Dive Deeply into the Story

This enriching experience provides a theological and missiological analysis of the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) and the Book of Acts, focusing on God's overarching mission (missio Dei) as revealed through Jesus Christ and enacted by the Holy Spirit in the early church. We will delve into the critical Jewish and Roman contexts of the First Century, understanding how these environments shaped the narrative, teachings, and spread of early Christianity. The course will explore the unique literary characteristics and theological emphases of each Gospel, providing a foundational understanding of Jesus' life, ministry, and pedagogy. Subsequently, we will examine the historical expansion of the gospel as recorded in Acts, highlighting the empowering role of the Holy Spirit, the development of the early church, and the missiological strategies employed by key figures like Peter and Paul in diverse cultural settings. This analysis will enable participants to quickly and effectively understand this information to help make critical strategic recommendations to senior leadership teams, by drawing relevant insights from the historical, theological, and missiological patterns observed in the New Testament.

  • Analyze the historical, social, and religious contexts of the New Testament.

  • Differentiate the unique theological emphases and literary structures of the Synoptic Gospels and John's Gospel

  • Articulate the purpose and authorship of the Book of Acts and the pivotal role of the Holy Spirit in the early church's expansion.

  • Evaluate the missionary strategies and theological adaptations of key figures like Peter and Paul in diverse cultural contexts.

  • Relate the Missio Dei framework to the narrative of the Gospels and Acts, understanding the church's participation in God's mission.

Tell the Story

Unpack the Gospels and Acts through the Eyes of a Missiologist

    1. Introduction to the Gospels and Acts

    2. Timeline

    3. Cast of Characters

    1. A Framework for the Study of the New Testament

    2. Quiz: New Testament Missiological Theology

    3. Answer Key

    1. First Century Greco-Roman World

    2. Quiz: Background of the First Century World

    3. Answer Key

    4. Religious Institutions of Israel

    5. Quiz: Jewish Institutions

    6. Answer Key

    7. Religious Leaders of Israel

    8. Quiz: Religious Leaders

    9. Answer Key

    10. Other Cultures of the Gospels

    11. Quiz: Other Cultures

    12. Answer Key

    1. The Missiological Nature of the Gospels

    2. Quiz: The Missiological Nature of the Gospels

    3. Answer Key

    4. Mark and Matthew

    5. Quiz: Nature of Mark and Matthew

    6. Answer Key

    7. Luke and John

    8. Quiz: Nature of Luke and John

    9. Answer Key

    10. Polemical Parallels in the Gospels

    11. Quiz: Gospels as Polemical Parallels

    12. Answer Key

    1. Introduction to Acts

    2. Quiz: The Early Missions of Acts

    3. Answer Key

    4. Peter's Missionary Journey

    5. Quiz: Early Missions in Acts

    6. Answer Key

    1. Paul and Barnabas's Mission

    2. Quiz: The First Missionary Journey

    3. Answer Key

    4. Paul's Second Journey

    5. Quiz: Paul's Second Journey

    6. Answer Key

    7. Paul's Third Journey

    8. Quiz: The Third Journey

    9. Answer Key

    10. Paul's Final Journey

    11. Quiz: The Final Journey

    12. Answer Key

About this course

  • Free
  • 54 lessons
  • 5 hours of audio overviews
  • Asynchronous discussions with a global community
  • Questions to help you reflect deeply

Meet the Professor

Join Dr. Cooper on a compelling journey through the Gospels and Acts

Professor of Missiological Theology Michael T. Cooper

Dr. Cooper earned a PhD in Intercultural Studies with a focus on religious movements and a minor in theology from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He currently serves as a missiologist for a missions agency where he focuses on missiological research and equipping missionaries for effective cultural engagement. He has thirty years of missions experience, including ten years as a pioneer church planter in Romania after the fall of communism and has equipped church planters and leaders in Africa, Europe, North America, South America, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. He is a guest faculty at Torch Trinity Graduate University, adjunct faculty at Mission India Theological Seminary, Asia Graduate School of Theology Nepal, and Ebenezer Bible College in Katmandu, and affiliate faculty at Kairos University. He has written and contributed to more than 30 books and academic articles and has presented conference lectures at the London School of Economics, University of Bordeaux, Loyola University, Baylor University, and many others. His recent book, Ephesiology: A Study of the Ephesian Movement is a best seller at William Carey Publishing.