Feeding the Flock

"A Past"
 
The Outline: 
OPENING  (1:1-2)
I.  DOCTRINAL (1-3)
A.  Our POSITION in Christ  (1:3-3:21)
II.  PRACTRICAL (4-6)
B.  Our LIFE in The World  (4:1-6:9)
C.  Our ATTITUDE to The Enemy  (6:10-20)
CLOSING  (6:21-24)
***
A.  Our POSITION in Christ  (1:3-3:21)
AS A BODY  (1:3-23)
AS A TEMPLE  (2:1-22)
AS A MYSTERY  (3:1-21)
***
2.  AS A TEMPLE  (2:1-22)
Our New Condition in Christ(2:1-10)
Our New Relation in Christ(2:11-22)
***
a.  Our New Condition in Christ(2:1-10)
Before: Dead in Sins(2:1-3)
Walked: “The Sons of Disobedience”  (2:1-2)
THE WORLD: “The Course”  (2:1-2a)
THE DEVIL: “The Ruler and the Spirit”  (2:2b)
Lived: “The Children of Wrath”(2:3)
THE FLESH: “The Lusts and the Desires”  (2:3)
After: Alive with Christ(2:4-10)
 

"A Power"
 
The Outline: 
OPENING  (1:1-2)
I.  DOCTRINAL (1-3)
A.  Our POSITION in Christ  (1:3-3:21)
II.  PRACTRICAL (4-6)
B.  Our LIFE in The World  (4:1-6:9)
C.  Our ATTITUDE to The Enemy  (6:10-20)
CLOSING  (6:21-24)
***
A.  Our POSITION in Christ  (1:3-3:21)
AS A BODY  (1:3-23)
AS A TEMPLE  (2:1-22)
AS A MYSTERY  (3:1-21)
***
1.  AS A BODY  (1:3-23)
Praise for Spiritual Possession  (1:3-14)
Prayer for Spiritual Perception  (1:15-23)
***
b.  Prayer for Spiritual Perception  (1:15-23)
The Knowledge (1:15-19a)
The Power (1:19b-21)
The Fullness (1:22-23)

"A Focus"
 
The Outline: 
OPENING  (1:1-2)
I.  DOCTRINAL (1-3)
II.  PRACTRICAL (4-6)
CLOSING  (6:21-24)
***
Our POSITION in Christ  (1:3-3:21)
AS A BODY  (1:3-23)
AS A TEMPLE  (2:1-22)
AS A MYSTERY  (3:1-21)
***
1.  AS A BODY  (1:3-23)
Praise for Spiritual Possession  (1:3-14)
Prayer for Spiritual Perception  (1:15-23)
***
b.  Prayer for Spiritual Perception  (1:15-23)
The Knowledge (1:15-19a)
The Power (1:19b-21)
The Fullness (1:22-23)

"A Pledge"
 
The Outline: 
OPENING  (1:1-2)
  I.  DOCTRINAL (1-3)
 II.  PRACTRICAL (4-6)
CLOSING  (6:21-24)
***
  I.  DOCTRINAL (1-3)
Our POSITION in Christ  (1:3-3:21)
AS A BODY  (1:3-23)
AS A TEMPLE  (2:1-22)
AS A MYSTERY  (3:1-21)
***
AS A BODY  (1:3-23)
       a.  Praise for Spiritual Possession  (1:3-14)
       b.  Prayer for Spiritual Perception  (1:15-23)
***
a.  Praise for Spiritual Possession  (1:3-14)
Chosen by the Father(1:3-6)
Redeemed by the Son(1:7-12)
Sealed by the Spirit(1:13-14)

"A Purpose"
 
The Outline: 
OPENING  (1:1-2)
  I.  DOCTRINAL (1-3)
 II.  PRACTRICAL (4-6)
CLOSING  (6:21-24)
***
A.  Our POSITION in Christ  (1:3-3:21)
AS A BODY  (1:3-23)
AS A TEMPLE  (2:1-22)
AS A MYSTERY  (3:1-21)
***
1.  AS A BODY(1:3-23)
Praise for Spiritual Possession  (1:3-14)
Prayer for Spiritual Perception  (1:15-23)
***
a.  Praise for Spiritual Possession  (1:3-14)
Chosen by the Father (1:3-6)
Redeemed by the Son (1:7-12)
Sealed by the Spirit (1:13-14)

"An Identity"
 
The Outline:
OPENING  (1:1-2)
I.  DOCTRINAL (1-3)
II.  PRACTRICAL (4-6)
CLOSING  (6:21-24)
***
OPENING  (1:1-2)
1.  The Author (1:1a)
2.  The Assembly (1:1b)
3.  The Greeting (1:2)
***
I.  DOCTRINAL (1-3)
Our POSITION in Christ  (1:3-3:21)
AS A BODY[i]  (1:3-23)
AS A TEMPLE  (2:1-22)
AS A MYSTERY  (3:1-21)
[i] Subheadings adapted from: J. Vernon McGee.
***
1.  AS A BODY  (1:3-23)
Praise for Spiritual Possession  (1:3-14)
Prayer for Spiritual Perception  (1:15-23)
***
a.  Praise for Spiritual Possession  (1:3-14)
Chosen by the Father(1:3-6)
Redeemed by the Son(1:7-12)
Sealed by the Spirit(1:13-14)
***
Chosen by the Father(1:3-6)
In Christ We are Blessed  (1:3)
In Christ We are Chosen  (1:4)
 In Christ We are Predestined  (1:5-6)
 

Ephesians: "Discovering Who We Are"
Upon studying the Book of Daniel in the Old Testament, the prophetic timetable known as the 'Seventy Weeks (of Years)' leaves the student with a gap of sorts between the appearance of the Messiah and the final 70th Seven-Year period. The only events itemized during this gap are: Messiah being cut off from His earthly inheritance, and the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. Paul's letter to the Ephesians particularly explains this gap as being the new work of God on earth, the church; something which the apostle was given as direct revelation concerning its nature and its purpose.
 
Outline: 
OPENING  (1:1-2)
DOCTRINAL (1-3)
PRACTRICAL (4-6)
CLOSING  (6:21-24)

"Navigating a Hostile Culture: Courage, Composure and Commitment"
 
The Outline: 
Salutation   (1:1-2)
  I.  PERSECUTION: WAITING with COURAGE (1:3-12)
Thanksgiving (1:3-4)
Encouragement (1:5-10)
Prayer(1:11-12)
 I.  PROPHECY: WATCHING with COMPOSURE (2:1-17)
Gathered to the Lord Jesus Christ (2:1-2)— The “Day of the Lord”: NOT YET
Unalarmed by the Day of the Lord (2:3-12)— The “Man of Lawlessness”: REVEALED
Saved through the Work of the Spirit (2:13-17)— The “Gospel”: STAND FIRM
III.  PRACTICE: WORKING with COMMITMENT (3:1-15)
Confidence(3:1-5)
Command(3:6-10)
Confrontation(3:11-13)
Consequences(3:14)
Caution(3:15)
Signature  (3:16-18)
***
Chart: The Rapture and The Revelation
By William MacDonald*
 
      The Rapture                                     The Revelation
Christ comes in the air                  Christ comes to the earth     (1Thess 4:16-17)                                  (Zech 14:4)
Christ comes for His saints           Christ comes with His saints         (1Thess 4:16-17)                        (1Thess 3:13; Jude 14)
          Unknown in the                                Predicted in the           Old Testament                                  Old Testament             (1Cor 15:51)                          (Psa 72; Isa 11; Zech 14)
Not preceded by any signs                  Proclaimed by signs                                                                      (Matt 24:29-30)
        The Day of Christ                           The Day of the Lord(1Cor 1:8; 2Cor 1:14; Phil 1:6, 10)          (2Thess 2:1-12)
                Blessing                                            Judgment            (1Thess 4:18)                                  (2Thess 2:8-12)
  In the twinkling of an eye                      Visible worldwide             (1Cor 15:52)                    (Zech 14:1-5; Matt 16:27; 24:30)
              The Church                              Israel and the Nations(John 14:1-4; 1Cor 15:51-58;                 (Matt 24:1-25:46)         1Thess 4:13-18)
Christ comes as the bright               Christ comes as the sun         and morning star                   of righteousness with healing              (Rev 22:16)                                          (Mal 4:2)
 
* Believer's Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, William MacDonald; Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, TN, 1995, page #2050.
 
 
 
 

"The Busybodies"
 
The Outline: 
Salutation   (1:1-2)
  I.  PERSECUTION: WAITING with COURAGE (1:3-12)
 II.  PROPHECY: WATCHING with COMPOSURE (2:1-17)
III.  PRACTICE: WORKING with COMMITMENT (3:1-15)
Signature  (3:16-18)
***
III.  PRACTICE: WORKING with COMMITMENT (3:1-15)
Confidence(3:1-5)
Command(3:6-10)
Confrontation(3:11-13)
Consequences(3:14)
Caution(3:15)
***
C.  Confrontation(3:11-13)
The Busybodies Exhorted (3:11-12)
The Breadwinners Encouraged (3:13)
***
Signature  (3:16-18)
A Benediction: “The Lord of Peace”
A Greeting: “A Distinguishing Mark”
A Closing: “Grace”

"The Disciplined Life"
 
The Outline: 
Salutation   (1:1-2)
  I.  PERSECUTION: WAITING with COURAGE (1:3-12)
 II.  PROPHECY: WATCHING with COMPOSURE (2:1-17)
III.  PRACTICE: WORKING with COMMITMENT (3:1-15)
Signature  (3:16-18)
***
III.  PRACTICE: WORKING with COMMITMENT (3:1-15)
Confidence(3:1-5)
Command(3:6-10)
Confrontation(3:11-13)
Consequences(3:14)
Caution(3:15)
***
B.  Command(3:6-10)
The Tradition (3:6)
The Example (3:7-9)
The Rule (3:10)

"The Spread of the Word"
 
The Outline: 
Salutation   (1:1-2)
  I.  PERSECUTION: WAITING with COURAGE (1:3-12)
 II. PROPHECY: WATCHING with COMPOSURE (2:1-17)
III.  PRACTICE: WORKING with COMMITMENT (3:1-15)
Signature  (3:16-18)
***
III.  PRACTICE: WORKING with COMMITMENT (3:1-15)
Confidence(3:1-5)
Command(3:6-10)
Confrontation(3:11-13)
Consequences(3:14)
Caution(3:15)
***
A.  Confidence(3:1-5)
The Word of the Lord (3:1-2)
The Faithfulness of the Lord (3:3)
The Confidence in the Lord (3:4)
The Direction of the Lord (3:5)

"The Truth and the Glory"
 
The Outline: 
Salutation   (1:1-2)
  I.  PERSECUTION: WAITING with COURAGE (1:3-12)
 II.  PROPHECY: WATCHING with COMPOSURE (2:1-17)
III.  PRACTICE: WORKING with COMMITMENT (3:1-15)
Signature  (3:16-18)
***
 II.  PROPHECY: WATCHING with COMPOSURE (2:1-17)
Gathered to the Lord Jesus Christ (2:1-2)— The “Day of the Lord”: NOT YET
Unalarmed by the Day of the Lord (2:3-12)— The “Man of Lawlessness”: REVEALED
Saved through the Work of the Spirit (2:13-17)— The “Gospel”: STAND FIRM
***
C.  Saved through the Work of the Spirit (2:13-17) — The “Gospel”: STAND FIRM
The Truth (2:13-14)
The Teachings (2:15)
The Strength (2:16-17)
***
The Content of the Gospel:
1Corinthians 15:1-8 (NASB95; Emphasis mine)
“Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that          He was buried, and that          He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that          He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 After that          He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; 7 then          He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; 8 and last of all, as to one untimely born,          He appeared to me also.”