GNT540, Exposition of Acts Fall Semester, Course Requirements

Transcription

1 GNT540, Exposition of Acts Fall Semester, 2017 Maranatha Baptist Seminary Dr. Andrew S. Hudson I. Course Description Course Requirements An expository study of Acts, with special attention given to the beginning, growth and spread of the church to the ends of the earth. (3 credit hours) MBU Institutional Outcomes supported by this course: 1. Communication Skills: Students will demonstrate competence in written, oral, and aesthetic communication. 6. Biblical Knowledge: Students will acquire skills related to biblical study methods, interpretation, and doctrine. 8. Biblical Application: Students will use discernment in moral situations by applying biblical precepts and principles to contemporary issues and lifestyle choices. II. Teacher Goals A. Praise God for His providential control of the growth of the early church B. Make proper relevant application of the teaching of the book of Acts to the present-day believer C. Instill in students an enthusiastic desire to do further study of the book of Acts on their own III. Course Objectives The student should be able to: A. Understand the reason Luke wrote the book of Acts B. Explain Luke s argument in the book of Acts and how the general content of each chapter supports that argument C. Identify problem passages in the book of Acts and provide adequate interpretations of them D. Defend a dispensational interpretation of the transitional elements in the book of Acts E. Outline the life of Paul, especially as it relates to his writing of the New Testament epistles

2 2 IV. Course Texts A. Darrell Bock. Acts. Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, B. John B. Pohill. Acts: An Exegetical and Theological Exposition of Holy Scripture. New American Commentary. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, (This volume is available as part of Logos Platinum edition.) V. Course Requirements A. Reading (approximately 1400 pages) B. Tests 1. Bible-- Each student must read through the book of Acts two times. This reading should be done according to the class schedule. Your first reading of Acts should be done in small segments as assigned in the course schedule. For your second reading of Acts, you need to read the entire book without interruption. The following method should be employed for all reading of Acts: 1)prior to reading the text, spend a few minutes in prayer asking the Lord to help you properly understand the text, 2)carefully read the text, 3)spend at least ten minutes meditating\thinking about the text (what it means and how to apply it), and 4)record daily applications on the reading report form. Reading report forms must be turned in at the beginning of each class period. **By the way, it IS appropriate to use your Bible reading for this class for your personal (devotional) time with God. 2. Commentary reading--the reading from the commentaries should be done according to the class schedule. You only need to read 75 pages in the commentaries for each reading assigned in the course schedule (example: 50 pages from Bock and 25 pages from Pohill). You may choose how much to read from each commentary as long as your total is at least 75 pages. This reading must be reported on the Bible reading report form for each section of chapters that is assigned. The template for the reading report may be located under the course materials tab in MyMaranatha. There will be two tests in this course. The midterm exam will cover course notes on Acts 1-7. The final exam will cover course notes on Acts While the student will not be tested directly over textbook reading, it will help the student prepare for the test.

3 3 C. Missionary Biography Report 1. Each student must read a biography of a missionary of his/her choice. The biography must be at least 250 pages in length. 2. While reading the biography, the student should compile a list of 10 biblical principles that the missionary successfully demonstrated in his/her life. 3. The student should list the principle, give a brief explanation of how the missionary demonstrated that principle, and then give a Bible verse to verify it is a Biblical principle D. Devotional Meditation The student must write a devotional using the template provided. This devotional should be written on a passage in the book of Acts that was particularly relevant to you. Full disclosure: this devotional may be used in a future Maranatha Baptist Seminary publication. You might want to keep that in mind when writing. E. Research Paper 1. The student should write a research paper one of the following projects: a) The use of Joel 2 in Acts 2; or with prior approval from the professor, Luke s use of any other OT passage in Acts 2 b) A theology of the coming of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2, 8, 10-11, 19 **There are multiple views of both of these topics. Quality papers will fairly present the significant views, interact with the arguments of those views, and give evidence for the best view (from your perspective). 2. Your paper should be pages long and follow the standard seminary format. Templates and research suggestions can be located under the Research tab in your MyMaranatha course. 3. This project should include a bibliography of at least 15 sources; 5 of which must be scholarly journal articles. Interviews with those with whom you disagree are encouraged as sources. You must include a record of your reading and turn it in with the paper. 4. After your paper conclusion, you must include a section explaining the relevance of your conclusion to the modern-day life and ministry of the NT saint. This should be no more than one page (and it counts toward your page total).

4 4 VI. Course Grading A. Bible Reading 10% B. Text Reading 10% C. Missionary Biog. Report 10% D. Devotional 10% E. Research Paper 30% F. Tests 30% VII. Course Policies A. Late Work-All work is due at the beginning of the class for which it is assigned. All work is expected to be completed on time. Any work turned in after the due date will have its grade reduced by 4% per calendar day. B. Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated in this course. Consult the section in the Seminary catalog regarding Academic and Intellectual Expectations for a description of academic dishonesty and appropriate penalties for violation. C. Collegiality-The Seminary catalog states, The Seminary has an expectation of collegiality in and out of the classroom. There must be an ability and willingness to talk about controversial issues in an attitude of mutual respect between students, professors and others. The classes should not degenerate into arguments, especially over issues that have been debated regularly among fundamental Baptists. You should not attempt to pit one teacher against another in your classes. We desire that there be an openness in class discussion and a transparency of both faculty and students. The class professor has the right to end a discussion which he believes has become nonproductive. D. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal antidiscrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, the law requires that all students with disabilities be given a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Student Success Center director at learningassistance@mbu.edu. E. Grading Scale B C D A B C F 0-63 A B C

5 5 VIII. Course Schedule Tuesday August 29 Course Introduction September 5 Read Acts 1-2 September 12 Read Acts 3-4 September 19 Read Acts 5-7 September 26 Read Acts 8-9 October 3 Read Acts October 10 Read Acts October 17 Midterm Exam October 24 Read Acts October 31 Read Acts November 7 Read Acts November 14 Read Acts November 21 Thanksgiving Break November 28 Read Acts December 5 Read Acts (without interruption) Read Pohill introduction December Open Final Exams Thursday August 31 Introduction to Acts September 7 September 14 September 21 September 28 October 5 October 12 October 19 October 26 Missionary Biography due November 2 November 9 November 16 Research Paper due November 23 Thanksgiving Break November 30 December 7 Devotional due