by Paul Apple | Aug 2, 2023 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: DENYING ALLEGIANCE TO CHRIST BRINGS BITTER REMORSE INTRODUCTION: William Hendriksen: The theme “Peter’s experiences, words, and deeds during the night of Christ’s betrayal and shortly afterward” would provide material for several sermons. The “points” might...
by Paul Apple | Aug 2, 2023 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: THE UNJUST TRIAL BEFORE CAIAPHAS PROVIDES JESUS THE OPPORTUNITY TO CLEARLY AFFIRM HIS MESSIANIC IDENTITY INTRODUCTION: Daniel Doriani: The Jewish leaders sought Jesus’ death, nothing less. To reach this goal, they needed to convict him of a capital offense....
by Paul Apple | Jul 31, 2023 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: OUR RESPONSE TO UNFAIR ATTACKS SHOULD NOT BE VIOLENT OPPOSITION BUT CALM TRUST IN GOD’S SOVEREIGN PLAN INTRODUCTION: Richard Gardner: The spectacle that unfolds in verses 47-56 is both ludicrous and tragic. It is ludicrous in that the arrest party descends...
by Paul Apple | Jul 29, 2023 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: WATCH AND PRAY TO GUARD AGAINST TEMPTATION AND TO SUBMIT YOUR WILL TO GOD’S WILL IN TIMES OF CRISIS INTRODUCTION: David Thompson: Verse 37 says that Jesus began to be “grieved” and “distressed.” Those two words mean that Jesus was at a terrible emotional...
by Paul Apple | Jul 28, 2023 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: THE PRIDE BUBBLE OF SELF-SUFFICIENCY COLLAPSES WHEN THE FEAR OF MAN LEADS TO DENIAL AND ABANDONMENT INTRODUCTION: R. T. France: The sense of foreboding which has resulted from Jesus’ words at the supper about betrayal and death is now underlined as the group...
by Paul Apple | Jul 26, 2023 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: JESUS MARKS THE TRANSITION FROM THE OLD COVENANT TO THE NEW BY CELEBRATING THE LAST PASSOVER AND INSTITUTING A NEW MEMORIAL INTRODUCTION: These verses are packed with rich theology: Establishing the chronology of the final week leading up the Crucifixion to...
by Paul Apple | Jul 25, 2023 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: THE TREACHEROUS BETRAYAL OF JESUS EXPOSES THE DEPTHS OF DEPRAVITY INTRODUCTION: Grant Osborne: Without Judas, the arrest and crucifixion would not have occurred during the Passover. Judas serves God’s purpose as well as that of the chief priests when his...
by Paul Apple | Jul 22, 2023 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: EXTRAVAGANT WORSHIP LAVISHED ON THE MESSIAH AS HE IS ANOINTED FOR BURIAL INTRODUCTION: Grant Osborne: Jesus is here presented as the suffering Messiah, “anointed” for his messianic destiny as the one who will die for our sins. The woman’s worshipful act of...
by Paul Apple | Jul 21, 2023 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: THE PASSOVER LAMB PREPARES HIS DISCIPLES FOR HIS CRUCIFIXION AS THE WICKED DESIGNS OF THE JEWISH CONSPIRATORS MESH WITH GOD’S SOVEREIGN CONTROL AND REDEMPTIVE PLAN INTRODUCTION: R. T. France: The beginning of the passion narrative in Matthew, as in Mark,...
by Paul Apple | Jul 19, 2023 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: SON OF MAN WILL RETURN IN GLORY TO SIT IN JUDGMENT ON THE GENTILES TO DETERMINE ENTRANCE INTO THE MILLENNIAL KINGDOM INTRODUCTION: Grant Osborne: Here it is the nations who are to be judged, and the basis of that judgment is how they treat God’s people....
by Paul Apple | Jul 18, 2023 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: STEWARDSHIP OF GOD’S GIFTS DEMANDS ACCOUNTABILITY — MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE CHRIST INTRODUCTION: Grant Osborne: The connection of this parable to the others is the delay of the master’s return, but the emphasis here is on the...
by Paul Apple | Jul 17, 2023 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: ONLY GENUINE TRIBULATION SAINTS IN POSSESSION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL BE PREPARED FOR THE RETURN OF JESUS (DESPITE UNKNOWN DELAY) INTRODUCTION: Grant Osborne: This is the next in the set of parables that center on readiness for the Lord’s return. All have...
by Paul Apple | Jul 16, 2023 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: THE FAITHFUL SLAVE FEEDS THE HOUSEHOLD WHILE AWAITING THE RETURN OF THE MASTER INTRODUCTION: These exhortations to spiritual vigilance and alertness and faithful stewardship in anticipation of the return of Christ have application not only to the time of the...
by Paul Apple | Jul 14, 2023 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: SPIRITUAL VIGILANCE NEEDED SINCE THE EXACT TIMING OF CHRIST’S RETURN IN JUDGMENT IS UNKNOWN INTRODUCTION: Grant Osborne: This begins the next major section of the Olivet Discourse, the parables on watchfulness (24:36 – 25:30). This passage provides the...
by Paul Apple | Jul 14, 2023 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: THERE IS A CLOSE TEMPORAL RELATIONSHIP TO END TIME SIGNS AND THE RETURN OF CHRIST TO ESTABLISH HIS KINGDOM ON EARTH INTRODUCTION: Grant Osborne: Jesus has finished responding to the disciples’ question of v. 3 and now is giving the implications of the whole...
by Paul Apple | Jul 13, 2023 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: CHRIST RETURNS IN POWER AND GREAT GLORY INTRODUCTION: Charles Swindoll: Teaching concerning the return of Christ never fails to create mixed feelings. For those who are ready for it, there’s a mixture of comfort, relief, and eager expectation. For those not...
by Paul Apple | Jul 13, 2023 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION TRIGGERS THE GREAT TRIBULATION EVENTS LEADING TO THE SPECTACULAR RETURN OF CHRIST INTRODUCTION: Remember the timeline of the Pre-Wrath Rapture position: Daniel’s 70th week (a 7 year period) which will conclude this age...
by Paul Apple | Jun 28, 2023 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: JUDGMENT ON THE JERUSALEM TEMPLE DOESN’T SIGNAL THE END OF THE AGE INTRODUCTION: John MacArthur: Now, you understand that the whole of the Olivet Discourse is future. Now, that is not to say that some of the things that will happen then don’t happen...
by Paul Apple | Jun 26, 2023 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: TEMPLE MAGNIFICENCE WOULD SOON BE REDUCED TO TEMPLE RUBBLE INTRODUCTION: Grant Osborne: Impending judgment has been the dominant theme since the symbolic actions of the cleansing of the temple and cursing of the fig tree in 21:12–22. This theme culminates in...
by Paul Apple | Jun 24, 2023 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: SORROW OVER JERUSALEM’S DESERVED JUDGMENT CANNOT CANCEL THE EXECUTION OF THAT JUDGMENT (DESPITE THE HOPE OF ESCHATOLOGICAL RESTORATION) INTRODUCTION: Craig Blomberg: The harsh tone of vv. 1-36 lessens dramatically. Verses 37-39 disclose Jesus’ profound...
