by Paul Apple | May 3, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: THE RISEN LORD OFFERS US THE OPPORTUNITY TO BELIEVE BEFORE WE SEEINTRODUCTION: Not talking about blind faith here; look at all of the evidence that has been presented to the Deity and Lordship of Christ throughout the Gospel of John. Significant that Thomas...
by Paul Apple | May 3, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: THE EMPTY TOMB IS A POWERFUL WITNESS TO THE BODILY RESURRECTION OF CHRIST – ESPECIALLY WHEN INTERPRETED BY THE APPEARANCE OF CHRIST HIMSELF!(:1-2) INTRODUCTION: THE DISCOVERY OF THE EMPTY TOMB AT FIRST CAUSES CONFUSION AND PANIC TO THE SHOCKED...
by Paul Apple | May 3, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: PROPHETIC FULFILLMENT AND DEDICATED DEVOTION CONTINUES AS JESUS’ BODY IS PREPARED FOR BURIAL(:31) INTRODUCTION: URGENCY OF BURIAL “The Jews therefore, because it was the day of preparation, so that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath...
by Paul Apple | May 3, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS FULFILLED EVERY OT PROPHECY DOWN TO THE SMALLEST DETAIL AND DEMONSTRATED THE ABSOLUTE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD(:17-18) INTRODUCTION / SUMMARY: SUFFERING AND HUMILIATION A. (:17) The Final Suffering Steps on the Road to Golgotha (Via...
by Paul Apple | May 3, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: NEUTRALITY IS NOT AN OPTION WHEN IT COMES TO CHECKING OUT THE CLAIMS OF CHRIST AND PASSING JUDGMENTINTRODUCTION: Pilate wanted no part of this controversy. He was forced into a position of checking out the claims of Christ and the accusations of the Jews....
by Paul Apple | May 3, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: THE FRIGHTENED DISCIPLES HIDE AND DENY WHILE JESUS TESTIFIES OPENLY HE HAS NOTHING TO HIDE(:12-14) INTRODUCTION: THE IRONY IN THE ARREST OF JESUSA. (:12) Ironic Political-Religious Alliance “So the Roman cohort and the commander, and the officers of the...
by Paul Apple | May 3, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: THE GREAT MAJESTIC “I AM” VOLUNTARILY SURRENDERS TO THE POWERLESS ARRESTING PARTY GUIDED BY TRAITOROUS JUDASI. (:1-3) UNNECESSARY SEARCH AND SEIZURE TAKES PLACE IN A SECLUDED GARDEN WITH TRAITOROUS JUDAS GUIDING AN EXCESSIVE BUT POWERLESS FORCEA. (:1-2)...
by Paul Apple | May 3, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: FOR THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF MUTUAL DIVINE GLORIFICATION, JESUS PETITIONS THE FATHER FOR THE UNITY AND SECURITY OF THE ELECT (PARTICULARLY THE APOSTLES) WHILE THEY CARRY OUT THEIR MISSION IN AN UNFRIENDLY WORLDINTRODUCTION: The passage reads almost like contract...
by Paul Apple | May 3, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: SEEING JESUS BY FAITH CONNECTS US TO DIVINE LOVE, JOY AND PEACE(:16-18) INTRODUCTION: SEEING JESUS SHOULD BE OUR GREATEST CONCERNA. (:16) Cryptic Contrast 1. Soon You Won’t See Me “A little while, and you will no longer behold Me” This is a monumental...
by Paul Apple | May 3, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: THE HOLY SPIRIT EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATES GOD’S TRUTH ON A WIDER SCALE TO BOTH THE WORLD AND TO BELIEVERS(:7) INTRODUCTION: THE MINISTRY OF CHRIST WILL ACTUALLY BE EXPANDED IN HIS ABSENCE THROUGH THE MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT “But I tell you the truth, it...
by Paul Apple | May 3, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: REMEMBERING THE ENCOURAGING PROPHETIC WORDS OF CHRIST MAKES PERSECUTION MORE PALATABLEI. (:18-21) PERSECUTION (HATRED) SHOULD BE NO SURPRISE FROM A PREDICTABLE WORLDA. (:18) Don’t Imagine Your Persecution to be Unique — Persecution Follows a...
by Paul Apple | May 3, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: FRUIT BEARING RESULTS FROM ABIDING IN CHRISTINTRODUCTION: Remember the Context:Disciples have left the upper room and are on the way to Gethsemane (14:31);Final training of the disciples and preparation for departure of Christ;Judas (that false professor of...
by Paul Apple | May 3, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: DESPITE HIS IMMINENT DEPARTURE, CHRIST PROMISES ONGOING REVELATION / ILLUMINATION TO THOSE WHO DEMONSTRATE THEIR LOVE BY OBEDIENCEINTRODUCTION:Problem the disciples faced: – If Christ was the one to reveal God the Father to them . . . – and...
by Paul Apple | May 3, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: OUR HEARTS NEED THE REASSURANCE THAT OUR FAITH IN CHRIST SECURELY CONNECTS US TO GOD THE FATHER(:14) INTRODUCTION: FAITH IN CHRIST = FAITH IN GOD THE FATHER = ANTIDOTE FOR ANXIETY AND FEAR “Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.”...
by Paul Apple | May 2, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: AGAPE LOVE IS THE CHRISTIAN STANDARD FOR DISCIPLESHIP LOYALTY AND THE REVEALING BENCHMARK FOR FAITHLESS BETRAYALINTRODUCTION:What is the greatest commandment? – Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength – Love your neighbor as...
by Paul Apple | May 2, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: MOTIVATED BY LOVE, BELIEVERS NEED TO HUMBLE THEMSELVES AS SERVANTS AFTER THE PATTERN OF CHRIST AND DO THEIR PART TO SEEK THE ONGOING SANCTIFICATION OF ONE ANOTHERTasker: I would suggest that verse 1 should be separated from the incident which immediately...
by Paul Apple | May 2, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: THE REVELATION OF THE FATHER VIA THE LIGHT OF HIS SON CANNOT BE RECEIVED BY EYES THAT ARE BLINDED AND HEARTS THAT ARE HARDENEDINTRODUCTION: The rejection by the Jewish nation of their promised Messiah is coming to a head. Despite pockets of belief, the vast...
by Paul Apple | May 2, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: ONLY THE SACRIFICIAL DEATH OF THE SON OF MAN CAN PRODUCE LIFE FOR ALL MEN WHO BELIEVE(:20-23) INTRODUCTION: THE HOUR HAS COME FOR THE GLORIFYING OF THE SON OF MANDeath of Messiah = major problem for Jews; outside the realm of their expectationAccess to...
by Paul Apple | May 2, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: WELCOMING CHRIST AS KING CAN BE A SHALLOW LIP SERVICE SPECTACLE WITH MINIMAL UNDERSTANDING AND ZERO COMMITMENTINTRODUCTION: Good Christmas message: look at all the hoopla surrounding Christmas. The world recognizes the connection to the coming of Christ into...
by Paul Apple | May 2, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: COSTLY DEMONSTRATIONS OF GENUINE DEVOTION TO CHRIST CAN TAKE PRIORITY OVER ONGOING RESPONSIBILITIES OF CHARITABLE GIVINGI. (:1-3) SWEET DEVOTION – ESSENCE OF TRUE WORSHIPA. (:1) The Description of the Setting – Connection Between Death and Resurrection 1....
