by Paul Apple | May 11, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: SOLOMON EXERCISED MAGNIFICENT WISDOM IN THE ORDERLY ADMINISTRATION OF HIS KINGDOM OF PEACE AND SECURITY AND PROSPERITY – PREFIGURING THE COMING MESSIANIC KINGDOMINTRODUCTION:This chapter ties closely with the previous chapter in extolling the wisdom of...
by Paul Apple | May 4, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: WISDOM MUST BE FOUNDATIONAL FOR GOVERNING GOD’S PEOPLE IN SECURITY AND RIGHTEOUSNESSINTRODUCTION:The foundation for Solomon’s reign is going to be its defining characteristic = Wisdom or Discernment. The ability to make righteous judgments in complex...
by Paul Apple | May 2, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: SOLOMON SECURELY ESTABLISHES HIS KINGDOM BY DECISIVELY DEALING WITH ARROGANT ENEMIESINTRODUCTION:There is a cost to establishing peace and righteousness and prosperity in a land. Security does not just happen without certain measures being taken. We have...
by Paul Apple | Apr 30, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: LEADERSHIP TRANSITIONS MUST DEAL DECISIVELY WITH ISSUES IMPACTING THE PEACE AND SECURITY OF GOD’S PEOPLEINTRODUCTION:The baton of kingdom leadership is here passed successfully from King David to his son Solomon. David’s final charge emphasizes that the...
by Paul Apple | Apr 30, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE MESSIANIC PROMISE OF A DAVIDIC KINGDOM SURVIVES A BUMPY TRANSITION AS SOLOMON SUCCEEDS DAVID ON THE THRONEINTRODUCTION:The reign of King David is winding down. He is on his deathbed (although he will continue to live for a number of years). His physical...
by Paul Apple | Apr 29, 2021 | Sports
Pick Slots: #27 #31 (picked up from Kansas City in trade for Orlando BrownBest Guess: We will make one of these picks and trade down in the other one to pick up a second round pick and an additional fourth round pickTeam Needs: 1) Offensive Line help – right tackle...
by Paul Apple | Apr 26, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA:ACTIVE REPENTANCE EXPRESSES SORROW TO GOD WHILE COMMITING TO CORRECTIVE ACTIONINTRODUCTION:This is a classic passage demonstrating the difference between mere remorse for sin and genuine repentance. Sorrow for sin lies at the heart of any spiritual response...
by Paul Apple | Apr 25, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: EXPOSURE OF FLAGRANT SIN SHOULD LEAD TO HEARTBROKEN REPENTANCEINTRODUCTION:Expression of remorse over conviction of sin is not a popular theme in our day. We tend to take sin lightly and to minimize any emotional reaction of deep distress and anguish and...
by Paul Apple | Apr 23, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: SUCCESSFUL PIONEERING MISSIONS COUPLE EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP WITH DEPENDENCE UPON THE BLESSING OF GOD –SIX STEPS IN LAUNCHING A SUCCESSFUL REBUILDING MISSION FOR GODINTRODUCTION:Here we have additional details regarding the return of the exiles to Jerusalem...
by Paul Apple | Apr 21, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE KEY TO SUCCESS IN SERVING GOD IS ALWAYS GOD’S HAND OF BLESSINGINTRODUCTION:There is a lot of talk about the “IT” factor when it comes to leadership in any realm. In sports or in politics or in business, you might describe the characteristics of an...
by Paul Apple | Apr 19, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: GOD FINISHES WHAT HE STARTS –GOD’S PROVIDENTIAL CONTROL OF HISTORY DEMONSTRATED IN PERSIAN SUPPORT FOR THE COMPLETION AND DEDICATION OF THE JEWISH TEMPLE IN JERUSALEM AS WORSHIP IS RENEWEDINTRODUCTION:This first half of the book of Ezra concludes with the...
by Paul Apple | Apr 17, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: RESTARTING MINISTRY IN THE FACE OF DISCOURAGING OPPOSITION REQUIRES MOTIVATION FROM GOD’S WORD AND CONVICTION REGARDING THE SIGNIFICANCE AND LEGITIMACY OF THE MISSIONINTRODUCTION:Discouragement is a powerful tool of Satan. God’s people had returned from...
by Paul Apple | Apr 16, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: GOD’S ENEMIES USE FAMILIAR TACTICS TO OPPOSE GOD’S WORK AND ACHIEVE TEMPORARY VICTORIESINTRODUCTION:When God’s people respond to the call to focus on God’s work, the enemy will quickly rise up in opposition. Fortunately, their tactics can be easily...
by Paul Apple | Apr 14, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: REVIVAL STARTS WITH RE-ESTABLISHING OBEDIENCE TO GOD IN WORSHIPINTRODUCTION:When you are starting from scratch, it is essential to focus on the matters of highest priority. For believers, our relationship to God can only be rekindled by obedience to God in...
by Paul Apple | Apr 12, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: RESTORATION OF THE TEMPLE INITIATED BY THE SOVEREIGN INTERVENTION OF THE DECREE OF CYRUS TO FULFIL COVENANTAL PROMISESINTRODUCTION:What’s so important about bringing captive Israel back to her homeland and rebuilding the temple to reinstitute the sacrificial...
by Paul Apple | Apr 6, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE ELEVATION OF MORDECAI TO GREATNESS IN THE PERSIAN KINGDOM PROTECTED THE JEWISH COMMUNITY BY THE PROVIDENCE OF GODINTRODUCTION:Here our short story concludes with this Epilogue extolling the greatness of Mordecai. Here was a little known Jew who was...
by Paul Apple | Apr 4, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: PROVIDENCE LEADS US TO VICTORY OVER OUR ENEMIES AND GIVES US CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION AS WE MEMORIALIZE GOD’S FAITHFULNESSINTRODUCTION:All power and authority comes ultimately from God. When He providentially raises up His servants and grants victory over the...
by Paul Apple | Apr 1, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD TRANSFORMS DESPERATION INTO DELIGHT IN SURPRISING WAYSINTRODUCTION:The personal deliverance of Esther and Mordecai was certainly significant. But the larger issue remains = the fate of the Jewish people as a whole. God’s promises about...
by Paul Apple | Mar 31, 2021 | Uncategorized
BIG IDEA: THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD LEVERAGES DIVINE APPOINTMENTS, PROTECTS GOD’S PEOPLE AND DESTROYS GOD’S FOESINTRODUCTION:The pattern of reversals continues in this next banquet narrative. Once again the dynamic interaction of the sovereignty of God and human...
by Paul Apple | Mar 29, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: GOD DEMONSTRATES HIS SOVEREIGN CONTROL EVEN WHEN THE WICKED IMAGINE THAT THEY ARE IN CONTROLINTRODUCTION:What a reversal of fortunes! Haman starts out this chapter rejoicing in his recent promotion and looking forward to the extermination of the hated Jews....
