Teaching Acts: Unlocking the Book of Acts for the Bible Teacher (Teaching the Bible)

by David Caleb Cook

Publishers:

Christian Focus; Proclamation Trust

, 2007

Overview

Teaching Acts is a welcome addition to the Teaching the Bible series. Acts is a tough book to teach, but vital to the church in every generation, and David Cook's writings on this book are outstanding. While very useful for preachers, the book is also aimed at enabling youth workers and small group study leaders to have the confidence they need to teach Biblical principles and doctrine. Teaching Acts takes the book of the Acts of the Apostles and enables the leader to explain the context of the early formative days of the church and the application of practical theology to specific situations that still affect the church today.

Contents

Top Highlights

“Luke devotes one-third of his narrative (chapters 21–28) to Paul’s torments and trials, indicating that, allied to the gospel’s progress, is the inevitability of suffering and opposition.” (Page 22)

“At the micro level, it is interesting to note the relative space devoted to the martyrdom of Stephen and James. Seventy-five verses are allocated to Stephen’s martyrdom, with only one verse on James’. Why is this? Stephen’s martyrdom was the catalyst for the gospel to spread out of Judea and led to the beginning of the Gentile mission; James’ martyrdom had no discernable effect on the spread of the gospel.” (Pages 22–23)

“To preach or teach a passage we must move beyond a ‘text to explain’ to having a ‘message to proclaim’.” (Page 36)

“The first is the necessary application—how the passage must apply to all hearers at all times.” (Page 38)

“God is bringing Peter from being a man of his culture to being a man of the Kingdom.” (Page 164)

Praise for the Print Edition

The material is excellent and will encourage readers to grapple with what the passage under construction is intended to teach; it also points the way to relevant applications.

—Evangelicals Now

Product Details

• Title: Teaching Acts
• Author: David Cook
• Publisher: Christian Focus
• Publication Date: 2007
• Pages: 304

About David Caleb Cook

David Cook is the principal and Director of the School of Preaching at Sydney Missionary and Bible College (SMBC). He is a Presbyterian minister and a graduate of SMBC and Moore Theological College. Prior to formal studies and pastoral ministry David worked in the Economic Research Department of the Reserve Bank. He has spoken at a number of Christian Conventions including Keswick.