Roughly 3,000 years ago, King David was the most powerful and successful king of ancient Israel. David’s reign brought peace, prosperity, and plans to build the temple before handing the kingdom to his chosen son, Solomon. How would young Solomon handle living in the shadow of his great father’s legacy? Would he learn to be a wise and godly king? Could he overcome the plotting of his enemies, the dysfunction of his family, and the temptations of virtually unlimited wealth, fame, and women? What would be his legacy? Read more...

<img width="2553" height="945" data-tf-not-load src="https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/Helping-People-Social-Cover.jpg" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" alt="Helping People Sermon Series" decoding="async" srcset="https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/Helping-People-Social-Cover.jpg 2553w, https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/Helping-People-Social-Cover-300x111.jpg 300w, https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/Helping-People-Social-Cover-768x284.jpg 768w, https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/Helping-People-Social-Cover-1536x569.jpg 1536w, https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/Helping-People-Social-Cover-2048x758.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2553px) 100vw, 2553px" />

What exactly does spiritual growth look like? And what kinds of things help people grow in their faith? We love it when people become Christians, but this is only the beginning! The whole rest of the Christian life is about growing as a disciple of Jesus. The call to discipleship is a call to be with Jesus, learn the way of Jesus, and be transformed by Jesus. Read more...

<img width="2553" height="945" data-tf-not-load src="https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/Helping-People-Social-Cover.jpg" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" alt="Helping People Sermon Series" decoding="async" srcset="https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/Helping-People-Social-Cover.jpg 2553w, https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/Helping-People-Social-Cover-300x111.jpg 300w, https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/Helping-People-Social-Cover-768x284.jpg 768w, https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/Helping-People-Social-Cover-1536x569.jpg 1536w, https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/Helping-People-Social-Cover-2048x758.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2553px) 100vw, 2553px" />

The Great Commission of Jesus, given to his disciples after Jesus rose from the dead, means that every Christian has a mission. To do what exactly? To help people come to faith and grow in their faith! The story of Philip and the Ethiopian official is a great case study for how to help people come to faith in Jesus. Read more...

<img width="2560" height="480" data-tf-not-load src="https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/Esther-Wide-Title-scaled.jpg" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" alt="For Such A Time As This (Esther)" decoding="async" srcset="https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/Esther-Wide-Title-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/Esther-Wide-Title-300x56.jpg 300w, https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/Esther-Wide-Title-768x144.jpg 768w, https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/Esther-Wide-Title-1536x288.jpg 1536w, https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/Esther-Wide-Title-2048x384.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" />

The unlikely victory of the Jews in Persia, brought about by the wisdom, humility, and courage of Esther and Mordecai, was commemorated by the Festival of Purim. However, the entire book of Esther raises a crucial question: Where is God in this story? Read more...

<img width="2560" height="480" data-tf-not-load src="https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/Esther-Wide-Title-scaled.jpg" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" alt="For Such A Time As This (Esther)" decoding="async" srcset="https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/Esther-Wide-Title-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/Esther-Wide-Title-300x56.jpg 300w, https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/Esther-Wide-Title-768x144.jpg 768w, https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/Esther-Wide-Title-1536x288.jpg 1536w, https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/Esther-Wide-Title-2048x384.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" />

Will God allow evil and injustice to prevail? Will God allow his enemies to win and his people to lose? The dramatic reversal of the downfall of Haman and the rise of Mordecai prevented the annihilation of the Jews in Persia. But this victory points to the truth that ultimately, God will not allow evil and injustice to prevail because of the person and work of Jesus. Read more...

<img width="2560" height="480" data-tf-not-load src="https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/Esther-Wide-Title-scaled.jpg" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" alt="For Such A Time As This (Esther)" decoding="async" srcset="https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/Esther-Wide-Title-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/Esther-Wide-Title-300x56.jpg 300w, https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/Esther-Wide-Title-768x144.jpg 768w, https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/Esther-Wide-Title-1536x288.jpg 1536w, https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/Esther-Wide-Title-2048x384.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" />

Queen Esther displayed great wisdom and courage in facing King Xerxes to intercede on behalf of the Jewish people. And in a dramatic reversal, her plan works! Haman falls into his own trap prepared for Mordecai and gets the justice he deserved. In Esther's story, and elsewhere in the Bible, God uses faithful people to accomplish his justice and rescue his people. Read more...

<img width="2560" height="480" data-tf-not-load src="https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/Esther-Wide-Title-scaled.jpg" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" alt="For Such A Time As This (Esther)" decoding="async" srcset="https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/Esther-Wide-Title-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/Esther-Wide-Title-300x56.jpg 300w, https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/Esther-Wide-Title-768x144.jpg 768w, https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/Esther-Wide-Title-1536x288.jpg 1536w, https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/Esther-Wide-Title-2048x384.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" />

In response to Haman's evil plot, Esther demonstrated remarkable wisdom and courage in making her appeal to King Xerxes. Then, seemingly coincidentally, the king remembered that Mordecai had saved his life and decided to honor him, much to the embarrassment of Haman! Was this God's hidden hand at work? One thing is sure: God's providence is never late. Read more...

<img width="2560" height="480" data-tf-not-load src="https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/Esther-Wide-Title-scaled.jpg" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" alt="For Such A Time As This (Esther)" decoding="async" srcset="https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/Esther-Wide-Title-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/Esther-Wide-Title-300x56.jpg 300w, https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/Esther-Wide-Title-768x144.jpg 768w, https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/Esther-Wide-Title-1536x288.jpg 1536w, https://appletongospel.com/wp-content/uploads/Esther-Wide-Title-2048x384.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" />

What do you do when your circumstances are messed up and you don't have enough control to fix it yourself? The big question is this: Are you ready to do the right thing, whatever the cost? While Mordecai lamented the king's edict, Esther demonstrated real courage by being willing to sacrifice herself to try to save her people. But would it be enough? Read more...

Bad leaders corrupt organizations. How? One way is by promoting all the wrong people. In Esther, this is when the plot thickens. When King Xerxes made Haman his second in command, Mordecai refused to bow to him. Haman's wounded pride led to a plot to kill and plunder all the Jewish people of Persia. Would they survive this existential threat? Read more...

What do you do when you aren't sure what would be right in a complicated situation, conversation, or decision? Chapter 2 is full of morally ambiguous situations for Esther and Mordecai — not a lot of black and white, but lots of gray. However, the history-making result was that Esther was crowned queen of Persia. God’s people need wisdom and courage to navigate the complexities of life in exile. Read more...