Below you'll find notes used in a 10 week study of Christian Church History.
Along with my good friend and co-teacher (as well as co-collaborator) Bob Brooks, we assembled an easy to follow curriculum of Church History. We wished we could have had 12 to 15 weeks, but there was a schedule to keep! Feel free to expand it to as many weeks as you need. Use it in your church or small group. Each lesson should take 35 to 45 minutes, depending on the amount of discussion.
Our primary "study guide" is the book "Perspectives from Church History" by James P. Eckman, published by the Evangelical Training Association. It's a great book. Only 96 pages but chock full of information and insights. We call it a "dense" book because the content is so rich, it might as well be 3 to 4 times its length. You can spend many more hours in further study. This is a perfect a jumping off point for further study into the subjects of Christian Church history and orthodox Christian Doctrine.
Here is a synopsis of each week and a link to download each lesson's notes.
It is our hope that you will final enjoy studying history! Better yet, we hope that you come to a closer walk with your God & Savior. We hope your time is as blessed studying as our time was in preparing and presenting the material. May God himself be Glorified.
All downloads are in Adobe PDF format. Here's a link just in case you need it. It's FREE!
Lesson 1 - Why Learn about Church History? How the Church came to be. Why did God wait so long to send Jesus to earth. Who were the "founding fathers & mothers" of the First Century Church. Download Lesson 1 - Why History
Lesson 2 - The Apologists: Errors in & out of the Church. From roughly 100 AD (or CE as it's now termed) through about 250 AD, the early Church struggled to gather its founding documents and fight off heresies based on mis-interpretations of Biblical doctrine. Find out what the heresies were and how they even affect today's teachings. Download Lesson 2 - Apologists
Lesson 3 - Theologians & Doctrine. The up & coming theologians, relying on the authority of Scripture, verbalized Doctrine. The put down into succinct words, what the essential doctrines of the Christian faith are. The doctrines of Trinity, Jesus, & Salvation. The Nicean & Athanasian Creeds. Download Lesson 3 - Theologians. Download Lesson 3 - Nic Athan Creed.
Lesson 4 - Grace & the Medieval Church. Grace. It's such a simple word, but tremendously encompassing. Start with Augustine and go through about 1500, just before the Protestant Reformation. Download Lesson 4 - Grace.
Recommended further study: the Great Schism. The split of the church into western and eastern; Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox. Differences and similarities. This study would put a perspective on understanding the 3 general "branches" of Christianity: Protestant, Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox (Greek, Russian, etc).
Lesson 5 - The Rise of Islam. A slight but very important detour. Our world, and even our way of life is being challenged by the rise of the Islamic faith. What does it teach? What does this radically different mindset and culture mean to Christianity and Western civilization? Download Lesson 5 - Rise of Islam. Download Lesson 5 - Christ. v Islam. Notes.
Lesson 6 - The Protestant Reformation. It wasn't just Martin Luther. What caused this protest of current Church authority? How has it affected us today. Calvinism vs. Arminianism. Download Lesson 6 - Protestant Reform. Download Lesson 6 - Calv v Armin.
Lesson 7 - The "Reformation" of the Roman Catholic Church. How did the Catholic Church respond to the Protestant Reformation? Download Lesson 7 - Catholic Reform.
Lesson 8 - Scientific Revolution & the Age of Enlightenment. The great split of the Christian Church ushers in a new age of thought and skepticism. A lot of if is good. Some of it deviates from centuries old orthodoxy to put human thought on to a new path; a path away from God. Download Lesson 8 - Enlightenment
Recommended further study: break Lesson 8 into 2 studies. The Scientific Revolution and the Age of Enlightenment. This pivotal point in history changes the paradigm of thinking that was present since the beginning of recorded history. God could now be "scientifically" pushed aside and man could be set free or liberated from archaic thinking.
Lesson 9 - Revivals, Missions & Evangelism. From the Great Awakening to Hudson Taylor to Billy Graham. God uses His children to spread His Gospel around the world. Download Lesson 9 - Missions Evangelism
Lesson 10 - Today's Church & the "Emergent" Church. So this where we've come to! Today's Church and the "threat" of liberal as well as emergent thinking. Download Lesson 10 - Local CEFC & emergent. Notes.
Now that the groundwork has been laid, go on to a study of Christian Doctrine!
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Exploring Church History: A Guide to History, World Religions, and Ethics By James P. Eckman / Crossway Books & Bibles Pastors, professors, and students will appreciate this 3-in-1 edition of Eckman's introduction to Christianity's roots, distinctives, and cultural implications. Includes Exploring Church History from the day of Pentecost to the modern age; The Truth About Worldviews such as Buddhism, Islam, and various cults; and Biblical Ethics, reviewing hot-button issues through the lens of Scripture. 352 pages, softcover from Crossway. |
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A Survey of Bible Doctrine By Charles C. Ryrie / Moody Publishers Ryrie's A Survey of Bible Doctrine offers an easy-to-understand overview of the various doctrines of the Bible written especially for the layperson. Ryrie examines a wide range of topics, including: the nature of God, the inspiration of Scripture, Christ, the Holy Spirit, the angelic world, the nature and depravity of humans, salvation, the church, and the last things. Ryrie argues for the contemporary relevance of the Bible in this accessible and engaging survey of its key teachings. |
