by Paul Apple | Jun 6, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: JUDAH SINKS INTO PAGAN IDOLATRY UNDER REHOBOAM AND SURRENDERS HER WEALTH TO SHISHAK FROM EGYPTINTRODUCTION:The narrator is now alternating between examining the reign of each king of the Northern Kingdom (having just covered Jeroboam) and each king of the...
by Paul Apple | Jun 5, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: SEEKING HELP FOR HIS AILING SON, JEROBOAM IS CONDEMNED AS AN EVIL RULER FOR HIS RELIGIOUS EXPEDIENCYINTRODUCTION:The serious illness of his son (and potential heir to the throne in Israel) drove Jeroboam to seek assistance from God through the prophet...
by Paul Apple | Jun 4, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: NOTHING TRUMPS THE WORD OF GODINTRODUCTION:The Word of the Lord packs a punch. It has substance. It delivers on its promises. You ignore God’s Word at your own peril. Jeroboam learned that lesson here; as did the Man of God who delivered the message of...
by Paul Apple | Jun 3, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: RASH ARROGANCE AND RELIGIOUS EXPEDIENCY SPLINTER GOD’S PEOPLE AND PROVIDE A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITYINTRODUCTION:Chapter 12 marks the watershed mark in the Book of Kings. The reign of Solomon has ended with serious spiritual slippage from the high water mark...
by Paul Apple | Jun 1, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: DISOBEDIENCE AND IDOLATRY CAUSE THE DOWNFALL OF SOLOMON’S KINGDOM VIA DIVINE DISCIPLINEINTRODUCTION:We have already witnessed the glory of Solomon’s great reign. But despite the riches of God’s blessing in terms of both wisdom and wealth, we have also seen...
by Paul Apple | May 29, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE GLORY OF SOLOMON’S KINGDOM AS BLESSED BY GOD IS- WITNESSED BY THE QUEEN OF SHEBA- AND EXHIBITED IN IMPRESSIVE FASHIONINTRODUCTION:The greatness of Solomon’s kingdom far exceeds any comparison in ancient times. Here we see the wealth and wisdom of Solomon...
by Paul Apple | May 27, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: DESPITE THE GIFT OF WISDOM, SOLOMON PURSUED KINGDOM PROSPERITY WITHOUT HEEDING DIVINE WARNINGS REGARDING APOSTASYINTRODUCTION:On the surface, everything in the kingdom seems trending towards prosperity. But below the surface you can see the signs of Solomon...
by Paul Apple | May 25, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: SHEKINAH GLORY FILLS SOLOMON’S TEMPLE AS THE ARK OF THE COVENANT FINDS ITS HOME FOR THE JOYFUL MANIFESTATION OF THE PRESENCE AND BLESSING OF GOD ON HIS COVENANT PEOPLEINTRODUCTION:This dedication of the temple with the installation of the ark of the covenant...
by Paul Apple | May 20, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE LAVISH MAGNIFICENCE OF THE ROYAL COMPLEX AND THE TEMPLE FURNISHINGS REFLECT THE MAJESTIC IMMANENT PRESENCE OF THE TRANSCENDENT SOVEREIGN GOD OF THE WORLDINTRODUCTION:Many people today mistakenly recoil in shock and disgust over the extravagance of...
by Paul Apple | May 17, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE GLORIOUS MAJESTIC PRESENCE OF THE LORD DESERVES COSTLY BUILDING MATERIALS AND COVENANT OBEDIENCE THAT COMMUNICATE PURITY, HOLINESS AND BEAUTY ACCENTUATING OUR PRIVILEGE OF ACCESSINTRODUCTION:How casual are we in our approach to the Lord? A study of the...
by Paul Apple | May 15, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE ALLIANCE BETWEEN SOLOMON (OF ISRAEL) AND HIRAM (OF TYRE) SECURED THE MATERIALS AND MANPOWER FOR TEMPLE CONSTRUCTIONINTRODUCTION:This section on the preparation for laying the foundation and building the temple in Jerusalem continues the theme of God’s...
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...
