How is your Bible knowledge? In the Garden of Eden, there was a tree. God said Adam and Eve could eat from all the trees that bore fruit, except that one tree. What kind of fruit did that tree have? Pick one: oranges? Pears? Cherries? Apples?
Got your answer? Well, we tricked you! The Bible doesn’t actually say. It just records that God says, “You may not eat the fruit of that tree.” If you did choose one of those fruits, you probably picked “apple.” Right? Why?
In human history, the legend is that the lump in your throat is the apple Adam ate, and because it was forbidden, it got stuck there. In common terms, many refer to it as your “Adam’s apple.” Want to have some fun? See how many lifelong Christians you can trick on that subject!
Ah, but you should also tell them about the Bible’s real use of “apple.” It’s not the fruit. It’s an ancient way of speaking about the “apple of God’s eye,” referring to a person very dear to God. Psalm 17:8 – “Keep me as the apple of your eye…” (King James Version). It also reflects importance, as in Proverbs 7:2 – “Keep my commandments and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye” (KJV).
Somehow the apple came to represent a healthy diet. In recent years, you probably have heard the common phrase, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” In the area of church health, we Church Doctors refer to the apple as spiritual strength and effective mission to reach out to people who need Jesus. We Church Doctors use the apple as a metaphor for health and vitality as we help congregations.
This leads to the title of our exciting new book:
An Apple a Day: A Daily Dose for Everyday Faith
In three to five minutes every day, you get an application of Scripture for the challenges of everyday life.
Since Jesus is the Master of parables, we decided to follow His lead and approach for this daily devotional book, An Apple a Day. Most devotions are written deductively. They start with a Bible passage. Then they provide narrative to apply the Scripture. Most preachers preach that way. It’s called “deductive teaching.” However, Jesus usually taught from an inductive approach. He started with a parable—a story. This approach got people engaged. Then He gave spiritual direction. As Church Doctors, we call it a “prescription.” In the process, Jesus led to a “truth.” In each Apple a Day reading, we finish with a Scripture verse, using the most effective translation of that particular verse, which speaks directly to the challenge and issue of that particular day’s devotion.
Today, many Christians are limited in their knowledge of Scripture. That leads to less application of God’s Word in our daily lives. In turn, it undermines the power and potential of our churches and our outreach to others. Collectively, Christians are losing influence on the country.
As Church Doctors, we encourage every church to embrace The Apple a Day Challenge: using the book An Apple a Day, encourage everyone in your congregation to spend three to five minutes a day in Scripture application that speaks to the everyday challenges we face.
Going beyond your church, give mission-oriented influence to those who are lapsed Christians or who are not yet believers. Give them a gift of An Apple a Day. It is written in a way that is more “user-friendly,” even for those who are not yet believers. What better investment could we make for our neighbors, friends, coworkers, and our world?
Get your copy of this brand new book resource today! Start increasing your Bible reading, spiritual formation, and discipleship by joining The Apple a Day Challenge and inviting everyone in your church to join the challenge. Bulk discounts are available by contacting info@churchdoctor.org.