Ephesians (The Proclaim Commentary Series) - Black, Matthew Steven

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Résumé :
The subject of the book of Ephesians is vital to your existence on this planet as God's child. What does it mean to be in Christ as an individual and as a congregation? What does it mean to grow in Christ? These are the themes of the book of Ephesians. Paul wrote this letter to the Ephesian congregation in the middle of this pagan city of 300,000 in the ancient world. The purpose of Paul's letter is that the Ephesians needed to stop changing with the fads of the world and instead be growing and changing in Christ. The letter to Ephesians could be summarized with Paul's description of body life in Ephesians 4:15b-16, We are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. Ephesians is divided into two sections. The first three chapters are our identity in Christ, and the final three chapters are our responsibility in Christ. You cannot do what God has called you to do, until you realize what God has called you to be. Your actions always proceed from who you are. Theologians call this the indicative (our identity in Christ) and the imperative (our responsibility to walk according to our identity).

Biographie:
Matt is originally from Oak Forest, Illinois though he spent much of his growing up years in Ponchatoula, Louisiana. He studied theology and Spanish for his undergrad and holds a Master's degree in Biblical Counseling from Faith Bible Seminary (Lafayette, IN). He is certified with the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC). He has been a foreign missionary in the Madrid and Basque regions of Spain, assisting in the establishment of a church and Christian Camp and enjoys Living Hope's Spanish ministry (Iglesia Esperanza Viva). He enjoys supporting the Dundee Scottish Pipe Band, serving on the boards of Bible Visuals International, Mecca to Christ International, and Proclaim Publishers. Matt's vision is to see a true Antioch church model established at Living Hope - a church that is multi-cultural and multi-generational - a church that truly reflects heaven, and a church that equips and sends God's servants locally and to the uttermost parts of the earth.