Weekly Blog

Lesson 14 – The Great Cappdocian Fathers and the Council of Constantinople

Sep 26, 2015

In this session we look at the Great Cappdocian Fathers and the Council of Constantinople. To prepare you can read Chapter 20 in the Gonzales book, and you can look at internet resources to get a little background on the council of Constantinople and the creed that came out of that council.

Lesson 13 – Athanasius

Aug 01, 2015

In this session, we look at Athanasius. Athanasius stood strong for the orthodox faith, accurately seeing that to deny the Deity of Christ was to deny the faith itself. His life and writings thus became one of the most important chapters in church history. Reading: Chapter 17

Lesson 12 – The Arian Controversy and the Council of Nicea

Jun 20, 2015

In this session we look at Diocletian, including the great changes to the ruling of the empire under his reign, and the final great persecution during his final years. We then look at the rise of Constantine, and the change in the relationship between the Empire and the church – from persecution, to tolerance, to acceptance.

Lesson 11 – The Great Persecution and Final Victory

May 16, 2015

In this session, we look at Diocletian, including the great changes to the ruling of the empire under his reign, and the final great persecution during his final years. We then look at the rise of Constantine, and the change in the relationship between the Empire and the church – from persecution, to tolerance, to acceptance.

Lesson 10 – Third Century Persections and Their Effects

Mar 28, 2015

We will be looking at the persecutions under Decius and Valerian, how the church responded, and the question of how to handle those who lapsed under the persecution. We will also look at Cyprian and some of his other ideas.

Lesson 9 – Church Life In The Third Century

Mar 03, 2015

This month we looked at church life in the late 2nd and the 3rd century. This covered chapters 10 and 11 in the Gonzales book.

Lesson 8 – Early Teachers of the Church

Jan 24, 2015

This month we will look at chapter 9 in the Gonzales book – The Teachers of the Church. This chapter will predominately look at four important early teachers: Irenaeus of […]

Lesson 7 – The Canon of Scripture

Nov 22, 2014

This month we will take a look at the formation of the canon of Scripture. How did the church decide which books were truly inspired and should be considered authoritative Scripture? What was the process it used? Which books almost did not make it into the Bible – and why? And which books were considered but ultimately rejected m- and why?

Lesson 6 – Early Heresies

Oct 25, 2014

This lesson looks at the early heresies in the church and how the church responded to these heresies – especially Marcion and the Gnostics.

Lesson 5 – The Didache

Aug 23, 2014

This looks at persecution in the early church. It will look up through the first couple of hundred years ending in the early to mid 200s.