by Paul Apple | Mar 31, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: SPIRITUAL SLIPPAGE REQUIRES GODLY LEADERSHIP AND BOLD CONFRONTATION TO PURIFY AND RESTORE PRACTICES TO BIBLICAL NORMS INTRODUCTION: Memorial Day Message – Our nation today knows very little of the significance of Memorial Day. It has become another three day...
by Paul Apple | Mar 31, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: SPIRITUAL SLIPPAGE REQUIRES GODLY LEADERSHIP AND BOLD CONFRONTATION TO PURIFY AND RESTORE PRACTICES TO BIBLICAL NORMS INTRODUCTION: God’s people are famous for breaking their promises; for failing to fulfill their commitments; for backsliding and slipping...
by Paul Apple | Mar 31, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: CORRUPTION OF WORSHIP REQUIRES CONSTANT VIGILANCE AND GODLY LEADERSHIP TO PURIFY AND RESTORE PRACTICES TO BIBLICAL NORMSINTRODUCTION: Godly Worship is constantly under attack by the enemy. Satan wants to obscure and corrupt the biblical model of worshiping...
by Paul Apple | Mar 31, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE DEDICATION OF THE REBUILT WALL INVOLVED AN ELABORATE CELEBRATION BEFITTING THE CULMINATION OF SUCH A SUCCESSFUL REVIVALINTRODUCTION: Not many Mother’s Day messages from our text today in Nehemiah 12. I am always amazed when preaching through a book of...
by Paul Apple | Mar 31, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: GOD’S KINGDOM ADVANCES WHEN MIGHTY MEN OF VALOR FORSAKE PERSONAL COMFORT TO VOLUNTEER FOR FRONT LINE DUTY IN THE FAITHFUL FULFILLMENT OF THEIR GOD APPOINTED ROLES11:14 “valiant warriors”INTRODUCTION: Where are God’s Mighty Men of Valor today? Look around in...
by Paul Apple | Mar 31, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: REDEDICATION TO OBEYING GOD’S WORD SHOWS ITSELF IN SPECIFIC REFORMS – EMPHASIS ON SABBATH KEEPING AND TITHINGINTRODUCTION / TRANSITION:Transitioning back into the Book of Nehemiah – We are deep into the second half of the book. Already covered the rebuilding...
by Paul Apple | Mar 30, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: REDEDICATION TO OBEYING GOD’S WORD SHOWS ITSELF IN SPECIFIC REFORMS(9:38) INTRODUCTION / TRANSITION:”Now because of all this We are making an agreement in writing; And on the sealed document are the names of our leaders, our Levites and our...
by Paul Apple | Mar 30, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: BENEFITING FROM GOD’S PROMISES REQUIRES FIRST EMBRACING GOD’S JUSTICEINTRODUCTION:Man loves to sit in the role of the Supreme Court Justice – deciding what is right and what is wrong; deciding what is fair and what type of justice should be dispensed. What a...
by Paul Apple | Mar 30, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: GOD PERSISTS IN DISPLAYING HIS GOODNESS TOWARDS HIS CHILDREN DESPITE THEIR REPETITIVE CYCLES OF UNGRATEFUL REBELLION –WHY? BECAUSE HE IS GOOD BY NATUREINTRODUCTION: You have all seen those commercials where the young women are ecstatic because “He went to...
by Paul Apple | Mar 30, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: CONFESSION OF SIN LEADS TO GENUINE WORSHIP FOR GOD’S COVENANT LOYALTY — DEMONSTRATED THROUGHOUT HISTORY IN HIS PROVIDENTIAL FAITHFULNESSINTRODUCTION: Jesus instructed His disciples regarding the greatest commandment of all: “You shall love the Lord...
by Paul Apple | Mar 30, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: REVIVAL STARTS WITH JOYFULLY SUBMITTING TO THE VOICE OF TRUTHINTRODUCTION: Voice of Truth Lyrics – Casting CrownOh what I would do to haveThe kind of faith it takes to climb out of this boat I’m inOnto the crashing wavesTo step out of my comfort zoneTo the...
by Paul Apple | Mar 30, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: REBUILDING THE INFRASTRUCTURE (THE OUTER SHELL) PREPARES THE WAY FOR REVIVING THE PEOPLE INWARDLY TO FULFILL THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF GODLY WORSHIPINTRODUCTION: Why was it so important that the Jews return from exile in Babylon and rebuild the walls of...
by Paul Apple | Mar 30, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE SCHEMING TACTICS OF GOD’S ENEMIES CAN NEVER THWART GOD’S PURPOSESINTRODUCTION: There are certain attitudes that can paralyze us and prevent us from accomplishing the work of God. Probably the biggest is Fear – fear of failure; fear of some type of...
by Paul Apple | Mar 30, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: SPIRITUAL LEADERS MUST SET THE EXAMPLE FOR SACRIFICIAL MINISTRYINTRODUCTION: I deserve better. Don’t you frequently think that about your sacrificial service for the Lord? I mean here we are doing the hard work of trying to start a local church – that’s...
by Paul Apple | Mar 30, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: GOD’S LEADERS MUST PROHIBIT ANY TYPE OF FINANCIAL EXPLOITATION(AND SET THE EXAMPLE FOR SACRIFICIAL MINISTRY)INTRODUCTION:As I was finishing my preparation last night for today, I came across an interesting reference on the web to the message I preached last...
by Paul Apple | Mar 29, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: ANGRY OPPOSITION REQUIRES A CONSTANT STATE OF GUARDED READINESS WHILE MAINTAINING FOCUS ON THE WORK AT HANDINTRODUCTION:Boxing illustration: Keeping your guard up – can never let your guard down; Certainly our forces stationed over in Iraq and Afghanistan...
by Paul Apple | Mar 29, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE GREAT AND AWESOME GOD CAN PROTECT AND PROSPER A FEEBLE FEW WHO DON’T QUIT PRAYING AND DON’T QUIT WORKING DESPITE ANGRY OPPOSITIONINTRODUCTION:Once we commit ourselves to God’s work it is very easy to become discouraged and lost heart. Nehemiah has been a...
by Paul Apple | Mar 29, 2020 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: EVERYONE MUST TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR SHARE OF GOD’S WORK – PARTNERSHIP IN MUTUAL MINISTRY GETS THE JOB DONEINTRODUCTION: All of Scripture is equally inspired … does not mean that all of Scripture is equally interesting or even equally helpful. This is...
by Paul Apple | Mar 29, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: STRATEGIC VISION BASED ON A REALISTIC ASSESSMENT MUST TRANSLATE INTO COMMITMENT TO HARD WORK IN DEPENDENCE ON GOD’S GOOD FAVOR DESPITE INTIMIDATING OPPOSITIONINTRODUCTION: Sometimes you find leaders with vision and no ability to implement. They label...
by Paul Apple | Mar 29, 2020 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: PUTTING THE PRIORITY ON THE SUCCESS OF GOD’S KINGDOM PROGRAM REQUIRES BOLD FAITH THAT COUNTS ON PROVIDENTIAL FAVORSINTRODUCTION: What does God’s Providence mean to you? Do you have a sense that you are in the center of God’s will in terms of lining up with...
