OUR CHURCHES come in all styles and shapes – secret meetings in homes; wide-open gatherings in amphitheatres; worship services packing thousands into a sanctuary while an overflow crowd watches on closed circuit television. Buildings will vary, but the Church is not confined to four walls.  The church of Jesus Christ is people, his people, of every race and nation who love Christ and are committed to serving him.

The “Church age” began at Pentecost (Act 2). Born in Jerusalem, the church spread rapidly through the ministry of the apostles and the early believers.  Fanned by persecution, the gospel flame then spread to other cities and nations.  On three courageous journeys, Paul and his associates established local assemblies in scores of Gentile cities.

One of the most prominent of those churches was at Ephesus. It was established in A.D. 53 on Paul’s homeward journey to Jerusalem.  But Paul returned a year later, on his third missionary trip, and stayed there for three years, preaching and teaching with great effectiveness (Acts 19.1-20).  At another time, Paul met with the Ephesian elders, and he sent Timothy to serve as their leader (1 Timothy 1.3).  Just a few years later, Paul was sent as a prisoner to Rome.  In Rome, he was visited by messengers from various churches, including Tychicus.  Not written to counteract heresy or to confront any specific problem, Ephesians is a letter of encouragement.  In it Paul describes the nature and appearance of the Church, and he challenges believers to function as the living body of Christ on earth.

After a warm greeting (1.1, 2), Paul affirms the nature of the Church – the glorious fact that believers in Christ have been showered with God’s kindness (1.13, 14), filled with the Spirit’s power (1.15-23), freed from sin’s curse and bondage (2.1-10), and brought near to God [Wall] (2.11-18). As part of God’s “household”, we stand with the prophets, apostles, Jews, Gentiles, and Christ himself (2.19-3.13).  Then, as though overcome with emotion by remembering all that God [Wall] has done, Paul challenges the Ephesians to live close to Christ, and he breaks into spontaneous praise (3.14-21).

Paul then turns his attention to the implications of being in the body of Christ, the Church. Believers should have unity in their commitment to Christ and their use of spiritual gifts (4.1-16).  They should have the highest moral standards (4.17-5.20).  For the individual, this means rejecting pagan practices (4.17-5.20), and for the family, this means mutual submission and love (5.21-6.9).

Paul then reminds them that the Church is in a constant battle with the forces of darkness and that they should use every spiritual weapon at their disposal (6.10-17). He concludes by asking for their prayers, commissioning Tychicus, and giving a benediction (6.18-24).

As you read this masterful description of the church, thank God [Wall] for the diversity and unity in his family, pray for your brothers and sisters across the world, and draw close to those in your local Church.

VITAL STATISTICS

PURPOSE: To strengthen the believers in Ephesus in their Christian faith by explaining the nature and purpose of the Church, the body of Christ

AUTHOR: Paul

TO WHOM WRITTEN: The Church at Ephesus, and all believers everywhere

DATE WRITTEN: About A.D. from Rome, during Paul’s imprisonment there

SETTING: The letter was not written to confront any heresy or problem in the churches. It was sent with Tychicus to strengthen and encourage the churches in the area.  Paul had spent over three years with the Ephesian church.  As a result, he was very close to them.  Paul met with the elders of the Ephesian church at Miletus (Acts 20.17-38) – a meeting that was filled with great sadness because he was leaving them for what he thought would be the last time.  Because there are no specific references to people or problems in the Ephesian church and because the words “at Ephesus” (1.1) are not present in some early manuscripts, Paul may have intended this to be a circular letter to be read to all the churches in the area.

KEY VERSES: “There is one body and one Spirit – just as you were called to one hope when you were called – one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God [Wall] and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all” (4.4-6).

KEY PEOPLE: Paul, Tychicus

SPECIAL FEATURES: Several pictures of the church are presented: body, temple, mystery, new man, bride, and soldier. This letter was probably distributed to many of the early churches.  [aka “Who’s your new man” banter]

THE BLUEPRINT

In this letter, Paul explains the wonderful thing that we have received through Christ and refers to the church as a body, a temple, a bride, and a soldier. These all illustrate unity of purpose and show how each individual member is a part that must work together with all the other parts.  In our own lives, we should work to eradicate all backbiting, gossip, criticism, jealousy, anger, and bitterness, because these are barriers to unity in the church.

1. Unity in Christ (1.1-3.21)
2. Unity in the body of Christ (4.1-6.24)

MEGATHEMES

God’s Purpose

EXPLANATION: According to God’s eternal, loving plan, he directs, carries out, and sustains our salvation.

IMPORTANCE: When we respond to Christ’s love by trusting in him, his purpose becomes your mission.  Have you committed yourself to fulfilling God’s purpose?

Christ the Centre

EXPLANATION: Christ is exalted as the central meaning of the universe and the focus of history.  He is the head of the body, the church.  He is the Creator and Sustainer of all creation.

IMPORTANCE: Because Christ is central to everything, his power must be central to us.  Begin by placing all your priorities under his control.

Living Church

EXPLANATION: Paul describes the nature of the church.  The church, under Christ’s control, is a living body, a family, a dwelling.  God [Wall] gives believers special abilities by his Holy Spirit to build the church.

IMPORTANCE: We are part of Christ’s body, and we must live in vital union with him.  Our conduct must be consistent with this living relationship.  Use your God-given abilities to equip believers for service.  Fulfil your role in the living church.

New Family

EXPLANATION: Because God through Christ paid our penalty for sin and forgave us, we have been reconciled – brought near to him.  We are a new society, a new family.  Being united with Christ means we are to treat one another as family members.

IMPORTANCE: We are one family in Christ, so there should be no barriers, no divisions, no basis for discrimination.  We all belong to him, so we should live in harmony with one another.

Christian Conduct

EXPLANATION: Paul encourages all Christians to wise, dynamic Christian living, for with privileges goes family responsibility.  As a new community, we are to live by Christ’s new standards.

IMPORTANCE: God provides his Holy Spirit to enable us to live his way.  To utilise the Spirit’s power, we must lay aside our evil desires and draw on the power of his new life.  Submit your will to Christ, and seek to love others.

SPARLKING as it crashes against boulders along its banks, the river swiftly cascades towards the sea. The current grabs, pushes, and tugs at leaves and logs, carrying them along for the ride.  Here and there a sportsman is spotted in a canoe, going with the flow.  Gravity pulls the water, and the river pulls the rest… downwards.  Suddenly, a silver missile breaks the surface and darts upstream, and then another.  Oblivious to the swirling opposition, the shining salmon swim against the stream.  They use go upstream, and nothing will stop them from reaching their destination.

The current of society’s river is flowing fast and furious, pulling downwards everything in its way. It would be easy to float along with the current.  But God [Wall] calls us to swim against the flow.  It will not be easy, and we may be alone, but it will be right.

In the book of 2 Kings, we read of evil rulers, rampant idolatry, and a complacent populace – certainly pulling downwards. Despite the pressure to conform, to turn from the Lord and to serve only self, a minority of chosen people moved in the opposite direction, towards God.  The Bethel prophets and others, as well as two righteous kings, spoke God’s word and stood for him.  As you read 2 Kings, watch these courageous individuals.  Catch the strength and force of Elijah and Elisha and the commitment of Hezekiah and Josiah, and determine to be one who swims against the current!

The book continues the history of Israel, halfway between the death of David and the death of the nation. Israel had been divided (1 Kings 12), and the two kingdoms had begun to slide into idolatry and corruption towards collapse and captivity.  Second Kings relates the sordid stories of the 12 kings of the northern kingdom (called Israel) and the 16 kings of the southern kingdom (called Judah).  For 130 years, Israel endures the succession of evil rulers until they were conquered by Shalmaneser of Assyria and led into captivity in 722 B.C. (17:6).  Of all the kings in both the north and south, only two – Hezekiah and Josiah – were called good.  Because of their obedience to God and the spiritual revivals during their reigns, Judah stood for an additional 136 years until falling to Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians in 586 B.C.

Throughout this dark period, the Bible mentions 30 prophets who proclaimed God’s message to the people and their leaders. Most notable of these fearless people of God are Elijah and Elisha.  As Elijah neared the end of his earthly ministry, Elisha asked for a double portion of his beloved mentor’s spirit (2:9).  Soon after, Elijah was taken to heaven in a whirlwind (2:11), and Elisha became God’s spokesman to the northern kingdom.  Elisha’s life was filled with signs, proclamations, warnings, and miracles.  Four of the most memorable are the flowing oil (4:1-7), the healing of the Shunammite woman’s son (4:8-37), the healing of Naaman’s leprosy (5:1-27), and the floating axe-head (6:1-7).

Even in the midst of terrible situations, God will have his faithful minority, his remnant (19:31). He desires courageous men and women to proclaim his truth.

VITAL STATISTICS

PURPOSE: To demonstrate the fate that awaits all who refuse to make God their true leader

AUTHOR: Unknown. Possibly Jeremiah or a group of prophets

SETTING: The once-united nation of Israel has been divided into two kingdoms, Israel and Judah, for over a century

KEY VERSES: “The LORD warned Israel and Judah through all his prophets and seers: ‘Turn from your evil ways. Observe my commands and decrees, in accordance with the entire Law that I commanded your fathers to obey and that I delivered to you through my servants the prophets.’  But they would not listen and were as stiff-necked as their fathers, who did not trust in the LORD their God”  (17:13, 14).

KEY PEOPLE: Elijah, Elisha, Shunammite woman, Naaman, Jezebel, Jehu, Joash, Hezekiah, Sennacherib, Isaiah, Manasseh, Josiah, Jehoiakim, Zedekiah, Nebuchadnezzar

SPECIAL FEATURES: The 17prophetic books at the end of the Old Testament give great insights into the time period of 2 Kings.

THE BLUEPRINT

The Divided Kingdom (1:1-17:41) Although Israel had the witness and power of Elisha, the nation turned from God and was exiled to Assyria.  Assyria filled the northern kingdom with people from other lands.  There has been no return from this captivity – it was permanent.  Such is the end of all who shut God out of their lives.

1. Elisha’s ministry
2. Kings of Israel and Judah
3. Israel is exiled to Assyria

The Surviving Kingdom (18:1-25:30) The northern kingdom was destroyed, and prophets were predicting the same fate for Judah.  What more could cause the nation to repent?  Hezekiah and Josiah were able to stem the tide of evil.  They both repaired the temple and gathered the people for the Passover.  Josiah eradicated idolatry from the land, but as soon as these good kings were gone, the people returned again to living their own way instead of God’s way.  Each individual must believe and live for God in his or her family, church, and nation.

1. Kings of Judah
2. Judah is exiled to Babylon

MEGATHEMES

ELISHA

EXPLANATION:   the purpose of Elisha’s ministry was to restore respect for God and his message, and he stood firmly against the evil kings of Israel.  By faith, with courage and prayer, he revealed not only God’s judgment on sin, but also his mercy, love, and tenderness towards faithful people.

IMPORTANCE: Elisha’s mighty miracles showed that God controls not only great armies, but also events in everyday life. When we listen to and obey God, he shows us his power to transform any situation.  God’s care is for all who are willing to follow him.  He can perform miracles in our lives.

IDOLATRY  

EXPLANATION: every evil king in both Israel and Judah encouraged idolatry.  These false gods represented war, cruelty, power, and sex.  Although they had God’s law, priests, and prophets to guide them, these kings sought priests and prophets whom they could manipulate to their own advantage.

IMPORTANCE:   an idol is any idea, ability, possession, or person that we regard more highly than God.  We condemn Israel and Judah for foolishly worshipping idols, but we also worship other gods – power, money, physical attractiveness.  Those who believe in God must resist the lure of these attractive idols.

EVIL KINGS / GOOD KINGS

EXPLANATION:   only 20 per cent of Israel and Judah’s kings followed God.  The evil kings were short-sighted.  They thought they could control their nations’ destinies by importing other religions, forming alliances with pagan nations, and enriching themselves.  The good kings had to spend most of their time undoing the evil done by their predecessors.

IMPORTANCE: although the evil kings led the people into sin, the priests, princes, heads of families, and military leaders all had to co-operate with the evil plans and practices in order for them to be carried out.  We cannot discharge our responsibility to obey God by blaming our leaders.  We are responsible to know God’s word and obey it.

GOD’S PATIENCE

EXPLANATION: God told his people that if they obeyed him they would live successfully; if they disobeyed, they would be judged and destroyed.  God had been patient with the people for hundreds of years.  He sent many prophets to guide them.  And he gave ample warning of coming destruction.  But even God’s patience has limits.

IMPORTANCE: God is patient with us.  He gives us many chances to hear his message, to turn from sin, and to believe him.  His patience does not mean he is indifferent to how we live, nor does it mean we can ignore his warnings.  His patience should make us want to come to him now.

JUDGEMENT

EXPLANATION: after King Solomon’s reign, Israel lasted 209 years before the Assyrians destroyed it; Judah lasted 345 years before the Babylonians took Jerusalem.  After repeated warnings to his people, God used these evil nations as instruments for his justice.

IMPORTANCE:   the consequences of rejecting God’s commands and purpose for our lives are severe.  He will not ignore unbelief or rebellion.  We must believe in him and accept Christ’s sacrificial death on our behalf, or we will be judged also.

“MIRACULOUS!” . . . “Revolutionary!” . . . “Greatest ever!” We are inundated by a flood of extravagant claims [Versatility] as we flip through television channels or magazine pages.  The messages leap out at us.  The products assure us that they are new, improved, fantastic, and capable of changing our lives.  For only a few pounds, we can have “cleaner clothes”, “whiter teeth”, “glamorous hair”, and “tastier food”.  Cars, perfume, diet drinks, and mouthwash are guaranteed to bring happiness, friends, and the good life.  And just before an election, no-one can match the politicians’ promises.  but talk is cheap, and too often we soon realise that the boasts were hollow, quite far from the truth.

“Jesus is the answer!” . . . “Believe in God!” . . . “Follow me to Church!” Christians also make great claims [Versatility] but are often guilty of belying them with their actions.  Professing to trust God [Wall] and to be his people, they cling tightly to the world and its values.  Possessing all the right answers, they contradict the gospel with their lives.

with energetic style and crisp, well-chosen words, James confronts this conflict head-on. It is not enough [Military] to talk the Christian faith, he says; we must live it.  “What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims [Versatility] to have faith but has no deeds?  Can such faith save him?” (2.14).  The proof of the reality of our faith is a changed life.

Genuine faith will inevitably produce good deeds. This is the central theme of James’ letter, around which he supplies practical advice on living the Christian life.

James begins his letter by outlining some general characteristics of the Christian life (1.1-27). Next, he exhorts Christians to act justly in Society (2.1-13).  He follows this practical advice with a theological discourse on the relationship between faith and action (2.14-26).  Then James shows the importance of controlling one’s speech [Show me your company,..] (3.1-12).  In 3:13-18, James distinguishes two kinds of wisdom, earthly and heavenly.  Then he encourages his readers to turn from evil desires and obey God [Wall] (4.1-12).  James reproves those who trust in their own plans and possessions (4.13-5.6).  Finally, he exhorts his readers to be patient with each other (5.7-11), to be straightforward in their promises (5.12), to pray for each other [Kisses The Knee] (5.13-18), and to help each other [Kisses The Knee] remain faithful to God [Wall] (5.19, 20).

This letter could be seen as a how-to book on Christian living. Confrontation, challenge, and a call to commitment await you in its pages.  Read James and become a doer of the word (1.22-25).

VITAL STATISTICS

PURPOSE: To expose hypocritical practices and to teach right Christian behaviour

AUTHOR: James, Jesus’ brother, a leader in the Jerusalem Church

TO WHOM WRITTEN: First-century Jewish Christians residing in Gentile communities outside Palestine, and all Christians everywhere

DATE WRITTEN: Probably A.D. 49, prior to the Jerusalem council held in A.D. 50

SETTING: This letter expresses James’ concern for persecuted Christians who were once part of the Jerusalem Church

KEY VERSE: “But someone will say, ‘You have faith; I have deeds.’ Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do” (2.18).

THE BLUEPRINT

James wrote to Jewish Christians who had been scattered throughout the Mediterranean world because of persecution. In their hostile surroundings they were tempted to let intellectual agreement pass for true faith.  This letter can have rich meaning for us as we are reminded that genuine faith transforms lives.  We are encouraged to put our faith into action.  It is easy to say we have faith, but true faith will produce loving actions towards others.

1. Genuine religion (1.1-27)
2. Genuine faith (2.1-3.12)
3. Genuine wisdom (3.13-5.20)

MEGATHEMES