By Kendra Flory
The February offering from the Ventures in Christian Discipleship program at McPherson (Kan.) College will be “Luke and Acts: Turning the World Upside Down” presented by Chris Bucher and Bob Neff. The course will be held online in two Tuesday sessions on Feb. 11 and 18 at 6:30-8:30 p.m. (central time).
Course description: This course will examine the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts as two key biblical texts for the Church of the Brethren. First, we will look at the way Luke structures the Gospel as a “Life of Jesus,” focusing especially on the birth and infancy narratives and the passion and post-resurrection narratives. Second, we will look at the nature of the gatherings formed by the apostles in the book of Acts and reasons they were thought to be “turning the world upside down” (Acts 17:6). Third, we address the theme of inclusivity as it appears in Jesus’ teaching in the Nazareth synagogue (Luke 4) and in the story of the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8). Fourth, we will discuss Luke’s open-ended narrative style that invites his audience into the story he tells. Each class session will offer opportunities for Q&A and discussion.
Chris Bucher is emerita professor of religious studies at Elizabethtown (Pa.) College. She serves on the editorial board of the Believers Church Bible Commentaries and writes for Brethren Press and MennoMedia.
Bob Neff taught Old Testament at Bethany Theological Seminary before accepting a call to serve the Church of the Brethren as general secretary. Following his term as general secretary, he became president of Juniata College in Huntingdon, Pa. After retiring from Juniata, he served as chaplain and director of development at the Village of Morrisons Cove, Pa.
Bucher and Neff co-authored the book Luke and Acts: Turning the World Upside Down published by Brethren Press in 2023.
Continuing education credit is available for $10 per course. The registration process includes the opportunity to pay for CEUs and give an optional donation to the Ventures program.
To learn more about Ventures in Christian Discipleship and to register for courses, visit www.mcpherson.edu/ventures.
— Kendra Flory is advancement assistant at McPherson College.
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