by Paul Apple | Mar 26, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: PAUL INTRODUCES HIS STABILIZING TEACHING TO THE COLOSSIANS WITH THANKSGIVING, A REMINDER, AND A PRAYER ON THEIR BEHALF(:1-2) GREETINGA. Author 1. Paul – The Authority of Leadership – His Divine Calling a. Based on his elevated office = “apostle of Jesus...
by Paul Apple | Mar 26, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: GOD CAN BE TRUSTED TO PROVIDE ALL MATERIAL NEEDS FOR THOSE WHO PARTNER IN THE MINISTRY OF THE GOSPEL INTRODUCTION: Paul and the Philippian believers were partners in the ministry of the gospel. Gerald Hawthorne: It is known from elsewhere that although Paul...
by Paul Apple | Mar 26, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: 4 PRESCRIPTIONS FOR PEACE INTRODUCTION SHALOM – describes the deep sense of peace and well-being; much more than absence of conflict Scripture Reading: Philippians 4:1-9 As we read, look for emphasis on phrase “in the Lord” – think of that in terms of in...
by Paul Apple | Mar 26, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: FOLLOWING THE RIGHT EXAMPLES (THE WAY OF THE CROSS RATHER THAN THE WAY OF INDULGENCE) WILL KEEP US ON TRACK IN THE RACE TO GLORY TO JOIN OUR SAVIOR, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST INTRODUCTION: Robert Gromacki: In this section, the apostle challenged the believers to...
by Paul Apple | Mar 26, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: PRESSING TOWARD THE GOAL IS THE ONLY WAY TO RUN THE RACE OF CONFORMITY TO JESUS CHRIST INTRODUCTION: John Walvoord: On the one hand, discontent with one’s spiritual life can bring discouragement and unnecessary resignation to spiritual defeat. On the...
by Paul Apple | Mar 26, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: KNOWING CHRIST IN A TRANSFORMING WAY IS THE SUPREME GOAL WORTHY OF THE NECESSARY COST INTRODUCTION: Matt. 16:25-26 Manford George Gutzke: It is tomorrow that gives special meaning to what I do today. Whatever I do today, it is tomorrow when I am going to...
by Paul Apple | Mar 26, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: REJOICING IN CHRIST INVOLVES TURNING OUR BACK ON EVERYTHING THAT WOULD EXALT OUR FLESH INTRODUCTION: Charles Swindoll: Our world honors and rewards high achievement. Trophies, medals, plaques, and awards are given to those who stand out among the crowd....
by Paul Apple | Mar 26, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: TWO SERVANTHOOD EXAMPLES OF PARTNERSHIP IN THE GOSPEL INTRODUCTION: D. A. Carson: Emulate those who are interested in the well-being of others, not in their own. Be on the alert for Christians who really do exemplify this basic Christian attitude, this habit...
by Paul Apple | Mar 26, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: JOYFULLY PROGRESS IN HUMBLE SERVICE TO MAINTAIN A BLAMELESS TESTIMONY INTRODUCTION: The path of humble service — seeking the prosperity of others above our own personal interests — is not the path we would naturally choose. In fact we shrink...
by Paul Apple | Mar 26, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: THE PATTERN FOR BOTH HUMBLING OURSELVES AND BEING EXALTED BY GOD IS JESUS CHRIST INTRODUCTION: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time.” 1 Peter 5:6 Otherwise, if we try to exalt...
by Paul Apple | Mar 26, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: THE CHURCH COMMUNITY MUST PURSUE UNITY AND HUMILITY TO ENJOY FELLOWSHIP IN THE GOSPEL INTRODUCTION: Most valuable secrets involve something people long to know and try their hardest to discover. Unless someone carefully conceals such a secret it reproduces...
by Paul Apple | Mar 26, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST SHOULD INSPIRE SPIRITUAL UNITY AND SUPERNATURAL COURAGE AS WE STRIVE TOGETHER TO FURTHER THE GOSPEL (WHILE ACCEPTING THE INEVITABILITY OF PERSECUTION) INTRODUCTION: Grant Osborne: Having completed the news about his circumstances, Paul...
by Paul Apple | Mar 26, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: FOCUS ON EXALTING CHRIST AND YOU CAN COUNT ON SUPERNATURAL BOLDNESS IN FRUITFUL MINISTRY — ONE THAT WILL GLORIFY CHRIST AND EFFECTIVELY IMPACT OTHERS INTRODUCTION: Gordon Zerbe: Paul’s future joy is first based on his confidence that this [ordeal,...
by Paul Apple | Mar 26, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE GOSPEL CAN ACTUALLY BENEFIT FROM DIFFICULT PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES: BY SHOWING UNBELIEVERS THE REALITY OF OUR RELATIONSHIP TO CHRIST BY STRENGTHENING THE FAITH AND COURAGE OF BELIEVERS TO PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL BY STIMULATING INCREASED...
by Paul Apple | Mar 26, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: (AS WE LABOR TOGETHER UNTIL CHRIST RETURNS,) FELLOWSHIP IN THE GOSPEL SPARKS THREE RESPONSES: JOYFUL THANKSGIVING INTIMATE BONDS PURPOSEFUL PRAYER FOR SPIRITUAL MATURITY INTRODUCTION: Gordon Zerbe: You give me joy! Paul establishes a mood of affection...
by Paul Apple | Mar 24, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: THE BLESSING OF JUSTIFICATION COULD ONLY COME VIA GOD’S UNCHANGING PROMISES RATHER THAN BY THE LAW INTRODUCTION: George Brunk: There is one small problem in what Paul has been saying. He has been arguing that the Galatians, as Gentiles, have their...
by Paul Apple | Mar 24, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH PROVES THAT WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO LIVE BY FAITH — SINCE WE HAVE BEEN FREED FROM THE CURSE OF THE LAW INTRODUCTION: George Brunk: Clearly the key word in this paragraph is curse. As the antithesis of blessing, curse signals that...
by Paul Apple | Mar 24, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH PROVES THAT WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO LIVE BY FAITH INTRODUCTION: Ben Witherington: At Gal. 3:1 Paul begins the section of the letter where he will present his formal arguments to his converts so that they will not pursue a Judaizing...
by Paul Apple | Mar 24, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: PAUL’S AUTHORITY DEMONSTRATED IN REBUKING PETER’S ERROR — JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH LEAVES NO ROOM FOR HYPOCRISY OR LEGALISM INTRODUCTION: Kenneth Wuest: Here the argument for Paul’s apostolic independence has come to the highest level...
by Paul Apple | Mar 24, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: PAUL’S AUTHORITY RECOGNIZED — PAUL’S INDEPENDENT MESSAGE AND AUTHORITY WERE STILL VALIDATED BY THE LEADERS OF THE CHURCH IN JERUSALEM INTRODUCTION: Philip Ryken: So where does Galatians fit in the chronology of Acts? At first glance,...
