SYLLABUS FOR "THE BOOK OF ACTS"
Course description
The Book of Acts tells us of an exciting period of the expansion of the Church. But do the amazing experiences of that time necessarily set a pattern for us today? This course will help you answer some difficult questions about the work of the Holy Spirit and the ministry of the Church. It explains the background, structure, and content of the Book of Acts, including a study of the major themes, as well as guidelines for applying the lessons of Acts today. This course is based on the DVD series by Dr. Hans F. Bayer.
Dr. Hans F. Bayer
Dr. Bayer is Professor of New Testament, and Chair of the New Testament Department, Covenant Theological Seminary, St. Louis, MO.
Goals and Objectives
GOALS
In this course, we would like to accomplish the following:
1. We hope you will become enthusiastic about studying The Book of Acts and about doing your part to help extend the kingdom of God throughout the world.
2. We hope you will make use of all the resources of the course to learn key things about the background and content of The Book of Acts. Who wrote it, and why? What are the main themes, and how should we apply them today?3. We hope you make some changes in your life as a response to the teachings of The Book of Acts, especially making a greater effort to do your part in the extension of the kingdom of God.
OBJECTIVES
When you have done the following, it will show that the goals are met:
1. Use all the resources and complete all the written assignments of the course, expressing your own thoughts and attitudes regarding the Book of Acts and the expansion of the kingdom of God.
2. Obtain satisfactory grades on the tests, demonstrating that you can identify key information about the background, structure, content and themes of The Book of Acts.
3. Answer the application questions in the study guides, in which you express your own responses and opinions, demonstrating how this course has affected your life, especially how it has encouraged you to work for the extension of the kingdom of God.
Resources
The course is based on materials taught by Dr. Hans F. Bayer, produced and distributed by Third Millennium Ministries.
Credit
Birmingham Theological Seminary offers one hour of credit for this course, as part of the program leading to a Certificate in Christian Ministry.
Thematic Outline of the Course
1. The Background of Acts
2. Structure and Content
3. Major Themes
Required Additional Reading:John Dick, Lectures on the Book of Acts
The complete Book of Acts in your Bible
Assignments
You should begin with the following for each lesson:
1. Read the "Preparation" document and complete any activity mentioned there in preparation for the lesson.
2. Read the instructions for the lesson.
3. Watch all the videos (or listen to the audio, or read the text version).
4. Complete the study guide for each section of the videos.While they are not required, and while they will not be graded, we recommend that you do the following for each lesson to prepare for the acummulative test and to get the maximum benefit from the lesson:
1. Take the quiz on each section of the videos.
2. If there are any, watch the videos of class discussion forums.
3. Browse through the glossary of the lesson.The accumulative test
Take the accumulative test on each lesson. This is required and will give you the grade for the lesson.
Required Additional Reading
After completing the lessons based on the video lectures, there is a final lesson based on required additional reading. The student should do the reading, complete the study guides, and take the corresponding test based on the reading.
Estimated Time for Study
While each student is different, we estimate that each lesson may take around 10 hours to do the required assignments, if the student is already familiar with how to use these courses.
Grades
You may see your grades at any time by clicking on the link. (It is in the left margin in the computer version, and at the bottom in other versions.)
1) Each accumulative test is worth 100 points and the test on the required reading is worth 100 points.
2) The quizzes on each section of the lessons are graded (10 points for each) so that you can evaluate your learning, but they will not be included in the official course grade. They are only for the purpose of practicing and learning.
3) The final grade for the course will be calculated by taking the appropriate percentages from each accumulative test and from the test on required reading, to make a total of 100%.
The evaluation scale has the following meaning:
90-100%: Excellent (A)
80-89%: Good (B)
75-79%: Average (C)
0-75%: Insufficient (F)
Include Other People
We highly recommend that you involve other people in your studies, in order to avoid isolating yourself. You may choose to form a study group with other students that are in the same program, or in a similar program of studies. You could share what you are learning, encourage one another, and pray for each other. It would also be a great idea to form a mentoring relationship with your pastor or with another person you respect, to make yourself accountable to him. You could meet once a week to share what you are learning and pray together.