Varying degrees of attention are paid to Jesus' four speeches in the Galilean ministry of the Gospel of Luke. Despite increasing interest in ancient Graeco-Roman rhetoric in biblical studies, few scholars examine the speeches from the lens of ancient rhetorical argument. In addition, with the exception of the inaugural speech in Luke 4.14-30, little attention is afforded to the relevance of the speeches for understanding larger nuances of the narrative discourse and how this affects the hermeneutical appropriation of authorial readers. In contrast, Spencer examines each speech from the context of ancient rhetorical argument and pinpoints various narrative trajectoriesGCoas associated with theme, plot, characterization, and topoiGCothat emerge from the rhetorical texture. In doing so, he shows that the four speeches function as "sign posts" that are integral to guiding the Lukan narrative from the "backwaters" of Galilee to the center of the Roman Empire.

Among the corn and wheat fields of Nebraska is where protagonist Zak Taylor has started a successful bookie operation. Patrick Spencer brings this imaginary story to life by following Zak and his growing practice from High School to College, where he finds love in Governor Tony Villotta's daughter. "Zak's Practice" interlaces Zak Taylor's life with Governor Villotta's life and the Governor's three Mafioso brothers' lives. The three brothers were sent to the heartland to run a leg of their Chicago family business, which comprises of money laundering and bookie operations.

Nebraska Attorney General Andrew Rison, a man with Governorship plans himself, gets the FBI involved into investigating Governor Villotta and his brothers. When Zak's Practice and the three Villotta brothers team up to put on a Final Four Tournament pool, the FBI and Attorney General Rison comes knocking. The Villotta brothers escape, but Zak does not.