Feeding the Flock

"A Proximity"
 
The Outline: 
OPENING  (1:1-2)
I.  DOCTRINAL (1-3)
A.  Our POSITION in Christ  (1:3-3:21)
                  “Seated”[i]  (2:6)
II.  PRACTRICAL (4-6)
B.  Our LIFE in The World  (4:1-6:9)
                  “Walk”  (4:1)
C.  Our ATTITUDE to The Enemy  (6:10-20)
                  “Stand Firm”  (6:11)
CLOSING  (6:21-24)
 
[i] The Three Major Divisions used in these notes are adapted from the book: “Sit, Walk, Stand” by Watchman Nee; Christian Literature Crusade, Fort Washington, Pennsylvania, 1973.
***
A.  Our POSITION in Christ  (1:3-3:21)
                       “Seated”  (2:6)
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)
     a.  Our New Condition in Christ(2:1-10)
     b.  Our New Relation in Christ(2:11-22)
***
a.  Our New Relation in Christ(2:11-22)
Brought Near by The Blood (2:11-13)
One Body through The Cross (2:14-18)
Built Together in The Spirit (2:19-22)

"A Workmanship"
 
The Outline: 
OPENING  (1:1-2)
I.  DOCTRINAL (1-3)
A.  Our POSITION in Christ  (1:3-3:21)
                  “Seated” [i]  (2:6)
II.  PRACTRICAL (4-6)
B.  Our LIFE in The World  (4:1-6:9)
                  “Walk”  (4:1)
C.  Our ATTITUDE to The Enemy  (6:10-20)
                  “Stand Firm”  (6:11)
CLOSING  (6:21-24)
[i] The Three Major Divisions used in these notes are adapted from the book: “Sit, Walk, Stand” by Watchman Nee; Christian Literature Crusade, Fort Washington, Pennsylvania, 1973.
***
A.  Our POSITION in Christ  (1:3-3:21)
                       “Seated”  (2:6)
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)
***
Our New Condition in Christ(2:1-10)
Before: Dead in Sins(2:1-3)
After: Alive with Christ (2:4-10)
***
The Love of God on Display(2:4-7)
       RAISED AND SEATED: “The Heavenly Places”  (2:4-7)
The Grace of God through Faith (2:8-10)
       SAVED AND CREATED: “His Workmanship”  (2:8-10)

"A Posture"
 
The Outline: 
OPENING  (1:1-2)
I.  DOCTRINAL (1-3)
A,  Our POSITION in Christ  (1:3-3:21)
                  “Seated” [i]  (2:6)
II.  PRACTRICAL (4-6)
B.  Our LIFE in The World  (4:1-6:9)
                  “Walk”  (4:1)
C.  Our ATTITUDE to The Enemy  (6:10-20)
                  “Stand Firm”  (6:11)
CLOSING  (6:21-24)
 
[i] The Three Major Divisions used in these notes are adapted from the book: “Sit, Walk, Stand” by Watchman Nee; Christian Literature Crusade, Fort Washington, Pennsylvania, 1973.
***
A.  Our POSITION in Christ  (1:3-3:21)
                       “Seated”  (2:6)
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)
     After: Alive with Christ (2:4-10)
The Love of God on Display(2:4-7)
          RAISED AND SEATED: “The Heavenly Places”  (2:4-7)
The Grace of God through Faith (2:8-10)
          SAVED AND CREATED: “His Workmanship”  (2:8-10)

"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”