by Paul Apple | Apr 20, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: FALSE CONFIDENCE IN COVENANT IDENTITY PUNCTURED BY THE DESOLATION RESULTING FROM APOSTASYINTRODUCTION:Pride and self-sufficiency are like a big balloon of hot air. Once punctured, the air quickly pours out and you are left with a deflated, worthless skin...
by Paul Apple | Apr 20, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: 3 EXPLANATIONS OF ISRAEL’S REFUSAL TO REPENT DESPITE PROPHETIC WARNINGSINTRODUCTION:How can one explain the refusal of God’s people to repent and turn back to faithful obedience once confronted with their rebellion? It seems like common sense on the surface...
by Paul Apple | Apr 19, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: 4 FORMS OF IMPROPER WORSHIP EXPOSED AND CONDEMNED –RELIGIOUS PRACTICES WITHOUT INWARD RIGHTEOUSNESS (REFLECTED IN OUTWARD ACTIONS) CANNOT SAVEINTRODUCTION:There have been some great Reformation preachers down thru the ages – men of God who had their pulse on...
by Paul Apple | Apr 19, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: STUBBORN REBELLION YIELDS DEVASTATING DESTRUCTIONINTRODUCTION:The Lord will not hold back His judgment forever. There comes a time when it is too late to try to flee for safety. Those immersed in wickedness will no longer be able to hide behind the empty...
by Paul Apple | Apr 19, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: GOD MUST PUNISH THOSE WHO FORSAKE HIM AND REFUSE TO REPENTINTRODUCTION:Here we see clearly that the proper recompense for forsaking God is divine judgment. It is a sad situation when God cannot find a single person in Jerusalem who is characterized by truth...
by Paul Apple | Apr 19, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: REPENT FROM SIN BEFORE GOD’S JUDGMENT DEVASTATES YOUINTRODUCTION:It is so easy for people to have a false sense of security. If you don’t really understand the character of God and you don’t really understand your own depravity, you fail to see the danger of...
by Paul Apple | Apr 19, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: TURN OR BURN – BACKSLIDERS NEED TO REPENT AND RESPOND TO GOD’S GRACIOUS INVITATION TO AVOID EXPERIENCING HIS WRATHINTRODUCTION:2nd Message of the book – The Lord’s patience and longsuffering and tender mercy and gracious character is never so evident as when...
by Paul Apple | Apr 18, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: FORSAKING THE LIFE-GIVING FOUNTAIN OF THE ONE TRUE GOD FOR BROKEN CISTERNS MAKES ABSOLUTELY NO SENSEINTRODUCTION:There is no nation in the ancient world that had it so good as the nation of Israel; yet no nation was so foolish in turning away from the...
by Paul Apple | Apr 18, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE FAITHFUL PROPHET DRAWS COURAGE FROM HIS DIVINE CALLING TO COMMUNICATE ALL THAT GOD HAS REVEALEDINTRODUCTION:This is our introduction to the “Weeping Prophet.” Jeremiah will reflect an unusual depth of emotion as he laments the sins of Judah and God’s...
by Paul Apple | Mar 11, 2020 | Bible-OT
I have always liked the name of the Christian singing group – Jars of Clay. It is an apt expression of the humility and privilege of serving the majestic King of the Universe – “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing greatness of the power...
by Paul Apple | Mar 10, 2020 | Bible-OT, Christian
Just as water is essential for our physical life, Jeremiah points to the Lord as the Essential Source of our Spiritual Life. The prophet contrasts trusting the Lord with the folly of turning away from the Lord or putting any confidence in the flesh: “Cursed is the man...
