCOMING EVIL WITH GOOD – 7 WAYS TO FIGHT YOUR ENEMIES INTRODUCTION: Frank Thielman: This passage teaches Christians that the love God expects them to show to others arises from God’s transforming work within them, not from outward...
by Paul Apple | Apr 16, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: WE ARE TO SERVE GOD WITH LOVE THAT IS BOTH AUTHENTIC AND ACTIVE INTRODUCTION: Frank Thielman: Paul has not lost sight of the thesis he announced in 12:1–2 that the conduct he describes in 12:3 – 15:7 should arise from within the believer as the result of a...
by Paul Apple | Apr 16, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: WE ARE CALLED TO SERVE GOD THROUGH SERVING IN HIS BODY INTRODUCTION: Frank Thielman: Paul exhorts his readers to make decisions about their day-to-day conduct on the basis of God’s transformation of their minds through the gospel (Rom 12:1–2). They should...
by Paul Apple | Apr 16, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: GOD’S GREAT PLAN OF SALVATION DESERVES OUR PRAISE BECAUSE IT GLORIFIES GOD’S INSCRUTABILITY, AUTONOMY AND SOVEREIGNTY INTRODUCTION: Steven Lawson: Now, verses 33 to 36 is what we call a doxology. A doxology is a short, condensed anthem of praise. It is...
by Paul Apple | Apr 16, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: GOD’S REJECTION OF THE NATION ISRAEL IS NOT FINAL — ALL ISRAEL WILL BE SAVED AFTER THE FULLNESS OF THE GENTILES INTRODUCTION: Greg Herrick: It is quite likely that many Gentiles, observing Israel’s disobedience, would conclude that they...
by Paul Apple | Apr 16, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: ISRAEL’S REJECTION BROUGHT SALVATION TO THE GENTILES AND WILL ULTIMATELY RESULT IN ISRAEL’S ACCEPTANCE INTRODUCTION: Frank Thielman: This second part of 11:1–32 (11:11–32) does not merely assert that hardened Israel will one day be saved but...
