Early Church

Our churches face all kinds of circumstances. Let’s look at five early churches, each with a unique challenge. What was life like for churches just coming out of idolatry and letter of the law legalism? Let’s look at a church facing the dilemma of the letter versus the spirit of the law in Galatia. Let’s look at a church learning that our foundation is the apostles and prophets, with Jesus the cornerstone. That foundation defines what are the essentials of our faith. Anything else is a non-essential doctrine. That church was in Ephesus. Let’s look at a church learning to be ...

The Foundations of Social Order was, and remains, the most unique book ever written in the history of Christendom. Nothing like it has been written before, and nothing like it has been written since.

It began underneath the honeysuckle vine. Meg Evans came from a privileged background. She thought she was better than most around her. She had beauty, money, and prestige. She lived in a fantasy world, ignoring the mistakes she made. When it all crashed and crumbled, she blamed her illegitimate daughter Carin for her misfortune. What will happen as she lies, cheats, and steals to return to the life she believes she deserves? Will her daughter Carin survive the abuse? Will Meg change? Will a return visit to the honeysuckle vine help?

What if everything you thought you knew about the early Church was only the surface of a much deeper story—one marked by blood, courage, controversy, and divine encounters? From the fiery descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost to the thunderclap of Martin Luther's 95 Theses on the Wittenberg door, Introduction to Church History pulls back the curtain on nearly 1,500 years of rich, raw, and revolutionary Christian history. But this isn’t just a textbook—it’s a journey into the soul of the global Church. For many believers, the past feels like a dusty archive—distant, irrelevant, ...

In the turbulent world of the second century, the early Christian Church faced intense scrutiny, widespread persecution, and the rise of numerous heresies that threatened to distort its core teachings. Amidst this backdrop, a group of courageous thinkers and writers emerged—men of profound intellect and deep faith—dedicated to defending the fledgling Christian faith against both external attacks and internal divisions. Christian Apologists of the Second Century: Christian Defenders of the Faith explores the lives, writings, and theological contributions of these early apologists who ...

What can we learn about leadership and influence from Paul? Most Christians know something of the Apostle Paul's life and ministry, but what about the incredible team of influencers he assembled and mobilized? Who were they, and how did Paul lead this team to accomplish God's purposes? Even more, what can we learn from their successes and failures, and how can we imitate their qualities?

In Faithful Witness, Phil Baker explains the theology of martyrdom that developed over the first 300 years of Christianity, and why that theology proved so powerful in the early years of the faith. Why did they choose faithfulness over fear? Why did they choose dying over killing? Why did they choose self-sacrifice over revenge? Why did they have such peace and joy in the midst of unimaginable torture? By AD 313, why had roughly 10 percent of the Roman Empire’s population embraced Christianity, when it was both illegal and incredibly dangerous to do so?

EARLY CHRISTIANITY IN THE FIRST CENTURY: Jesus’ Witnesses to the Ends of the Earth offers an in-depth exploration of the early days of Christianity, as it emerged and spread throughout the known world. This comprehensive and insightful book delves into the historical and cultural context of the time, examining the birth of a new faith that would change the course of human history. From the humble beginnings of Jesus’ ministry and the miraculous events of Pentecost to the rapid growth of the Christian movement, this volume paints a vivid portrait of the first-century believers who were ...

The Action Bible: The Early Church presents 31 fast-paced episodes in chronological order, making it easy to follow the Bible’s historical flow of the beginning years of the church, from Pentecost through the final writings of those who walked with Jesus personally. Every episode sparks excitement to explore God’s Word and know Him personally. Listeners will witness God’s active presence in the world through stories from the life of Jesus and great heroes of the faith.

A complex and fascinating character, Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria, is best remembered as the Father of Orthodoxy, upholding the doctrine of the Trinity against the Arian heresy. In the newest addition to the Christian Biographies for Young Readers series, author Simonetta Carr introduces children to the life and times of this important church father who tirelessly defended the Nicene Creed, which many of us today recite as a confession of our faith.

Early Christians were called "heretics" and "atheists" when they denied the gods of Rome, in particular the divinity of the emperor and the statism he embodied in his personality cult. These Christians knew that Jesus Christ, not the state, was their Lord and that this faith required a different kind of relationship to the state than the state demanded. Because Jesus Christ was their acknowledged sovereign, they consciously denied such esteem to all other claimants. Today, the church must take a similar stand before the modern state.

"Miracles in the Early Christian Church" edited by Timothy W. Grogan is a thought-provoking exploration into the historical claims of miraculous events that were believed to have shaped the early Christian faith. Drawing from Conyers Middleton's seminal 1749 work, this annotated edition critically examines the authenticity of miracles attributed to the Christian Church from its earliest days. Grogan provides detailed commentary on the controversies surrounding these events, questioning their origins and the motivations behind them.

Reader, There is hardly any subject in religion which is so much misunderstood as the subject of the “Church.” There is probably no misunderstanding which has done more harm to professing Chris-tians than the misunderstanding of this subject. There is hardly any word which is used in such a variety of meanings, as the word “Church.” It is a word that we hear constantly used, and yet we cannot help observing that different people use it in different senses. The English politician in our days talks of “the Church.” What does he mean? You will generally find he means the Episcopal ...

“Theologically rich, bursting with Scripture, thoughtfully written, worthy of reflection and faith-enlarging, this is a prayer tool that many sincere Jesus-followers will turn to again and again.” –Dr. John Stumbo, President, The Christian & Missionary Alliance Praying for a Church--for the Church--is one of the most spiritually significant things we can do for the Kingdom of God. In this prayer guide, Ty King has provided 31 powerful Scripture-based prayers that focus on praying the purposes of Jesus Christ for His Bride, the Church. Not meant to be prayed as rote prayers, Pray the ...

Unlock the mysteries of the Trinity with "Subordinationism : A Beginner's Guide," a captivating exploration into one of Christianity's most debated doctrines. Dive into the heart of theological inquiry and uncover the profound dynamics that have shaped centuries of belief and practice. Engage your curiosity as you journey through the historical origins of Subordinationism. This guide meticulously traces its development from early church teachings to contemporary theological discussions. Meet the pivotal figures, understand the key councils, and grasp the controversies that have defined and ...

Who would have thought that from its humble beginnings as a small group of followers of a Jewish man called Jesus that Christianity would become, less than 2,000 years later, the most widespread religion on Earth? Christianity’s birth and development is a vast, complex story filled with setbacks and contradictions but also with triumphs.

Putting Joy into Practice: Seven Ways to Lift Your Spirit from the Early Church is an invitation to a life of joy. Phoebe Farag Mikhail explains what joy is and how to experience it through seven spiritual practices that cultivate our inner lives and connect us to our communities. These seven practices, which include giving thanks, hospitality, praise, and more, take us on a journey that leads to joy through the giving and receiving of sacrificial love.

Many pastors feel isolated and helpless, especially those beginning pastoral ministry. Phil Newton and Rich Shadden know what this road is like, and they want to share what they have gained from pastoral mentoring—Rich, a young pastor receiving support and guidance from Phil, an older, more experienced shepherd.

María Magdalena es probablemente la figura más célebre del cristianismo popular, una mujer de nuestro tiempo, la que los medios de comunicación y las sensibilidades modernas pueden abrazar con mayor convicción.

Church has become boring, religious, and/or irrelevant for many people; while God is none of the above. Why is there such a difference between the perceived church and the real God that the church proclaims? The early church was unscripted, alive, powerful, unpredictable, life-changing, and world-shaking. Our church services today are usually scripted, predictable, polished performances that seem to be making little impact in our society. Why? The answer may surprise you.