Term 4 – Bold Witnesses
Introduction
Luke takes us on a journey of discovery, putting us in the shoes of the first century Christians as, guided by the Spirit, they follow their new-found faith to the ends of the earth and the gates of heaven. This term unpacks the key messages of the gospel of Luke and the book of Acts, describing how Jesus turned Palestine upside down with good news of a kingdom in which the last would be first, how Luke portrays His death and resurrection as the ultimate good news, and how Peter, Paul, and other early Christians spread that good news across the Roman Empire.
Summary of Sessions
- Luke’s World and Works. Introduces Luke, historian and author, the world he lived in, and the grand themes he describes in his two-volume work.
- Jesus’ Ministry in Luke. Its account of Jesus’ main ministry, and some of its key texts, showing Luke’s purpose – to declare Jesus to be the one who came with good news for outcasts and outsiders.
- Going Deeper. Understanding parables, and the distinctive themes of Luke’s good news.
- Reaching the Heart. How Luke saw Jesus, and the meaning he attaches to Jesus’ death and resurrection.
- Pioneers. The first Christians in Jerusalem: their experience of God and the foundations of their belief. • Luke 23: The events after Easter.
- Explorers. The gospel spreads to the Gentiles; the church decides how to react.
- Inspired Speeches. How did Peter, Paul and others proclaim the gospel, and how did they explain Easter? Followed by the way in which Luke portrays the Spirit.
- Review and Reflection. We review some of Luke’s distinctive themes: how Jesus both fulfils and transforms God Old Testament covenants of salvation, and what true discipleship looks like.
